Making plans on visiting each Common Orlando and Walt Disney Global all through your Florida holiday? This weighs the professionals & cons, with an impartial have a look at Common vs. Disney inns in accordance with worth, perks, facilities, location, transportation, eating, and extra.
For lots of Walt Disney Global lovers who have been as soon as “bubble or bust!” may now in finding themselves reevaluating that place, as so much has modified. The losses of on-site perks, starting from the FastPass+ reserving window to scaled-back Further Magic Hours have ended in many WDW diehards venturing off-site.
With out query, the largest factor has been the dying of Disney’s Magical Categorical. By way of getting rid of that airport transportation that was once integrated in the price of Disney-owned hotel remains, the corporate has voluntarily (and perplexingly) punctured the Disney bubble. Pressured to maintain transportation regardless, many guests are actually wondering whether or not they will have to merely keep off-site and seek advice from Walt Disney Global whilst staying at more cost effective lodging…
This isn’t simply idle hypothesis. We all know this is going on as a result of loads of readers have instructed us that is what they have got began doing. For lots of of those folks, making plans Florida holidays that come with visits to more than one theme parks, Common Orlando’s resorts provide an overly sexy selection.
Individually, I do surprise how this may increasingly ‘evolve’ in the following couple of years. Walt Disney Global’s on-site benefit has began to go back, because of the Disney Eating Plan coming again, unfastened parking being reinstated, different little perks, and longtime lovers adjusting to Lightning Lanes and the brand new further hours machine. It’s nonetheless no longer what it was once circa-2019, and more than likely by no means will probably be, however it’s higher than a pair years in the past.
The larger adjustments, then again, will come at the Common facet of the ledger. The hole of Epic Universe goes to be massive, with many lovers no longer appreciating the level to which it’s going to switch the entirety from costs to perks. Call for for Common resorts goes to skyrocket, and despite the fact that the brand new third theme park is an unequivocal sure, it’ll have second-order results that will probably be a ways much less definitely won because it reshapes the marketplace for theme park resorts in Central Florida.
Even we can not watch for the far-reaching penalties of Epic Universe and the way it’ll be a game-changer. For now, let’s duvet the present professionals and cons of staying on-site at Common Orlando as opposed to at Walt Disney Global. We’ve stayed at each unmarried Common and Disney-owned resort, plus a large number of off-site and 3rd birthday party resorts during Central Florida. Right here’s our tackle the benefits and downsides presented by means of Disney and Common resorts…
Airport Transportation – With the dying of Disney’s Magical Categorical, neither Walt Disney Global nor Common Orlando have unique airport transportation integrated as a visitor perk.
See our Airport Transportation to Walt Disney Global Information for a rundown of the decisions, which can be roughly the similar for Common Orlando.
Inside Transportation – As soon as on belongings at both Walt Disney Global or Common Orlando, visitors can use a supplied transportation between resorts, theme parks, and different places on belongings. All of this transportation is complimentary (or constructed into the cost of their room). At each, transportation is a large benefit that may tip the scales in want of staying on-site, getting rid of the will for a apartment automobile.
If selection is a promoting level, Walt Disney Global has a better vary of choices: bus, monorail, boat, Skyliner gondola, and even strolling. The potency of the transportation supplied to Walt Disney Global hotel resort visitors is hotly disputed, and is in large part a results of the hotel advanced’s sprawling dimension.
Common Orlando has extra restricted choices: bus, boat, or strolling. Then again, it’s for sure extra environment friendly, with buses departing virtually one proper after the opposite and strolling between the resorts and theme parks being imaginable in any respect homes with the exception of Unending Summer season Hotel. That is owing to Common Orlando’s extra compact structure, which makes just about the entirety available by means of foot, and bus turnaround instances sooner because of the shorter commutes.
In our view, Common Orlando is the simple winner right here. We’ve by no means had complications looking ahead to buses, or with exceeding lengthy transit instances consuming up an important bite of our holiday. Transit at Common is a breeze, making the most of the condensed structure enormously. Walt Disney Global’s dimension is each a blessing and a burden–relating to transportation, it’s the latter. In the event you’re searching for on-site leisure, eating, or a ‘bubble’ from the true global, it’s a blessing. Walt Disney Global could also be extra conducive to longer remains by means of distinctive feature of its greater scope and scale.
Further Hours – Walt Disney Global changed Further Magic Hours, with Early Access and Prolonged Night time Hours. While morning Further Magic Hours lasted for an hour at a unmarried park in keeping with day, Early Access is 30-minute get admission to to any Walt Disney Global theme park. It is a great head-start for on-site visitors, and likewise not possible to steer clear of for off-site visitors.
