Can't afford Disney hotel properties, what is the next best thing?

[BKSinAZ]

I've always dreamed about staying at the Orlando Contemporary Hotel but I just cannot afford 400 or $500 per night. Is there something that will give my wife and I the magic feeling that is not a Disney hotel property?
We plan on staying for proximately for nights and the dates will range from the end of May till about the third or fourth of June

 

[HopperFan]

You know there are hotels on property much less than that. The Values and Moderates. They certainly have the Disney feel.

 

[BKSinAZ]

Thanks for the info, but could you give me a small list of those hotels that I should consider?

 

[HopperFan]

Values (in order I like) =
POP, Art of Animation Little Mermaid rooms, All Star Sports, All Star Movies, All Star Music

Moderates (in order I like with notes) =
Coronado Springs - MY FAV on property but is going to have construction of a tower beginning near future with some work in lake, no amenities impacted
Port Orleans Riverside - lovely resort that has boat to Disney Springs
Port Orleans French Quarter - I like because it's next to POR and has boat to Disney Springs
Caribbean Beach Resort - in beginnings of MAJOR construction, food services in a tent ... I would not stay here at current rates

Currently a summer discount happening, but weekends run higher than weekdays so if you can shift dates. We often go Sunday to Friday to keep rates low.

Just punching in 5/31-6/4 (includes weekend) available:
Sports, Music $146
Caribbean $231
French Quarter $224

If I switch to weekdays 5/29-6/2:
POP $143
Sports, Movies $135
Caribbean $171
French Quarter $224

 

[mjdis17]

Values:
Roughly between $140-$215 per night for you dates.

• All-Star Movies
• All-Star Sports
• All-Star Music
• Pop Century
• Art of Animation

TIP: For two people, Pop Century or one of the All-Star resorts would probably be best for you. All-Star's will be slightly cheaper than Pop Century, and Art of Animation is most expensive. Also Pop Century is undergoing some slight refurbishments at the moment, but shouldn't be too impactful. My personal favorite is All-Star sports, though they are all great.

Moderates
Roughly between $175-$305 per night for you dates.

• Port Orleans French Quarter
• Port Orleans Riverside
• Caribbean Beach
• Coronado Springs

TIP: Caribbean Beach is currently undergoing renovations that are pretty impactful, while Coronado Springs has less impactful renovations. Either of the Port Orleans Resorts would be great. Port Orleans French Quarter is very popular as it is pretty romantic.

Any of these resorts will give you the Disney magic feel as you are staying on Disney property! Also, you can take advantage of Extra Magic Hours and Disney Transportation, which you cannot do if you stay offsite. If you plan on spending the majority of your time in the park, a value is probably the best. The rooms are a little smaller with full beds, and the hotels only have basic amenities (food courts- no sit down restaurants, pools without slides, etc.), but they are still fantastic places to stay. The moderates are pricier and have slightly larger rooms with queen beds, and more amenities (food courts and sit down restaurants, pools with waterslides, more recreation opportunities, etc). A moderate would be worth it if you planned to spend a good amount of time at the hotel.

Also, don't forget that you can always book a reservation at a restaurant in the Contemporary and spend a night eating there and exploring the grounds. That might make up a little bit for the fact that you can't actually stay there.

 

[powellrj]

Bonnet creek resort is popular, swan or dolphin, Windsor hills

 

[Minniesgal]

We like the Hilton at disney Springs

 

[Shanti]

I've always dreamed about staying at the Orlando Contemporary Hotel but I just cannot afford 400 or $500 per night. Is there something that will give my wife and I the magic feeling that is not a Disney hotel property?
We plan on staying for proximately for nights and the dates will range from the end of May till about the third or fourth of June

You can do much better than $400 - $500 per night, even at a Disney deluxe resort. A standard room at Animal Kingdom Lodge or Wilderness Lodge (the cheapest Disney deluxe resorts, yet still great places to stay) will fall between $200 & $300 per night if you book it with the summer resort discount (book this via the Disney website).

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/special-offers/summertime-room/

If you want to stay offsite at a nice hotel for less than that, I recommend Bonnet Creek Hilton, which is within the WDW complex (but is still not Disney-owned) & therefore very close to the parks. It has a great pool complex with lazy river and water slide, and free shuttles to and from the Disney parks.

http://www3.hilton.com/en/hotels/florida/hilton-orlando-bonnet-creek-ORLHHHH/index.html

Or you could try a value or moderate Disney resort, but I'm not a fan, as they have exterior corridors & feel more like motels than hotels. Some people love them, though.

 

[BigredNole]

What are you really looking for: a Disney resort or getting better than Disney accommodations not on Disney property?

