Hotel Conundrum....WWYD?

[robinb]

This person seems inexperienced and with a low budget.
I think in these cases rental cars is more costly (on top of making a mistake such as taking the toll road and racking up $$$ on the rental bill) than the free Magical Express and the stress of filling the rental car to full and making it back on time (and not getting overcharged $$$). Or getting overcharged because you are using Sixt or some no name brand.

The cost of sleep is basically free on a low budget and can be transferred to sleeping on the plane or in the airport or at home.

The cost of a car plus parking at the parks is about $140. Tolls are less than $5 each way. The cost of a Disney resort is way more than $50 per night over offsite hotels.

ETA: tragical express leaves 3 hours before flight time. I would not want to be on a bus as o-dark-30.

 

[WorldOfPooh]

The cost of a car plus parking at the parks is about $140. Tolls are less than $5 each way. The cost of a Disney resort is way more than $50 per night over offsite hotels.

ETA: tragical express leaves 3 hours before flight time. I would not want to be on a bus as o-dark-30.

A value resort is in the $120 range and I've seen it as low as $89.

offsite OP wants a hotel by WDW or MCO of Hilton quality. Even in a COVID environment $50 is reaching for Hilton Bonnet Creek/Hilton Disney Spring or Palace Disney Springs. Even the Double Tree is around $100 when you include the resort fee.

 

[robinb]

A value resort is in the $120 range and I've seen it as low as $89.

offsite OP wants a hotel by WDW or MCO of Hilton quality. Even in a COVID environment $50 is reaching for Hilton Bonnet Creek/Hilton Disney Spring or Palace Disney Springs. Even the Double Tree is around $100 when you include the resort fee.

Pop Century for the OP's dates is not much of a "value" at $155 per night. All in, it's $522 for 3 nights. The Rosen Inn LBV (previously the Clarion Inn LBV) is $55 per night with no resort or parking fees comes highly recommended. It's $189 all in. That's a difference of $333.

 

[WorldOfPooh]

Pop Century for the OP's dates is not much of a "value" at $155 per night. All in, it's $522 for 3 nights. The Rosen Inn LBV (previously the Clarion Inn LBV) is $55 per night with no resort or parking fees comes highly recommended. It's $189 all in. That's a difference of $333.

OP wants to stay at Hilton level hotel.
Not sure why you are choosing a moderate in Pop and not a value.

 

[WorldOfPooh]

Pop Century for the OP's dates is not much of a "value" at $155 per night. All in, it's $522 for 3 nights. The Rosen Inn LBV (previously the Clarion Inn LBV) is $55 per night with no resort or parking fees comes highly recommended. It's $189 all in. That's a difference of $333.

Rosen is great. Wish they hadn't of left the Choice brand.

But that's not what he is looking for.

 

[fla4fun]

I would figure out what you have to spend budget-wise first. Then do the math for each scenario and see where you can splurge and where you need to compromise. Until all the options are laid out in front of you in writing, you may be missing something (like when you thought about ease of access midday to your hotel). For example, if you think using your Hilton points is the only way to afford the rental car you want, you might find that you could pay OOP for a hotel halfway between the airport and Disney and still afford the car. A Disney Springs or other property adjacent hotel is going to cost more than one that is just slightly more off property, and considering the difference in traffic around Disney Springs, there may not be a huge difference in time commuting to the parks.

Personally, I would want ease of access to the parks over ease of access to the airport. But that is just one aspect of the trip to consider.

 

[robinb]

OP wants to stay at Hilton level hotel.
Not sure why you are choosing a moderate in Pop and not a value.

Rosen is great. Wish they hadn't of left the Choice brand.

But that's not what he is looking for.

1. You the one who keeps on bringing up WDW value resorts .
2. Pop is a value resort and not a moderate . In addition, it and AoA are the only value resorts that are open on Disney property and AoA is even more expensive.
3. My take on the OP was that he was staying at a Hilton because it was free on points, not because he is looking for a certain level of hotel. BUT, if he wants a better hotel it makes even more sense that he stay offsite since Coronado Springs (the cheapest moderate) is $185 per night or $626 all in.

 

[WorldOfPooh]

1. You the one who keeps on bringing up WDW value resorts .
2. Pop is a value resort and not a moderate . In addition, it and AoA are the only value resorts that are open on Disney property and AoA is even more expensive.
3. My take on the OP was that he was staying at a Hilton because it was free on points, not because he is looking for a certain level of hotel. BUT, if he wants a better hotel it makes even more sense that he stay offsite since Coronado Springs (the cheapest moderate) is $185 per night or $626 all in.

