Need help picking a hotel

[FSU Girl]

A little background information: in January I'll be going up to Disney with my boyfriend and his kids for my first trip with them. We are going MLK weekend and are staying at Bay Lake Towers in a two-bedroom theme park view for Saturday-Monday. I originally had Friday-Monday booked in a lake view room, but decided it would be better with the theme park view since the kids bed times are early.

I really want to still go up Friday so that we don't lose most of Saturday to driving. I need to find a hotel for one night, hopefully where there is a quick service nearby since we don't know what time we will be arriving so no ADR for dinner. Any suggestions on which hotel to pick?

We are going to still do a two-bedroom villa (for cash) I've never stayed in one of these rooms before, which other hotels would be good to go to for just the night?

 

[Marionnette]

A little background information: in January I'll be going up to Disney with my boyfriend and his kids for my first trip with them. We are going MLK weekend and are staying at Bay Lake Towers in a two-bedroom theme park view for Saturday-Monday. I originally had Friday-Monday booked in a lake view room, but decided it would be better with the theme park view since the kids bed times are early.

I really want to still go up Friday so that we don't lose most of Saturday to driving. I need to find a hotel for one night, hopefully where there is a quick service nearby since we don't know what time we will be arriving so no ADR for dinner. Any suggestions on which hotel to pick?

We are going to still do a two-bedroom villa (for cash) I've never stayed in one of these rooms before, which other hotels would be good to go to for just the night?

Hilton Orlando Buena Vista Palace in Disney Springs area. A good review of it is here:
https://www.mousesavers.com/hilton-orlando-buena-vista-palace/

 

[DisneyWishes14]

Are you looking for a hotel on property? Just a regular room or something similar to the two-bedroom?

 

[FSU Girl]

Are you looking for a hotel on property? Just a regular room or something similar to the two-bedroom?

I think I want to stay with the two-bedroom Villa type room. I don't have much experience with staying off property so I'm not sure if I want to do that or not. We'll be driving up Friday after so will probably get into Orlando around 7 so we'll have enough time to enjoy the hotel and have dinner somewhere

 

[Marionnette]

I think I want to stay with the two-bedroom Villa type room. I don't have much experience with staying off property so I'm not sure if I want to do that or not. We'll be driving up Friday after so will probably get into Orlando around 7 so we'll have enough time to enjoy the hotel and have dinner somewhere

If it's just for one night, I would go with either a regular hotel room or a 1-bedroom suite (for privacy) offsite. You really don't need the extras of a 2-bedroom villa (like the washer/dryer in-room or the full kitchen). You only need a clean, comfortable place to rest your heads for the night. If you get a suite, you can give the kids the "bedroom" if you want to put them to bed earlier than you and your boyfriend would like to go and use the "living room" area to hang out and decompress after your day on the road.

 

[shellyj]

For a 2 bedroom, I highly recommend AKL. It is our favorite resort and we always book the 2 bedrooms. If you've never stayed there, it's a beautiful, unique experience and the kids might really enjoy the animals. If that's not available, I would switch gears and look at 1 or 2 studios at an All Star since it's such a late arrival time and you basically just need a place to sleep. We spent 2 nights there last fall and were actually surprised how much we loved it.

 

[Sue M]

I agree with @Marionnette about a hotel in Disney Springs for your first night. You didn't say how many kids or ages but The Doubletree in Disney Springs is all suites. We had a 1 bedroom that was quite spacious. We had 2 queens in the bedroom, and they had a pull out sofa in the living room. Both rooms have TVs. Tons of dining options, you have all of the Disney Springs area to choose from. Mousesavers have great discount codes, marionette included link. I'd sign up for the mousesavers newsletter to get their Hot Deals.

 

[Smittolis]

I'd check to see if you can get any availability renting DVC points as it is only a single night. That way it may be a good price and you get all the benefits of a 2 bedroom high roller suite ;o)

 

[amberpi]

I'd really recommend the dolphin. Lots of stuff for the kids to get into and you'd have lots of dining choices, that you could walk up to - including a buffeteria and a character meal at the swan. I'm kinda a food snob, but the mac and cheese at the buffeteria picabu is amazing. It's a regular late night take back to the room treat for me. Also, if you're driving with kids, tons of drink choices and the fountain ice cream is delicious.

