Do any off-sites have shuttles to WDW parks?

[TPCShauna]

I have a friend who is planning a trip to Orlando. They want to stay off-site but don't want to rent a car. She knows that we are Disney fiends but I only stay on-site.

Does anyone know of any off-sites that have shuttles to the four WDW parks? It would be her, her DH, and two boys - 8 and 4.

TIA!!!

 

[MiaSRN62]

Well, the Downtown Disney hotels have shuttles to the wdw parks.

I also stay at the Vistana resort (which are 1 and 2 bedroom timeshare villas...but u don't have to own there to stay there). They offer a free shuttle to renters.

Your friend should be aware that offsite shuttles don't operate anywhere near as frequently as wdw busses do. Is there any specific reason your friend doesn't want to stay on property ? Without a car, she'd get free transportation to and from the airport via Disney's Magical Express bus. Not to mention, the transportation is much more convenient onsite for those not wanting to rent cars. She'd also get free package delivery to her disney resort for souveniers, Extra Magic Hour. I just think it totally makes sense to stay onsite if you don't plan on renting a car.
The disney value resorts are an affordable way to do this. Also, without a rental car, what do they plan on doing for dining options offsite ? Onsite, there is just so much more available to guests.
Best of luck.

 

[FayeW]

Sheraton Safari has free shuttles. It is a great hotel with an excellent pool area (huge water slide). The beds are Sheraton's Sweet Sleepers and are super comfortable with lots of extra pillows. I am pretty sure they are queen size. Rooms are nicely appointed. We stayed there each of the last 2 yrs and both times was for $59. per night through travel zoo. We stayed in Oct and Dec respectively. They have a fabulous breakfast buffet for about $7.95 per person. but kids eat free so for her family it would be less than $20 for the four of them. There are also several great restaurants within very easy walking distance (Olive Garden, Cici's Pizza, Orlando Ale House, etc). There is a gas station/convenience store directly across the street to get a case of water, pop, juice, beer, snacks, etc. There is also a huge gift shop next to the gas station.

We love the Sheraton Safari and highly recommend it. If your friend signs up as a Starwood member she will get a preferred room which (usually) has a pool view. All of the rooms have a small balcony, so she and hubby could sit out and enjoy a beverage overlooking the pool while the kids go to sleep.

 

[TPCShauna]

Honestly, I don't know WHY she won't stay on-site or at least rent a car. I ran both ideas by her and she wants a hotel with shuttle. I don't get it. Thanks for the info!

We stayed at the Safari for one night and the beds were GREAT! I'll pass on the info. Thanks!!

 

[spiceycat]

this one too

best western lakeside

www.bestwesternlakeside.com

it has a shuttle schedule on their site - that is about average these days.

so unless she wants to go to the parks and STAY - then either get a rental car or stay onsite.

She realizes that she will have to get her own transportation by and forth to the airport right?

disney has DME.

give her the price for the value resort too.

 

[4Seasons]

My one and only experience with staying at an offsite and using the hotel shuttle was horrible. This was several years ago and our first trip to Disney "with kids". My daughter was 4 1/2 and my son was 21 months and we had a stroller with us and of course all the "accessories" that comes with young kids, LOL.
We stayed at the Doubletree Guest Suites Downtown Disney, and the shuttle bus served all the hotels there on Hotel Boulevard. The schedule was a few trips over in the morning and a few trips back in the evening.
Well around 7 or 8 pm it started POURING rain, got chilly and nasty, so we decided to go catch the shuttle back. WRONG! There was one that left just as we got to the transportation lot, packed full like sardines. We crowded with dozens of other people under the shelters and waited for the next one, almost an hour later. Talk about a stampede! We didn't make it on that one either. By this time it was after 9 pm. I was standing there in the rain holding my then sleeping son in one arm and had my daughter's hand in the other, my husband was juggling all the strollers and "accessories". Another hour goes by and a 3rd bus comes, we take off towards it like maniacs (as did lots of other people) and literally had to fight our way onto the bus.
It was almost 11 pm by the time we finally got back to the hotel. It was a horrible experience, and I'm sure not necessarily the norm, but I vowed to NEVER depend on shuttle service again. I don't like being so out of control of a situation, LOL!

 

[TPCShauna]

Thanks for the input. I have tried convincing her to stay on-site or to rent a car if she stays off-site but to no avail. I am providing her with info about all of her options and she will hopefully choose the best one (rental with off-site or stay on-site).

Thanks again!

 

[spiceycat]

be sure to include the cost of getting to her hotel and back from the airport.

 

[4eyedbuzzard]

You can rent an economy class car through Payless at the airport, or Enterprise off site, for approx. $150 week and a full size for $200(incl taxes) with a mid-size right in between. And most all U.S. car insurance policies cover the policy holders and listed drivers for rental cars - there is no need to buy additional ins. from the car rental agency.

Staying off-site w/o a rental car is a big--make that HUGE mistake IMO. If she chooses to do so however, give her the phone number for Enterprise 1-800-261-7331, so that on day two, after spending hours waiting on and riding shuttles(and realizes her mistake), she can call them. They'll deliver the car to her hotel(there are several off-airport locations in Kissimmee/Disney area).

