Hotels for 5 with reliable shuttle to Disney

[ancestry]

Just trying to consider all possibilities -- are there any off-site hotels that have rooms (preferable suite with a small kitchenette) for a group of 5 that have a reliable frequent shuttle service to the parks included in the cost?

I'm traveling with a group of young adults (18-19 year olds) who are too young to rent a rental car but yet are going to want to come and go as they please.

On-site options either don't fully meet our needs or are out of our price range.

I've only ever stayed off site once (years ago) but I figured in this case it may be worth looking into.

 

[hmd3]

Just trying to consider all possibilities -- are there any off-site hotels that have rooms (preferable suite with a small kitchenette) for a group of 5 that have a reliable frequent shuttle service to the parks included in the cost? I'm traveling with a group of young adults (18-19 year olds) who are too young to rent a rental car but yet are going to want to come and go as they please. On-site options either don't fully meet our needs or are out of our price range. I've only ever stayed off site once (years ago) but I figured in this case it may be worth looking into.

hilton orlando resort lake buena vista would be a good option and it's the only off property resort that still allows you extra magic hours.

 

[crazelion]

I would check the Doubletree Suites in DTD. That is next close reliable shuttle that is that is coming at 30 minutes intervals.

 

[AliceandAriel]

hilton orlando resort lake buena vista would be a good option and it's the only off property resort that still allows you extra magic hours.

It's to my knowledge that on-site resorts only are available for EMH. Does it say the Hilton partakes in EMH on their site?

WBC on Lake Buena Vista is an option, but the cost of shuttle is not included, you will have to pay separately. As of May 2013, it was $5/person, round trip.

 

[ancestry]

It's to my knowledge that on-site resorts only are available for EMH. Does it say the Hilton partakes in EMH on their site?

WBC on Lake Buena Vista is an option, but the cost of shuttle is not included, you will have to pay separately. As of May 2013, it was $5/person, round trip.

The Hilton is available for EMH hours -- I've stayed there before (the one time I stayed off site) and was able to use EMH hours by showing my room card.

Thanks for the WBC suggestion. The kids are all back and forth all day long several times especially on this trip when we will primarily be eating in the room. With the 5 of us going I would be paying $50 or more a day in round trip fees, but I truly appreciate the suggestion.

 

[Bete]

I vote for on site. Make it work. Go at a time when you can get a discount. There are deals right now for the beginning of next year at 35% off resort rates at Disney. You can probably get two rooms next to each other. Most important you will have two bathrooms and four beds with two rooms. I say onsite because of magic bands and fastpass plus. It sucks being off site with fastpass, now. We just got back from an offsite stay in early December. Between EMH and fastpass plus privileges it is well worth the cost difference to stay on site. I would say it's safer, too. Everyone can come and go at all times of the day and night with Disney transportation. There is a microwave you can use in the Disney food court. Bring food like breakfast bars, nuts and so forth to save some money on food.

Most offsite resorts will have a very inflexible schedule back and forth to the Disney parks. Many of these shuttles leave you off at Epcot and then you have to get to the other parks using Disney transportation. This is very time consuming. Some offsite resorts charge for shuttles.

If you absolutely won't budge then I would recommend Residence Inn in Lake Buena Vista. All the rooms have kitchens. If one in your party will sleep on a sofa bed and the others will share the two, queen beds then you can get by with a one bedroom suite. You can get a one bedroom suite with two queen beds. There will be two televisions. You get a living room, too where the sofa bed is located. You will have one bathroom. They serve a wonderful included hot breakfast which lasted us until dinner. Three nights a week the resort has an evening reception which includes hot food like hamburgers or hot dogs and served as a dinner meal for us. There is even wine and beer at the evening receptions. The pool was nice, too. They do have two bedroom suites which will cost more and they have two bedrooms which can have 4 queen beds and a sofa bed. These suites will have two bathrooms.

 

[ArwenMarie]

I agree with the previous poster, I would stay onsite.

 

[shell8558]

I would try- Wyndham bonnet creek or Caribe Orlando.

 

[Brian Noble]

are there any off-site hotels that have rooms (preferable suite with a small kitchenette) for a group of 5 that have a reliable frequent shuttle service to the parks included in the cost?

It depends on what you mean by "frequent".

The only ones even remotely in the conversation would be the DTD Area hotels. They have buses that run about every 30 minutes. There is also Wyndham Bonnet Creek, which has about the same frequency (excepting some mid-day periods) but as noted above is not included in the cost.

I'm a big fan of off-site stays for larger groups. The cost is much (much!) more reasonable, and you will likely be staying in a much nicer place. However, I would never stay offsite without a car. You can still make this work; look into renting a private condo/townhome from someone at Windsor Hills or another nearby rental community. You can often get one so inexpensively that even after adding a rental car, your total "lodging/transportation" cost is still quite a bit less than anything on property that will comfortably sleep five.

 

[happymommy]

I have to agree to look into the Doubletree at Downtown Disney. You can get a suite with two queen beds plus a sofa sleeper, and in the living room is a microwave and mini fridge. You can walk across the street to the Crossroads shopping center for inexpensive dining options (including McDonalds) and there is a (crappy overpriced) grocery store there, Goodings (but without a car, at least you could pick up a couple snacks if you want in the room and walk back).

