IYKYK - and YK better than I do! Family of 5 staying off property for the first time. Can you help me with suggestions?

[Treysar]

Us: family of 5 - 2 adults, a 14 year old daughter, and autistic twin boys, age 13.

What I'm looking for:

• A hotel very close to Disney (walking distance to Disney springs or a transportation area) with a separate sleeping area. A suite, bedroom, etc where a door can be closed between sleeping areas
• Somewhere with transportation to parks so a car Isn't necessary. ( we will have a car part time, but not the entire time)
• A hotel that can be fun for a day in which no park is planned. We may not have the $ to go to the parks much.
• Somewhere we can order pizza

This is for April, a busy time of year. I'm hoping to avoid a crowd but i know that is impossible. This is a spontaneous trip tagging on to a business trip, and we are trying to make it work .Thanks!

 

[HopperFan]

Us: family of 5 - 2 adults, a 14 year old daughter, and autistic twin boys, age 13.

What I'm looking for:

• A hotel very close to Disney (walking distance to Disney springs or a transportation area) with a separate sleeping area. A suite, bedroom, etc where a door can be closed between sleeping areas
• Somewhere with transportation to parks so a car Isn't necessary. ( we will have a car part time, but not the entire time)
• A hotel that can be fun for a day in which no park is planned. We may not have the $ to go to the parks much.
• Somewhere we can order pizza

This is for April, a busy time of year. I'm hoping to avoid a crowd but i know that is impossible. This is a spontaneous trip tagging on to a business trip, and we are trying to make it work .Thanks!

Walking distance to Disney Springs is going to primarily be the Disney Springs hotels. You can technically walk from some of the hotels out on 535 but that will be a real jaunt.

Each hotel you look at will have it's own transportation options to get to the parks so you would have to check with each one individually. Some require reservations, some fees and some are very limited. Disney Springs itself has NO transportation to Disney parks.

Fun will vary.

Pizza can be ordered to most anywhere, I highly suggest you ask at the hotel for reliable pizza companies, do not order from any kind of flyers, some are fake they only want your CC number.

https://disneyspringshotels.com/

---------------------------------------------

There are tons of options for much less, some with free breakfast and lots more space but you will have to really check their transportation options. Personally without a car I wouldn't be too far offsite unless I were comfortable with uber/lyft.

I would explore Bonnet Creek Resort. The amenities are GREAT, they have buses, they have a pizza place and you will have a kitchen where you can really save. It is practically onsite right by Riveria resort.

 

[DL1WDW2]

There are a few new resorts near the AK location that you might want to consider. It’s new area (Flamingo Crossings ) and would be good to check out for future College Internships since you have teenagers ….This is the new Village built for college intern housing and has a new Target and new Dominoes and Five Guys and Starbucks and Walgreens.
I think the Homewood Suites has 2 bedroom suites and does offer transportation option plus breakfast ,
They have pictures posted on their booking site.
If you click onto the title thread ( Orlando Hotels and Attractions ) you will discover lots of helpful options with previous discussions .

Edited for more info . …

 

[Brian Noble]

Somewhere with transportation to parks so a car Isn't necessary.

Having stayed offsite--a lot--I suspect trying to do this offsite is going to be a recipe for frustration. If you can cut somewhere else to free up the $$ for a rental car, I'd recommend it.

 

[Treysar]

Walking distance to Disney Springs is going to primarily be the Disney Springs hotels. You can technically walk from some of the hotels out on 535 but that will be a real jaunt.

Each hotel you look at will have it's own transportation options to get to the parks so you would have to check with each one individually. Some require reservations, some fees and some are very limited. Disney Springs itself has NO transportation to Disney parks.

Fun will vary.

Pizza can be ordered to most anywhere, I highly suggest you ask at the hotel for reliable pizza companies, do not order from any kind of flyers, some are fake they only want your CC number.

https://disneyspringshotels.com/

---------------------------------------------

There are tons of options for much less, some with free breakfast and lots more space but you will have to really check their transportation options. Personally without a car I wouldn't be too far offsite unless I were comfortable with uber/lyft.

I would explore Bonnet Creek Resort. The amenities are GREAT, they have buses, they have a pizza place and you will have a kitchen where you can really save. It is practically onsite right by Riveria resort.

