Staying at a Disney resort hotel means you are eligible for additional perks and benefits. As a Disney World resort guest you get free parking at the theme parks and access to complimentary transportation on buses, monorails, the skyliner and more. The early park entry and after hour park access is a plus for many. You might be wondering if the additional magic comes with a raised cost. Is there a hidden fee for all of these magical perks? Do Disney hotels have resort fees? When you’re budgeting for a trip, it’s important to consider the extra cost of a resort fee is usually not included in the room rate. Even if budget isn’t a concern, some vacationers just prefer simplified pricing. Pop up fees aren't appealing.

The exciting bit is that most Walt Disney World Resort hotels do not have resort fees. Resorts owned by Disney do not charge daily resort fees. Some other Disney property hotels do have resort fees though. Let’s go over what these fees are, how much they cost and how to get the best price on a Disney vacation hotel stay.

Disney Resort Fees: What are resort fees at hotels?

When you’re staying at a resort, sometimes you’ll see a daily fee added to your nightly cost. This is in addition to the cost of staying at the resort, not included in the daily rate. Resort fees can make it more tricky to see how much a stay at a hotel may actually cost.

Which Disney hotels have resort fees?

The planDisney panel confirms, “none of the Disney Resort hotels charge a daily resort fee.” While the official Disney owned hotels in the U.S. do not have resort fees, there are Disney World resorts that do. Not all of the hotels at Disney World are owned by Disney. There are properties like Disney’s All Star Music Resort and Disney’s Contemporary Resort that are Disney owned. However there are other hotel chains at Disney that are privately owned and operated. These are more likely to have resort fees.

Some Resorts Have Additional Costs

Walt Disney World Resort HotelCharges Resort FeesDaily Resort Charge Cost Based on Website WordingValue ResortsDisney’s All-Star Movies ResortNoDisney’s All-Star Music ResortNoDisney’s All-Star Sports ResortNoDisney’s Art of Animation ResortNoDisney’s Pop Century ResortNoModerate ResortsDisney’s Caribbean Beach ResortNoDisney’s Coronado Springs ResortNoThe Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and CampgroundNoDisney’s Port Orleans Resort – French QuarterNoDisney’s Port Orleans Resort – RiversideNoDeluxe ResortsDisney's Beach Club ResortNoDisney's Animal Kingdom LodgeNoDisney's Polynesian Village ResortNoDisney's Contemporary ResortNoDisney's BoardWalk InnNoDisney's Grand Floridian Resort and SpaNoDisney's Wilderness LodgeNoDisney's Yacht Club ResortNoDisney Vacation Club Resorts*Disney’s Animal Kingdom VillasNoAulani, Disney Vacation Club VillasNoBay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary ResortNoDisney’s Beach Club VillasNoDisney’s BoardWalk VillasNoBoulder Ridge Villas at Disney’s Wilderness LodgeNoCopper Creek Villas and Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness LodgeNoThe Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness ResortNoThe Villas at Disneyland HotelNoThe Villas at Disney’s Grand Californian HotelNoThe Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian ResortNoDisney’s Hilton Head Island ResortNoDisney’s Old Key West ResortNoDisney’s Polynesian Villas & BungalowsNoDisney’s Riviera ResortNoDisney’s Saratoga Springs ResortNoDisney’s Vero Beach ResortNoDisney World Resorts Owned by a Third PartyWaldorf Astoria OrlandoYes$50 plus taxFour Seasons Orlando Resort at Walt Disney World ResortNoSignia by Hilton Orlando Bonnet CreekYes$50 plus taxWyndham Lake Buena Vista Disney Springs Resort AreaYes$36 plus 12.5% taxWyndham Grand Orlando Resort Bonnet CreekYes$39 plus taxHilton Orlando Buena Vista Palace Disney Springs Resort AreaYes$39 plus taxWalt Disney World Swan and DolphinYes$50 resort service package fee plus tax*Most Disney Vacation Club Resorts are located on deluxe resort properties and share amenities.

Related: Compare the differences between Disney deluxe resorts vs. moderate vs. value properties.

Is a resort fee and resort charge the same thing?

Some hotels will refer to a resort fee as a resort charge. These are really the same thing. What this additional expense covers, however, varies by resort.

