Best Place to Stay Off Site and Cheapest

[erikamacelroy]

Hello Disers! I'm hoping to plan a quick girls weekend trip to visit Disney (June 11-15). We are all on a tight budget. I'm looking for a nice place to stay but hoping to pay under $100/night. I'm also looking for a place that possibly has bus transportation to the Disney parks. For the past two years, when I've traveled with my family, we have stayed on site and have had the Disney vacation works. I'm really hoping to make this long weekend trip possible but $ is an issue! Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks everyone!!!

 

[kathy884]

The downtown Disney holiday inn would have an hourly shuttle, and an early saver rate with a double queen room is running with tax about $110 for your nights. You might even be able to under the Orlando Hotels and Attractions forum on the DISBOARDS site book with Shelby for the friends and family discount that could put this right where you are looking budget wise. Read trip advisor reviews. This property is highly rated with tripadvisor posters also.

Thread about the friends and family discount -- nice deal I have used before:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2270021&highlight=friends+and+family+discount

Trip Advisor Reviews -- highly rated property with most guests giving an excellent rating:
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUser...Orlando_Lake_Buena_Vista-Orlando_Florida.html

If you won't be getting a car Downtown Disney and Onsite are going to be the options that would be the most convenient with fairly frequent shuttles. If you have your own car and don't need the shuttle your choices expand considerably. The above though would be a great option with the shuttle.

 

[HopperFan]

They have arrangements with Mears for airport shuttle, they have parks and shopping shuttles. They have very nice suites and included breakfast. Their rates are in your range for those dates especially with their specials.

Go to Mousesavers - Disney World - Preferred Hotels - Buena Vista Suites and check them out.

You can also go to www.downtowndisneyhotels.com to see what specials they are offering but of course watch for resort fees (and parking but sounds like you won't have a car).

I would still look at on-site because of the free airport shuttle. Calculating that added cost to offsite resorts may make onsite more reasonable.

 

[crazelion]

I would check travelzoo.com and bookit.com they have some really good deals. The only way I would do offsite is with a car.

 

[Grumpy92]

Look at the DTD hotels. We recently got a mousesavers discount for the Hilton at DTD for $89. I know B and Wyndhan offer some good specials.
Keep and eye on mousesavers.com for discounts and specials.

 

[momto4obkids]

Right now for your dates mousavers has a deal for Buena Vista Suites $109 a night plus get every second night for $59.

It's an all suite hotel and you get free full breakfast.


http://www.mousesavers.com/buena-vista-suites/

 

[VikingInMouseEars]

If you plan to rely on the hotel supplied transportation to the parks then definitely stick with the DownTown Disney hotels. My personal research has shown me that the other offsite hotel that offer transportation exaggerate the convenience. Most of the time they only offer 2 pick up times and usually only one of them gets you to the park even CLOSE to rope drop, the other is usually mid morning and the evening return buses are just as bad.
The Downtown Disney hotels have their own bus line that runs throughout the day.
If you opt for a car, I haven't stayed here yet, but the Maingate Resort and Spa is getting great reviews lately and we are most likely going to book there for an April trip.
As far as rental cars go, I have always got the best deal through Alamo. My tactic is starting about 3 months before my trip is to start checking the Alamo site nearly every day, the prices do fluctuate, and when I see a drop I will book a car, but wait, don't stop there. Continue to check it everyday or nearly so because often you will stumble upon a much cheaper rate that is only shown for a day or so. The best deal I ever got was one that I followed this strategy, and one day the car that I had previously booked at $18/day suddenly was showing a price of $8/day. Score!!!
Moral, never give up, keep checking.

 

[richmo]

Lots of places will tell you they have Disney shuttles, and they do. But look at posts all over these boards and there will be one important piece of advice: If you're staying offsite, rent a car. One exception to this is the Hotel Plaza Blvd properties. They're inside Disney property and have a reliable bus system, shared by all the hotels. You also have the advantage of a quick walk to Downtown Disney should you want to catch a bus to non-park Disney venues (mostly resorts). I would imagine Bonnet Creek hotels would also have a decent bus system. If you're going to rely on shuttles, I would very seriously look into staying in these areas. For that matter, you might be able to get a value resort (All-Star) for about the same AND you get the benefit of Magical Express to and from the airport.

If you have to be off-property, my recommendation is to get a car. If you put yourself at the mercy of shuttles, your schedule gets a lot more regimented and make sure you have cab fare in case you miss your return shuttle or it doesn't show up. If you do rent a car, remember you'll be paying $17/day to park, so factor that in when weighing against the above options.