Thank you! Is Bonnet Creek Resort the same as Signia Hilton?

 

[Treysar]

Thank you! Is Bonnet Creek Resort the same as Signia Hilton?

or is it club wyndham bonnet creek?

 

[HopperFan]

or is it club wyndham bonnet creek?

Club Bonnet Creek is the “timeshare” units you can rent. Tucked in with them and sharing amenities is Wyndham Grand Hotel.

The Hilton Signia and Waldorf Astoria are together, share amenities, and located in Bonnet Creek but no affiliation. Not connected to Wyndham other than you travel down same road. They are great with transportation but a suite there likely very pricey. Also a Marriott in there.

 

[Treysar]

Having stayed offsite--a lot--I suspect trying to do this offsite is going to be a recipe for frustration. If you can cut somewhere else to free up the $$ for a rental car, I'd recommend it.

you're right! I'm going to rent a car!

 

[Treysar]

Club Bonnet Creek is the “timeshare” units you can rent. Tucked in with them and sharing amenities is Wyndham Grand Hotel.

The Hilton Signia and Waldorf Astoria on together, share amenities, and located in Bonnet Creek but no affiliation. Not connected to Wyndham other than you travel down same road. They are great with transportation but a suite there likely very pricey. Also a Marriott in there.

Thanks! So this is something found on a sire like VRBO as opposed t hotels.com? Thanks again!

 

[DL1WDW2]

you're right! I'm going to rent a car!

That doesn’t really answer any of your original planning …
Driving in the Orlando area is crazy . Just concerned about your safety for a fun trip you are trying to plan. Please reconsider your options.

 

[Treysar]

That doesn’t really answer any of your original planning …
Driving in the Orlando area is crazy . Just concerned about your safety for a fun trip you are trying to plan. Please reconsider your options.

Thank you that is thoughtful!!! It's a very good point though - I'd feel safer having a car in case of emergencies anyway - emergency could be anything from a real emergency to not having the right type of waffle, lol.

 

[DL1WDW2]

Okay Still trying to help .
I’ve been searching for 2 room suites .
So far it looks like the Embassy Suites has 2 bedroom suites and there is a location at Disney Springs.
I love ES by Hilton .
Do you have AAA for travel discount ?
You’re not traveling with anybody eligible for military stay at Shades of Green by any chance? Also Dept of Defense Civilian Employees are eligible.
I know a lot of people like the Wyndham Bonnet Creek for families and reasonable prices . But property is huge and always confuses me to consider the different options.

 

[Brian Noble]

Just concerned about your safety

What does this mean, exactly? Aside from the tourists who suddenly decide they need to exit RIGHT NOW from the leftmost lane, driving around the tourist zones isn't particularly harrowing, if sometimes congested.

 

[SPSRAS]

If you have a car I would recommend looking at condos at Windsor Hills. They have a great pool, are close to lots of amenities and the drive from there to the parks is shorter than from many on-site Disney hotels. You can get easily find 2 or 3 bedroom units on either VRBO or on the WindsorHills owners website. We have stayed there 3 times and have had nothing but a great time there. We have also stayed at Wyndham Bonnet Creek and that is our favorite but it seems more expensive and difficult to find rooms there now. They are a timeshare with many newly added black out dates so you have to be careful when booking. But they also have a great pool, good restuarant and very spacious 1 and 2 bed units with full kithchens. And its super close to parks.

 

[NJlauren]

What about the Double Tree Disney springs? It’s a decent hotel, not crazy expensive, 1 and 2 bedroom suites. The pool may not be amazing but can def stay there for the day.

 

[hsmamato2]

What about the Double Tree Disney springs? It’s a decent hotel, not crazy expensive, 1 and 2 bedroom suites. The pool may not be amazing but can def stay there for the day.

I concur.... it's within walking distance to springs, and has suites (I think) you could get by without a car potentially here

 

[mckennarose]

you're right! I'm going to rent a car!

I agree with what others have said in having a car if you're staying offsite is the best way to go.
We stay in the area several times a year and always have a car. It just makes things so much easier.

