Disney Springs resorts?

[NYEmomma]

Now that my kids are older and LARGER, and it's getting harder to justify paying the increasingly outrageous prices of staying on property, I've stumbled across the Disney Springs resorts. They seem like a great compromise. More space for the 5 of us, much less expensive, and still close to everything. With the added perk of early entry.

Does anyone have any recommendations, tips or warnings?

Primary concern is a) ease of access to Disney Springs (the shortest distance and less intersections to cross, the better) and b) space for the 5 of us... we HATE "suites" that have 2 queen beds & a sofa bed because that leaves DH & I on the small sofa bed... so a different configuration of the suite OR inexpensive enough that we could get two regular rooms.

 

[jaqsdad]

The Disney Springs hotels are generally nice, just know they are third party hotels and definitely aren't Disney. While all the staff has been friendly and accommodating at all the ones I have stayed at, they don't tend to go out of their way like they do at Disney. I don't have any complaints at all. A couple of things to know: Yes, you do get the early entry benefit; just make sure your hotel reservation is on My Disney Experience and the entry cast members at the parks will scan your magicband as usual. The hotels do all have a nightly resort fee per room and parking fees. Keep this in mind as it will increase the price of the room from the advertised price. Transportation to the parks is scheduled in the morning and afternoon; it is not on an on-going basis. The front desk will give you the times when you check in. This makes taking a mid day break difficult and if you miss the bus, the wait can be an hour or more.

We stayed at the Wyndham Garden last October. This is the absolutely closest hotel to Disney Springs, walk across 1 bridge and you are at Earl of Sandwich, you don't even have to stop for traffic. The only difference between the Wyndham Garden Lake Buena Vista and Wyndham Lake Buena Vista is the part of the hotel your room is in. The Garden are the motel like rooms in the wings and cost a little less than the Tower hotel rooms. Amenities are the same in both.

I got a deal on Priceline for $77/night per room, plus $24/night resort fee. For just over $200/night, I got 2 connecting rooms which meant 4 beds and two bathrooms. We leave the connecting door open and treat it as one large suite. There was daily housekeeping (which we didn't get at Disney) The pool is saltwater and has plenty of room. There were never more than a few people in the pool regardless of the time of day we went.

The Hilton Buena Vista Palace has a larger pool complex if that is your thing and it's not much further than the Wyndham.

My biggest piece of advice is to check Priceline and Hotwire. You can almost always find sale prices and betterbidding.com will help you identify any "blind" reservations, if you want to try that.

 

[100AcreWood]

I've stayed at the B Resort 2 or 3 times. Two queens and 1 sofa bed is the set up. My oldest has to sleep alone so she gets the sofa bed and for a sofa bed, it's one of the best according to her. It's a nice property and you can't beat the price. We use Uber to get to and from the parks because I believe the the bus system at Disney Springs is not worth the time lost.

 

[NYEmomma]

My biggest piece of advice is to check Priceline and Hotwire. You can almost always find sale prices and betterbidding.com will help you identify any "blind" reservations, if you want to try that.

Thank you for those tips! I know Priceline has no cancelation policy - is Hotwire the same? Normally, I'd be fine being locked into a booking for the cost savings, but covid makes me leery to get into anything that I can't back out of without a loss of money.

I've stayed at the B Resort 2 or 3 times. Two queens and 1 sofa bed is the set up. My oldest has to sleep alone so she gets the sofa bed and for a sofa bed, it's one of the best according to her. It's a nice property and you can't beat the price. We use Uber to get to and from the parks because I believe the the bus system at Disney Springs is not worth the time lost.

Is transportation from Disney Springs really that bad?

 

[HopperFan]

Primary concern is a) ease of access to Disney Springs (the shortest distance and less intersections to cross, the better) and b) space for the 5 of us... we HATE "suites" that have 2 queen beds & a sofa bed because that leaves DH & I on the small sofa bed... so a different configuration of the suite OR inexpensive enough that we could get two regular rooms.

You'll probably have to look at 2 rooms or ...

- try to snag a 2 bedroom at Doubletree Suites - they don't have many.
- look at the largest suites at Buena Vista Palace (2 bed or deluxe in tower).

Everything else would be 2 queens and a sofa bed. We have stayed at B Resort a number of times using the sofa bed. While it is very comfortable it is small and good for small children to share or one adult.

Also check Mousesavers, they often have discounts at Disney Springs hotels.

And check the hotels group website for info and specials.

https://disneyspringshotels.com/

 

[jaqsdad]

Thank you for those tips! I know Priceline has no cancelation policy - is Hotwire the same? Normally, I'd be fine being locked into a booking for the cost savings, but covid makes me leery to get into anything that I can't back out of without a loss of money.

The blind bookings on both sites are non-cancellable, but both sites DO offer bookings that are not blind and are refundable. When you search either Priceline or Hotwire, they will show some hotels with the names hidden and only a price. These are blind and non-cancellable. They will also show some hotels with names, photos, etc. as well as a price. Most of these are cancellable according to the hotel policy. Both Priceline and Hotwire make it pretty clear whether the booking is cancellable or not in the price details.

Is transportation from Disney Springs really that bad?

Transportation isn't that bad IF the scheduled times work for you. In October, there were 2 or 3 times scheduled to the parks each morning from shortly before opening to around 11 or noon. Usually about one trip an hour. Then there were 2 trips back to the hotel from about park close to an hour after. On fireworks nights, the bus left just as the fireworks were ending. This meant that we always had to wait an hour for the later bus because we like to take our time leaving the parks. Also, the bus to MK drops you off at the TTC next to the monorail station. This is ok for us as I am always up for a monorail or ferry ride, but it does add some time.