Hotels Outside Disney Property...What are some of the best rates you've had?

[SandraC]

Hi, our WDW trip for April is booked and paid for ~ I went all out this trip and am spending over $6000.00 CDN! I would like to go again in a couple years, but not spend as much. In April we are staying at CBR and have tons of character meals booked. I know that the next time we will probably spend most of our time at the beach and 2 or 3 days in Orlando doing parks. I will probably do groceries in Florida and make breakfast and lunch and only eat dinners out so we save $$$ on meals. I know there are great rates on Kissimmee hotels. Here's my questions (1) What is the best rate you've gotten on a hotel in Orlando/Kissimmee (2) What is the best rate you've gotten on hotels at the beach ~ Daytona Beach especially. THX

SandraC, visit our Disney family web site www.angelfire.com/on/disneyfun (http://www.angelfire.com/on/disneyfun)
º0º
1975 - off site (11 years old),
1977 - off site (13 years old),
1987 - Indian Rock Shores (23 years old with hubby, b/f at the time),
1990 - Holiday Inn International Drive/Daytona Beach (26 years old, with hubby, six month after wedding),
1998 - KIDS VILLAGE, GIVE KIDS THE WORLD, Make-a-Wish trip with 4.5 year old daughter born ill),
2001 APRIL - CBR - ON SITE FIRST TIME! YIPPY! With dd 7 years old, ds 15 mo

[jgates]

Hampton Inn Maingate West (rate from this board) $50 nite-wonderful place.

Some got HIFam Suites on the buyone nite get one free that normally runs every Jan & Feb for Holiday Inn-I think they only did this for a while - limited the # of rooms they let go out on this.

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[Beverly Lynn]

HIFS is 25 a night for me(airline rate)

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Beverly

[robinb]

My best rates are trough Priceline using the $20 American Express bonus money. I paid $20 for the Wyndham Orlando (near Universal), $25 for the Sheraton World (near Sea World) and I'm paying $20 for the Courtyard by Marriott at Little Lake Bryan (near WDW).


-- Robin

[Kallison]

Just wanted to add if you want to do beach, I think there are much nicer places than Daytona. DB is very commercial.

[waltjr]

I am staying in Kissimmee for $33 per night. It is about 20 minuites from WDW.

[Yay2001]

You say there are much nicer places than DB -- WHERE do you recommend?

thanks!

[KMeehan]

Where are you staying for $33 a night? I have been looking for a decent motel for 3 nights in Midmarch?

[WDW4ME]

this year and paid $49.50 a night.

It is by Universal Studios and runs a free shuttle there, which is where we were spending more time this trip. (as I did 2 trips to DW last year!)

You get free breakfast buffet (with waffles, pancakes, etc), a frig, microwave & coffeemaker in our room, too.

Thought it was a pretty good deal!

Have a do da day!

Bonnie
'84 offsite
'90 CB
'94 DL
'99 CB
'00 May-AS Movies, Dec-AS Music
'01 Apr-Offsite
http://disneyclipart.simplenet.com/Characters/Groups/Mickey_and_Minnie/mic-min03a.gif

[hobogary]

We like the Gator Motel $35 on 192.

Off site 86, FW 86, FW 88,FW 90,ASMu 98, ASMu 98, ASMu& ASSp 01

[disneyfantoo]

Cocoa Beach is really nice - just south of the Space Center - and an easy drive from Disney, about 45 minutes on the 528 East (Beeline)- here is a website where you can get more exact info http://www.cocoabeach.com/index1.html -

Have a great time!!
Carolej

[stego]

Back in the 70's, Hyatt built very close to disney property. My buddy has worked for the Hyatt the past 10 years. Not only does he get 3 free nights, but his employee rate is 64.50 a night. That is quite a deal for the Hyatt. I have never stayed on property. I am in the parks from 1/2 before opening to one hour after it closes. Why do people pay so much money when they are gone all the time? I really don't know.
My wake up call comes in at 6 or 630am. We are gone an hour late. We don't return until 10pm that night. So we maybe are in the room for 8-10 hours, max. We do not sit looking out the window for all that time. I just figure people have the money to burn, so go ahead. But as a single dad, most of my money, 35% goes to daycare anyway.

[Lewisc]

Unless you have access to a very special rate (Beverly $25) or use Priceline, any rate under $50 is a suspect property. I stayed in Knights Inn for $20 /night. A zero star property.
If you check specials throught this website and places like quickbook.com there a lot to chose from in the $70-$100 range. Another option is to rent a condo or vacation home.

