Best hotel for combined universal / disney

[chrissyb2411]

Hi all, looking for a recommendation / suggestion .

Traveling as a family of 4 (6yo, 9 yo 2 adults). Our plan is 7 nights in February, last week of the month but arrive and leave dates are flexible.

Our plan is 2 days at disney, 2 days at universal, and 1 day at legoland. We have done disney twice when the kids were a lot smaller and I know 2 days isn't much, we don't expect to see a lot. It's mostly for 6 yo DD to get a princess fix ha ha. If we find we missed something we really wanted to see we have some flexibility in adding park days.

Anyhow, I'm trying to decide the best hotel strategy. This is a budget trip, so no high end hotels. I don't want to rent a house because we really want the resort feel and amenities. I would love a suite style hotel if we can swing it. Budget is around $130 a night. I have toyed with the idea of hotel hopping, 3 nights at a disney value, 4 nights in universal area. But I'm not sure I'm up for a mid trip move.

We will have a car, but would prefer not to have to drive more than 15-20 minutes to get to the parks (aside from legoland).

Any hotel recommendations that might fit our needs? Thanks in advance.

 

[Ametista]

Hi all, looking for a recommendation / suggestion .

Traveling as a family of 4 (6yo, 9 yo 2 adults). Our plan is 7 nights in February, last week of the month but arrive and leave dates are flexible.

Our plan is 2 days at disney, 2 days at universal, and 1 day at legoland. We have done disney twice when the kids were a lot smaller and I know 2 days isn't much, we don't expect to see a lot. It's mostly for 6 yo DD to get a princess fix ha ha. If we find we missed something we really wanted to see we have some flexibility in adding park days.

Anyhow, I'm trying to decide the best hotel strategy. This is a budget trip, so no high end hotels. I don't want to rent a house because we really want the resort feel and amenities. I would love a suite style hotel if we can swing it. Budget is around $130 a night. I have toyed with the idea of hotel hopping, 3 nights at a disney value, 4 nights in universal area. But I'm not sure I'm up for a mid trip move.

We will have a car, but would prefer not to have to drive more than 15-20 minutes to get to the parks (aside from legoland).

Any hotel recommendations that might fit our needs? Thanks in advance.

I love the Marriott resorts (Harbour Lake and Cypress Harbour especially). They are expensive but that is the area I would look at. There is also Floridays and Sheraton Vistana Village as well as a lot of hotels. Its my favorite area to stay in because you are really close to DW, SW, and Uni.

Here is a map of that area, you can type in hotels and they will all pop up for you.

https://www.google.com/maps/place/M...37,14z/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x0:0x95b770a92b13231b

 

[auger]

If your budget is $130 per night, I would look at VRBO and find either a condo or townhouse to rent.
You can get a lot for that price!
You would still have the resort amenities you want, but much better accomodations than a hotel.
It would also help with the budget, since you would have a kitchen in which to make some of your meals.
You would have more space, more bathrooms, more everything!

Edited to add...
I would not mess with a mid-trip move on that short of a trip.
That's a lot of trouble and wasted time that you could be relaxing or enjoying a park!
Not to mention, the is usually a lapse between check out of one and check in at the next.

 

[chrissyb2411]

Thanks so far' will check those out.

 

[mhf]

We have stayed at Marriott Grand Vista before. Trying Harbour Lake this time. If you get a 1 or 2 bedroom at one of those, you'd also get a living room and kitchen. Then just stop at the Publix for breakfast, snacks, etc. Marriott will sometimes run Members Rewards (free to join) rates and sometimes AAA rates which can really help the price.

Melissa

 

[vikster1]

Residence Inn Orlando Convention Center. They are between Disney and Universal.

The rooms were nice and large. Kitchen, sitting area and bed area. The include breakfast and evening food M to TH. Close to many places to eat and shop. It is basically behind the Walgreens/Miller Ale house On Idrive area.

 

[kathy884]

A timeshare resort rental would be perfect for you. If you rent from an owner on a site like Redweek.com or TUG2.net, you could get a two bedroom within your price range. We love these for the amenities like a house, but that resort type feel. // If you do a retail rental of one of these or opt for a place such as the Marriott Residence Inn, you could probably get a configuration with a King or Queen with pullout bed in your price range, but a two bedroom would be a little above.

TUG2.net Classified ads section and redweek.com (to do a rental you have to join for $15 on redweek.com, but you can look without joining) are great places to look. // I usually look and just join if I find something I want to rent.

Here is a listing on Redweek (owners have flexible week that covers your dates for $133 a night. It's at the Cypress Pointe phase II resort Grand Villas:
http://www.redweek.com/posting/R431402

This is the same resort / retail is over your price range for the two bedroom configuration, but with the owner rental you'd be very close to your desired price point.

We are staying at the sister resort Cypress Pointe in December on a budget trip and in past visits have found these condos to work really well for us (have stayed in the Grand Villas too). We'll be hitting Disney for a day, Universal/IOA for a day, SeaWorld for two days, and some smaller attractions / resort time.

Another absolutely terrific resort is the Sheraton Vistana resort. We have stayed here many times. You could contact this owner on TUG2.net classified ads section to see if they still have this available and can get it for your week (they are asking $900 so are just under your price point):
http://tug2.com/TimeshareMarketplac...istingGUID=77a4ded6-0562-420c-b2f3-7b36b1593e

Here is another listing for that resort too for week 8 which I believe is your week: Here they are asking $1095 for seven days. http://tug2.com/TimeshareMarketplac...tingGUID=b5f794d5-0df4-42a8-92d6-7c0a3bf3161f // This is a Sunday to Sunday stay.

Here is a listing from Friday to Friday at Orange Lake for your week too. This one is for $980 for the week. We have stayed here too (another excellent resort) http://tug2.com/TimeshareMarketplac...tingGUID=79290c5d-6c9c-4a29-9952-400528c23d76

On TUG, you don't have to join to contact owners about listings, view the classified ads section.

These are the two main sites we usually look at for timeshare rentals in Orlando. I find that Cypress Pointe and Cypress Point Phase II Grand Villas are usually pretty easy to find rentals for because most owners have a flexible week and can get your dates. The Sheraton Vistana Resort and Orange Lake usually can work out pretty well because these resorts are huge, so lots of rentals are available. The Marriott Timeshares are lovely, but usually owner rentals posted on these sites will be above your price point. I really and truly think you would be really happy with any of these resorts. // Of the listings above, if it were me, I'd probably check out the Vistana first, then Cypress Pointe / Cypress Pointe Grand Villas, and then Orange Lake. I would not hesitate to book any of them, and they are all on my list when I am looking for a rental.

 

[2girlsmom]

I would check Buena Vista Suites and Caribe Royale. They are on World Drive (exit 67), so about 10 minutes from Disney, 20 from Universal and probably about 30 or so from Legoland. Both are suite hotels and sister properties. Caribe has nicer amenities as well as the option for 2 bedroom suites. BVS is all 1 bedrooms but breakfast is included there. 1 bedrooms do come at both in a configuration with 2 queen beds plus a seperate living room with pull out couch and are USUALLY around $100 for that time frame. 2 bedrooms at Caribe are 1 king in the master, 2 queens in the second bedroom, full living room, kitchen, etc, and are USUALLY in $200 per night range, I have seen as low as $150 and as high as $350 (in peak season).