ONSITE BENEFITS
Complimentary roundtrip transportation aboard Disney's Magical Express from the airport to your resort. Once you get off the airplane, head directly to the Magical Express area and board the bus. Don't worry about your luggage! With the bright yellow tags provided, their luggage service will have Disney pick up your bags from the airport carousel and have them delivered directly to your room at your resort. (Luggage can take up to 3-4 hours after your arrival before it arrives at your resort.)
Disney' Magical Express service will also pick you up from your resort and transport you to Orlando International Airport. If you have a later departure, you can make arrangements with Bell Services at your resort to have Disney's Magical Express take your bags to the airport and have them checked in on your behalf. (You will have to check in to your airline in advance at the resort) But then you are free to enjoy your last day at Disney however you choose without worry about your luggage, and head to the airport at your leisure.
Each Disney resort reservation also includes free luggage tags that match your Magic Bands.
Aren't they cute?! Sometimes it's the littlest things!
Dining Plan. Onsite guests can choose to add a dining plan to their reservation. A dining plan is a pre-purchased meal plan where guests have an allotment of dining credits they can use at their leisure and convenience. A dining plan can also save guests that hassle for budgeting for food costs because it is a set cost that always nets savings vs paying for the same amount of food out of pocket. For more detailed information about the dining plan options, check out this post, "Disney Dining Plan - Yay or Nay?".
Advance Fast Passes reservations. Onsite guests can choose their Fast Passes 60 days before their arrival date. Guests can choose up to three Fast Passes each day in one park, for each day of their vacation. Guests who are not staying onsite can purchase their Disney tickets in advance but can only make Fast Passes 30 days before their arrival day at each park and can only reserve Fast Passes one day at a time.
Free round of mini golf at Fantasia Gardens or Winter Summerland Miniature Golf Course. There will always be some down time and non-park time during your vacation. Each onsite reservation also includes a free round of mini golf and a free entrance to ESPN's Wide World of Sports Complex. In addition, there are lots of discounts and vouchers for various dining, shopping and entertainment options in Disney Springs included as a part of your reservation bonuses.
UPDATE: As of March 20, 2018 - parking fees are in effect at Disney resort hotels as per here.
N/A: Free parking. If you rent a car or drive down to Orlando, parking is free to all onsite guests. Otherwise, it is $20/day to park in Disney World (except for Disney Springs where parking is free).
Staying onsite simply keeps you immersed in the Disney bubble for a complete Disney vacation. The convenience, the impeccable customer service, the quality of experience is completely tied to ensuring utter happiness during your stay. If you have chosen to visit Walt Disney World for your next vacation, you have made the choice to accept happiness and joy. Why wouldn't you want to maximize that experience as much as possible?! That is what Disney World is all about!