Prolonged Night time Hours has a smaller pool of eligibility and happens much less continuously than Early Access. It’s completely for visitors staying at Deluxe Inns, Deluxe Villas (Disney Holiday Membership gadgets), or different make a choice resorts (handiest the Swan & Dolphin and Sun shades of Inexperienced). Prolonged Night time Theme Park Hours happen two nights a week in overall and lasts for two hours. It’s vastly really helpful to eligible visitors, and minimally burdensome to people who aren’t eligible since it might simply be deliberate round.
Common Orlando gives Early Park Admission to choose sights at Islands of Journey and Common Studios Florida (specifically, the Wizarding Global of Harry Potter) one hour ahead of the theme parks open to most of the people. Volcano Bay additionally gives 30 minute Early Park Admission.
In spite of their length variations, the 2 early access techniques are beautiful related to each other. In the event you’re some of the first within the pack headed in opposition to Jurassic Global VelociCoaster or Megastar Wars: Upward thrust of the Resistance on a hectic day, this may save a ton of time. In each circumstances, traces can construct for eligible sights beautiful temporarily.
In the event you’re taking a look at reserving larger tier hotel, Walt Disney Global will get the win right here as Prolonged Night time Hours are improbable and don’t have any counterpart at Common Orlando. For everybody else, it’s roughly a wash.
Line Skipping – With the removal of unfastened FastPass, there’s no longer an important on-site benefit relating to Genie+ and Lightning Lanes, out of doors of shopping for a l. a. carte line-skipping get admission to to Megastar Wars: Upward thrust of the Resistance or Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind.
Visitors in need of to make the most of Genie+ and/or Person Lightning Lanes at Walt Disney Global can be expecting to spend $18 to round $50 in keeping with particular person, in keeping with day. The decrease quantity is for those who seek advice from all through a less-busy time and handiest acquire the Genie+ provider; the upper quantity is Genie+ and an Person Lightning Lane or two all through top season.
We might estimate that the typical on-site visitor will finally end up spending round $60 to $120 in keeping with particular person for line-skipping at Walt Disney Global over the path in their travel, relying upon crowd ranges. This assumes that they are going to no longer acquire Genie+ or Person Lightning Lanes after they’re no longer important or helpful, and can make the most of savvy approach to beat the crowds. (See our Information to Genie+ at Walt Disney Global & Lightning Lane FAQ for the entirety you wish to have to grasp, together with when to shop for and no longer purchase line-skipping get admission to.)
Against this, visitors staying at Common Orlando’s Premier Accommodations (Royal Pacific, Laborious Rock Lodge, Portofino Bay) get unfastened Limitless Categorical Move to skip the common traces at hottest sights in Common Studios Florida and Islands of Journey. That is Common’s an identical of FastPass/Lightning Lanes, however higher. Limitless Categorical Move typically prices much more cash and, because the title suggests, it’s limitless. That’s proper, visitors of Common’s best tier resorts get endless line skipping!
Limitless Categorical Move has a price of over $100 in keeping with particular person every day, which means its price may just exceed the entire value of the resort (or no less than the price of upgrading from a decrease tier hotel). In the event you’re a birthday party of four, there’s a superb opportunity that’ll be true, as Common’s Premier Accommodations delivery at round $325 in keeping with evening.
There’s a explanation why Categorical Move typically prices greater than Genie+ and Lightning Lanes: it’s higher. Categorical Move is frictionless, doesn’t require journey reservations, or any generation in any respect. As famous above, it’s additionally limitless. See our complete comparability: Common’s Categorical Move v. Genie+ at Walt Disney Global for a complete rundown at the professionals & cons of every.
Whilst the entirety else right here is important, Limitless Categorical Move is the promoting level for Common Orlando’s Premier Accommodations. In the event you’re circle of relatives is stuffed with journey junkies and also you’ll do 2 days or extra at Common Orlando, this one perk–on its own–is sufficient to justify no less than a cut up keep between Common and Disney. It’s massive.
Provider High quality – Diehard lovers will let you know that Walt Disney Global is extra magical because of the Solid Participants. It’s truthful to mention that Disney attracts extra passionate workers, lots of whom purchase into Walt Disney’s legacy and the corporate’s core values. This could also be aided by means of the Faculty Program, which brings contemporary faces to Florida who incessantly espouse the above, and most probably have extra enthusiasm by means of distinctive feature of much less long-term publicity to visitors.
