Any non-Disney hotels near WDW with free shuttle from airport?

[SpectroMan71]

So here's the deal. I'm booked for 6 nights at POFQ beginning on a Sunday night because the former Saturday added $300 to my package, which I thought was nuts. I'm still coming in on the Saturday, though, and need a different hotel for that night. Are there any near LBV/WDW that offer free shuttle from the airport? Mears is $42 for 2 people one way. Am I better off paying more for the room and staying at a Value resort and using Magical Express instead?

 

[Lewisc]

So here's the deal. I'm booked for 6 nights at POFQ beginning on a Sunday night because the former Saturday added $300 to my package, which I thought was nuts. I'm still coming in on the Saturday, though, and need a different hotel for that night. Are there any near LBV/WDW that offer free shuttle from the airport? Mears is $42 for 2 people one way. Am I better off paying more for the room and staying at a Value resort and using Magical Express instead?

None. Late flight airport area hotel works. Shuttle back to MCO then take DEM. Otherwise Disney value works. You asked about an offiste hotel near LBV/WDW. You'll have to pay $42 for Mears transportation to your hotel as well as a taxi from your offsite hotel to POFQ. I'd rent a car for a day if I was going to stay offsite for the first night.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I'd just go with a Value resort the first night. Between the $42 for transportation from the airport, the cab fare to WDW, and any offsite hotel, you're not going to save anything.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

I would do the value. If you are coming in late at night you can get let Disney do the work. But remember if you are getting in late the cut off for Disney to claim your luggage is 10:00 p.m so you will have to get your luggage and bring it on the bus with you. And even if you are not arriving after 10p.m it probably a good idea to get you luggage rather than waiting till midnight to have it delivered.

 

[SpectroMan71]

The best priced Value I'm seeing is about $145. A nicer Hilton/Marriott/etc could probably be found for $90, but then with Mears I guess it evens out.

Plus, we get in around 6pm so there'd still be time to do a Downtown Disney night, so I guess it makes sense to be on-property sooner than later.

Thanks, guys!

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

The best priced Value I'm seeing is about $145. A nicer Hilton/Marriott/etc could probably be found for $90, but then with Mears I guess it evens out.

Plus, we get in around 6pm so there'd still be time to do a Downtown Disney night, so I guess it makes sense to be on-property sooner than later.

Thanks, guys!

AmI the only person amazed that Disney manages to charge $145 for a "value" I don't see the "value" at all

I would still think about the airport. You land at 6.... that means you don't get to Disney on DME until 7 at best. Then you have to go check in, take the bus to DTD etc... I don't see much happening.

I would get an airport hotel, have a cheaper dinner, swim, hit the bed early and get up ready to go... but then again I am not EVER paying $145 for an exterior corridor cinderblock hotel!

 

[puffkin]

I'd personally just rent a car for the night and stay somewhere near Disney that is cheap. You could probably be in DTD by 7:30 without too much trouble. We like Buena Vista Suites, especially since they have a free breakfast. Then drive over, check into POFQ before returning the car at the Car Care Center the next morning. They will shuttle you wherever you want to go then to start your day. It will probably work out to be cheaper than a value (especially if you stay somewhere that offers breakfast), and IMHO much easier and more convenient. I HATE having Disney move my luggage on a split stay, we have had problems every time.

 

[JennSaint]

You can get a hotel near the airport with shuttle and breakfast for around $60-70 using Hotwire.com. Then you can just shuttle back to the airport after breakfast and use DME. This would be your cheapest option.

 

[Lewisc]

AmI the only person amazed that Disney manages to charge $145 for a "value" I don't see the "value" at all
!

You meant to say you're amazed customers are willing to pay $145 for a hotel Disney considers value. Disney is charging what customers are willing to pay. I don't know how many guests pay rack rate. A few years ago free dining meant a family of 4 with 2 parents and 2 teenagers basically go a room (IMO too small to have an enjoyable vacation) for basically free. The value of 4 adult TS dining plans was more then rack rate at a value resort.

I'm amazed at what Disney is able to charge for hotels in all categories and for restaurant meals.

You can get a hotel near the airport with shuttle and breakfast for around $60-70 using Hotwire.com. Then you can just shuttle back to the airport after breakfast and use DME. This would be your cheapest option.

The OP said he wants to go to DTD the night he arrives. Taxi fare between the airport hotel and DTD will wipe out any savings. Renting a car and staying at an offsite hotel near DTD might be slightly cheaper then booking a Disney value resort for one night.

Flight arrives at 6p. I don't think I'd stay in the airport zone.

 

[CleveRocks]

Two thoughts:

1) If it were me, no question about it, I'd stay at a Disney Value resort that night and barely unpack. In the morning, I would have the resort transfer my luggage to POFQ while I hop on a bus to whatever park we want to start with. Waking up in the magic and getting right down to serious fun would be my best option. I want to avoid the delay and the bother of getting transportation to either the airport or to POFQ directly. Using the plan I described above, when we were done in whatever theme park we would simply take a bus "back" to POFQ and check-in at that time.

2) $300 additional for one night at POFQ? Are you sure? By any chance, do you have the dining plan booked? Because that might explain why the room seems so expensive for one night. If that's the case, then I suggest you try to book a separate, one-night room-only reservation at POFQ for that Saturday night. That way, you won't have to pay for the extra day's worth of dining plan entitlements. On Sunday morning, you would have to check out and then check in again at POFQ's Front desk, but even the farthest room in the resort is only about a 3-minute walk from the lobby ... a lot less bother than switching from an off-site hotel. Chances are you would not need to change rooms in this process, but it is possible.