Best 1st night non DVC offsite/onsite places to stay

[tjcj]

We have decided to go down a night early and stay offsite (I think) for our "travel down day". This trip its 4 adults for the FWF. So what is everyones 1st night favorite places to stay offsite or on site (Non DVC)?

 

[OKW Lover]

We like any of the hotels in "Marriott Village" which is very close to WDW. We often go to DTD that night then get a good night's rest. The next morning, we are just a short drive to our WDW hotel.

 

[DVC Mike]

If we plan to drive down a day early, we book a moderate resort (POFQ or POR) for 1-night using the AP discounted rate.

 

[daisyduck123]

We did POP this past May, for 1 night before checking into SSR.
We will probably do that again sometime.

This summer, we decided to add 3 days to our BCV trip & of course we couldn't get BCV, so we tried the Dolphin. It was nice, but nothing spectacular.

 

[dgaston]

I use Priceline, especially when our flight arrives late in the evening. We bid at 3* or 2 1/2 * and take the hotel shuttle back in the am to pick up our rental car. At the end of the month, we'll take ME in the am for the first time.

I get an idea of how to bid from Biddingfortravel.com They are a picky site, but invaluable.

 

[jimmytammy]

We stay at one of the All Stars, maybe one or two nights, especially to save those weekend pts.

 

[beachblanket]

The MCO Marriott, which has a resort quality feel, including a very nice pool. It's five minutes from the airport and has a 24/7 shuttle. I've had us stay there several times for free using my Marriot Rewards points.

The pool:

Gift Shop:

Front Desk:

We fly into Orlando late, the shuttle picks us up, we take a swim and then early the next morning we take the shuttle back to MCO and get onto an early Disney Express bus. We're at our DVC resort by 7, which allows us to "check in" early, telling the CM we don't need our villa right away and are willing to wait for whatever one is opening up that day which meets -- or comes as close as possible to meeting -- our requests. That latter raises the likelihodd of getting a good villa by getting us around all the "room ready" nonsense. We're then off to a park for rope drop, then returning in the afternoon to get into the villa.

 

[tjcj]

The MCO Marriott, which has a resort quality feel, including a very nice pool. It's five minutes from the airport and has a 24/7 shuttle. I've had us stay there several times for free using my Marriot Rewards points.

The pool:

Gift Shop:

Front Desk:

We fly into Orlando late, the shuttle picks us up, we take a swim and then early the next morning we take the shuttle back to MCO and get onto an early Disney Express bus. We're at our DVC resort by 7, which allows us to "check in" early, telling the CM we don't need our villa right away and are willing to wait for whatever one is opening up that day which meets -- or comes as close as possible to meeting -- our requests. That latter raises the likelihodd of getting a good villa by getting us around all the "room ready" nonsense. We're then off to a park for rope drop, then returning in the afternoon to get into the villa.

Great ideas, we will have a car on this trip but the idea works the same. I think we plan on doing the same check in early with our request then hit a park opening. Thanks!

 

[alldiz]

Try an onsite hotel that you haven't tried....
Always nice to check out a new place...

Yes...I would get right over and checkin early
Kerri