Off Site Recommendations?

[World Showcaser]

I have always stayed on site but I'm wondering, if you were not staying at a WDW Resort, which hotel would you stay out? Are there any other places in the general area that feel just as magical?

 

[outahere]

I have always stayed on site but I'm wondering, if you were not staying at a WDW Resort, which hotel would you stay out? Are there any other places in the general area that feel just as magical?

While I'm not sure I would call it "magical", when we stay off site we usually stay at Marriott's Cypress Harbour vacation club resort. You can get a nice, fully furnished 2 bedroom condo there for not a lot more than the price of a non-discounted WDW moderate resort. It's only about a 10 - 15 minute drive to any of the parks. They have 3 pools, tennis courts, etc. and a quick serve dining location (it was run by Pizza Hut last time we were there). We think it's a very relaxing place, and sometimes it's nice to get away from the crowds, noise, etc. at Disney.

 

[AprilJ26]

We stayed at the Downtown Disney Holiday Inn on Hotel Plaza Blvd this past Thanksgiving week. We really enjoyed our stay there. They had a great breakfast included in our price with Mickey waffles which made the kids very happy! They also had buses that ran every 30 minutes to all 4 parks. The only downside was the extra time it took to get to MK through the TTC, but since we went during a time with NO discounts, we preferred to save the money and stay offsite. We wouldn't hesitate to stay there again if no onsite discounts were offered for our dates!

 

[World Showcaser]

I guess I'm looking for places that have some theming or a unique or beautiful atmosphere ...not just a standard hotel. Do you think the hotels you mentioned are like that?

 

[AprilJ26]

I guess I'm looking for places that have some theming or a unique or beautiful atmosphere ...not just a standard hotel. Do you think the hotels you mentioned are like that?

The Holiday Inn DTD doesn't have a unique or beautiful atmosphere with great theming of anything like that. We had a balcony with a great view of DTD and we were very close walking distance to DTD. There was also a Disney gift shop in the hotel. Nothing as magical as onsite. If I were looking for magical, unique, and totally Disney-themed, I'd stay onsite for sure. We'd only consider offsite to save money if there are no onsite discounts.

 

[Robbi]

We've stayed at the Swan and Dolphin. This trip (April), we're staying at Wyndham Bonnet Creek resort. There are 2 lazy river pools and a few other pools plus playgrounds. It's right behind Disney's Caribbean resort. A 2 bedroom there cost less than a Disney mod. I got my reservation through a friend but many people go through VacationUpgrades.com. A 2 bd for 7 nights can be had for about ~$850.

 

[outahere]

I guess I'm looking for places that have some theming or a unique or beautiful atmosphere ...not just a standard hotel. Do you think the hotels you mentioned are like that?

Marriott's Cypress Harbour that I posted above reminds me of Disney's OKW resort. The pictures on Marriott's web site will give you a good idea of how it looks.

 

[World Showcaser]

If I were looking for magical, unique, and totally Disney-themed, I'd stay onsite for sure. We'd only consider offsite to save money if there are no onsite discounts.

I'm not looking for Disney-themed offsite. In fact, I'm staying on-site at POR because I liked being immersed in Disney. I was just curious as to what was out there as I have never explored offsite before and thought for a non-Disney trip, there might be some cool non-Disney sites to stay at. I'm not really concerned about price either.

So, the examples listed below are the kind of thing I was curious about. Thank you very much for all your recommendations. I like the thought of the lazy river pools very much!

Has anyone ever stayed at the Universal hotels? Are there any others that were neat?

We've stayed at the Swan and Dolphin. This trip (April), we're staying at Wyndham Bonnet Creek resort. There are 2 lazy river pools and a few other pools plus playgrounds. It's right behind Disney's Caribbean resort.

Marriott's Cypress Harbour that I posted above reminds me of Disney's OKW resort.

 

[Robbi]

I'm not looking for Disney-themed offsite. In fact, I'm staying on-site at POR because I liked being immersed in Disney. I was just curious as to what was out there as I have never explored offsite before and thought for a non-Disney trip, there might be some cool non-Disney sites to stay at. I'm not really concerned about price either.

So, the examples listed below are the kind of thing I was curious about. Thank you very much for all your recommendations. I like the thought of the lazy river pools very much!

Has anyone ever stayed at the Universal hotels? Are there any others that were neat?

You're welcome.

The Universal hotels leave Disney's in the dust. We haven't stayed at the Hard Rock but we have friends who have and they love it. They said the restaurant and pool are fantastic.

We've stayed at the Portofino and Royal Pacific.
The Portofino is gorgeous and is their most deluxe. Compared to the Disney deluxe, it is plus ultra-very understated and elegant. The rooms are beautifully decorated, the theme is outstanding. You could just stay there and make a vacation of it. It's my favorite.

The Royal Pacific is where we usually stay because my daughter fell in love with it on our first visit. The landscaping is lush and the restaurants are wonderful. It has a fun pool. The rooms are Polynesian themed without being dark and gloomy.

The staffs are outstanding at all 3. Just an example. We were booked at the Royal Pacific for 3 nights. On the first night, my daughter got sick and I made the decision to leave the next morning. The manager came out and said we would not be charged for that night and even though it was past cancellation, we were not charged for the other 2 nights either. I wasn't expecting it nor do I think she caught any bug specifically at Universal, after all we had just spent 6 nights at WDW and went to a few places in Orlando so she could have been exposed anywhere.