Staying off Disney property requires a car or since it is just 2 of you, using Uber (cheaper than parking most likely).

Options:
DVC resorts: You can rent points from owners to stay at OKW, SSR, BWV, AKV, BLT, GFV, WLV, PV, BCV. The price will vary based on the resort and what you can find a person renting their points for. For a quick count and estimated $12/point, AKV would be about 46 points totaling $552. You would need to adjust for the per point cost. OKW, SSR, AKV, BWV are about the same points. Other resorts go up a little bit. You are looking at about $550-$750 for all of the night.

Disney Moderate/Value resorts: Very magical stays at some great resorts. CSR is my favorite moderate and PC is my favorite value.

Offsite: You get better than Disney accommodations, far better in room amenities, and can save a ton. WBC can be had for maybe $50/nt for a 1BR at this point. I know it is not your dates, but a 1BR at Sheraton Vistana 06/04-06/11 is going for $350.

 

[2forMe]

What is your budget and will you have a car

 

[kp_plus3]

Hey there,
very new to the boards and I'm no expert, but I have done Priceline express deals the past two years and gotten Sheraton LBV...my kids love it...shuttle available...there is a huge slide and daily activities for the kids included...I even took my own cooler down to the pool with my own drinks...we do limited days at the parks and we also drive to the gulf so I always try to budget for a cheaper stay...we will be in Florida for 9 days and for both stays I spent 1000 (obviously before hotel fees) I think that's a pretty good price considering I'm staying in two different places and memorial weekend to boot...YMMV but I was offered a super price as a returning guest on the Priceline website for Sheraton and the place we are going to in st pete beach. Good luck!

 

[jason10mm]

If you want to stay offsite at a nice hotel for less than that, I recommend Bonnet Creek Hilton, which is within the WDW complex (but is still not Disney-owned) & therefore very close to the parks. It has a great pool complex with lazy river and water slide, and free shuttles to and from the Disney parks.

FWIW I don't think Bonnet Creek offers a free shuttle anymore. But otherwise it is a fantastic property.

 

[HopperFan]

If you want to stay offsite at a nice hotel for less than that, I recommend Bonnet Creek Hilton, which is within the WDW complex (but is still not Disney-owned) & therefore very close to the parks. It has a great pool complex with lazy river and water slide, and free shuttles to and from the Disney parks.

http://www3.hilton.com/en/hotels/florida/hilton-orlando-bonnet-creek-ORLHHHH/index.html

FWIW I don't think Bonnet Creek offers a free shuttle anymore. But otherwise it is a fantastic property.

Wyndham Bonnet Creek Resort does not have a free shuttle but the Wyndham Bonnet Hilton they are talking of does, probably one of the better ones.

 

[Shanti]

FWIW I don't think Bonnet Creek offers a free shuttle anymore. But otherwise it is a fantastic property.

The Bonnet Creek Hilton does offer a free shuttle to the Disney parks and Disney springs. Here is info about that from their website:

http://www3.hilton.com/en/hotels/fl...HHH/attractions/disney-park-shuttle-info.html

I agree with the PP that you are probably thinking of a different Bonnet Creek property. I'm referring to the Bonnet Creek Hilton.

 

[spiceycat]

you can get studios at DVC for a lot cheaper than $500 per night. they now sell for $15 points per night BLT studio for May is 17 points per night (sun-thurs) 19 points for night (fri/sat). since this is last minute it will be less (after 7 months all the dvc resorts can get anything out there)okay gave you standard view - way to late for that one - lake view is 19 for sun-thur, 23 for fri and sat. your point costs this late would be $9 to $11 - depending upon the owner you are dealing with.

that say BLT, needs to be reserved 11 months in advance - especially for standard view - it sells out quickly. I am using studios because you mention staying at the CR - it is a hotel and does not have 1-bedroom units.

the best deals are OKW, AKV (value or standard), BWV (standard) or BLT (standard) although think VWL, bcv, ssr, akv are cheaper than standard BLT.

 

[JuneChickie]

The Bonnet Creek Hilton does offer a free shuttle to the Disney parks and Disney springs. Here is info about that from their website:

http://www3.hilton.com/en/hotels/fl...HHH/attractions/disney-park-shuttle-info.html

I agree with the PP that you are probably thinking of a different Bonnet Creek property. I'm referring to the Bonnet Creek Hilton.

The Hilton does offer a free shuttle , but the bonnet creek resort next door charges a fee -------

Bonnet Creek Resort ,, I think the resort has a fee of 8 per person round trip.

 

[spiceycat]

I think the resort has a fee of 8 per person round trip.

though that too many singles or couples protested this and they change to a per person charge. so everyone pays there fair share