Downtown Disney Hotels

[Amy23]

I am currently trying to find a hotel for my in-laws that would be as close as possible to Disney as I can find. I usually book them at a Disney hotel, but the rates are higher than they want to pay. They are accustomed to having the Disney transportation, so I am looking for one of the "on-site" hotels which offer continuous transportation to the parks. I do currently have a reservation for the Holiday Inn-in Walt Disney World. It sounds like it is right across from DTD but I am not really sure. Has anyone stayed here and would you recommend it, or is there another hotel which would be better suited for them. Please Help!

 

[spiceycat]

can they get any of the discounts that are offered at the Swan or Dolphin?

the DD resorts does not have disney tranportation - there is one bus that picks up at all the hotels then goes to the parks - so it is not like WDW transportation (my opinion)

It took us 45 minutes to get to MK - then because you aren't using WDW transportation - you get stuck in the T/T parking lot - so if they really want WDW transportation - maybe you might consider - one of the value resort....Sorry

but yes the Holiday Inn is a DD
http://www.downtowndisneyresorts.com

 

[SnackyStacky]

I stayed at what is now the Holiday Inn when it was the Courtyard by Marriott. It's a very nice hotel. The rooms were huge, and the staff was always friendly and accomodating.

My only true complaint was the lack of dining options. They had a great breakfast buffet, but we'd come to the room for lunch, and the restaurant was closed, and we couldn't order room service! The only thing available was the counter service place, and it was pretty slim pickings.

The transportation never bothered me. There's seperate transportation to each park. True, the Magic Kingdom bus drops you off at the TTC instead of the Magic Kingdom gates, but that has never really bothered me.

I think your parents will enjoy the Holiday Inn.

 

[pammy1027]

We stayed in DTD in January and there are loads of buses that come constantly- not just 1 bus, FYI... You can go to Epcot or MK every 20 minutes and AK/MGM/DTD every 1/2 hour basically.

I loved staying at DTD because there are so many dining options and fun things to do in the evenings after the parks close or wind down. Never a dull moment

 

[Mymatisse]

Originally posted by pammy1027
I loved staying at DTD because there are so many dining options

I don't think this was in response to anything I said, but it did make me re-think my post - I should have said that the hotel ITSELF is lacking in dining options.

The Downtown Disney area CERTAINLY is not!!!

 

[pammy1027]

Ohhhhhhhhh You're right about the DTD Hotels not having much to choose from. There are no Mega Resorts that would have 5 restaurants and a food court. We had Pizza Hut delivery and available in the cafe as well as Fried Chicken picnics in the room for less than $20 for 4 pp though. We had 1 main restaurant and a pub that both served food all the time. The Cafe is where we got alot of our on the go meals though. I'm talking about the Grosvenor- forgot to say!

 

[Amy23]

Thanks so much for all of your input. I am going to try to continue to see if I can get them something on Disney property, but I do feel better about them being at the Holiday Inn now. One more question, is it close enough to walk to DTD? And also, can't you take that bus to the parks as well?

As for being able to get any of the discounts at the Swan or Dolphin, the Dolphin is completely sold out for at least some of the 9 nights that they will be there. And when I checked the Swan, I could actually get them in there with the Senior rate being the best, but it was still around $175+taxes and fees a night. She is actually a disabled state worker, but the problem arises when they ask her for an ID, because she was never issued one.

 

[SnackyStacky]

It is definitely within walking distance of Downtown Disney. It's about a 10 minute or so walk to the Marketplace.

And yes. There are 4 busses. Each one is clearly identified as to which park it goes to, and they run every half hour. After 6, I think, there's also a bus to Downtown Disney.

 

[CarolA]

There are no buses from DTD to the parks anymore. People abused them by parking at DTD to avoid the $7 fee.