Then again, the perception that there’s an around the board distinction between Disney and Common workers is fake. This isn’t to denigrate or disparage Solid Participants–on the contrary, many pass above and past to make lasting reminiscences for visitors. It’s extra a mirrored image of the truth that each are in large part drawing from the very same exertions pool in Central Florida and each face the similar staffing shortages.
Whilst Disney’s benefits are mentioned above, Common additionally has a few issues going for it. First, it enjoys a name as a greater employer in Central Florida. Now not by means of a pronounced stage, however sufficient of person who frontline workers who’ve labored at each have a tendency to marginally want Common. Additionally, the drive felt by means of workers from Walt Disney Global visitors–who typically are higher-stress because of making plans burdens and the costlier holiday stakes–may lend a hand tip the provider scale in Common’s want.
We’d additionally upload that Loews (which operates the inns at Common Orlando) is a greater hospitality corporate relating to resort operations. Disney’s experience is in theme parks, and whilst there are person WDW resorts which can be extremely well-managed, it’s transparent that the core product is theme parks. Disney’s hotel operations aren’t structured in some way that unswerving visitors of chained-brand resorts may be expecting, and plenty of provider options are unavailable or missing. Neither are on par with an upscale Hyatt or Hilton–however Loews is nearer.
Parking Charges – Walt Disney Global stopped charging for in a single day resort parking final 12 months, reversing a particularly unpopular resolution made a number of years previous. For many who pressure or have apartment vehicles, that quantities to a financial savings of $15 to $25 in keeping with evening, relying upon the hotel tier.
Common’s resorts had parking charges previous to Disney introducing the costs and nonetheless do lately after Disney has got rid of them–we predict not anything to switch. Common’s self-parking charges are $15 to $28, with Unending Summer season being most cost-effective and the trio of Premier Accommodations being costliest. Cabana Bay could also be on the decrease finish of the pricing spectrum, while Sapphire Falls costs are beautiful as regards to the Premiers.
Hotel Charges – Hidden charges have proliferated lately at off-site Orlando resorts that price low base costs however have totals that may quantity to double that. Some are identified to price non-optional hotel charges for “wellness programs” (their time period, no longer ours) together with such things as web, newspaper, and bottled water. We can not stand those hotel charges and counsel you struggle again in opposition to the extremely consumer-unfriendly apply.
Neither Common Orlando nor Walt Disney Global homes price hotel charges. Given the expanding blowback in opposition to hotel charges, we don’t be expecting both to introduce them. If anything else, different resorts will delivery getting rid of hotel charges. (Both by means of selection or by means of legislation.)
Theme & Design – Many visitors love to stick in resorts which can be an extension of the theme park enjoy. Walt Disney Global inns be offering a spread of distinct designs, from funds choices that scream “Disney” with icons from animated motion pictures to upscale lodging with subtle and immersive environment. They have got an extra layer of element and storytelling to “shipping” visitors to another time and position.
When it comes to luxurious, Disney resorts incessantly don’t surpass their actual global opposite numbers, however they virtually all the time have a greater sense of position. It’s an overly encapsulating enjoy, and some of the giant promoting issues of on-site lodging at Walt Disney Global.
Common Orlando is not any slouch on this regard. A couple of of its inns arguably are a number of the best 10 themed resorts in Central Florida, and a number of other cling their very own in opposition to Disney’s opposite numbers. Specifically, Portofino Bay, Royal Pacific, and Cabana Bay all execute their respective topics at an overly prime degree, providing a degree of intensity and element on par with Disney.
The remaining aren’t susceptible by means of any stretch, however have a tendency to want serve as over shape. Their designs focal point on a streamlined structure, convenience, and facilities–reasonably than a transportive theme.
Evaluating the Polynesian to Royal Pacific or Seaside Membership to Portofino Bay could make sense, as there are transparent parallels and planned contrasts. The comparisons fall aside when taking a look at Sapphire Falls v. Port Orleans Riverside. Their design targets have been radically other, every with distinctive however incomparable professionals and cons.
Something this is notable this is that Common’s resorts have a tendency to be more moderen. Each unmarried Common resort was once constructed inside the final 25 years–maximum inside the final decade. A few of Walt Disney Global’s inns have been constructed 50 years in the past–maximum are nicely over a decade outdated. That is if truth be told no longer related from the viewpoint of situation or put on & tear, however is with regards to genre and sensibilities. Lots of Disney’s resorts are sprawling, with rooms in outlying structures separated from the principle foyer. Maximum of Common’s resorts are tower-style, all underneath one roof.
