For Walt Disney World Visitors
Attention Walt Disney World travelers! Hilton promises that their Disney-convenient hotels are “Official Walt Disney World hotels.” But beware – when you plan your dream vacation, if you’re staying at a Hilton, make sure you’re also planning on paying daily resort fees. Disney’s own hotels don’t charge resort fees. All five Hilton-operated Disney-convenient hotels charge resort fees. Are resort fees part of the “Disney Difference” benefits that Hilton promises?
Visitors to Hilton Buena Vista Palace, Hilton Lake Buena Vista, Doubletree Disney Springs, Signia Orlando, and Waldorf Astoria Orlando—may have chosen their hotel because of the perceived value of the stay. However, guests should know a few key pieces of information prior to booking a stay at Hilton hotels near Disney.
- Resort fees at Hilton hotels are the highest among seven competitors, according to a Nerdwallet analysis.
- According to Hilton Honors terms and conditions, points may not cover resort fees unless you book your stay using all points.
- Nightly resort fees do not cover the cost of parking at the hotel, or the cost of parking at the Disney parks.
- Guests can request a refund for resort fees.
The math is simple for Disney resort guests!
Recommended steps before your Disney-convenient stay:
- Review what your Hilton hotel’s resort fee covers
- Consider whether you will use any of those services
- Consider contacting Hilton to request a refund of the resort fee charge
Resort Fee Sticker Shock
When you look at your hotel bill, you may see a resort fee tacked on—and you probably have no idea why. In Orlando, 57% of upper upscale and luxury higher hotels from major domestic brands charge nightly resort fees in addition to record high room rates. Hilton hotels are more likely to charge a fee – 75% of the hotels they operate in Orlando charge resort fees!
These additional fees add up — a stay at the Hilton Buena Vista Palace with one parked car plus the resort fee adds $74 in fees every night. The Hilton Buena Vista Palace has more parking spaces than guest rooms — so why do you have to pay $35 to park your own car each night you stay there?
You’ve just planned your dream vacation. Hotel companies shouldn’t ruin it by nickel and diming you!
Request a Refund
If you’re sick of paying resort fees, you’re not alone. The industry made $3.3 BILLION in 2023 on resort fees, and most of this turns into profit for hotel companies!
If you recently booked a trip to Orlando and had sticker shock about fees for amenities you didn’t ask for, you can request a refund! Here’s how:
Step 1
Download a sample letter here. The letter can cite the following statute in the Florida code, which prohibits companies from being able to charge recipients for unsolicited goods the company may send you:
“Unsolicited goods; no obligation on part of recipient.— When unsolicited goods are delivered to a person, the person may refuse delivery of the goods, or, if the goods are delivered, the person is not obligated to return the goods to the sender. If unsolicited goods are either addressed to or intended for the recipient, they shall be deemed a gift and the recipient may use or dispose of them in any manner without obligation to the sender.”
Step 2
Email the letter to the appropriate party.
• Brandon Claypool, Hilton Executive Operations Director: [email protected]
• Customer Service: [email protected]
Hate resort fees? AI says you’re not alone! See how AI-generated reports summarize reviews on TripAdvisor and Yelp
What Do You Get for Your Resort Fee?
Have you paid a resort fee for a service you didn’t want at a Hilton hotel?
Let us know!
- Local toll-free and credit-card calls (Hilton Orlando Resort Lake Buena Vista Disney Springs Area)
- 4 tubes for Signia’s lazy river (on a first-come, first-served basis) (Signia by Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek)
- Complimentary golf club rentals after 2pm at the Waldorf Astoria Golf Club (Waldorf Astoria Orlando)
- 1-hour kayak rental (Conrad Orlando)
- 15% discount at hotel restaurants and lounge, not valid at Tropics Pool Bar & Grill or toward alcohol or banquet events (Hilton Orlando)
- Drive-in movies (Embassy Suites by Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista Resort)
- Guest Internet Access (Embassy Suites by Hilton Orlando Sunset Walk)
- 2 16 oz bottled waters (Hilton Orlando Resort Lake Buena Vista Disney Springs Area)
- 10% discount on spa services & retail, excluding the salon. (Hilton Orlando)
What You Don’t Get
No Free Parking
- $25/day (Embassy Suites by Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista Resort)
- $38/day, (Signia by Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek)
- $50/day (Waldorf Astoria Orlando)
- $35/day (Hilton Buena Vista Palace)
No Free Breakfast
- Hot Breakfast buffet $28/night (Hilton Buena Vista Palace)
- Egg and Sausage English Muffin $12 (Conrad Orlando)
$$$ Spa Treatments
- 25 minutes compression therapy $75 (Waldorf Astoria Spa)
No free Pet stays
- $75 (Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista Resort)
- $75 (Hilton Orlando Buena Vista Palace)
- $75 (Embassy Suites by Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista Resort)
Late check out fees
- $50 (Hilton Orlando Buena Vista Palace)
News
1. News about resort fees
- “Spending Money to Get Nothing—the latest on Resort Fees” NYTimes
- How to Avoid Hotel Resort Fees (and Which Brands Are the Worst)
- New FTC rule requires hotels to disclose all fees upfront
- People hate hotel ‘junk fees’ so much, even the GOP-controlled House is on board with Biden’s crackdown
2. Press releases