Calling all Off-Site Experts

[SweetSerenity]

We are staying on-site in November for 8 nights. However, we are planning to leave 1-2 nights early and stay somewhere close by WDW just to be in the general area and possibly go to Downtown Disney. We're looking for something budget friendly, but I don't know the surrounding area very well. I was hoping to get some suggestions. Thank you!

 

[spiceycat]

the downtown disney hotels were having a special.

http://www.downtowndisneyhotels.com/special-offers/

mousesavers - generally has some discount - you need to sign up for her email to get the latest ones

 

[KeithNotKieth]

When we stay off-site, we try to stay in the Palm Parkway hotels or near Sea World on the other side of I-4. You have to be careful about being tricked into deals around Downtown Disney unless you're looking for an overall package stay. Many times their rates dip down to $89 per night, but they charge $24 per night "resort fees" and $19 per night parking. That easily takes a $89 room up to $132 per night. If you like space to breathe and relax, I'm partial to the Hilton Grand Vacations property near Sea World. You can usually find rooms or even suites for around $100-$120 with no parking or resort fees.

 

[HopperFan]

Sign up for Mousesavers newsletters, next one out is the 15th and you will get emails on specials from a variety of offsite hotels.

Via their website Buena Vista Suites is $99 a night for your timeframe and that is a great option for a couple days. Nice suites, breakfast, great location. http://www.mousesavers.com/buena-vista-suites/

 

[spiceycat]

When we stay off-site, we try to stay in the Palm Parkway hotels or near Sea World on the other side of I-4. You have to be careful about being tricked into deals around Downtown Disney unless you're looking for an overall package stay. Many times their rates dip down to $89 per night, but they charge $24 per night "resort fees" and $19 per night parking. That easily takes a $89 room up to $132 per night. If you like space to breathe and relax, I'm partial to the Hilton Grand Vacations property near Sea World. You can usually find rooms or even suites for around $100-$120 with no parking or resort fees.

the Best Western claims it still has no fees. the others should make you aware of their fees before you arrival - otherwise think it is false advertising.

you can rent HGV from owners - it is a timeshare.

 

[GoBears 1980]

the Best Western claims it still has no fees. the others should make you aware of their fees before you arrival - otherwise think it is false advertising.

Best Western Lake Buena Vista has a $13.99 resort fee, which they quote when you make a reservation.

The Springhill Suites Lake Buena Vista has good rates usually. It is nice and newer.

 

[HopperFan]

DTD hotels have some good prices and specials at times but you do need to be aware of the extra charges and if the special is waiving them. Unless you are car-less these might not be your best value.

- Hilton has a resort fee and parking fee. After 2015 no more EMH so hoping the resort fee is reduced since that truly was their major offering.
- B Resort has resort fee and parking fee sometimes waived with specials.
- Holiday Inn I don't think has resort fee but has parking fee.
- Doubletree Suites has no resort fee but has parking fee.
- Best Western has a resort fee but no parking fee.
- Wyndham has a resort fee and parking fee.
- Buena Vista Palace a resort fee and no parking fee.

I have stayed at Hilton 2x, B Resort 2x, Doubletree Suites 4x and "Wyndham" when it was the Grosvenor.

 

[spiceycat]

boy thanks - did not know about the extra fees - when I stayed at BW - there was no fees. guess they were following the swan and dolphin.

 

[HopperFan]

boy thanks - did not know about the extra fees - when I stayed at BW - there was no fees. guess they were following the swan and dolphin.

Be sure to check everywhere anymore. The Embassy Suites LBV has added a hefty resort fee etc since their renovation, I think the Holiday Inn on 535 has a resort fee .... it seems to be a growing trend so beware.

 

[spiceycat]

well I am moving down there - so hotels (unless I want) are not necessary.

 

[DrivenByDisney]

I love the DTD (Hotel Plaza Blvd) properties. We have stayed at all of them at least half a dozen times a piece. You can say resort fee, no resort fee, etc. etc. The bottom line is the final price. One property can be $130 with no resort fee. Another property can be $100 per night with a $30 resort fee. Bottom line. Still $130 per night. What does it matter how it gets to that total? Bottom line total is still what you pay, regardless of how that total is figured.

