DTD resorts?

[bennifer]

Hi all! I'm starting to plan our 2014 trip to WDW. We have always stayed onsite except for our first trip 13 yrs ago, and I cannot seem to remember much about it. I just looked at the DTD resorts and they have continuous shuttles, they have park views (I know, not up close, but still) and the Wyndham even has a character breakfast! They are substantially cheaper than staying onsite. What's the catch? I don't know if I can get my husband to stay anywhere that we'll have to actually drive to the parks, so that's why I looked at these ones. Thanks!!!

 

[Minniesgal]

Depending on where you stay onsite they are not really any cheaper. I have been looking at the Hilton, the Holiday Inn and Buena vista Palace and they are all more expensive than both AOA little mermaid and POR. The location is fabulous though.

 

[Disneyaddictz]

We have had some amazing experiences at the DTD hotels! We use our military discount now so it's cheaper to stay onsite most of the time but we wouldn't think twice to stay at the Hilton or royal plaza tower rooms! I can't even decide which I enjoyed more. Hilton has a character breakfast too you can walk to DTD as well. I have had my best luck with third party site getting DTD rooms as low as $69 a night, now if you could stay at a disney mod for the same price i would, however, most mods are at least $160 thru 3rd party's. Good luck!

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[CarpeLiberum]

We stayed at Buena Vista Palace on our first trip to WDW- it was really nice, and the bus system was easy to use. I'd stay there again at any time- plus you're just across the street from DTD. They did have a character breakfast on Sundays, I think.

 

[amberpi]

One thing to note about the Wyndham - some of the rooms are inside and have doors on the outside. We stayed there for 1 night before a WDW trip and weren't expecting the doors on the outside - I guess its what I get for picking the cheapest DTD room for that one night when I knew we wouldn't be there for even 8 hours, I didn't even look at that.

I've returned cars at the Hilton a number of times, and I always thought it looked every nice inside. I didn't see the rooms, but the lobby was pretty and smelled nice - always a good sign!

 

[bennifer]

Thank you all for the responses! I was worried when there were no responses for a while!

 

[HopperFan]

Stayed at several of them on multiple trips, but I do drive to WDW and I drive to the parks. You can get some great rates but you must look at total cost.

- Check the rate if there is an additional resort fee and if you are driving an additional parking fee. Once you add that your rate might not be attractive. Also if you were looking for "Disney" view, is there an upgrade fee for that.

- If flying you will have to add what it will cost you to get from the airport to the hotel. Magical Express is for WDW hotels.

- Other than Hilton, you will not get Extra Magical Hours if you needed that in your day.

- You will not get the smaller perks like charging to room, shipping to hotel from parks etc.

- These are independent shuttles, not Disney buses. You can use the Disney buses if you want to park hop or get to a resort from a park for eats.

- These are franchise hotels, nothing Disney about them. Some folks want that Disney design and magic 24/7 so they consider these "off property" style hotels.

 

[spiceycat]

have stayed at several of them and enjoyed it.

now they are not a disney hotel - they don't have alot of activities like a disney resort does.

but if you want a good way to get back and forth to the wdw parks - at a reasonable price - they work well.

the buses come every 30 minutes - before these were shared buses - MK and AK was one - Epcot and studio was the other one. not sure what they are doing now.

www.downtowndisneyhotels.com

you are little late for the discounts in May they had some excellent ones - $69 for Wyndham and I think LBV BW.

 

[spiceycat]

hey my favorite is still having its sale - $69

Orlando - Downtown DIsnery hotel (is what to look for)
http://www.travelzoo.com/hotels/orlando/?tz_cs=HPV0

 

[Disneyaddictz]

Was very surprised to see all the events going on at the Hilton and the Royal Plaza! The last time we stayed at the Hilton they had a pool party with a DJ inflatable's and lots of cool toys. Also the Royal plaza does weekly pool party barbecues. Perhaps it was a summertime thing I'm not really sure but definitely worth checking into. I would say downtown Disney's would be second best to staying on site maybe not 100% submerged in the Disney magic but pretty dang close, It lacks your Disney CM's and some disney room decor however a lot of the lobbies are very Disney oriented, They have your typical Disney stores in the Lobby.

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