I already offered him the Rosen and the Lynx bus as the cheapest options but he wants to stay on property because his time is limited.

 

[robinb]

I already offered him the Rosen and the Lynx bus as the cheapest options but he wants to stay on property because his time is limited.

On this thread? No he didn't.

 

[Tom_E_D]

I already offered him the Rosen and the Lynx bus as the cheapest options but he wants to stay on property because his time is limited.

OP can't use his Hilton points to stay at the Rosen. For him staying at the Hilton, using points, is free. The money saved by taking the buses would not likely pay for the hotel room at the Rosen. You suggest that he save his Hilton points for a trip to Europe or Asia, but that presumes a lot about where they may want to travel and their budget for doing so.

Moreover, I know lots of people who don't like to ride the buses even in pre-Covid times. I think many would be even more reluctant to ride them under current circumstances. (BTW, I have ridden Lynx buses to get to WDW and elsewhere while staying in the Orlando area.) OP has already said he's 100% renting a car.

OP has said he's booked at a Hilton "right next WDW" that he's stayed at before. That's the Hilton Bonnet Creek if you look at his list of past trips. Whether you consider it "on property" or not is a question of definition. It isn't Disney-owned, but I believe the the Bonnet Creek resorts are within the boundaries of WDW.

 

[WorldOfPooh]

OP can't use his Hilton points to stay at the Rosen. For him staying at the Hilton, using points, is free. The money saved by taking the buses would not likely pay for the hotel room at the Rosen. You suggest that he save his Hilton points for a trip to Europe or Asia, but that presumes a lot about where they may want to travel and their budget for doing so.

Moreover, I know lots of people who don't like to ride the buses even in pre-Covid times. I think many would be even more reluctant to ride them under current circumstances. (BTW, I have ridden Lynx buses to get to WDW and elsewhere while staying in the Orlando area.) OP has already said he's 100% renting a car.

OP has said he's booked at a Hilton "right next WDW" that he's stayed at before. That's the Hilton Bonnet Creek if you look at his list of past trips. Whether you consider it "on property" or not is a question of definition. It isn't Disney-owned, but I believe the the Bonnet Creek resorts are within the boundaries of WDW.

He's looking to save time and money. He doesn't know what he wants, hence why is asking for advice.

 

[DeutscherDon]

Just a thought, wynndom lake Buena Vista or Bonnet creek hotel on Disney property. They have bus transportation and they are usually running a great room discount. Close to the action and still feels like a vacation.

 

[SWDisfan]

We are landing at MCO around 11pm on a Thursday and departing around 7am on a Sunday for a long weekend trip in February.

Right now I have reserved a Hilton hotel with points right next WDW, but now I’m actually considering staying right next to the airport to avoid a longer commute to/from MCO on our departure and arrival days AND we can cut Thursday night and Sunday morning off of our car rental.

Another option is to spend our arrival night at the MCO hotel, wake up the next morning, pick up the car rental, then go to HS. Then stay at a hotel close to WDW Friday night, wake up the next morning and head to AK, then drop off the car rental and stay at the MCO hotel Saturday night.

We will literally bring a backpack with a weekend’s worth of clothes and our toiletries so changing between hotels isn’t an issue.

What would you do?

I’ve stayed at both Hotels on WDW trips before. I’m just having a tough time deciding which will save me time (and maybe some money).

Option #1: Hotel by WDW
Option #2: Hotel by MCO
Option #3: MCO on arrival/departure days and WDW during the middle day.

I agree with those against renting a car on this trip. Unless you have free parking at your resort. I would 100% choose a WDW resort for this trip. You need the close convenience to maximize your WDW trip. Uber/Lyft/Disney Transportation is the way to go.

 

[cutigerlady]

Not sure which Hilton you are booked at, but some of them have a rental car pickup/drop off at the hotel. In my opinion, the easiest way to streamline the rental car is to signup for a loyalty program that lets you skip the line and pickup your car in the row. No matter what you do, it’s a late night on Thursday. I would stay near where you want to be on Friday, which I assume is a park.

I’m not sure you want to be without a hotel on Saturday afternoon to stay near MCO and deal with another checkin. I haven’t found it difficult to get to MCO for an early morning flight or to drop off a rental car to be a time consuming process. Not much is open at MCO, so be prepared for how you will handle breakfast!

We have stayed at the Buena Vista Palace and really liked it! However, I’ve never found it cost effective to use my points to stay at hotels near Disney! Look for deals through Priceline/Hotwire or some travel agents offer deals for waived resort fees/free parking plus a discount that makes paying cash a better deal.