We stayed there years ago when I was a trip planner for a group of 3 ladies and 4 kids from Japan (IIRC they had two rooms for the 7 of them) as well as myself and my parents. The kids loved the location, and they walked over to the shopping center a few times. The bus transportation is at least as good as on site buses. You can't fit 5 into a room onsite easily, and the ones you can do that with will cost more.

I don't know if the newly remodeled Holiday Inn also located in the DTD resort area has suites large enough, but the Doubletree location is good for walking to the shopping center. You can also walk to DTD but it's a hike. Me, I'd do it as I love walking, but you can take the bus also.

 

[hsmamato2]

also OP, it sounds like you are trying to save money with offsite hotel/eating more in the room....another option for you might be an nice offsite,like BC,or the recommended DTD hotels (they always run sales) then eat breakfast in your room, and PACK a lunch to bring in with you....that way,you cut down on the "need" to go back and eat, and save $$ on food..... SO potentially a DTD hotel,with a shuttle (but not necessary for food schedule) that goes back and forth a few times a day,esp. the one that does EMH might be your best bet..... seriously, lots of running back and forth just to grab a sandwich = lots of time that could be better spent.... it's pretty easy to eat cheerios in the a.m. and tote a pb&j sandwich in a little backpack...then eat QS somewhere for dinner(?)

 

[Hagans]

We have stayed at the Caribe Royale Resort and the shuttle service was great! I was able to go back and forth from the hotel to the parks to meet up with our group. It was convenient for us. We were able to get a two bedroom with a king suite in one and two doubles in the other room it was very functional for us.

 

[wendybeth75]

I agree with other posters here, try onsite if you can. POR Riverside has rooms with murphy beds and can accomodate 5 people. This is still a "room" not a suite. I have stayed at the Caribe Royale recently and while we didnt use the buses, we did look at a schedule and it seemed to offer lots of choices and flexibility. Those rooms are suites there. Check hotwire for good deals on them. The thing I love at the Caribe is that there are no "hidden" fees. Parking is free and no resort fees.

 

[ancestry]

Thanks everyone -- most likely it will be onsite -- Probably going to do a 1 bedroom villa at OKW. But I figured I would look at all options.

I don't mind getting a car if we stay off site but I'm the only one in the group who could drive it and the teenagers won't be mirroring my touring plans. I get up early -- back to the hotel mid-day -- and back in the parks at night. The teenagers do the opposite so they need to be able to have transportation available to them when they are ready to go.

 

[scoutie]

I was just coming on this forum to post the exact same thing.

I agree with the previous poster, I would stay onsite.

I've been pricing it out, and the cost to stay onsite has given me a heart attack. The difference is thousands of dollars. I stayed onsite last year, and agree that the convenience factor is great, but the price.....ugh.

Any tips for staying onsite that will not break the bank? I'm not seeing any discounts for the time we are going (May 26th-June 1st).

 

[Brian Noble]

I'm the only one in the group who could drive it and the teenagers won't be mirroring my touring plans. I get up early -- back to the hotel mid-day -- and back in the parks at night. The teenagers do the opposite so they need to be able to have transportation available to them when they are ready to go.

For this, I would either stay onsite, or I would plan to have the teens take cabs. The various offsite shuttles are going to be less convenient.

Alternatively, you can tell the teens what time the bus leaves, and insist that they make it.

I'm not seeing any discounts for the time we are going (May 26th-June 1st).

You are a little too early. After the new year I would expect the next round of discounts to come out. They might reach into the Memorial Day period, or they might not, but if they don't a later set will.

That said, onsite for a party of 5 or more is simply expensive, and there are no two ways around it.

 

[scoutie]

Thanks for the input! I'll wait a bit to see if any deals come out. Last year, we stayed at POR and LOVED it, but right now, it's running $2000 more than staying offsite.

 

[happymommy]

A one bedroom at OKW has (I think) one king bed and one sofa sleeper, so it will technically only sleep 4 (with two sharing the sofa sleeper, not very comfortable to me). I would steer away from that. Can you get a two bedroom? That would fit your party.

Are you an owner or renting points? Paying Disney direct is usually expensive.

 

[ancestry]

Any tips for staying onsite that will not break the bank? I'm not seeing any discounts for the time we are going (May 26th-June 1st).

Discounts for the dates you have listed haven't been released yet. With any luck they should be out within the next week or so.

 

[ancestry]

A one bedroom at OKW has (I think) one king bed and one sofa sleeper, so it will technically only sleep 4 (with two sharing the sofa sleeper, not very comfortable to me). I would steer away from that. Can you get a two bedroom? That would fit your party.

Are you an owner or renting points? Paying Disney direct is usually expensive.

One bedroom at OKW sleeps five. King size bed (for 2), queen sleeper sofa (for 2) and sleeper chair (for 1). I believe it is one of the few (if not the only) one bedroom DVC that does sleep five.

I have an AP so at the moment a 35-37% discount directly through Disney is cheaper than renting points through most people (who usually want $12-14 per point). If Disney mirrors the same discounts they are currently offering then I'll book through Disney. If not I'll try to rent points. If the price is the same or close I'd rather book through Disney so I can have daily housekeeping and also have the flexibility to cancel or change dates if necessary. With Disney I also don't have to pay in full until close to the arrival date where renting points usually requires full payment upfront.