Credit: Disney If it feels like Disney is giving guests less and charging them more… that’s because they are. In a move that’s left longtime fans fuming, Disney has quietly stripped away seven major resort perks while pushing prices higher across nearly every corner of property. These aren’t small changes either — they affect how guests plan, stay, and experience their vacations.
For many, these perks were part of what made staying at a Disney resort a worthwhile experience. Now, with prices soaring and fewer benefits on the table, people are beginning to ask the big question: Is it even worth it anymore?
The Magic of a Disney Resort Stay
For decades, staying at a Disney World resort has been part of the magic. Guests didn’t just book a room; they booked an experience. You were fully immersed from the moment you stepped off the plane. Complimentary airport transportation whisked you to your resort, your MagicBand was waiting, your bags were handled, and you never had to worry about the details.
Even more minor touches — like receiving your souvenirs right in your room after a day of park hopping — added to that sense of convenience. It felt special. Unique. Seamless.
However, in recent years, that magic has faded piece by piece, with perks quietly disappearing one by one.
Prices Keep Climbing
All of this might be easier to swallow if prices were holding steady. But they aren’t. Disney has steadily increased costs across the board. Room rates have skyrocketed, with many moderate and deluxe resorts now rivaling what used to be luxury hotel pricing.
Merchandise costs continue to climb, too, with even basic ears and spirit jerseys creeping well past $30–$50. Quick-service and table-service meals have increased in price, and guests are noticing fewer inclusions for the same amount of dollars. Annual Passes also carry higher price tags than ever, and daily park admission remains one of the most significant expenses on a vacation.
It’s no wonder guests are frustrated. Paying more might not sting as badly if the perks that made those prices feel “worth it” were still around.
Perk #1: Package Delivery
One of the most considerable losses is package delivery. Before 2020, guests could shop in the parks all day and have their purchases delivered straight to their resort—no hauling around plush toys or fragile ornaments. You just picked them up at your hotel later that night.
That service was suspended when the parks reopened — and it still hasn’t returned years later. It’s a small thing on paper, but for guests who love shopping at Disney, it was a huge convenience.
Perk #2: Room Service
For those who love starting their morning with Mickey waffles in bed or ending their night with dessert delivered to their door, the loss of room service can be tough.
Today, only one Disney-owned hotel — Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa — offers any version of it. Everyone else? You’re walking down to the food court or grabbing mobile orders. It may not be a dealbreaker for everyone, but it takes away a level of comfort and luxury many guests once expected.
Perk #3: Complimentary Breakfast
If you’re used to staying at chain hotels near Disney, complimentary breakfast is almost a given. But at Disney-owned resorts? It’s nonexistent. Guests now have the option to either pay for their breakfast in the hotel’s food court or budget for park meals.
Many “Good Neighbor” hotels just off property still offer complimentary breakfast — and that’s making some guests rethink their on-property stays.
Perk #4: Magical Express
This one still stings for many fans. Disney’s Magical Express once provided free transportation from Orlando International Airport directly to your resort. You’d step off the plane, board a cheerful Disney bus, and the magic would begin.
However, that service is no longer available, having been replaced by a paid option through Mears Connect. It’s convenient, but it’s not free. For families, these costs add up quickly.
Perk #5: Complimentary Toiletries
Disney fans used to love finding those little bottles of H2O+ shampoo, conditioner, and body wash waiting in their rooms. It wasn’t just soap — it was a piece of the Disney experience you could take home.
The company has now transitioned to wall-mounted dispensers. While more eco-friendly, it’s another perk that’s quietly faded away, taking a bit of that old Disney charm with it.
Perk #6: MagicBand Discounts
Remember when Disney sent you a free MagicBand before your trip? That ended a while ago, but they at least offered hotel guests a discount on upgraded designs. Not anymore.
As of early October 2025, Disney quietly ended MagicBand+ discounts for resort guests and Annual Passholders. Now you’re paying full price for the bands that used to be a fun (and sometimes free) part of the experience.
Perk #7: No Disney+
This one might catch some people off guard. Yes, Disney+ technically exists in many hotel rooms—but not in the way you’d expect. Even at Disney’s own resorts, there’s no complimentary access to the company’s streaming service. Guests must log in with their own paid Disney+ subscription to watch content.
There’s no “magical” way to just flip on the TV and stream classic Disney movies or shows for free, no matter how much you’re paying for your room. For families accustomed to relaxing with a Disney movie after a long day at the park, that can feel like a letdown.
Some Disney resort hotels still do not have Disney+ preloaded, so guests must bring an additional streaming device. Depending on where guests are staying, they may have to pack an extra device like a laptop, Roku, or Fire TV Stick just to watch a Disney-produced app, even in a WDW Resort room.
It’s a small detail, but it speaks volumes about how much the resort experience has shifted.
What Still Remains
To be fair, Disney hasn’t stripped away everything. Guests can still enjoy Early theme park Entry, which gives resort guests a jump on popular rides in the morning. Complimentary transportation — including buses, Monorail, boats, and Skyliner — remains a solid perk.
Disney has also eliminated overnight parking fees, reinstating free parking for resort guests. These are meaningful benefits, and they still give staying on the property an edge over some offsite options.
But here’s the problem: when you stack those perks against steep price increases, some guests feel the value gap widening. Is 30 minutes of early entry worth hundreds of extra dollars a night? For some, yes. For many others, not anymore.
The Growing Debate
Every time Disney raises prices, there’s backlash. But this round feels different. It’s not just the money — it’s the feeling of losing the “extra” that once made Disney so special. The little perks were part of the story. They helped create that all-inclusive atmosphere that guests loved bragging about.
Now, without them, staying at a Disney resort can feel a lot like staying anywhere else… except with a much bigger bill.
The Magic is Changing
Disney World’s resort hotels are still beautiful. The theming is immersive, transportation is convenient, and proximity to the parks is hard to beat. But when seven perks disappear while prices surge, it’s only natural for guests to question the value.
As Disney moves forward, fans are hoping to see some of that lost magic return — or at the very least, a better balance between what they pay and what they get. For now, it’s clear: the conversation around whether staying on property is still “worth it” isn’t going away anytime soon.