Disney World vacations have always come with a bit of sticker shock, but as travelers look ahead to 2026, that shock feels a little stronger. Prices have climbed year after year, and the cost of staying on property has pushed many families to rethink how much they’re willing to spend. What used to feel like a splurge now sits squarely in “luxury getaway” territory. And here’s where things get even trickier: while the prices have gone up, a handful of long-trusted perks have quietly disappeared. Disney hasn’t packaged these changes in any big announcement—they’ve simply faded away as new policies rolled in.Before diving into which perks are gone, it’s worth taking a moment to look at why guests adore staying at Disney World resorts in the first place. Historically, these hotels have offered so much more than a place to sleep.Credit: DisneyWhy Guests Love Staying at Disney World ResortsStaying on Disney property has always been about convenience, theming, and that warm feeling of being immersed in the Disney experience. A Disney resort takes the edge off a busy vacation by cutting down on transportation stress and surrounding you with storytelling from the moment you check in. Families love the ability to pop in and out of the parks using Disney buses, boats, monorails, or the Skyliner. That sense of being connected—literally and emotionally—to the parks creates an experience that offsite hotels rarely match.And for years, those little extras helped justify the cost. Early arrival perks, package deliveries, free MagicBands, television features, and small comforts helped guests feel like they were getting something special in exchange for the nightly room rate. Even when prices crept upward, many travelers felt the benefits made the expense worthwhile.Credit: DisneyThese Perks Once Meant a Lot—But Some Are No Longer Part of the DealAs 2026 trips are being planned and booked, guests need to understand that some previously loved perks are now a thing of the past. While a few have been gone for a while, many travelers simply haven’t realized it yet, especially those returning after several years away or planning their first big family trip.These perks didn’t just disappear overnight—they phased out quietly, shuffled aside as Disney adjusted post-pandemic operations and rebalanced what it offers to guests. But they mattered. They were part of what gave Disney resorts that extra charm. And now, guests booking 2026 vacations will want to be aware of what’s changed so they aren’t caught off guard when they check in.Let’s start with one perk that long symbolized the joy of staying onsite: MagicBands.Credit: Sarah Larson, Inside the MagicMagicBands Are No Longer a Complimentary Resort PerkThere was a time when checking into a Disney resort meant receiving a colorful MagicBand shipped straight to your home. It felt personal, magical, and surprisingly practical. That perk faded over the past few years, but the latest update solidified a new reality: not only are MagicBands no longer free, but guests can’t even snag a discount on the premium versions.Quietly, at the beginning of October 2025, Disney World stopped offering discounts on MagicBand+ for hotel guests and Annual Passholders ahead of their stays. That one shift caught many Disney fans off guard because it removed one of the last remaining MagicBand perks for resort guests. Previously, you could at least grab a fun design at a lower price while planning your trip. Now, everyone pays full retail cost.While you can still choose to use a MagicBand+ for convenience, the days of receiving one as a complimentary welcome gift or saving money when upgrading are now behind us. It’s a small change on paper, but symbolically, it represents a bigger shift in how Disney approaches its resort offerings.Credit: DisneyDisney+ Isn’t Included Either—And That Matters More Than You ThinkAnother thing 2026 travelers should know: Disney+ is not included as part of your resort stay. To be clear, this one has never been offered for free, but the rising cost of Disney vacations brings more attention to what you can and can’t do while relaxing in your room.If you plan on spending downtime at your resort—and most families do—you’ll want to double-check whether your hotel’s TV system includes a built-in Disney+ feature. Some resorts allow you to log into your personal account; others don’t have the app natively installed, meaning you’ll need to bring a device to screencast or simply watch on a laptop or tablet.Otherwise, your in-room entertainment options are pretty limited. Without your own Disney+ subscription, you’ll end up watching the same classic Mickey Mouse shorts looped throughout the day. Considering how much guests pay for a Disney hotel room, having the ability to log into a streaming account feels like a tiny upgrade that should come standard—but for now, you’re on your own.Credit: LucasfilmDisney Has Fully Ended Resort Delivery PerksDelivery perks were once a hallmark of Disney hospitality. You could send merchandise from the parks to your resort for later pickup or even have it delivered directly to your room. Families often used this to avoid carrying bags around all day. It was one of those perks that didn’t seem flashy, but it made the vacation feel effortless.COVID-19 significantly disrupted these systems, and Disney never fully returned them to their pre-pandemic form. Instead, several long-standing delivery perks now operate differently than many guests remember:1. Resort delivery for merchandise purchasesDisney no longer offers the former service that allowed guests to buy items in the parks and have them delivered to their hotel room or held for pickup at the resort gift shop. Today, merchandise purchased in the parks must be carried with you or shipped home at your own expense. However, in-room merchandise holding—meaning items delivered to your resort via outside vendors or mail—can still be accepted by Bell Services for guest pickup.2. In-room dining deliveryTraditional room service has largely been discontinued across most Disney World resorts. Guests staying at the majority of hotels can no longer order meals, snacks, or pizza to be delivered directly to their room by resort dining locations. Only a small number of Deluxe resorts continue to offer limited in-room dining options, while others provide mobile ordering that must be picked up rather than delivered.Both of these adjustments change the rhythm of a resort stay. Without the convenience of broad delivery perks, guests may find themselves walking more, carrying additional items, or planning their day with a bit more strategy to avoid juggling purchases and meals on the go.Credit: Inside the MagicCould Disney Add These Resort Perks?It would be wonderful to say these perks might reappear in 2026, but the chances seem low. Disney has shifted its resort strategy, focusing more on digital convenience and streamlined operations than on offering numerous small complimentary amenities. Still, guests can hope that as the company refines its resort offerings, some perks may be reimagined rather than eliminated completely.These benefits mattered because they helped transform a hotel stay into a memorable experience. They added ease, helped families feel pampered, and reinforced the sense that staying on property came with meaningful extras.What This Means for 2026 VacationsAs 2026 vacations get booked, travelers should know that the Disney resort experience looks a little different now. Some long-cherished perks have faded away, leaving guests to do more planning and potentially spend a little more to recreate the convenience they once enjoyed for free. Even so, the magic of staying on property is still there—you just need to head into your trip with clear expectations.Disney World remains a place where details matter, stories come to life, and families create lifelong memories. But understanding what’s changed will help you build a smoother, more informed, and ultimately more enjoyable vacation.The post Disney World Removes 3 Key Resort Perks as 2026 Vacations Are Booked appeared first on Inside the Magic.