That doesn’t really answer any of your original planning …
Driving in the Orlando area is crazy . Just concerned about your safety for a fun trip you are trying to plan. Please reconsider your options.

I don't understand what you're implying here? That it's too dangerous to drive in Orlando? Or you won't have any fun on vacation if you have to drive in Orlando? We do it all the time, and our now-adult children have driven the area when they were teens.
Some people don't like to drive, get nervous driving or prefer not to drive on vacation, and that's fine. You can Uber or Lyft (we've also done both many times) or a Mears. But you CAN safely drive in the Orlando area. I would say it's pretty easy driving around Disney property. Up near Universal is more congested but still pretty much a straight shot from the Disney area up I4 to the Universal exit.

OP, just to add, Sheraton Vistana Resort is directly across I4 from Disney Springs, they have a huge resort with lots of amenities. We've stayed here many times. I would say its similar to Wyndham Bonnet Creek in size of the units, just more spread out.

 

[HopperFan]

Okay Still trying to help .
I’ve been searching for 2 room suites .
So far it looks like the Embassy Suites has 2 bedroom suites and there is a location at Disney Springs.
I love ES by Hilton .
Do you have AAA for travel discount ?
You’re not traveling with anybody eligible for military stay at Shades of Green by any chance? Also Dept of Defense Civilian Employees are eligible.
I know a lot of people like the Wyndham Bonnet Creek for families and reasonable prices . But property is huge and always confuses me to consider the different options.

There is no Embassy Suites at Disney Springs, there is a Doubletree Guest Suites. Most the hotel is 1 bedroom suites but there are a handful of 2 bedroom suites. Have stayed often, the pool is very basic.

The Embassy Suites Lake Buena Vista on Palm Parkway has a higher than normal ES Resort Fee because the pool/play area is upgraded. Plus is great hot breakfast. I prefer the ES Lake Buena Vista South, more upscale, all rooms face inside but pool is basic, pretty but basic.

There are one bedroom suites at a few of the other Disney Springs hotels but they are quite costly plus the resort and parking fee. It makes much more sense to stay outside of Disney Springs with a car.

Bonnet Creek is a much better value than Disney Springs and you are minutes in the car. It's not a confusing resort, all but one building (hotel) are the "timeshare" units you can rent. You share all amenities. You park by your building. No fee to park. Easy drive to parks.

The question there is how do you want to book? Direct? Third Party? etc. I have always booked there via SkyAuction but I don't think they are getting inventory lately.

That doesn’t really answer any of your original planning …
Driving in the Orlando area is crazy . Just concerned about your safety for a fun trip you are trying to plan. Please reconsider your options.

If they are concentrating on the theme parks, especially if just Disney driving is not an issue in that area. There are ways to get everywhere and stay off I-4. Not that it's crazy just usually heavy traffic.

I left last night after a week at Marriott World Center Vacation Club (2 bedroom, kitchen, laundry etc) and I was literally parking lot to parking lot of all Disney parks in 15 minutes. 10 minutes if I wanted to go to Disney Springs. No crazy people, no issues.

 

[MICKIMINI]

Drury Plaza Hotel Orlando Disney Springs may be open by April. They are known for having breakfast and evening snacks and have suites. It might be worth checking out. A car rental is still a good idea!

 

[mckennarose]

….. I have always booked there via SkyAuction but I don't think they are getting inventory lately.

I left last night after a week at Marriott World Center Vacation Club (2 bedroom, kitchen, laundry etc) and I was literally parking lot to parking lot of all Disney parks in 15 minutes. 10 minutes if I wanted to go to Disney Springs. No crazy people, no issues.

Skyauction has not had great inventory lately. I can’t remember when they last had a WBC listing. And even the Sheraton Vistana listings are not what they used to be. It seems like they have SVR last minute check ins anymore and definitely not the amount of rentals they had before. It seems to coincide with the latest RCI and Disney resort thing, but I haven’t paid as much attention to it and don’t really understand it. But since RCI began to have DVC resorts, there’s been zero SVR listings on Skyauction. I emailed the company asking why, but they didn’t give an answer other than they are still booking SVR, and to check with them.

Did you stay at one of the Marriott Palms? We’ve stayed at the Sabal several times and really loved it there.