 

[FSU Girl]

For a 2 bedroom, I highly recommend AKL. It is our favorite resort and we always book the 2 bedrooms. If you've never stayed there, it's a beautiful, unique experience and the kids might really enjoy the animals. If that's not available, I would switch gears and look at 1 or 2 studios at an All Star since it's such a late arrival time and you basically just need a place to sleep. We spent 2 nights there last fall and were actually surprised how much we loved it.

Would we be able to see any of the animals at the AKL if we arrive after sunset?

 

[Hopefully]

Would we be able to see any of the animals at the AKL if we arrive after sunset?

Probably not well if at all. They do have night vision goggles you can use to see them.
For the health and well being of the animals, the Savannah's are not artificially lit at night.

 

[Marionnette]

Would we be able to see any of the animals at the AKL if we arrive after sunset?

Probably not from your balcony, even though animals will still be on parts of the savanna after sundown. They can be viewed using night vision binoculars that the CMs provide in the viewing areas just off of the lobbies of both Jambo and Kidani.

 

[FSU Girl]

Probably not well if at all. They do have night vision goggles you can use to see them.
For the health and well being of the animals, the Savannah's are not artificially lit at night.

Probably not from your balcony, even though animals will still be on parts of the savanna after sundown. They can be viewed using night vision binoculars that the CMs provide in the viewing areas just off of the lobbies of both Jambo and Kidani.

Are those night vision goggles easy to use for kids? If we don't leave the hotel until 11am the next morning do you think it'll be worth it since they'll be able to see animals in the morning?

 

[Marionnette]

Are those night vision goggles easy to use for kids? If we don't leave the hotel until 11am the next morning do you think it'll be worth it since they'll be able to see animals in the morning?

They're pretty heavy but lots of children use them. I recommend helping smaller children by steadying them while the kid searches for animals. You will certainly see animals on the savanna in the morning. What you end up seeing will be dependent on where your room is located.

 

[FSU Girl]

They're pretty heavy but lots of children use them. I recommend helping smaller children by steadying them while the kid searches for animals. You will certainly see animals on the savanna in the morning. What you end up seeing will be dependent on where your room is located.

Thanks! I'm leaning towards this hotel for the one night. I have a stay there coming up in three weeks with my boyfriend so that'll be the deciding factor for him if we go back or not.

 

[FSU Girl]

Has anyone stayed at the Saratoga Springs Treehouse villas?

 

[Marionnette]

Has anyone stayed at the Saratoga Springs Treehouse villas?

My brother has stayed in the THVs a number of times. He owns at SSR and really loves them. What do you need to know?

 

[FSU Girl]

My brother has stayed in the THVs a number of times. He owns at SSR and really loves them. What do you need to know?

I was looking at pictures on the Disney website for them. I'm thinking about picking this for the first night of my trip with the kids. It looks like everyone would get their own room and a real bed which I like. It looks really far away from everything though. Will it be a problem we will be arriving when it's probably dark out? Will the area be lit?

 

[Marionnette]

I was looking at pictures on the Disney website for them. I'm thinking about picking this for the first night of my trip with the kids. It looks like everyone would get their own room and a real bed which I like. It looks really far away from everything though. Will it be a problem we will be arriving when it's probably dark out? Will the area be lit?

Low-level lighting. I find SSR confusing to navigate at night if you're not familiar with it. The THVs are in a remote area in a far corner of the resort. If you're looking for a quiet, out of the way place to rest and recharge your batteries before moving to the resort you will be spending the rest of your visit, then you will not be disappointed. If you're looking for a villa that is close to food, pools and with an interesting nighttime view, this is not the place for you.

 

[FSU Girl]

Low-level lighting. I find SSR confusing to navigate at night if you're not familiar with it. The THVs are in a remote area in a far corner of the resort. If you're looking for a quiet, out of the way place to rest and recharge your batteries before moving to the resort you will be spending the rest of your visit, then you will not be disappointed. If you're looking for a villa that is close to food, pools and with an interesting nighttime view, this is not the place for you.

Thank you Since we are going in January I'm figuring it'll probably be too cold to swim. I'm not sure what time we will be arriving so I won't be making any ADRs so if not near food would probably stop at a publix on the way and make dinner in the kitchen. It looks cozy, although I've never stayed at this resort before so it would be completely unknown to us. I really want a place to wow the kids and this looks so different from any type of hotel I feel like it could, unless its hidden in the dark and they can't see it to be wowed lol. I'm so indecisive trying to make this the perfect vacation.