[FriendsOfEeyore]

I got the Hyatt Orlando for my upcoming trip for $42 per night. I have never stayed at this resort, but I know the location. It is just east of the 192 entrance to WDW. It should take about 10 minutes to the WDW parking lots from the time that we leave the hotel. Just shop around, and if you feel adventureous, give Priceline a shot. Just remember, you will not be able to decline a room that priceline finds for you.

-Edward

05/99 off-site Radisson Resort Parkway
05/01 off-site Hyatt Orlando

[kimmy66]

I paid $40 a night, through Priceline, for the Summerfield Suites-Lake Buena Vista. It's right outside of Downtown Disney. We loved it!

[garrett79]

The Omni Rosen Center on International Drive is very nice. They have specials called Orlando Escape where , if available, the room will cost you $59 per night with a full breakfast buffet for two.

[Emmyfaye]

Try New Smyrna Beach (Oceania Plaza is a small, condo hotel right on the beach, which offers good value for your money) which is just south - maybe 20 miles -of Daytona, and is far less busy and commercialized. We really enjoyed the week we stayed there recently! :)

[Muffy]

We just came back from a 13 night stay at marriot orlando world center for 58.00 a night through priceline. It is a four star and 10 min from WDW parking lot. Having said that...I do prefer staying on site but this was to good to pass up! I got the resses from priceline during the summer when priceline was giving out better deals. We had 2 connecting rooms at 58.00 for each room. Hope this helps!

Muffy

[Emmyfaye]

Oceania Plaza has a website, and offers different rates for different times of the year - you can book a unit nightly, weekly or monthly. Our unit had two good sized bedrooms (one with two single beds, the master with a balcony facing the beach with a queen bed), two full bathrooms, and a spacious kitchen/dining/living area. There are many other condo/hotels in this area, and there is a Volusia County website with links to a number of them.

We're from Canada too, and staying here maximized our dollars after the real expense of staying and dining at WDW (we drove - and after all expenses were tallied, our trip totalled more than $7,000 Canadian!!!).

On the other hand, if I had another $7,000 available right now, I'd go in an instant!!

[DocRafiki]

I stayed at ExtendedStay America across the street from the Universal entrance (and yes I mean so close you can walk) for about $40 a night. That was right before Christmas and not a discounted rate. Oh, and at the time, the weekly rate was $200. It's new, VERY nice, spacious & clean, and you get a recliner, desk, and FULL kitchen. This is a hotel, not a motel (room entrances on the inside of the building), which I like. They can be so cheap because they don't have an extravagant lobby, you don't get maid service every day (I like them to stay away anyway), and they only staff the office during certain hours. I've stayed at 4 different extended-stay-type hotels recently and LOVE the new trend.

Jen, DVM
DEG since 1974 (1 yr old)
WDW CP CM Fall 1992
WDW CT CM 92-94, 96-97
TDS CM 97-98

[tonilea]

Wyndam Orlando Resorts on I-drive $35 per night.

Toni

[Kajunswty]

I love this place ! It comes with a full buffet breakfast (like shoneys). All we pay for is drinks for the 4 of us. And of course we leave a heafty tip. It is only about 5 min or less to MK. Oh, and it also has a bar for those evening's you need to unwind from all that "happiness"!! The only downpoint is the pool is not heated. But I can manage. Also, you can get a nice sized frig for $10. I found this place from the kissimmee welcome center brochure.

[addot]

We have reservations for Hawtorn Suites Lake Buena Vista, early June for 89$/night - Rate available with the Orlando Magic Card (free). The suite has two rooms, a full kitchen, sleeps 6, breakfast included, less than one year old, adjacent to WDW in LBV.

The Magic Card gets you lots of hotel discounts.

[Humpbacks1962]

Time ago, at the Ramada Limited by Universal Studios I paid only a little over $35.00 a night with breakfast included, children stayed free.

However, one night a stranger popped into my room and I woke up screaming him out of there. I called the lobby and found out several guess are given the same key code, and this duffus had mistaken my room for his.

Needless to say, I never stayed there again.

Wanda <IMG WIDTH="15" HEIGHT="15" SRC="/infopop/emoticons/icon_redface.gif" alt="red face"> <IMG WIDTH="15" HEIGHT="15" SRC="/infopop/emoticons/icon_redface.gif" alt="red face"> :mad: :mad:

http://adansoniabonsai.homestead.com/files/Humpbacks62.jpg

[waltjr]

I booked my travel with Travil Mania 407-957-5258 and they put me in the Howard Johnson for $38 a night. It was acrows the street from Celebration and had a nice pool.

