Confused about the gates...

[momnum1]

I'm looking for an off-site hotel to stay one night in March. When I googled "hotels near disney", there seemed to be a lot more hotels near the West gate than the East gate (or the other way around). I'm not familiar enough with WDW to know the difference, but I do want to be close to MK. Thanks for any help!

 

[snowy76]

I'm looking for an off-site hotel to stay one night in March. When I googled "hotels near disney", there seemed to be a lot more hotels near the West gate than the East gate (or the other way around). I'm not familiar enough with WDW to know the difference, but I do want to be close to MK. Thanks for any help!

Sounds like the entrances to Disney property... none of which are exactly close to MK. I would guess the "west gate" is World Drive, so properties near 192, and the east gate is probably the DTD entrance from SR-535 or the entrance from I-4.

MK is at the far north end of the property (talking 45 or so square miles of space) so I think the time/distance from either is sort of a "six or half a dozen" scenario. But the World Drive entrance makes MK a straight shot.

Best thing to do is look at some of these hotels on a map (using Tripadvisor or something similar) or use directions on Google Maps to gauge distance.

Hope this helps!

 

[momnum1]

MK is at the far north end of the property (talking 45 or so square miles of space) so I think the time/distance from either is sort of a "six or half a dozen" scenario. But the World Drive entrance makes MK a straight shot.

Hope this helps!

Yes, it does! Thanks! I think the straight shot is what I'm looking for. We stayed somewhere once a while back and it seemed like it was right across the street from one of the entrances. I can't remember the hotel or anything about the surroundings. I'll check out googlemaps and look at World Drive. Thanks again!

 

[DOOM1001]

There's several entrances to WDW,what I would consider the east gate would be the Hotel Plaza blvd entrance which leads to Downtown Disney.This entrance is very accessible to the Lake Buena Vista area which is essentially the area right outside the gate on 535,this area is also the most convenient to the International Drive area which is teeming with hotels since it's also close to Sea World and Universal.You'll also find entrances on 536 which also connects from part of International Drive and becomes Epcot Center dr.Another entrance is on Osceola parkway which ends around Animal Kingdom,you also can get access to Osceola Parkway from 192 from Sherbeth road.World Drive is the original entrance and can be accessed from 192 and I-4.There's technically another entrance from the 429 expressway at Western Way which let's you into Disney property by the Coronado resort.I personally prefer the hotels around Lake Buena Vista and the hotels on International Drive south of Sand Lake rd.Everytime I stay in these areas I usually enter Disney in the Hotel Plaza blvd entrance by Downtown Disney or in the 536 entrance which becomes Epcot Center blvd.I've stayed in the hotels on 192 before but I find fewer quality hotels there since more of them are older.If you stay in this area you'll likely use World Drive.

 

[momnum1]

I stay in these areas I usually enter Disney in the Hotel Plaza blvd entrance by Downtown Disney or in the 536 entrance which becomes Epcot Center blvd.I've stayed in the hotels on 192 before but I find fewer quality hotels there since more of them are older.If you stay in this area you'll likely use World Drive.

Thanks, Doom! Are there any hotels you can recommend specifically? I hate to sound cheap, but all we really need is a place to sleep for a night, so I don't want to pay over $100...

 

[spiceycat]

west and east gate refer to US192 (530)

the west gate are closer to 429 (tollroad) - the east gate are closer to I4

the west gate are nicer (my opinion) than east gate (can be high crime)

east gate is where Old Town is located.

the disney entrance on US192 (530) is located between them both - so west and east.

silver lake is west gate --- vacation villa at parkway are east gate (and definitely this one is nice) - east gate is closer to Celebration.

 

[Bonniec]

I could've sworn when we made a bid and got the Omni it was in the West Gate area. This was back in January so I might not be remembering it right. Anyway, it was a gorgeous hotel but still about 15-20 minutes away. It wasn't bad...just not ideal location. I would aim for anything in Lake Buena Vista.

 

[spiceycat]

lake buena vista generally says LBV resort - even when their address says Orlando - LBV is really just Disney.

the east and west gate date back to the 70's when disney was new. so were the hotels and taxi driver needed more information than just the address = since new streets were hatching.

now other than saying it is Kissimmee rather than orlando or LBV - it does not mean much.

the LBV are along 535 and 536 (not Kissimmee but orlando)

 

[spiceycat]

the closest offsite hotel to WDW is not in kissimmee or LBV -
bonnet creek

wyndham bonnet creek - it is a timeshare and you can generally get it for a reasonable price.

also more expensive
Hilton bonnet creek

 

[spiceycat]

I could've sworn when we made a bid and got the Omni it was in the West Gate area. This was back in January so I might not be remembering it right. Anyway, it was a gorgeous hotel but still about 15-20 minutes away. It wasn't bad...just not ideal location. I would aim for anything in Lake Buena Vista.

the omni orlando resort at championsgate - which is a completely different area

 

[Bonniec]

Okay thanks, I couldn't remember how the areas where sectioned off. It's pretty funny because we stayed there in January. 1 month later DH got a job here and now I pass it everyday on my way to work.