Review DTD Hotel w/fridge & micro? Walking distance?

[Maddie2]

We have stayed on property (Value) for our last 3 WDW vacations and that may happen again, but I am expanding my search to include hotels in the DTD area. I am not at all familiar the hotels in this area and have some questions...

1) Are there any hotels close enough to the bus stops at DTD so that you can just hop on a bus at DTD to go to the parks?

We would fly into the Sanford airport (no ME) and would rent a car service from/back to the airport and would prefer to not rent a car. Would not want to depend on catching a hotel bus shuttle to/from parks.

2) Are there any budget category hotels in this area that come with a fridge & micro or kitchenette? We likely wouldn't have a car, but could order groceries from a store. OR is there a store within walking distance to pick up a few things? Mostly fresh fruits & veggies, bread, milk, etc.

This trip may or may not happen (just returned from DL), but we have an airline credit to use ... and it's burning a whole in my pocket .... .... so just maybe... if I can keep it very budget-minded ... so we'll see ....

TIA!

 

[A&CsMom]

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2442693

It's not in DTD, but Comfort Inn Lake Buena Vista can apparently be booked for $39/night and has a free shuttle not only to Disney but the other theme parks as well. It has also been recently remodelled. There is a recent review thread, above. My husband and I stayed there on our honeymoon many years ago and while not luxurious, it was perfectly acceptable for the price and the pool was nice when we were there. There are also quite a few restaurants and shops, including a liquor store, within walking distance. We didn't have a car for our honeymoon trip and the shuttles worked out fine for us.

 

[A&CsMom]

double post

 

[mayesq]

FYI - The buses at Downtown Disney only go to the Disney resorts - not the parks. I guess too many people were parking at DD for the day to avoid paying parking fees.

 

[happymommy]

The Doubletree Guest Suites (in the Downtown Disney resort area) has all suites and microwave/fridge. You can walk across to Gooding's grocery - BUT I don't care for that store. It's way overpriced and doesn't stock a lot.

They have shuttles to the parks that run every 30 minutes or so. All the Downtown Disney hotels do - maybe look into that or another one, like a suite at Royal Plaza (also has fridge, I forget if they have microwaves).

You can get some good info on www.mousesavers.com.

 

[brymolmom]

Honestly, if you're renting a vehicle for transportation to/from the airport, I would just rent it for the whole trip and stay at a less expensive place. Make sure to compare your costs....For example:

If you do what you want:
car rental 2 days: maybe $60???
hotel DTD area or onsite (assuming 5 nights- no food included): Maybe $450??
Total = $510


To stay offsite:
car rental for 5 nights plus gas (if you can fit into smaller vehicle): $140
hotel offsite INCLUDING breakfast: $250
parking (I personally wouldn't use offsite shuttles): $14 x 4 = $56
Total = $446

Plus the offsite option with car the whole time gives you the ability to keep costs down further by doing some offsite eating - pick up a pizza or chinese on your way back to your hotel and you're eating dinner for a family for $20 - $30 total. If you get a place with a frig and bring some lunches to the parks - your total costs for the offisite trip would end up significantly less than onsite or even DTD. There are lots of choices within 10 minutes of the parks.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

1) As other posters have said, no buses to parks from DTD. The DTD resorts DO have a shuttle bus, but they don't runnall that oftern which limits your options touring. ALso, define "walk." All the DTD resorts are located on the far side of a busy road from DTD - at the closest. It's doable, but not very quick. You'd be much better off driving, or even taking the free shuttle bus, or sometimes a taxi perhaps. For the price of a shuttle service from SAnford - I think you could get a car for the whole time for probably less $.

2) As others have said the nearest store GOodings- is kind of a clip joint. There is a Publix not too far - but you need a car. The Goodings is off the far end of the road with DTD resorts. You CAN walk it, but with groceries in hand it's going to be a fairly long walk. The time it would take to walk it would not the worth it, especially with perishable items in the heat- unless you are at far end to the street - in which case your ditance to DTD would be pretty long. I only stayed in that area once, at one of the budget places some years ago. I prefer the Disney values. I think what you are thinking just wouldn't be worth doing.

There aren't really any options offsite that are 'in walking distance.' (but see below) One more things, although you can save some money eating some meals offsite - the restaurants inteh Goodings plaza are not great. There is a McD's I think. Most others are overpriced and not very good. There is also a Waffle House. As WH go, its apretty good one (that's not saying much), but it also can get very crowded. There are several decent options in DTD for quick, fairly inexpensive food - Wolfgang Puck quick serve, Sandwich of Earl - these two even have some moderately healthy choices.

Thr are also places that will deliver groceries to your hotel room, but the last I looked they also were a slightly expensive.

HOWEVER - ASK your TOWN CAR service!!!!! Many WILL allow you to make a short grocery store stop. I don't know where they take you, but if it's naythign other than GOodings, or if you only want a few thigns - then that is one option.

For budget, you would be better off with a car. One option if you DON't want a car - might be to try a discount room at the Dolphin. Sometimes they go as low as $150/night. That's the only non-disney hotel that IS walking distance to anything (HS and Epcot). It also has buses to the other parks, and is a nice place.

One thing I do when I want to have a 'budget' stay is to shorten the trip. A long weekend can be lots of fun! P.S. - Try looking at the info on Mousesavers.com.

 

[happymommy]

I agree about checking out the Swan and Dolphin. We've gotten rooms there as low as $129 a night.

Also, yes, ask your car service to do a quick grocery stop on the way. You can at least pick up snacks (the rooms at the S/D don't have cooking facilities) like milk and cereal and stuff like that for breakfasts in the room.

They also have a nice cafeteria type place there, for meals that are very reasonable (compared to Disney) called Pikabu's.

I absolutely LOVE the location - walk to Epcot, take the boat or walk to DHS, and they have the Disney bus service to the other parks. Plus it's pretty comparable to the Disney deluxe resorts (without the pricetag). You wouldn't need a car once there.