The shuttle from the airport to the Safari hotel is not free from what I understand, and is listed at $14 per person each way - that's $112 rt for four guests. Even if they use the shuttle to the parks and avoid the WDW parking fee, having a car available for a net $38 for a week is a (and I hate this expression) no-brainer.

 

[4eyedbuzzard]

My one and only experience with staying at an offsite and using the hotel shuttle was horrible. This was several years ago and our first trip to Disney "with kids". My daughter was 4 1/2 and my son was 21 months and we had a stroller with us and of course all the "accessories" that comes with young kids, LOL.
We stayed at the Doubletree Guest Suites Downtown Disney, and the shuttle bus served all the hotels there on Hotel Boulevard. The schedule was a few trips over in the morning and a few trips back in the evening.
Well around 7 or 8 pm it started POURING rain, got chilly and nasty, so we decided to go catch the shuttle back. WRONG! There was one that left just as we got to the transportation lot, packed full like sardines. We crowded with dozens of other people under the shelters and waited for the next one, almost an hour later. Talk about a stampede! We didn't make it on that one either. By this time it was after 9 pm. I was standing there in the rain holding my then sleeping son in one arm and had my daughter's hand in the other, my husband was juggling all the strollers and "accessories". Another hour goes by and a 3rd bus comes, we take off towards it like maniacs (as did lots of other people) and literally had to fight our way onto the bus.
It was almost 11 pm by the time we finally got back to the hotel. It was a horrible experience, and I'm sure not necessarily the norm, but I vowed to NEVER depend on shuttle service again. I don't like being so out of control of a situation, LOL!

Wow, does that bring back(not so good) memories. Just wanted to add that your experience(and obviously all the others victims with you that day) are not unique at all. We had a similar experience and rented a car first thing the next morning. The very next night was a repeat performance. We were able to stay reasonably dry and high-tail it out of the park to Red Lobster for a nice dinner while others were undoubtably still waiting for those buses.

The only way I would go carless to WDW is if I stayed on-site AND bought the dining plan - and even then most more seasoned WDW gurus than I would still recommend having a car as it's often much faster and more convenient than WDW transport. You just give up too much freedom and convenience being without.

 

[MiaSRN62]

I enjoy staying offsite sometimes too---but only with a car. I know Faye mentioned the nearby restaurants to the Sheraton Safari and I know this area very well. I would not want to have to continually cross the very busy SR 535 to get to and from these restaurants. This is not the safest most pedestrian-friendly road especially with young kids. Has your friend been to wdw before ? Are they familiar with the area ? What time of the year are they planning on going during ? Enterprise was mentioned, and I'd like to thrown in Dollar as well. We've had good luck with rates from them (and frequent upgrades too !).

You're being a good friend Shauna.....I hope your friend heed's your very wise advice. If they don't want to rent a car, I highly echo everyone's else sentiments and say stay onsite.

 

[Lisa P.]

We have never used an offsite shuttle because we've always had or rented a car. A handful of locations offer free or very cheap shuttles to the area parks for their guests. The Fairfield/Wyndham timeshare resorts have them for under $5 per day per person, IIRC. A problem some have noted is that they have very limited schedules, sometimes missing fireworks at the end of the night. Also, the FF/Wyn resorts require reservations for the specific shuttle times to be made by the night before - even more restrictive. Sometimes, they are booked full and not available for additional reservations. But now that I see that some people have had terrible experiences with overcrowding and long waits, I can better understand why the FF/Wyn resorts require specific seat reservations. Then, at least, resort guests are assured a seat as long as they are at the shuttle bus stop at the scheduled time.

Besides the obvious convenience and flexibility that we've had by having our own vehicle, we've also had several occasions that required medical visits and prescriptions (asthma, strep throat, stitches!) during our WDW vacations. None of them warranted an ambulance, IMO. If we'd had to rely on cabs, it would have added another measure of expense and inconvenience. When we travel with kids, we tend to expect the unexpected and a car, for us, is a must - even if it sits in the lot the majority of the time.

 

[Lisa BC]

Couldn't agree more the sentiments already stated.

The last time I stayed offsite, which was more than ten years ago, I went with another girlfriend who wanted to save money, and use the shuttle at the hotel. (We kept our rental car at the hotel...) It took us on average 90 minutes to get to our hotel every night, which was literally 10 minutes away from the parks. We never got soaked, but it was pretty miserable waiting for an available bus when we were so tired, and just wanted to go to bed.

I will never do that again! That extra $40 that it would have cost us to park would have been well worth it, since it really did affect the quality of our entire stay.

 

[FayeW]

I enjoy staying offsite sometimes too---but only with a car. I know Faye mentioned the nearby restaurants to the Sheraton Safari and I know this area very well. I would not want to have to continually cross the very busy SR 535 to get to and from these restaurants. This is not the safest most pedestrian-friendly road especially with young kids. Has your friend been to wdw before ? Are they familiar with the area ? What time of the year are they planning on going during ? Enterprise was mentioned, and I'd like to thrown in Dollar as well. We've had good luck with rates from them (and frequent upgrades too !).