How much are resort fees? What are resort fees for? 

Resort fees are different amounts and cover varying purposes at individual properties. Here is a breakdown of different scenarios of resort fees at hotels on Walt Disney World Resort property.

Waldorf Astoria Orlando Resort Fees

This property with a famous name opened in Central Florida in 2009. At around 500 guest rooms, this is a sprawling property and the amenities are impressive. There is a gorgeous spa, golf and luxurious dining. This all comes with the bonus cost of a nightly “Resort Charge.”

The resort charge at Waldorf Astoria Orlando includes:

• Wi-Fi for up to two devices, two bottles of water each day
• access to the shuttle service to Walt Disney World theme parks and Disney Springs
• access to Waldorf Astoria Golf Club practice facilities
• complimentary golf club rentals after 2:00 p.m. at the golf club on property
• fitness center access
• 20% off Spa treatments at Waldorf Astoria Spa
• 20% off apparel and merchandise at the Waldorf Astoria Pro Shop

Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World Resort Resort Fees

The Four Seasons is another well known hotel brand. This Orlando escape is another property with a remarkable spa. The pool is also includes a lazy river and memorable theming. The Four Seasons Orlando is shiny and spectacular but the resort fees are a little less clear. Pricing out a stay at the Four Seasons Orlando shows Average Nightly Rates/Daily Rates and Room Tax but also says that "Taxes & fees may apply." It seems like the resort does not actually have an official nightly resort fee though.

The small print also states, "Actual taxes, service charges, levies, resort fees and surcharges are calculated upon check-out and are subject to change without notice." This makes it unclear for those pricing out a vacation if there are, or will be, additional fees associated with their stay.

Do you have to pay resort fees?

Resort fees are a mandatory fee at hotels. There is not a way to opt out of these costs. Do you have to pay resort fees if you’re not going to use whatever rentals or services they are for? Unfortunately, you still have to pay resort fees even if you’re not interested in using or participating in what the cost covers.

Does the Grand Floridian have resort fees?

Even though it's a flagship, luxury resort, the Grand Floridian does not charge resort fees. Disney's Grand Floridian Resort and Spa is a Disney owned and operated hotel and does not have a daily resort charge in addition to room rates.

Is a resort fee and resort charge the same thing?

Some hotels will refer to a resort fee as a resort charge. These are really the same thing. What this additional expense covers, however, varies by resort.

Is parking free at Disney resorts? Do resort fees include parking?

Parking is different at Disneyland Resort in California and Walt Disney World Resort in Florida.

For a while, Disney World began charging overnight resort guests for parking. This went away, though it’s important to note Disney Vacation Club Members always had free resort parking at Disney World. Even when other guests didn’t.

Resort fees usually do not include parking. It’s common for a resort to have resort fees and also charge for parking.

Things are different than with Disney World parking for guests over at Disneyland on the west coast. Parking at Disney resort hotels does have an additional fee.

For DVC Members at Disneyland, self-parking is complimentary when you’re staying on points at The Villas at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel and Spa. Over at The Villas at Disneyland Hotel, it seems the wording is different. Members may have to pay for parking at some point. As of now, Members staying on DVC points do not need to pay to self park when staying at Disneyland Hotel.

Get Amazing Disney Hotel Rates with the Help of DVC Resale Experts

For those wanting to get the best rates at Disney hotels, Disney Vacation Club is an option. The Disney timeshare uses a point based system. The more points you buy, the bigger the accommodations you can book. You can visit any time of year with Disney Vacation Club as there’s no designated week of the year saved for you. Instead, you choose a “home resort” and buy a point value that suits your wishes for travel. It’s possible to make Disney hotel stays at the nicest resorts quite economic with DVC.  

With Disney Vacation Club, you can stay at popular deluxe resort properties like The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa and Disney’s Beach Club Villas. Deluxe resorts have the best amenities and themes. Imagine visiting your favorite Disney resort year after year and with an excellent rate. It’s possible with DVC and the rates are even better with resale. 

Resale Disney Vacation Club contracts are those sold by Members. Yes, it’s possible to sell Disney Vacation Club if it’s no longer a good fit for you. See what’s available in our DVC resale listings.