I've stayed offsite a lot and was there almost the exact weekend you're planning on last year. I rented a car though. Anyway, that weekend last year I stayed at the Quality Inn and Suites on Entry Point Blvd in Kissimmee for I think $64 a night, breakfast included. The room wasn't fancy, but was fine for our purposes. Location was great; near the Sherberth Rd entrance to the Animal Kingdom area. I've also stayed at the Clarion Inn on Palm Parkway in Lake Buena Vista -- again, nothing fancy, but a good location and cheap (I think $49 last spring, no breakfast included).

Weigh your transportation options carefully and do some research - tripadvisor, etc. Have fun!

 

[coastalhh]

Watch for "resort fees" and parking fees when staying off night. You often get 25 to 50 in fees per night that eliminate your savings.

Check orbitz rates of disney values. We have stayed at pop and all stars for under 88 a night including tax plus you get the benefit of being on site. It's hit or miss but keep checking. The values can be prized anywhere from 75 to 200 at certain times of the year.


Also we often use the hotel tonight all for last minute stays. I once scored the swan for 99 (150 after the resort/parking fees) and they often have downtown disney locations on that app. You can't use it for months in advance as they only sell unsold inventory at discounted price if you are willing to risk booking later.

 

[PamNC]

except it's a trip with my boyfriend. We need to do this on a budget and we found Baymont Suites by Wyndham in Celebration for $55.00 a night. We're going for 4 nights. I haven't been since 2010 and I've always stayed on-site. Glad to see this thread about the shuttles for some properties. They do have a shuttle but I think I'd rather drive my car... have the freedom. Anyway - this hotel looks fine and I loved the price.

 

[erikamacelroy]

Thanks everyone for your awesome suggestions. We will be renting a car. After doing research.....most off-site hotels have very limited "free" shuttles (they only run during very limited hours). I ended up booking with Maingate Resort and Spa. It had amazing reviews and the price can't be beat. I also think we might be doing a two day park ticket and doing downtown Disney the other days.

I know that parking at the parks is $17/day...do they charge you again if you leave the parking lot and return later in the day? Thanks again for all the tips. I've never stayed offsite before and I'll admit I'm a tad nervous about being outside the "Disney bubble." But I'll take what I can get. Just excited to be at my happy place!!!

 

[HopperFan]

Thanks everyone for your awesome suggestions. We will be renting a car. After doing research.....most off-site hotels have very limited "free" shuttles (they only run during very limited hours). I ended up booking with Maingate Resort and Spa. It had amazing reviews and the price can't be beat. I also think we might be doing a two day park ticket and doing downtown Disney the other days.

I know that parking at the parks is $17/day...do they charge you again if you leave the parking lot and return later in the day? Thanks again for all the tips. I've never stayed offsite before and I'll admit I'm a tad nervous about being outside the "Disney bubble." But I'll take what I can get. Just excited to be at my happy place!!!

No, you pay once and then just show your receipt when you return or go to another park.

 

[thealrocket]

The hilton across the street from DS is clean and reasonably priced. Junior sweets start at about 200$. The have bus services and when you stay there you can use extra magic hours.

 

[ain0004]

Quality suites at lake buena vista. Includes breakfast. Transportation limited. Can sleep up to 6 or 8 depending on room. Has full kitchen. Quiet and small. Join choice privileges for free and you can go for about 90/night with taxes. With prepay option

 

[Judique]

except it's a trip with my boyfriend. We need to do this on a budget and we found Baymont Suites by Wyndham in Celebration for $55.00 a night. We're going for 4 nights. I haven't been since 2010 and I've always stayed on-site. Glad to see this thread about the shuttles for some properties. They do have a shuttle but I think I'd rather drive my car... have the freedom. Anyway - this hotel looks fine and I loved the price.

Someone I know stayed there recently and it was adequate. It is very close to Animal Kingdom right off 192 and there are a lot of reasonable places to eat nearby. It is not actually in Celebration. I think it is more convenient.

 

[Portugal1000]

When we first started going to Disney we stayed at Quality Suites in Palm Parkway. One bedroom suites, great beds and good breakfast. Would stay again for short trip. We love Homewood Suites in Lake Buena Vista. Stayed first night last year and paid $99 in August. Great rooms, excellent breakfast and Managers reception 4 nights a week.

 

[erikamacelroy]

Thanks everyone for the suggestions!

 

[Brewersprts]

We rented a 3 bedroom / 3 bath condo at Paradise Cay for our trip. We paid about $70 a night, which included taxes and cleaning fee. You can't beat it.

Full kitchen. Laundry in the unit. It was very clean and quiet. Tons of space. Very close to the parks. I could pull out of the gated community, make two lefts, and be on Disney property in less than 10 minutes. Under 5 minutes if we hit the traffic lights right.

I would highly recommend it.