Rooms & Swimming pools – This may appear to be an bizarre pairing, however it’s handiest being carried out as a result of those two very other, and essential classes also are probably the most hotel-specific. The one generalization we’ll make is that Common has a tendency to do the decrease finish resort rooms higher and Disney has a tendency to do the upper finish resort rooms higher (and bigger).
Rooms and swimming pools in any other case range for every particular resort–refer to express critiques for perception that’s if truth be told helpful. That is already going to be an extended publish, and it’d be double the duration for an exhaustive, across-the-board room and pool comparability.
Eating – That is more than likely our largest blind spot and supply of bias. We’ve eaten at each unmarried Walt Disney Global hotel eating place, maximum a number of instances. We’ve eaten at many–however a ways from all–Common Orlando resort eating choices.
There are some facets of eating at which Common Orlando inns excel. Around the board, the espresso state of affairs is best. Meals courts on the more economical resorts are extra bold and a greater enjoy. Foyer bars are typically sturdy, and poolside eating is unusually powerful at Common resorts.
Whilst Common resorts have a tendency to have numerous eating place choices, I’d argue that they lack selection. Just about each meal we’ve had at Common resorts might be described as convenience meals. There are numerous alternatives, however maximum are regional diversifications of that–even wonderful eating is incessantly simply costlier convenience meals, no longer delicacies that’s if truth be told bold or creative.
At one time, this was once comprehensible as a result of Common’s hotel eating places presented a lot better price for cash. That’s nonetheless true to a point, however the hole has closed. Within the final two years, we’ve spotted menu costs soar at Common Orlando, outpacing even Walt Disney Global eating places.
Pricing – Each are quite insulated from off-site festival. For guests who need the on-site location, a unbroken enjoy from their hotel to the theme parks, rooms with particular topics, or positive theme park perks, there’s no actual selection. Common and Disney are thus in a position to price greater than they might for the very same resorts plopped down in Duluth, Minnesota.
In fact, that’s greater than just a little disingenuous. In the event you relocated 4 Seasons Bora Bora from its tropical over-the-water location to a corn box, or moved Lodge Shangri-Los angeles Paris so it didn’t disregard the Eiffel Tower, the similar could be true. There’s a explanation why inns with perspectives of Cinderella Citadel fetch otherwise-astronomical costs, and it’s a well-established rule of actual property (“location, location, location!”). Whether or not this top class pricing for being in shut proximity to “the magic” is worthwhile to you is a private query.
With that during thoughts, Walt Disney Global is costlier than Common Orlando at each unmarried resort tier. For low season dates, the distance isn’t specifically pronounced between Unending Summer season and the All Stars, however it grows greater for extra widespread dates and better finish resorts. On the mid-tier, Disney costs will also be double Common’s. On the best tier, Disney incessantly fees triple or extra for related lodging.
In mild of the above, the case might be made that there’s no such factor as “related” between Common and Disney since there isn’t a unmarried resort at Common with a view of Cinderella Citadel or inside of strolling distance of the most well liked theme park on the earth. In the end, location laws actual property. That argument is much less persuasive when evaluating costs of Saratoga Springs or Previous Key West to Laborious Rock Lodge or Royal Pacific, regardless that.
Editorializing just a little, I consider that we’re lately residing via a halcyon age of Common hotel pricing. In not up to a decade, Common has constructed 5 new resorts and just about tripled its collection of on-site rooms. All the way through that very same span, the advanced added Volcano Bay water park and theme park attendance has higher, however to not a proportional stage–or anything else as regards to it.
Partially, this growth was once most probably past due, fulfilling one of the most call for from the Wizarding Global of Harry Potter. It’s additionally most probably that Common Orlando aggressively evolved its resort portfolio forward of theme park growth initiatives with the expectancy that call for and bookings would quickly apply swimsuit.
Epic Universe is most probably seen as a game-changer for Common Orlando’s standing as a vacation spot hotel–3 theme parks and a water park will lure many extra folks to stick on-site. Merely put, call for has no longer but stuck as much as resort construction.
It will have to pass with out announcing, however larger call for will lead to larger resort costs. It’s no longer as though Common is purposefully charging below-market charges for the reason that corporate needs to be extra truthful to theme park lovers, or its leaders had been benevolently impressed by means of Walt Disney’s “dream” to provide reasonably priced lodging to the center magnificence. Those are each ruthless multinational companies; companies don’t get into the Fortune 50 nowadays by means of being charitable in opposition to shoppers.
