ASMu suites vs Doubletree Disney Springs

[ejgonz2]

Hi, we’ve always stayed on site but now that our youngest is almost 3, we’ll need rooms for 6. I’m looking at ASMu suites (AOA is just too pricey) as well as Doubletree suites. With the DS hotels now having access to EMH and 60 day FP booking, I’m having trouble justifying staying at ASMu for $100+ more. The Disney bubble is nice but I’m not sure that’s enough since we go almost yearly.

My only qualm is the buses from doubletree. Is it all that bad getting dropped off at the TTC for MK?

 

[maxiesmom]

Hi, we’ve always stayed on site but now that our youngest is almost 3, we’ll need rooms for 6. I’m looking at ASMu suites (AOA is just too pricey) as well as Doubletree suites. With the DS hotels now having access to EMH and 60 day FP booking, I’m having trouble justifying staying at ASMu for $100+ more. The Disney bubble is nice but I’m not sure that’s enough since we go almost yearly.

My only qualm is the buses from doubletree. Is it all that bad getting dropped off at the TTC for MK?

It is not just getting dropped off at the TTC, which will add around 15 minutes to your trip each way. It is being dropped off farther out in the parking lots of the other parks, and having no cover over those stops. It is bus service that is shared with a couple other DS resorts, and bus service that is a smidge less frequent than Disney's.

If you want to stay at Disney Springs, I would wait until the kids are older and you may be spending more time at Disney Springs. I would think now the focus is more MK? So that 15 minutes extra each way may be more of a pain than you think.

 

[summerlvr]

While the extra room and lower cost at Doubletree is tempting, I would not stay offsite without a car (Which of course adds to the expense and may make staying at Doubletree not a good option). My experience with buses at the Disney Springs Hilton was that they never started running early enough to get you to a park before rope drop. Not sure what the procedure is now that the DS hotel guests are eligible for early entry.

 

[sbd78]

I've stayed at the Doubletree. You can get by with the buses there as they do run continuously unlike many other offsite hotels. They aren't as good as Disney buses, though. As others said, you get dropped off at the TTC at MK and even at the other parks, the drop off is further than the Disney owned buses. Also, 2 parks share a bus so if you are going to the second park, it can add some time. If you go into it knowing that, the Doubletree is usually priced much lower (often half the cost) of the value family suites. If driving to the parks is an option, you can probably pay the parking fee at the parks and still come out much lower than the value family suites. The suites there are very spacious.

 

[Wild4Walt]

We struggled with a similar decision for our September trip. The Doubletree has a great location and the photos look like a nice, roomy comfortable resort. We ultimately decided to stay at AKL-Jambo House because I was concerned with the bus transportation. Since it's a special trip for us, we decided to splurge a little.

 

[Sue M]

We stayed at The Doubletree once when we added on and arrived to WDW early. I got a great discount code from Mousesavers web site that included room discount and free breakfast.

The 1 bedroom suite was very spacious. It was only myself and daughter. We had 2 queens in bedroom and pullout sofa in living room. Nice kitchenette, lots of counter space & cupboards, and dining table. And way cheaper than All Star Suites.

The Doubletree bus runs continuously every 30 min on schedule. So at least you know when bus is due which is more than I can say for our last Pop stay. Bus wait there (Pop) was usually 30min, (for all 10 days) but had no idea when it would arrive. Those monitors were useless. Time just kept changing.

As for dropping off at the offsite bus stops, half the time our WDW bus dropped us off there too

I’d have no problem staying at Doubletree. And I think the suites are much more comfy. No fold down tables, convertible chairs, etc as All Stars has.

 

[Dreambig39]

We have the same problem with a family of 5. We stayed at AOA on our last trip and loved it, but the price difference is significantly more. I looked at POR, but decided we just can't do the single room, fold down bed. With 3 boys and hubby, we just need a little more space than that. I went ahead and booked the Doubletree for this trip and decided I would sacrifice the Disney-ness of it for cost savings. However, I will tell you this.....if they release a discount on property price, I might reconsider.
Also, we are driving this trip. I thought about driving over to parks to save time waiting on bus, but a friend told me that did not work out well for them and to just use the buses? If anyone can give tips on this, I'd appreciate it!

 

[WDW_Ding]

Also, 2 parks share a bus so if you are going to the second park, it can add some time.

That sounds terrible!

 

[sbd78]

We have the same problem with a family of 5. We stayed at AOA on our last trip and loved it, but the price difference is significantly more. I looked at POR, but decided we just can't do the single room, fold down bed. With 3 boys and hubby, we just need a little more space than that. I went ahead and booked the Doubletree for this trip and decided I would sacrifice the Disney-ness of it for cost savings. However, I will tell you this.....if they release a discount on property price, I might reconsider.
Also, we are driving this trip. I thought about driving over to parks to save time waiting on bus, but a friend told me that did not work out well for them and to just use the buses? If anyone can give tips on this, I'd appreciate it!

Anytime I've driven to the parks it's been fine. Not sure what your friend was referring to? If you do end up driving to the parks, the Doubletree's bus system is a good backup if anyone wants to go back to the hotel earlier than the rest.

We are also a family of 5. We are trying POR this trip, although I'm sure we will be very cozy with 5 of us there, LOL. My youngest is only 5 though, so the pull down bed should be more than large enough for him.

 

[Magalex]

I would choose the suites at All Star Music. With young family members it is best to stay on Disney property. All Star Music is all around very clean nice resort. The bus transportation was excellent for us last June 2017. Disney customer service in food court and housekeeping are the best. With little ones I wouldn't depend on the bus transportation for the Disney Springs area hotel(for adults and business travelers it is fine)

 

[Magalex]

Did you look into the new Marriott Springhill Suites at Flamingo Crossing: http://www.marriott.com/hotels/trav...lando-at-flamingo-crossings-western-entrance/

 

[Shellyred8]

If you stay at the DT, you could also Uber over to the parks. This would add to your cost, but it might still be less than staying on-site.

