So you decided to visit Walt Disney World this year? Now the fun begins as you plan everything you wish to see and do. As you plan all the details of your trip, you will first need to decide where you would like to stay in Orlando. If you research all the available hotels in the Orlando area you will overwhelmed with the number of choices you will have.

With thousands of hotel rooms in the area, from on-site Disney hotels to off-site large and small hotel chains, you really have quite a few decisions to make before you choose one. In order to determine what will work best for you, you should consider both your budget and the needs of your traveling party.

The number of people in your party and their ages and needs should guide you to where you should stay when visiting Walt Disney World. Usually, large parties benefit from suite type hotels or even renting a home during the stay, as most hotel rooms are geared for a total of 4 persons (2 adults and 2 children). Travelers with small children like to stay close to the theme parks and enjoy the ability to commute back and forth from the parks to the hotel with ease. The ages of your travelers should also be considered, as some of the family-budget type hotels may not be enjoyed by seniors or honeymooners.

Disney on site hotels do offer several choices in the area of pricing and features. Staying on site at Disney does include a few benefits that you cannot get off site. They include "extra park hours", which allow hotel guests to visit parks one hour before their scheduled opening times and up to three hours after closing times. This feature applies to one park per day and rotates each day of the week. On site hotels also offer Disney's Magical Express service, which provides transportation to and from the Orlando airport, including the ability to bypass baggage claim, as Disney picks up your luggage for you.

Staying on site also include guaranteed park admissions, even when the parks are filled to capacity. This only helps when traveling during real peak times of year.

Off site hotels are plentiful in the Orlando area. Some hotels are within one mile from Disney property and are very convenient to the parks. Usually an off site hotel will offer more for the money, compared to a Disney value or moderate type hotel. All of the major chain hotels (Embassy Suites, Holiday Inn, and Sheraton) can be found in the Orlando area. When booking a room outside of Disney, it makes sense to get referrals from family or friends who have stayed in those hotels. Otherwise, stick to a major hotel chain and check out the hotel online for reviews.

Deciding where to stay during your vacation is an important decision to make. If you want the complete Disney experience, or feel you need the ability to travel back and forth to the theme parks in the easiest manner you may want to choose an on site hotel. If you are planning to rent a car, are going to travel to other parks (Sea World, Universal), or are on a budget and want the best value for your dollars, look into an off site hotel deal.

Wherever you decide to stay you can be assured that Orlando offers great entertainment for travelers and continue to rank as a top travel destination.

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