Non-Disney Hotels/Resorts

[SnowWhite09]

I know that lots of people like to stay at the Disney resorts and we would too, but just in case, which non-Disney hotels or resorts would you recommend? There will be me, DH and DD13.

 

[Hootch]

you directly since we always stay onsite. You can look at the Unofficial Guide either at your library or get one at the bookstore. They have a section on offsite hotels that includes drive times to the different parks, room quality and an expense guide. It seems very thorough. When you narrow your search some you can always double check their ratings on Trip Advisor.

 

[pjm-guy]

We've stayed at a nearby the Embassy Suites in the past with up to 3 kids at once. It was but a 5-10 minute drive into the 'world' but we did have to rent a car for that. I'm pretty sure they ran shuttles too, but we did rent a car.......

 

[GrumpyMom25]

Before this summers trip we had stayed on property for the 6 trips before that. This summer however things just weren't going in our favor and we refused to pay $125 for a value resort room when we could have had the same room on the last night of our visit for $59 with a special offer. We decided to stay off property at a Holiday Inn Express on Palm Parkway ... it was a "Disney Friendly Neighbor Hotel". Not quite the same as staying at Disney but it was just fine. We were about 1 mile from Disney property ... could drive to Downtown Disney in less then 5 minutes.

 

[carlbarry]

I've stayed at several places off site in my 4 times there. But I definitely think that Orange Lake, or as it is now called Holiday Inn Club Vacations Orlando - Orange Lake Resort was the top. They have 3 great "water park" areas, but River Island, with a loooooong lazy river was tops.

 

[HeatherC]

We usually stay in timeshare resorts and have found the ones in Orlando to be really nice. Some we've stayed at and really like are:

Bonnet Creek: wyndhambonnetcreek.com
Marriott's Grande Vista and Harbour Lake Resorts
Sheraton's Vistana Villages
Orange Lake

Hope this helps!

 

[Princess Disney Mom]

Check out the Doubletree in DTD. Reasonable rates/large suite/micorwave/fridge/2 tv's. Walking distance to DTW.

Not quite the magic as a Disney Resort but with the location it is close.

I'd prefer this to a value anyway.

 

[Brit_Jude]

I've stayed at the Hilton in Down Town Disney three times and really like it. They have transportation to the Disney parks and waterparks. It also has the early entry and late night benefits that Disney guests receive. It's across the street from DTD which was really good for the evening dining and shopping. They have a character breakfast on Sunday. Nice pool. Room has a small refrigerator. I like staying on property too but I got flights from Washington DC & room for 7 nights at $400 a person on Hotwire. They had the same deal on the Hilton Website at the very bottom of the screen where is says Hotel + Flight + Car. We did not get a car this time though didn't need it with the transportation and walk to DTD.

Hope you find something good.

 

[Scrooge Jr]

I know that lots of people like to stay at the Disney resorts and we would too, but just in case, which non-Disney hotels or resorts would you recommend? There will be me, DH and DD13.

No where! If I can not stay on Disney property it's not worth the trip! We stayed off property in 2007 I will never do that again. It was a job just to have fun and the fun was few and far between.

The off site hotel provided transpertation twice a day, to drop off and pick up. I got to know the taxie guys real good.

Staying on property and all the little things is want makes Disney fun.

Take my advice and take that silly idea of staying off property out of your head.

 

[GrumpyMom25]

Your right ... there is nothing like staying on Disney property but if I had the choice of staying off property or not going I'd pick staying off property. I can't see paying $125 on a Sunday night for a room I can have Monday night for $59.

 

[babybaja2]

try looking at vacation homes.. homeaway is a good place to start.. we found a nice condo 2bed/bath washer/dryer full kitchen for $40 a night.. you just can't beat that, even with renting a car, I still am saving money over staying on Disney.. I understand the magic of staying on Disney, but did Walt really mean for a family to go so deep in debt to have a few days of magic?

 

[BridgetBordeaux]

Here are some thoughts.............

Go to www.hotels.com and look up places in Kissimmee, FL. It is about 12-20 minutes from WDW. There are probably a hundred hotels along Route 192

You can see prices and reviews from customers.

Based on your location, it seems that your airfare may take up a big part of your budget. There is nothing wrong with staying off site to save a few bucks. Just remember that you will have to pay 12 dollars a day for your parking for each day in the parks.

If you stay on site there will be no need for a rental car because you can use ME........so no parking fee and no rental car expense if you stay on site.

 

[tegdig]

If not staying on property, my vote is for Embassy Suites Lake Buena Vista. Always found the set-up there nice with a sink inside the bathroom and one in the bedroom area. Really nice for getting ready to go everyday. Also, has the kitchenette and living area closed off from the bedroom.....has free morning breakfast, an evening pizza set-up(not free). It is convenient to the entrance to DTD, or easy on and off of I-4 to enter through the maingates or go elsewhere. Also, we have found the backroads through Disney are often time savers coming and going to Disney. Lots of restaurant choices and a couple of grocery stores very handy. Have always gotten a pretty good rate also. We always have a car, and so I do not know about their shuttle service, but I can not believe they don't have one to Disney and elsewhere.