If you want to stay at [Insert property here] because it has no "resort fee" listed, that of course is your business. Total bill is still the bottom line.

I remember when the Wyndham LBV was the Dutch hotel (forget the name right now) then went to the Grosvenor Resort, then Regal Sun and now Wyndham LBV. Then when the B Resort was the Royal Plaza.

These properties may not be "overly Disney" though they have better rooms than the "economy (or whatever) resorts" at Disney do, to me. When we would holiday at Disney before we lived here, we always stayed at one of these DTD properties and never once had a bad experience. Yes. Things happen beyond the properties control -- Though they fixed it or compensated us each time. This could have happened at ANY resort anywhere in the Disney resort.

Anywho ... I highly recommend all or any of these properties to stay at when visiting Disney.

 

[Russell Ochoa]

I'm partial to the Hilton Grand Vacations property near Sea World

 

[HopperFan]

I love the DTD (Hotel Plaza Blvd) properties. We have stayed at all of them at least half a dozen times a piece. You can say resort fee, no resort fee, etc. etc. The bottom line is the final price. One property can be $130 with no resort fee. Another property can be $100 per night with a $30 resort fee. Bottom line. Still $130 per night. What does it matter how it gets to that total? Bottom line total is still what you pay, regardless of how that total is figured.

If you want to stay at [Insert property here] because it has no "resort fee" listed, that of course is your business. Total bill is still the bottom line.

I remember when the Wyndham LBV was the Dutch hotel (forget the name right now) then went to the Grosvenor Resort, then Regal Sun and now Wyndham LBV. Then when the B Resort was the Royal Plaza.

These properties may not be "overly Disney" though they have better rooms than the "economy (or whatever) resorts" at Disney do, to me. When we would holiday at Disney before we lived here, we always stayed at one of these DTD properties and never once had a bad experience. Yes. Things happen beyond the properties control -- Though they fixed it or compensated us each time. This could have happened at ANY resort anywhere in the Disney resort.

Anywho ... I highly recommend all or any of these properties to stay at when visiting Disney.

The point is the total bill should be the advertised rate. If you are going to add a resort fee to every room then just add it upfront in the price of the room. It's non-optional. Instead resorts are misleading you (on purpose) into thinking your nightly rate is much lower than it actually is. So if someone is looking for a room in a specific budget they will waste time looking at some resorts or if they miss the fine print totally be hit with charges at check in.

Example - Hilton:
- You go to their website. On the left it clearly states their parking charges. No mention of resort fee.
- Go to Hotel Policies, clearly states parking but no mention of resort fee.
- Attempt to book room. At top of page in tiny print is there will be a resort fee but doesn't say how much.
- I'm focused on the rooms I want to book.
- Price of $99 is printed very oversized while above the room rate in tiny print is $24 per night plus tax. Easily missed.
- Unless I click Room Details I don't see the extra charge spelled out with my room charge.
Bottom line this $99 room is really $123 = the true cost of this room is 25% more than advertised, plus $15 parking. (And $99 is a great rate for there, usually more)

More hotels are doing this as a way to mislead guests of their nightly rates. I suggest everyone check the fine print everywhere anymore.

DTD hotels are a good value if you get a great rate, plan to spend a lot of time at DTD or you have no car/plan to use shuttles (have one of the best shuttle systems). Otherwise you can do much better only a couple of minutes away.

AND one plus of Disney hotels is the rate they offer is the rate you pay, no parking fees, no resort fees, not even airport/hotel transfer fees.

