No car - best off-site resort for a WDW only vacation?

[pooh2001]

Time frame - next May 2015
Best off-site resort for a WDW vacation with NO car - Best walk or boat or bus service to WDW.
Thanks - time to start planning.

 

[Brian Noble]

Swan/Dolphin. IMO, nothing else would be even remotely acceptable without a car.

 

[hercamore]

You'll have so many off-site options if you rent a vehicle.

herc.

 

[kathy884]

The various Downtown Disney hotels (not owned by Disney) I understand have shuttle service about every hour.

 

[pooh2001]

Yes, Dolphin is our favorite - see our signature
But we normally pay about $280 with DS & DD over 18, even with a teachers discount.

I was hoping for less than $200 off site - DTD may be the best for us.
Thank you!

 

[pooh2001]

Found on this website...
Buena Vista Suites
8203 World Center Drive
Orlando, FL 32821

With our 4 adults in a 2 queen bed room it is only $107.75 with tax per night.

We get a Private Bedroom with 2 Queen pillow top Beds, Separate Living Room with Separate Full Size Sofa Sleeper. Refrigerator, Microwave Oven, Coffee/Tea Makers, In-room Safe , Iron & Ironing Board, 2 Telephones w/ Voicemail & Dataports, 42” flatscreen HDTVs in living room, 37” flatscreen HDTVs in bedroom, Work Desk & Chair.

Is the Buena Vista Suites a good place to stay?

 

[Upatnoon]

Found on this website...
Buena Vista Suites
8203 World Center Drive
Orlando, FL 32821

With our 4 adults in a 2 queen bed room it is only $107.75 with tax per night.

We get a Private Bedroom with 2 Queen pillow top Beds, Separate Living Room with Separate Full Size Sofa Sleeper. Refrigerator, Microwave Oven, Coffee/Tea Makers, In-room Safe , Iron & Ironing Board, 2 Telephones w/ Voicemail & Dataports, 42” flatscreen HDTVs in living room, 37” flatscreen HDTVs in bedroom, Work Desk & Chair.

Is the Buena Vista Suites a good place to stay?

It's a fine place to stay for 1 or 2 nights to just crash. An easy drive to the parks (I wouldn't stay here unless I had a car or plenty of money for cab fare). Rooms are smaller than embassy suites. Free breakfast was OK.

Very basic pool area. Surroundings are not very interesting. It's fine for sleeping but you won't want to spend any time at the resort.

With 4 adults I would rather rent a 2BR for around $120 a night at Wyndham Bonnet Creek and have three times more space, 2 bathrooms and a better location.

 

[Lewisc]

With 4 adults I would rather rent a 2BR for around $120 a night at Wyndham Bonnet Creek and have three times more space, 2 bathrooms and a better location.

OP won't have a car. WBC charges for their shuttle. You have to add cab fare or shuttle costs to your numbers.

edited to add: The budget is $200 /night. They might be able to get 2 rooms at a DTD hotel for that price. I'm pretty sure bus service from the DTD resorts is twice an hour. You can use Disney transportation to DTD then walk. BVS has scheduled bus service.

I generally agree with Brian's point regarding a car but I think the DTD hotels would be an exception.

Hercamora-- OP is looking for a resort with shuttle service. I agree a car offers more options. Some people can't rent a car. Some people don't want to drive on vacation. OP has 2 kids over 18. I'll speculate they want a resort which allows them to go to and from the parks independently of the parents.

 

[LadyJayne813]

I would recommend Caribe Royale, which is right next to buena vista suites. They are sister properties. The caribe royal has a very nice tropical pool area with slide and waterfall.

Just like buena vista suites, all of the rooms are 2 room suites. They also have 2 bedroom 2 bathroom villas.

They use mears as their free hotel shuttle. The reviews on the CR shuttle are pretty good.

Mousesavers usually offers the best rate.

 

[Lewisc]

I would recommend Caribe Royale, which is right next to buena vista suites. They are sister properties. The caribe royal has a very nice tropical pool area with slide and waterfall.

Just like buena vista suites, all of the rooms are 2 room suites. They also have 2 bedroom 2 bathroom villas.

They use mears as their free hotel shuttle. The reviews on the CR shuttle are pretty good.

Mousesavers usually offers the best rate.

DTD buses run every 30 minutes.

Caribe Royale buses run a limited schedule. If the bus is full you have to wait (hours) for the next bus or take a taxi, your expense.

Current Schedule
http://www.cariberoyale.com/media/1029317/cro_shuttle_schedule.pdf

 

[hockeygirl14]

If you are just doing WDW I would check the values depending on when you are going - they aren't too much more expensive than off-property hotels (depending on the time of the year and your budget.) I wouldn't venture far from downtown Disney unless I had a car. We stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn Lake Buena Vista on our last quick trip in feb before our cruise... not sure if they offer transportation though. You can also check the Disney Good Neighbor hotels website and change your options to show resorts that only offer free transportation to WDW. There are some nice properties with a varying price range.

EDIT: Saw the budget - value resorts will more than likely fit your budget although you will definitely get more space off property.