Hotel for day of arrival

[jcarter29]

I need recommendations. We will be driving into WDW from Ohio. We have done this many times. However, this is the first time with 2 wee ones (5 and 2.5) and my aunt. We need a hotel for the arrival day. We always arrive in the afternoon/evening and stay over off property one night then head to the WDW hotel for check in bright and shiny the next morning. We need a hotel that is either in Winter Park area (visiting some friends there) or Lake Buena Vista so we are close to the parks. We want something clean, nice, safe and inexpensive. In the past we have stayed at Comfort Inn right near Crossroads. It was ok, but very big and not all that clean. We would need enough room for 3 adults and 2 kids so either a big room or 2 regular rooms. What do you suggest???

Thanks!
Kim

 

[stitchlover]

You can't just add another night to your existing reservation? We use to fly in late and arrive at the hotel after 11pm but we would still stay onsite. It is so nice waking up that first morning at WDW!

 

[jcarter29]

Thanks, Stitchlover, but that would not be an "inexpensive" option for us as we are staying at the Poly. I don't want to waste that kind of money on just a room only night. We did stay at the All Star room only last time but again, I think we can probably do cheaper nearby.

Thanks
Kim

 

[stitchlover]

Hmmm...can see what you mean! Let me think on it a while and I wonder what everyone else will come up with. Do you need two rooms or one?

 

[Tony NY]

hum how about booking AAA room rate in any one of the resorts and having them tranfer your bags to the poly. I hope this may help.

 

[luke]

From the hotels offered by Dreams Unlimited, we stayed at the Radisson Resort Celebration-Orlando in 2007, which is in Kissimmee but was only a 10minute drive at the most to the parks, and as Pete says, they only advertise hotels he'd let his family stay in...

 

[UrsulasShadow]

The DIS is recommending the Doubletree resort now...interested in a night there? http://www.wdwinfo.com/universal/doubletreeorlando/

 

[757hokie]

Here's a thread from the "Orlando Hotels and Attractions" board that may be of some help. http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2085575

We came in a day ahead of our December AKL stay and did one night at ASMu for $75 (AAA rate). I suppose you could do a little better than that offsite, but not by much unless you're willing to go "fleabag"! Plus, the kids got a big kick out of the overblown All-Stars theming. I'd do it again if I found myself in the same situation.

Good luck!

 

[jcarter29]

Thanks for the tips. I am going to look at both of the "dis approved" recommendations and the AllStars. Has anyone stayed in the Winterpark area or do you pretty much just stay closer to downtown Orlando if you are in that area?
Thanks
Kim

 

[jacstangler]

Hi: Dreams put us up at the POP for under a $100 and it was just fine.
We then checked into OKW the next day.

John

 

[FireDancer]

If you are looking for a cheap place just to sleep I would look at the hotels in the W. Irlo Bronson Hwy area. I needed a place for just one night before the podcast cruise and got a Days Inn room for $42.93 including tax. It isn't anything special but if all you need is a bed it will do.

There are other sub-$50 hotels in the area which the UG recommend also.

 

[DVCJones]

We do the same thing...last year we stayed at the Country Inn Suites. I believe it was Apopka Vineland Rd (sp?). It is almost directly across the street from the entrance to Disney property. There is a little gate with Disney Characters on either side.

It was really nice. I think we paid $80 for the night and it came with an "Expanded Continental Breakfast" which included fresh fruit, yogurt, make your own waffles, bacon, sausage, toast muffins, bagels, juices, coffee, oatmeal, cereals and scrambled eggs. Everything was fresh. We thought it was worth the $. We got an early start in the morning and checked in to our room at Disney bright and early. We are doing this same plan again this Sat. We leave MA on Fri.

We try to stay at a Country Inn Suites whenever possible on the way down and back to MA. It takes us a day and 1/2 to get to Disney from MA. I also have 2 little ones 3and 5 and it is nice to be able to feed them first thing in the morning.

I hope this helpful

 

[DWFan4Life]

The DIS is recommending the Doubletree resort now...interested in a night there? http://www.wdwinfo.com/universal/doubletreeorlando/

Wow, that's a great hotel. Thanks for taking time to share the link.

Have a nice day.