We stayed at a DS hotel a few trips ago. We didn't use the bus service, but I really liked being within walking distance to DS.

Have a great trip!!

 

[ejgonz2]

If you stay at the DT, you could also Uber over to the parks. This would add to your cost, but it might still be less than staying on-site.

We stayed at a DS hotel a few trips ago. We didn't use the bus service, but I really liked being within walking distance to DS.

Have a great trip!!

Our oldest will be 8, we would need 3 car seats for our younger three. Uber isn't an option for us. We're not sure we're ready to leave the Disney bubble, but for $100 less PER NIGHT, that is awfully tempting.

 

[HopperFan]

We stayed at The Doubletree once when we added on and arrived to WDW early. I got a great discount code from Mousesavers web site that included room discount and free breakfast.

The 1 bedroom suite was very spacious. It was only myself and daughter. We had 2 queens in bedroom and pullout sofa in living room. Nice kitchenette, lots of counter space & cupboards, and dining table. And way cheaper than All Star Suites.

The Doubletree bus runs continuously every 30 min on schedule. So at least you know when bus is due which is more than I can say for our last Pop stay. Bus wait there (Pop) was usually 30min, (for all 10 days) but had no idea when it would arrive. Those monitors were useless. Time just kept changing.

As for dropping off at the offsite bus stops, half the time our WDW bus dropped us off there too

I’d have no problem staying at Doubletree. And I think the suites are much more comfy. No fold down tables, convertible chairs, etc as All Stars has.

THIS^ We enjoy the spacious well appointed suites. Love the layout with so much window so it feels bigger. If I couldn't do an AoA Suite, then I would choose a non-Disney suite such as this.


This is the DS Bus Info ~

Here is the official transportation flyer given to guests staying at the seven Disney Springs Hotels. This covers the following hotels:

• B Resort and Spa: http://www.bhotelsandresorts.com/b-resort-and-spa/
• Best Western Lake Buena Vista: https://www.bestwestern.com/en_US/b...y-springs-resort-area/propertyCode.10288.htmlhttps://www.bestwestern.com/en_US/b...y-springs-resort-area/propertyCode.10288.htmliata=00171890&ssob=BLBWI0003G&cid=BLBWI0003G:yext:website:10288
• DoubleTree Suites Lake Buena Vista: http://doubletree3.hilton.com/en/ho...rlando-disney-springs-area-MCOFHDT/index.html
• Hilton Buena Vista Palace: http://www3.hilton.com/en/hotels/fl...palace-disney-springs-area-MCOBUHH/index.html
• Hilton Lake Buena Vista: http://www3.hilton.com/en/hotels/fl...-vista-disney-springs-area-ORLDWHH/index.html
• Holiday Inn Disney Springs: https://www.ihg.com/holidayinn/hotels/us/en/lake-buena-vista/dislb/hoteldetail
• Wyndham Lake Buena Vista: https://www.wyndhamhotels.com/wyndh...a-resort-downtown-disney-resort-area/overview

Link to the Disney Springs Hotels marketing website: http://disneyspringshotels.com/

Shuttles leave every 30 minutes all day long at designated times. The shuttles are run by Mears Transportation, which has been a Disney partner for decades. (They run Disney's Magical Express service.) Each shuttle runs to two different parks. It's usually one to Epcot, then Disney's Hollywood Studios and the other to the Transportation and Ticket Center (transfer to monorail/ferry for Magic Kingdom), then Disney's Animal Kingdom.

Although each bus stops at multiple hotels, these stops usually only take 2-3 minutes each. The exception would be if there are wheelchairs or ECVs to load/unload. All of these hotels are literally next to each other. In some cases, it only takes 1 minute to go from one hotel to the next.

Link to Bing Maps: https://binged.it/2yfpHqf

Note: With the Disney Springs Hotels being added to the Extra Magic Hours program, the shuttle buses will certainly expand beyond the "regular park hours" that are listed on these flyers.

If anyone has questions, please ask.

 

[maxiesmom]

Our oldest will be 8, we would need 3 car seats for our younger three. Uber isn't an option for us. We're not sure we're ready to leave the Disney bubble, but for $100 less PER NIGHT, that is awfully tempting.

It is a good chunk of money. Before you make the move to off site, make sure you are being honest about how your family will react. Will the bus situation become annoying? After a few days will you be saying "If only we were on site we would be back to our resort by now?" Or will the extra cash be enough to make those challenges seem like nothing?

 

[Disneyhenry]

We stayed at DS Doubletree in December, we had a 2 bedroom and loved it! With all that info about EMH and 60 day FP we will probably stay there again I loved it!

 

[stace1214]

I would do it if it meant making everyone more comfortable and staying in a nicer hotel. It does sound like the buses will be a little more of a pain, but if you give yourselves extra time for travel, it could be okay.

 

[summerlvr]

Did you look into the new Marriott Springhill Suites at Flamingo Crossing: http://www.marriott.com/hotels/trav...lando-at-flamingo-crossings-western-entrance/

This is a fantastic property, but I would not stay here without a car. It is very close to Disney property, particularly Animal Kingdom, but there is nothing else around it. It's especially nice that there are no resort or parking fees (yet). This is my go-to resort when I have a car.

 

[Shellyred8]

Our oldest will be 8, we would need 3 car seats for our younger three. Uber isn't an option for us. We're not sure we're ready to leave the Disney bubble, but for $100 less PER NIGHT, that is awfully tempting.

Yes, the car seat issue makes Uber not as attractive. Good luck with your decision.