Need advice on Downtown Disney hotel

[alliecats]

Hello! It's been nearly 6 years since we went to Disney and I am losing it. I hope to go next year. We usually stay at the Swan because we don't have kids and prefer the more business/convention style atmosphere. But I would like to find something a bit more affordable to get us back faster. We would like something that has really great transportation to the parks and if possible, access to extra magic hours. Are there any Downtown Disney hotels that offer that anymore?

Thanks!

 

[Mr & Mrs DD]

We stayed at the DoubleTree at Down Town Disney for a few days last year. They had bus service to the parks, but I really don't remember how early or how often the buses ran. I'm sure you could contact them and ask about the transportation services or maybe they have that information posted on line. Good luck

 

[Lisab372]

Have you considered Coronado Springs? We found that Disney hotel to have the best transportation out of the 3 moderates we have stayed at. They are also a business/convention center. We only saw kids at breakfast time. The bus trips were 10-15 mins to the parks.

 

[Grumpy92]

Only the Hilton has the EMH access and as of Jan 1, 2016 they will be loosing that benefit. Each side of Hotel Plaza Blvd shares a bus line, usually two parks per bus. Frankly we walk across the street to DTD and pick a resort bus that is near the park we want to go to and us the Disney buses. We usually stay at the Hilton

 

[Redcon1]

We just stayed at the B Resort & Spa (formerly the Royal Plaza) which we really enjoyed.
Bus service started one hour prior to park opening and ended one hour after park closing. This was for the Magic Kingdom. One thing to note is the bus lets you off and picks you up at the TTC and not in front of the park like the Disney hotel buses do. So allow for extra time on using ferry or monorail service. As previously noted, the hotels on one side of the street share a bus, but we didn't have any problem on finding seats.
They have a nice pool area and the hotel itself has been recently renovated. If not staying at a Disney hotel, I would stay here again on future visits.

We booked our room through the Mousesavers website and the rate included free parking and no resort fee which most of the hotels on Hotel Plaza Blvd. charge.

 

[DrivenByDisney]

We've stayed at every property on Hotel Plaza Blvd. and they are all fine hotels. Nothing overly Disney so you can take that for what it's worth. The bus services as of now begin running one hour before parks open and run for 90 minutes after the parks close. They run pretty regularly every 20-30 minutes to and from the parks.

As stated before there are two buses, the A and B bus and run to these hotels in order:

A Bus

Hilton
Holiday Inn
B Resort
Double Tree

B Bus

Best Western
Wyndham LBV
Buena Vista Palace

The only properties to not charge for parking are the Best Western and Buena Vista Palace. As far as prices, you can typically get in most of these properties for around $100 per night after taxes, fees, etc. And of course the Hilton, as previously mentioned, is the only property to have EMH to the parks until the end of the year.

The closer hotels to DTD would be the Buena Vista Palace, Hilton and Wyndham LBV. A very short walk across the street to DTD which is nice as well for dinner or late(er) night drinks after the parks are closed.

 

[alliecats]

We stayed at the DoubleTree at Down Town Disney for a few days last year. They had bus service to the parks, but I really don't remember how early or how often the buses ran. I'm sure you could contact them and ask about the transportation services or maybe they have that information posted on line. Good luck

Thank you! I appreciate it!

Have you considered Coronado Springs? We found that Disney hotel to have the best transportation out of the 3 moderates we have stayed at. They are also a business/convention center. We only saw kids at breakfast time. The bus trips were 10-15 mins to the parks.

I hadn't thought of it when I posted this but YES I have stayed here and loved it and it is more the crowd my husband will feel comfortable with. THANKS for the reminder!!1

Only the Hilton has the EMH access and as of Jan 1, 2016 they will be loosing that benefit. Each side of Hotel Plaza Blvd shares a bus line, usually two parks per bus. Frankly we walk across the street to DTD and pick a resort bus that is near the park we want to go to and us the Disney buses. We usually stay at the Hilton

That is a great idea, thanks!

We just stayed at the B Resort & Spa (formerly the Royal Plaza) which we really enjoyed.
Bus service started one hour prior to park opening and ended one hour after park closing. This was for the Magic Kingdom. One thing to note is the bus lets you off and picks you up at the TTC and not in front of the park like the Disney hotel buses do. So allow for extra time on using ferry or monorail service. As previously noted, the hotels on one side of the street share a bus, but we didn't have any problem on finding seats.
They have a nice pool area and the hotel itself has been recently renovated. If not staying at a Disney hotel, I would stay here again on future visits.

We booked our room through the Mousesavers website and the rate included free parking and no resort fee which most of the hotels on Hotel Plaza Blvd. charge.

I have been wondering about the B Hotel. Thanks for the info!

We've stayed at every property on Hotel Plaza Blvd. and they are all fine hotels. Nothing overly Disney so you can take that for what it's worth. The bus services as of now begin running one hour before parks open and run for 90 minutes after the parks close. They run pretty regularly every 20-30 minutes to and from the parks.

As stated before there are two buses, the A and B bus and run to these hotels in order:

A Bus

Hilton
Holiday Inn
B Resort
Double Tree

B Bus

Best Western
Wyndham LBV
Buena Vista Palace

The only properties to not charge for parking are the Best Western and Buena Vista Palace. As far as prices, you can typically get in most of these properties for around $100 per night after taxes, fees, etc. And of course the Hilton, as previously mentioned, is the only property to have EMH to the parks until the end of the year.

The closer hotels to DTD would be the Buena Vista Palace, Hilton and Wyndham LBV. A very short walk across the street to DTD which is nice as well for dinner or late(er) night drinks after the parks are closed.

Thanks for the info about the hotel locations and which buses go where and which don't charge for parking!

Does anyone know WHY the Hilton is losing EMH and if any of the other DTD hotels will be picking it up? Do the Swan & Dolphin still have it?

Thanks everyone!!!

 

[Grumpy92]

Hilton pays a premium to Disney to have that option. Not sure why they chose to end this.
Many of the DTD hotels do charge a resort fee. HI does not. You might want to check mousesavers.com they usually list specials for all the DTD hotels, but have a special rate for B resort.