Best lodging options for a 1-nighter for single occupancy

[whoever]

I travel to Tampa on business a few times per year, and plan on staying an extra day on my next trip to head over to Disney. Will be going to the Magic Kingdom only, and may opt to fly out of Orlando vs TPA. I'm a DLR guru, but haven't been to WDW since I was 12ish (a few decades back). Are there affordable options "on property" ? If I was going with my family, I'd definitely be on property, but for just me, any old thing will do.

 

[Upatnoon]

I travel to Tampa on business a few times per year, and plan on staying an extra day on my next trip to head over to Disney. Will be going to the Magic Kingdom only, and may opt to fly out of Orlando vs TPA. I'm a DLR guru, but haven't been to WDW since I was 12ish (a few decades back). Are there affordable options "on property" ? If I was going with my family, I'd definitely be on property, but for just me, any old thing will do.

What do you mean by affordable? For a 1 night place to crash, a value resort is the least expensive option.

For example, Pop Century or and of the All-Stars.

You will have bus transportation direct from the resort to MK. You can also ride Magical Express back to MCO if that is your airport for free.

 

[whoever]

The All-star sports resort seems the best deal for the closest to the MK.

How does WDW transportation work? Would I be able to drop my rental car off at the Orlando Airport, catch a free WDW bus/shuttle to my hotel, and then back to the airport for my departure the following evening?

I see that only bus service is offered from the hotel to the park. How does this work/what are the frequencies? How long is the ride from the hotel to the park esplanade (or wherever you queue up to enter the magic kingdom?

 

[TDC Nala]

The All-Star resorts are not close to the MK.

There are not many that are close to MK, except the monorail resorts and Wilderness Lodge, which would be very expensive.

I'm not sure about taking the shuttle to the resort from the airport if you are not coming in on a flight. You can call Magical Express directly and ask.

Bus service only from any value resorts to the parks. The buses are supposed to come about every 20 minutes, but they are not on a fixed schedule. They operate on a "dispatch" system, the effect supposedly being that more buses will be dispatched when more are needed.

From Sports you would take about a 15-20 minute ride to the park (remember you also might have to wait up to 20 minutes - possibly more - for a bus to arrive at your resort for pickup). The bus will not drop you off directly in front of the park, but at the bus stops to the right of the park entrance. It's not a really short walk to the gates, but it's not a really long one either. You'll be directed around the ferry stops to enter at a certain angle so everyone can be filtered through the bag check.

(There will be a separate entrance for guests who are not carrying bags but everyone goes in from the same area.)

 

[whoever]

The All-Star resorts are not close to the MK.
There are not many that are close to MK, except the monorail resorts and Wilderness Lodge, which would be very expensive.

Of the under $175/night, it was basically stuff down in the sports zone, or a handful over by AK. The all stars looked "closer". You are right on the monorail resorts... more than I'm spending for just me.

I'm not sure about taking the shuttle to the resort from the airport if you are not coming in on a flight. You can call Magical Express directly and ask.

I was under the impression it was for anybody with a lodging booking. Will certainly call and ask ahead of time. If that's the case, I'll have to find alternative transportation from the AP, or just pay for the rental car 1 more day out of my own pocket.

Bus service only from any value resorts to the parks. The buses are supposed to come about every 20 minutes, but they are not on a fixed schedule. They operate on a "dispatch" system, the effect supposedly being that more buses will be dispatched when more are needed.

From Sports you would take about a 15-20 minute ride to the park (remember you also might have to wait up to 20 minutes - possibly more - for a bus to arrive at your resort for pickup). The bus will not drop you off directly in front of the park, but at the bus stops to the right of the park entrance. It's not a really short walk to the gates, but it's not a really long one either. You'll be directed around the ferry stops to enter at a certain angle so everyone can be filtered through the bag check.

(There will be a separate entrance for guests who are not carrying bags but everyone goes in from the same area.)

Good to know. Looked to be about 7 miles via google earth, but didn't figure on 15-20 mins on the bus.

 

[TDC Nala]

Bus times (for the actual bus ride) are usually going to be longer than you think they are.

At times, the All-Star resorts share buses. So at midday, you could end up going to other resorts first. Don't think they share at all on the MK route at park opening or closing but they could do so in the middle of the day. If the bus has to wait to load or unload guests on wheelchairs or scooters, it could take longer. Just to point out that there are several variables as to how long any given bus ride might take.

 

[bek]

You can book the Magic Express to the Orlando airport for departure only. My DIL did that after our July trip.

She also drops her rental car at a hotel near Downtown Disney. There are a few places around DisneyWorld to drop (or pick-up) rental cars depending upon which rental car company you're using. The Orlando airport to DisneyWorld is about 30 minutes. So a drop-off near WDW saves lots of time. Then a taxi to either your resort or Downtown Disney (and bus to your resort) becomes reasonable.