Speculative query re. potential hotel strategy

Question

Hello, a recent post asking for hotel advice to separate a group has made me wonder about something that we might be able to do next year to save some money (particularly as we are intending to have quite a long visit). I'm looking really to see if anyone has experience of doing this, or can see the issues/holes in my idea which I might not be able to!

For context, we visit at least every other year and always stay at SSR, we are from the UK where there is now a decent (and fairly genuine) free dining offer for next year. For past visits there was myself, adult Daughter and Son, but last year we also had my Son's girlfriend so booked a 2 bed villa rather than our usual studio (as privacy was required!)

Looking to book next year again for all 4 of us, and the 2-beds are out of our price range for the length of stay. We could book 2 rooms at a moderate and upgrade the free plan, but I had another idea!

I'm wondering if we could book a studio at SSR with all of us named on the booking (so get the free full plan for everyone plus deluxe benefits) and everyone's tickets are included on this booking, but also book a room at the Hilton Orlando Buena Vista Palace for my Son and girlfriend to sleep in? It looks like you can walk to SSR from this hotel (you can see the path over the road when you walk from SSR to DS), so they could join us at the bus stop in the morning, use the pool at SSR etc. This way we still get the deluxe benefits, including full dining plan and everyone can still walk to DS which we enjoy.

I've tried thinking things through, and apart from the risk that the Hilton hotel isn't too nice (it looks fine) I can't see any issues with this as an idea? I am however not nearly as experienced as others on this forum so I would welcome opinions? Thanks

Answer

Your idea is creative and shows a good understanding of the different benefits offered by Disney resorts versus nearby non-Disney hotels. On paper, it could work, but there are a few practical considerations and potential pitfalls to be aware of.

Here’s a breakdown of what to consider:

Disney Dining Plan Benefits: The full dining plan is linked to the Disney resort booking. Only guests officially listed on the Disney reservation will receive the plan. If everyone (all 4 adults) is listed on the SSR studio booking, they can technically all have the dining plan and park benefits.
Sleeping Arrangements: Disney Studios at SSR are designed for up to 4 people, but space is tight—especially if two adults share a fold-out sofa or murphy bed. Comfort may be an issue over a long stay, particularly for a 14+ night visit.
Park Tickets: Tickets linked to the Disney resort reservation are fine, but if your son and girlfriend are staying off-site at Hilton, you’ll need to ensure the tickets are accessible for them each day. Typically, tickets can be linked to MagicBands or apps, so this shouldn’t block entry to the parks.
Access to Resort Amenities: Disney allows registered resort guests to use pools and transportation. Technically, the Hilton guests would not be considered official SSR resort guests, so using the SSR pool, buses, or Extra Magic Hours could be restricted. Disney has been strict on pool and bus access for non-registered guests, even if they’re with family.
Convenience: Walking between Hilton and SSR is doable, but may be cumbersome for early mornings or with luggage. You also won’t have the “Disney bubble” benefits for the Hilton guests—they won’t get early theme park entry, resort charging privileges, or Disney bus transportation from their hotel.
Communication and Coordination: You’ll need to plan logistics each morning and evening, especially if some in the group are at SSR and others at Hilton. This might be manageable, but could be tiring for a long visit.

Alternative approaches to consider:

Book two separate rooms at SSR or another moderate resort and share the dining plan benefits where possible. This avoids space issues in a studio and keeps everyone officially “in-resort.”
Check if there are 1-bedroom villas or lock-off options at SSR that could give you slightly more space without paying for a full 2-bedroom.
Consider splitting the stay: part at SSR for dining plan benefits, and part at Hilton to save money, but keep days separate to avoid complications with resort perks.

Overall, your plan could work if the main goal is saving money and having all guests on the dining plan, but the biggest risks are: space and comfort in the studio, and potential restrictions on using SSR amenities for Hilton guests. If your family is comfortable with tight sleeping quarters and managing logistics, it could be an innovative workaround. Otherwise, carefully weighing extra resort cost vs. convenience might be the safer approach.

Speculative query re. potential hotel strategy

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