If Common may just price Polynesian costs for Royal Pacific presently, they’d. However they can not (no less than, no longer but), so they don’t. There’s prone to be some degree within the not-too-distant long run when Common Orlando’s theme park lineup has significantly extra drawing energy, and its hotel costs will build up consequently.
Individually, I wouldn’t be shocked if Common’s best tier resorts reasonable double their present prices in about 5 years, following a an identical trajectory to what has came about with Disney inns. In the event you’re searching for sturdy price, now’s undoubtedly the time to guide Common resorts–they’re arguably underpriced for his or her high quality, location, and perks.
April 2024 Replace: This editorial was once at the start written two years in the past, and has already been no less than partly vindicated. In pricing out remains at Common over the past 12 months, we’re seeing efficient will increase (after reductions) of about 30% or so on reasonable. Even if Walt Disney Global has additionally higher rack charges all through this time (by means of about 4%), they have got additionally resumed providing higher reductions. That was once no longer the case at this identical time final 12 months, which means that Walt Disney Global’s efficient room charges have lowered whilst Common’s have higher.
In the event you’re a Walt Disney Global diehard considering that is some type of vindication: don’t. The distance remains to be somewhat extensive, and Common is considerably less expensive on reasonable. Then again, the ‘worth chasm’ is last. As Common turns into extra widespread and pulls resort visitors clear of Walt Disney Global with the hole of Epic Universe, be expecting this development to proceed.
What we’ve noticed within the final 12 months is just a small sneak peek of the long run, and it’s nonetheless your easiest guess to stick at Common resorts now reasonably than looking ahead to 2025 to roll round…except you need to pay significantly larger costs!
In the end, our opinion is that Common Orlando has made super strides within the final a number of years, and is now beating Walt Disney Global within the scorching Orlando resort marketplace. On the subject of the professionals & cons in their respective resorts, and particularly in regards to price, Common inns are extra compelling.
In the event you’ll be spending equivalent (or as regards to it) time at Common and Walt Disney Global all through your Orlando, Florida holiday, you will have to give critical concept to staying at Common as an alternative of Disney–or no less than doing a cut up keep. It will have to pass with out announcing, however for those who’re no longer visiting Common Studios Florida or Islands of Journey, you shouldn’t believe Common’s resorts.
Arguably, we’re “harassed” by means of previous enjoy with the awesome resort product that Disney used to provide (and at decrease costs), so it’s imaginable that our viewpoint this is coloured by means of that. The case additionally might be made that Walt Disney Global is just charging what the marketplace will undergo, and the marketplace bears so much larger costs for the reason that underlying product is best or in larger call for. That may be true, however it additionally might be true that the popularity of Disney’s awesome resort product was once constructed up to now, and is now coasting on its laurels to some extent. Most likely all of this is true to various levels.
There’s so much to believe when figuring out whether or not you need to stick at Walt Disney Global or Common Orlando–or each. There’s nobody dimension suits all solution as to which is “higher.” Other households may make very other choices based totally upon what issues maximum to them–there’s actually no objectively proper or fallacious solution, it’s extra what you need from your holiday and the way you weigh the professionals and cons.
The subjective elements are virtually all the time going to be the overriding ones, which makes this comparability actually difficult. One benefit that makes Common or Disney a no brainer slam dunk for one circle of relatives could be utterly beside the point for every other. Which is best for you is in large part an issue of choice and holiday priorities, however optimistically this publish offered some concerns so that you can weigh and make the verdict for your self. On the finish of the day, festival between the 2 advantages shoppers, so despite the fact that Common is a “arduous no” for you, it’s nice to peer them so aggressively increasing in Central Florida.
Want travel making plans pointers and complete recommendation to your seek advice from to Central Florida? You’ll want to learn our Common Orlando Making plans Information for the entirety about Islands of Journey and Common Studios Florida. Additionally take a look at our Walt Disney Global Holiday Making plans Information for the entirety about the ones parks, inns, eating places, and so a lot more. For normal updates, information & rumors, a heads up when reductions are launched, and a lot more, join our FREE e-mail e-newsletter!
Your Ideas
Do you typically keep at Common Orlando or Walt Disney Global? What are your key concerns when figuring out the place you keep? In the event you’ve in the past been unswerving to WDW, are you making an allowance for Common (or different off-site) resorts to your subsequent Florida holiday? Do any of the marketing issues above tip the scales in want of 1 or the opposite? Anything else we’ve lost sight of or carried out inadequate justice? Do you compromise or disagree with our recommendation? Any questions we will assist you to solution? Listening to your comments–even while you disagree with us–is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please proportion your ideas under within the feedback!