You're being a good friend Shauna.....I hope your friend heed's your very wise advice. If they don't want to rent a car, I highly echo everyone's else sentiments and say stay onsite.

The gas station/convenience store, gift shop and Orlando Ale House are across SR535 (Orlando Ale House is behind the gas station) but the others are all across Palm Parkway. I think there is a Pizza Hut right in the hotel parking lot as well.

FWIW, as much as I love the Safari, if I was going to be obstinate and not rent a car, and therefore have to pay to get to the hotel from the airport, I would just stay onsite. That is probably the only thing that would make me stay onsite. Logistically (and financially) it just doesn't make sense to me to pay nearly as much for round trip transportation from the airport as the car would cost, yet not have the benefit and convenience of the car for the rest of my stay.

OP does your friend realize how much the shuttle to/from the airport will cost for her family? Has she given any reason why they won't rent a car? Does she realize that she will have some really fabulous offsite resorts to choose from if she has her own transportation (since not all of them provide a shuttle at all, let alone free!) Staying offsite without a rental can certainly be done, but she is really restricting her options.

 

[MiaSRN62]

I think Shauna should just print this whole thread out and send it to her friend

 

[TPCShauna]

I have told her repeatedly that I don't think it's a good idea to stay off-site without a car. I sent her a bunch of info about hotels with shuttles, etc. and sent her a quote for ASMusic so she could compare prices.

I don't know what she is going to decide and it frankly stresses me out to think of her staying off-site without a car so we're not really talking about her trip any more.

I figure I've been a good friend by providing info as requested. I will try to restrain myself from saying "I told you so" if she comes back with horror stories from her trip.

 

[spiceycat]

 

[Miss Stitch]

We have stayed offsite twice and used hotel shuttles. We dont drive so that wasnt an option. Staying on-site didnt appeal to me either (being stuck in one room with two kids, whilst I could have a suite with kitchen area, and two sleeping rooms!) We stayed in LBV and had no problems crossing roads, and walking, we regularly went to the McDonalds opposite the WDW entrance and the crossroads shopping centre and encountered no problems. Our hotel shuttle was great, it was free and ran three times a day both ways, the last leaving the parks at 10.00pm, so we did not miss anything. Sometimes it was busy and we had to stand but look at the transportation boards and many on-site guests have had to do the same. Some days we got a taxi to DTD, if the times of the shuttle didnt suit, only cost $8

I am from the UK, where we do not drive everywhere and not everybody does drive, unlike the US where people drive to go the other side of the road. We like to walk and take our time, we are on vacation, there is no rush.

We will be returning again in Sept and will be staying offsite again, again weighing up the pros and cons. We will be staying near Seaworld, on the I Drive route. We will be visiting US and Kennedy space center, with no car. We have prebooked mears to KSC and there is public transport available to take us to US.

I feel that dissing someone for wanting to take buses and not staying on-site is unfair as everyone likes to do everything differently.

YOU CAN HAVE A PERFECTLY RELAXING HOLIDAY WITHOUT DRIVING, I know cos I have done it twice.

 

[spiceycat]

the LBVBW is on site - just not a WDW resort.
http://www.orlandoresorthotel.com/?CFID=7078233&CFTOKEN=72201140
so is BVP
http://www.buenavistapalace.com/resort_activities/local_attractions.cfm

either of these could be the one you stayed at. these are both DD hotels.

offsite transportation is good if it hits the parks ONCE each morning and evening.

DD hotels have WONDERFUL transportation to the parks - every 30 minutes.

some one hear use to claim that HOJO had great transportation. they were surpose to report back - but never did to my knowledge.

now if you stayed at this resort instead
http://www.lakebuenavistaresortorlando.com/
or this one
http://www.buenavistasuites.com/
or this one
http://www.lbvorlandoresort.com/index.cfm

then yes you did stay offsite and my apologies

 

[Miss Stitch]

the LBVBW is on site - just not a WDW resort.

sounds like that is the one you stayed at.

offsite transportation is good if it hits the parks ONCE each morning and evening.

DD hotels have WONDERFUL transportation to the parks - every 30 minutes.

some one hear use to claim that HOJO had great transportation. they were surpose to report back - but never did to my knowledge.

I actually stayed at the Hawthorne Suites on Palm parkway, in LBV. They had shuttles leaving at 7.50am. 8.50am. and 9.50am. They dropped at Epcot and came back at 6.00pm. 8.00pm and 10.00pm. they were never more than a few minutes late, and the drivers were fantastic. Maybe we were lucky. We will be staying at the Hawthorn near Seaworld this trip and hope they will be just as good.

I dont disagree the resort buses are fantastic and we used them loads whilst we were in the parks. I was just saying that they are often very full and lots of people have reported problems on the transportation board, just as people have had complaints about off-site shuttles.

I just cant understand the US thinking behind driving everywhere, here in the Uk, we have very good public transport and if you dont want to drive, there is no need to. When we are on holiday taking the buses is part of the adventure.