Walt Disney World Florida

VILLA VS HOTEL

A holiday to Disney world Florida is the stuff dreams are made of for most families, a fun filled action packed holiday with something for everyone. I’ve heard people describe it as “the happiest place on earth” before but I also hear people say this a lot, “it was so tiring you need a holiday after Disney world just to relax.” So, the question is when planning your holiday of a life time to Disney world Florida which is better, a villa or a Disney hotel.

We are lucky enough to have gone to Disney world Florida three times in recent years and have spent time in both villas and a Disney hotel. The first two times we visited we stayed only in a villa and I always wondered what it would be like to stay in a Disney hotel. In my mind I always presumed a Disney hotel would be better, but to my surprise this wasn’t necessarily the case. I want to share with you our experiences and opinions on the pros and cons of what it’s like staying in the two different types on accommodation.

Firstly, the type of accommodation you go for will depend upon your budget, how many people you’re going on holiday with and what you want from your holiday. The answer to those three things would make it an easy choice for me.

In the past we’ve found that villas are great for larger groups, families or friends on holidays together. They offer plenty of room and all the comforts of home and more. The villa we stayed at is on a gated site, making it very safe and secure. There was a good kids play area on the field just opposite. The villa has a large double drive making it easy to get parked just outside the front door. Most villas in Florida have their own private swimming pool and its common to have a games room in the garage. The one we stayed in had a pool table, plus an air hockey table and darts board. We spent many nights having fun in there.

The villa itself was open plan with a large kitchen with dining table separated with breakfast bar onto the lounge which had very comfy sofas. The sliding doors lead out to the swimming pool area. The entire property flowed nicely and everything worked well for socialising, fun and comfort.

The villa often tends to be the cheaper option of the two, especially if you are with a larger group and able to split the cost. One of the reasons making the villa a cheaper option is that you can if you want eat a lot of meals in. We love going to Walmart, the huge supermarket and doing a big food shop. The villa has all the comforts of home and cooking meals is easy and sometimes makes sense. I know this isn’t for everyone, some people when on holiday like to eat out all the time, but at least with a villa you have the option, especially if you have kids that are picky eaters.

This bring me onto my next point, we found that going on holiday to Disney World with young children can be very busy and quite tiring. We found a villa allows you to get that rest and relaxation time you need to recover and fully enjoy the next day.

The kids have plenty of room and safe space to play and roam around in the villa so you don’t have to keep such a close eye on them. Also, the private pool is great fun and perfect for spending some quality time together. At the end of the day you can put the kids to bed and there are plenty of separate rooms to be able to stay up and have some time to relax and unwind knowing the kids are sleeping safely.

• 

• 

• 

One thing that is a must when staying in a villa is having to hire a car and do your own driving. This for most people isn’t a problem but I know from personal experience driving on the other side of the road when you’re not used to it can be a daunting thought. Some people when on holiday like to leave the car at home and leave the driving to someone else. I totally understand that, however a car when staying at a villa is essential for days out at Disney.

• 

 Not just for days out at Disney, some of our favourite things to do in Florida when not at Disney is to visit the designer outlet stores, restaurants or visit the beach. if you’re looking for somewhere good to eat try these places, the waffle house, I hop, Bahama Breeze and Golden Coral. Hiring a car gives you the freedom to explore and see more than just Disney world.

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

A quick recap of some of the best reasons to stay in a villa.

• Perfect for larger groups on holiday together.
• It’s like a home from home and can be a bit more relaxing.
• Can be cheaper than a Disney hotel.
• Great for kids, safe fun place to stay and good for picky eaters.
• You get to explore more and see more than just Disney

What’s not so good about a villa

• You will need to drive, everywhere is a drive away.
• Not as luxurious as a hotel, no room service or maid.
• No restaurants or bars on site.
• No evening entertainment.

There are endless options to the type of Disney hotels you can choose to stay in, you really are spoilt for choice and some of them are simply amazing once in a life time, breathtaking accommodation. However, these kinds of accommodation come at a large price. This isn’t possible for everyone. At Disney this isn’t a problem as Disney do offer options for all different budgets.

We stayed at the Disney All Star hotel which is one of the cheaper options. This didn’t matter to us as the accommodation was still fantastic and staying in a themed Disney hotel on the site was a great way of really getting the full Disney World experience and gets you into that magical Disney spirit. Everyone is so happy and all the staff go above and beyond to make sure you all enjoy your holiday as much as you can. All the staff have huge smiles on their faces and it’s great to hear them say “you have a fantastic day now” constantly, they really spoil you.

The excellent service and constant advice and information on where to go and what to do is great and really helps you make the most of your holiday and ensures you don’t waste any of your precious time in Disney World

Once you’re in the Disney site there’s no need to leave, you can spend your entire holiday hopping on and off the free shuttle bus between the different parks. There’s no need to drive which is great especially for those that are a little nervous about driving themselves.

There are endless places to eat and drink, you will be spoilt for choice, everything you need you will be able to find in the onsite shops, restaurants and bars. Some of the restaurants are absolutely fantastic, such a great experience. We would recommend a character breakfast, the best one is chef Mikey in the Disney Contemporary Resort. 

• 

• 

• 

• 

Other amazing places to eat are the themed restaurants T-Rex café in Disney Springs and the Rain Forrest café in Animal Kingdom, these are two of our favourites.

• 

• 

• 

• 

Staying at a Disney hotel is so much fun and an amazing experience especially for the kids. There’s no doubt you will have a great time. However, I want to share some of the little bits we didn’t enjoy so much. We found that staying in a hotel room as a family all together was hard as when the kids went to bed we had nowhere separate to go and relax while they went to sleep. This meant we all went to bed at the same time, not ideal. 

A Disney holiday can be a bit full on and tiring as you tend to try and fit as much into your days as possible so you don’t miss out on any special moments. The days can often be up and out early and not in till late after the last fire-work display. Well worth it but staying on the site it can be hard to switch off and enjoy any relaxation time. I’ve heard plenty of people say we had the best time but need another holiday to recover from their Disney one, and I totally get that feeling. 

Finally, despite the food been fantastic and spoilt for choice it can be very expensive eating out on the Disney sites for every meal. You will need a large budget for this kind of holiday.

• 

Some of the best bits about staying in a Disney hotel

• The staff are fantastic and really look after you.
• The atmosphere and themed accommodation is really magical it gives you that special Disney feeling and really gets you in the spirit.
• The facilities and restaurants are amazing, some of the dining experiences are unforgettable.
• The free shuttle bus makes life easy and relaxing, a great way to get around.

What we didn’t like so much

• Bedtime all together in one room was difficult, trying to get the kids to sleep and not having any separate spare for us to relax.
• The constant busyness of Disney can be a bit tiring and overwhelming, it’s hard to relax as you don’t want to waste time or miss out on anything.
• The onsite food can be expensive when you are there for a long time and not just a day visit.

We hope this gives you a little insight into what to expect from staying in a villa or a hotel when visiting Disney. Whatever you decide you can’t go wrong as both are fantastic, and if you really can’t decide why not try a week in each like we did.