Disney Springs Hotel questions

[sunsetbeachgal]

We are looking at taking a last minute trip to WDW in conjunction with visiting friends, in mid April and I am considering staying at one of the Disney Springs hotels. We will have two park days and plan to do Epcot and Animal Kingdom (did the other two parks last year). We normally drive to these two parks even when staying at a WDW Resort, so giving up the Disney buses aren't an issue for this trip. Also I kind of like the idea of walking over to Disney Springs.

Question, do the Disney Springs hotels qualify for Extra magic Hours? Is there anything else I would give up by not staying at a WDW resort?

 

[sponica]

I believe they qualify now, here's a whole sticky/thread over on the Orlando Hotels and Attractions

https://www.disboards.com/threads/d...ing-now-in-effect-no-packages-needed.3653361/

The only thing I think you lose out on is free parking at the parks....

 

[bigbabyblues]

The only thing I think you lose out on is free parking at the parks....

Which isn't nearly as good now, since you have to pay to park at the resort overnight.

You also obviously can't charge things with a magic band. That and free magic bands were the only things I could come up with when we were debating onsite vs. offsite for this trip. Magical Express from the airport, if you fly in (we don't).

 

[buzznina]

Which isn't nearly as good now, since you have to pay to park at the resort overnight.

You also obviously can't charge things with a magic band. That and free magic bands were the only things I could come up with when we were debating onsite vs. offsite for this trip. Magical Express from the airport, if you fly in (we don't).

Yep, you no longer get much more at WDW resorts anymore. The biggest thing for us is their transportation is much better than offsite shuttles. We have our van but I do not like having to drive when I am there.

 

[Lynne M]

I'm going to move this to the Orlando Hotels & Attractions board, where the Disney Springs hotels are discussed.

 

[HopperFan]

We are looking at taking a last minute trip to WDW in conjunction with visiting friends, in mid April and I am considering staying at one of the Disney Springs hotels. We will have two park days and plan to do Epcot and Animal Kingdom (did the other two parks last year). We normally drive to these two parks even when staying at a WDW Resort, so giving up the Disney buses aren't an issue for this trip. Also I kind of like the idea of walking over to Disney Springs.

Question, do the Disney Springs hotels qualify for Extra magic Hours? Is there anything else I would give up by not staying at a WDW resort?

2018 you will get EMH and 60 day FP+ for sure. Unknown if this will continue next year.

You get a decent bus shuttle system but you will not get free parking at the parks.

You will not get MagicBands, but certainly can use old ones or buy them or use your tickets.

You can not buy the Disney Dining Program.

You can not charge back to your room.

You won't need it but for others reading, you do not get Magical Express.

 

[ashleyr409]

Hopefully EMH and 60 day FP+ will continue for 2019.

 

[pooh2001]

What if you do not have a car
Is a $50 - $75 a night savings a night worth taking a Disney Springs bus to the Parks vs paying more money at a moderate WDW resort and using WDW bus system ?

 

[HopperFan]

What if you do not have a car
Is a $50 - $75 a night savings a night worth taking a Disney Springs bus to the Parks vs paying more money at a moderate WDW resort and using WDW bus system ?

The bus system (below) for these hotels is very good, and at many times of year you can save MUCH more than that. It really depends on how many nights you are staying if the savings (and having to pay for airport transport) are worth it.

I randomly picked July 22 - July 26 as a sample -

Disney's Port Orleans Riverside $305 / $277 if you get Summer discount
Hilton Doubletree Suites (SUITE) $142
Hilton Buena Vista Palace $240 (awesome new pool area plus lazy river)
Hilton $172 (directly across from DS)
B Resort $179
Holiday Inn $147

These all include the resort fee if they have one.

Here is the official transportation flyer given to guests staying at the seven Disney Springs Hotels. This covers the following hotels:

• B Resort and Spa: http://www.bhotelsandresorts.com/b-resort-and-spa/
• Best Western Lake Buena Vista: https://www.bestwestern.com/en_US/b...y-springs-resort-area/propertyCode.10288.htmlhttps://www.bestwestern.com/en_US/b...y-springs-resort-area/propertyCode.10288.htmliata=00171890&ssob=BLBWI0003G&cid=BLBWI0003G:yext:website:10288
• DoubleTree Suites Lake Buena Vista: http://doubletree3.hilton.com/en/ho...rlando-disney-springs-area-MCOFHDT/index.html
• Hilton Buena Vista Palace: http://www3.hilton.com/en/hotels/fl...palace-disney-springs-area-MCOBUHH/index.html
• Hilton Lake Buena Vista: http://www3.hilton.com/en/hotels/fl...-vista-disney-springs-area-ORLDWHH/index.html
• Holiday Inn Disney Springs: https://www.ihg.com/holidayinn/hotels/us/en/lake-buena-vista/dislb/hoteldetail
• Wyndham Lake Buena Vista: https://www.wyndhamhotels.com/wyndh...a-resort-downtown-disney-resort-area/overview

Link to the Disney Springs Hotels marketing website: http://disneyspringshotels.com/

Shuttles leave every 30 minutes all day long at designated times. The shuttles are run by Mears Transportation, which has been a Disney partner for decades. (They run Disney's Magical Express service.) Each shuttle runs to two different parks. It's usually one to Epcot, then Disney's Hollywood Studios and the other to the Transportation and Ticket Center (transfer to monorail/ferry for Magic Kingdom), then Disney's Animal Kingdom.

Although each bus stops at multiple hotels, these stops usually only take 2-3 minutes each. The exception would be if there are wheelchairs or ECVs to load/unload. All of these hotels are literally next to each other. In some cases, it only takes 1 minute to go from one hotel to the next.

Link to Bing Maps: https://binged.it/2yfpHqf

Note: With the Disney Springs Hotels being added to the Extra Magic Hours program, the shuttle buses will certainly expand beyond the "regular park hours" that are listed on these flyers.

If anyone has questions, please ask.

 

[j9isawesome]

What if you do not have a car
Is a $50 - $75 a night savings a night worth taking a Disney Springs bus to the Parks vs paying more money at a moderate WDW resort and using WDW bus system ?

If I were you I would take that savings but skip the bus alltogether and get a faster and cheaper uber or lyft into the parks & back.