 

[pinkgirlmommy]

Help me decide on property or off! I am on a budget and only have 2 more days to make a decision about going at Christmas and staying on property w/ free dining or staying off property! I am having a hard time justifying staying off property, so any advice would be appreciated! If we stay at POP 5 nights and do free dining and 2 day park hopper passes, it will be $2068.88 for the 4 of us. If we stay at the Best Western Lake Buena Vista, it will be $540 + resort fee of $70 + 2 day park hopper ticket ($1037.80), so $1647.80. We weren't planning on renting a car, but if we stay at BW will we need to, or are the shuttles free? I checked all of the other suggestions that are close, and they all end up being more, so this is the least expensive option except I haven't figured out the resort cost. I have to decide if 4 people will spend $421.08 for lunch and dinner for our 5 days. I thought it would be so much more staying on site, but in this case it is not. What are some other reasons that I might want to stay on site versus the Best Western? I know everyone says convenience, but if we have to take a shuttle/bus for both, is there really much difference? We do not plan on bringing a lot of food since we will be at the parks and resort mostly. We could rent a car instead of using the shuttle, but then there is that cost, so I am planning on using shuttle/buses for both resorts. We are looking at going 12/17 or 12/18 and going to the Christmas party- that is why we are only doing 2 days passes.

 

[HopperFan]

Help me decide on property or off! I am on a budget and only have 2 more days to make a decision about going at Christmas and staying on property w/ free dining or staying off property! I am having a hard time justifying staying off property, so any advice would be appreciated! If we stay at POP 5 nights and do free dining and 2 day park hopper passes, it will be $2068.88 for the 4 of us. If we stay at the Best Western Lake Buena Vista, it will be $540 + resort fee of $70 + 2 day park hopper ticket ($1037.80), so $1647.80. We weren't planning on renting a car, but if we stay at BW will we need to, or are the shuttles free? I checked all of the other suggestions that are close, and they all end up being more, so this is the least expensive option except I haven't figured out the resort cost. I have to decide if 4 people will spend $421.08 for lunch and dinner for our 5 days. I thought it would be so much more staying on site, but in this case it is not. What are some other reasons that I might want to stay on site versus the Best Western? I know everyone says convenience, but if we have to take a shuttle/bus for both, is there really much difference? We do not plan on bringing a lot of food since we will be at the parks and resort mostly. We could rent a car instead of using the shuttle, but then there is that cost, so I am planning on using shuttle/buses for both resorts. We are looking at going 12/17 or 12/18 and going to the Christmas party- that is why we are only doing 2 days passes.

The shuttle to the parks is free but you would have to pay to get yourself from the airport to the hotel and back so add that cost in. For $400 difference divided by 4 people = $100 divided by 5 days = $40 a day to eat. I assume you have the QSDP so that is two meals and a snack each day. Entree, drink, dessert and the snack, you will probably come out even or ahead with POP food wise and you will have free airport transport. And your shuttle will be better onsite. In this instance I would book POP.

 

[GoBears 1980]

The point is the total bill should be the advertised rate. If you are going to add a resort fee to every room then just add it upfront in the price of the room. It's non-optional. Instead resorts are misleading you (on purpose) into thinking your nightly rate is much lower than it actually is. So if someone is looking for a room in a specific budget they will waste time looking at some resorts or if they miss the fine print totally be hit with charges at check in.

It has nothing to do with misleading guests it is because falling revenue per room because of 3rd party bookers. The hotels are darned if they do and darned if they don't with using the 3rd party bookers. If they don't use them they might have rooms go unsold, but if they do use them, they cut margin, but they have to supply the same services.

Plus they have lost the revenue from phone usage because everyone uses cell phones, but everyone expects a phone in their room still even though no one uses them. Then everyone expects free high speed Internet, on which they watch movies (instead of pay per view on the hotel TV) so there was an other lost source of revenue.

Hotel revenue is still down from 2006. There have been a lot of properties go bankrupt since 2006 as well.

All fees are fully disclosed when you book before you click the reservation so there should be no surprises when you arrive.

 

[Portugal1000]

I can highly recommend any of the Homewood Suites. We sometimes stay one night before checking into Bonnet Creek and when we first started going to Orlando 10 years ago we use to stay here for longer. Great hotels. Not the cheapest but when you consider what you get, breakfast, managers reception etc, f there are a few of you then you can save some money. The one in Palm Parkway is a great location for Disney.