Should I stay on property? This question has been asked of theme park insiders for a vary, very long time. Now while we really do not consider ourselves “insiders” we do have experience on both sides of the fence with this “old as time” debate. Both sides of this coin have pros and cons. Lets take a look at them.

Staying On Property: This is typically viewed as the more glamorous option of the two. Most of the time there are a variety of perks when you stay at a particular parks property. These include, special park hours, exclusive use of fast pass systems, and even resort transportation. The big downside of this  is that you get what you pay for. Though a variety of the parks offer some cheaper hotels to target your family they can be considerably more expensive than if you stay off property. The other draw back is that when you stay for example, in Disney World, you’re in Disney World. The options for dining are typically regulated through their variety of hotels, theme parks, and the market place. Those traveling on a tight budget may find the options to be rather slim compared to someone who is staying off of I-drive or in nearby Kissimmee.

Staying Off property:  As was stated earlier the biggest advantage to not saying on the property is the fact that a lot of the time you can find some really good deals on hotels and maximize your vacation budget. Sometimes the hotels will even offer shuttles to the various parks which in turn also cuts down on having to pay for parking. The only draw back to the shuttles is a lot of times they are on set schedules where as at the parks you can come and go as you please. When you use these shuttles you have to plan and operate around the shuttle schedule. This can be very frustrating.

All in all you have to weigh the pros and cons for each and figure out what works best for your family. When I was a little bit younger and traveling with friends or coming to the parks with wife and only my wife I would recommend staying off site. However now as we have younger kids in tow,  when we can afford it we personally find the convenience of walking out of the hotel and onto a train or ferry and heading straight into the parks to be worth the extra few bucks. What works best for your family? Tell us about it!