[SCgoofy64]

Here is what I have paid the past 2 years. All are nightly rates

Rented DVC Points:
Boardwalk Villas 5 Nights - $90 May 99
Old Key West 7 Nights - $80 Nov 99 and May 00

Holideals:
Holiday Inn Family Suites 3 Nights - $55 Sep 99

Priceline:
Dolphin 3 Nights - $74 - May 00
Marriot Orlando World Center 1 Night - $60 -May 00
Wyndham Palace Resort 9 Nights - $33 - May/Jun 01
Wyndham Palace Resort 4 Nights - $33 - Sep 01
Courtyard Marriot Village 5 Nights - $20 - Nov 01

If you are flexible give Priceline a try.

[TimNDansMom]

waltjr: I believe we stayed in the same HOJO-- Maingate East (next door to Water Mania) as you did, a couple of weeks ago.

We got a Manager's Special of $35.75 per night with an extra $2.00 mandatory charge for the safe. It was clean and quiet and had been refurbished in 1998, I believe. We never got around to the pool. The free shuttle worked okay for us and it was a quick hop onto the I-4. I thought it was a great deal for our last minute, much needed, mid-winter break!!

Julie

off-site '86,'87
DXL July 00
DXL November 00 (no kids)
off-site March 01
CSR & ASMu July 01

[js]

Last year 8 nights at HIFS from 10/27-11/4, with the Buy One Get One Free offer, with tax, charges, etc. the room per night came to $66.
Add free hot breakfast onto that for 2 adults and 2 children and I think we made out nicely :)
Plus, my kids loved it.

[unctigger]

thru Priceline Dec 00 right before Christmas $40+ bonus money---this was a quick trip, just 3 days.

Tried Priceline again for a couple of days in May before staying on-site--Wyndham Palace $33+ bonus money. This really helps in "averaging" the total cost of the trip.

[deena]

Last year we spent 8 nights at the Howard Johnson Mainagte West for $52 a night with a special promotional discount.

The hotel was nice; had a game room, restaurant, heated pool, and our room was fantastic (very spacious and comfortable). We were literally minutes from Disney's gates and this bargain left a lot of spending money for eating at restaurants, buying souvenirs, and misc. stuff.

Also, they had free reliable shuttle service to Disney. We used their bus to visit the Epcot park because we wanted to experience shuttle service firsthand for one day instead of heading out in the car. I give it a thumbs up and the driver was very nice.

I plan to definitely stay here sometime in the future because the particular quality of the room was so great for that low of a price; I highly reccommend it. Also, its' so close to all kinds of shops and restaurants.

I very much agree with one of the previous posters that there are so many wonderful deals to be found off property especially considering the actual amount of time you really spend in your room because we are practically gone all day too visiting parks/other places.

Although we definitely spend time lounging around the hotel for some time during the days to enjoy the atmosphere, we do arrive mostly back at night. So the room ends up basically serving the purpose of resting/sleeping, showering, swimming, and watching a litttle t.v. after we have been out touring all day long.

I have heard some great things from others about the maingate comfort suites and I indeed plan to try them out on another stay.

[SugrPlum]

I got a $45 a night first try with HomeWood Suites which is GREAT! for 3 people having their own bed and 2 TVs and 2 phone lines hehe. Also, got Amerisuites near the Airport for $35 fot the first night there. Both have a HUGE!!! breakfast Buffet (which of course means it will last through lunch shhhh hehe:)

But what really got me doing a happy dance was when I booked my flight with US Airways (they better not go on strike) through Priceline. I got a terrible flight out and coming back so I called US Airways direct and get a Very nice CS person. She was able to switch my out flight to a later time and my coming back flight to a direct flight which meant not flying into Washington airport and wait an hour to fly to BWI. That was sooo stupid that Priceline did that. AND THEN!! she tells me that it would normally been a $100 change order but since I did it in the first 24 hours she wasn't going to charge me (it was the first hour actually). AND THEN!!! she said plus you will be credited for $20 since my one flight is 1 connection less which meant less airport taxes. WOOHOO!! I was sooo excited hehe:)

[AnnaE4]

Last March, we stayed at a Travelodge for $29.95 a night. It was a great big room with a kitchenette, very clean. I got this rate because I was on hold forever while making the reservation!

Denise

[themousehouse]

PRICELINE
2/00-wyndham palace-40.00 a night
8/00-wdw dolphin -75.00 a night
12/00 marriot world center-75.00 a night
06/01 court yard by marriot downtown disney-40.00
a night

[Puffy2]

Cocoa Beach has the Space Center near by (15 min.drive) you could couple a beach vacation with that and it's only about an hour to the other Orlando stuff too. I've noticed that on the web site listed below, they post hotel deals in the Orlando area on their message boards - you might check there. That Entertainment book gives some good deals on hotels too.

http://www.orlandotripplanner.com