 

[World Showcaser]

You're welcome.

The Universal hotels leave Disney's in the dust. We haven't stayed at the Hard Rock but we have friends who have and they love it. They said the restaurant and pool are fantastic.

We've stayed at the Portofino and Royal Pacific.
The Portofino is gorgeous and is their most deluxe. Compared to the Disney deluxe, it is plus ultra-very understated and elegant. The rooms are beautifully decorated, the theme is outstanding. You could just stay there and make a vacation of it. It's my favorite.

The Royal Pacific is where we usually stay because my daughter fell in love with it on our first visit. The landscaping is lush and the restaurants are wonderful. It has a fun pool. The rooms are Polynesian themed without being dark and gloomy.

The staffs are outstanding at all 3. Just an example. We were booked at the Royal Pacific for 3 nights. On the first night, my daughter got sick and I made the decision to leave the next morning. The manager came out and said we would not be charged for that night and even though it was past cancellation, we were not charged for the other 2 nights either. I wasn't expecting it nor do I think she caught any bug specifically at Universal, after all we had just spent 6 nights at WDW and went to a few places in Orlando so she could have been exposed anywhere.

I've been wondering about the Universal hotels. I might like to take a trip over there one of these times. The website makes them all look amazing!

 

[Robbi]

They are . The rooms at the RP are smallish but very, very nice. The other 2 have larger rooms. If you decide to go, buy a preferred annual pass. It has a hotel discount and practically pays for itself with the hotel discount.

 

[Dallas_Lady]

When we stay offsite we go for the extraspace of a condo rental at Windsor Hills

 

[Sue M]

If you're looking for a themed resort, I've heard Gaylord Palms is just that. You can look it up on their web site for pics.
I haven't stayed there. We do stay onsite, but first visit we stayed at a Marriott Courtyard on Palm Pkwy. Another time we stayed 1 night pre package at the DTD Doubletree. 1 bedroom suite. But not the theming around the grounds of a WDW resort, The pool was just a pool.

 

[Lynne M]

Moving to the Orlando Hotels board.

 

[World Showcaser]

They are . The rooms at the RP are smallish but very, very nice. The other 2 have larger rooms. If you decide to go, buy a preferred annual pass. It has a hotel discount and practically pays for itself with the hotel discount.

This is a great tip! I wouldn't have known about it.

If you're looking for a themed resort, I've heard Gaylord Palms is just that. You can look it up on their web site for pics.

I have heard of Gaylord Palms...in fact I think I drove by. But I don't know anything about it. I'll take a look at the pics just for fun.

Moving to the Orlando Hotels board.

Thank you very much. I realized after starting the thread that I likely posted it on the wrong board.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

I have heard of Gaylord Palms...in fact I think I drove by. But I don't know anything about it. I'll take a look at the pics just for fun.

Gaylord Palms is stunning. We were there over Christmas for the ICE! attraction (a feature of the resort during every holiday season) and were super impressed. They have an enormous indoor atrium (something like 4 acres under glass) that is so beautiful. There's even alligators from Gatorland inside, koi fish to feed, etc. I was going to try to post some photos, but Photobucket seems to be having issues. You can check out my trip report (see the link in my signature), more toward the end of the report, for some pics of the atrium and whatnot. I am sure I included at least a few of them in the TR.

Gaylord Palms also has a "Shrek Feast" every Saturday and Sunday at their onsite restaurant, Villa de Flora. Food was fantastic, and character interaction was great. Fiona was the only face character, but she was very chatty even thought we didn't have little ones with us. I must say I was delighted to meet Puss In Boots.....what can I say, I am just a big kid . Food wise, it was the most expansive breakfast buffet I think I've ever seen. The character meal is open to guests of the resort and non-guests alike.

 

[Robbi]

This is a great tip! I wouldn't have known about it.



I have heard of Gaylord Palms...in fact I think I drove by. But I don't know anything about it. I'll take a look at the pics just for fun.



Thank you very much. I realized after starting the thread that I likely posted it on the wrong board.

You're welcome. There's a monthly payment plan which is what I use because I buy 3 annual passes every year.

Gaylord Palms is stunning. We were there over Christmas for the ICE! attraction (a feature of the resort during every holiday season) and were super impressed. They have an enormous indoor atrium (something like 4 acres under glass) that is so beautiful. There's even alligators from Gatorland inside, koi fish to feed, etc. I was going to try to post some photos, but Photobucket seems to be having issues. You can check out my trip report (see the link in my signature), more toward the end of the report, for some pics of the atrium and whatnot. I am sure I included at least a few of them in the TR.

Gaylord Palms also has a "Shrek Feast" every Saturday and Sunday at their onsite restaurant, Villa de Flora. Food was fantastic, and character interaction was great. Fiona was the only face character, but she was very chatty even thought we didn't have little ones with us. I must say I was delighted to meet Puss In Boots.....what can I say, I am just a big kid . Food wise, it was the most expansive breakfast buffet I think I've ever seen. The character meal is open to guests of the resort and non-guests alike.

Thanks for this information! We wanted to stay at Gaylord Palms for our April trip but there were no rooms.

 

[Enjoying Life]

We have stayed at the Portofino once and the Hard Rock a few times. We prefer the Hard Rock. The rooms are nicer at the Portofino but the Hard Rock has a much cooler pool area and is closer to the parks. Both are pretty expensive (over $200 a night). For that much you might be able to get a room at the best hotels in town (the Ritz Carlton or the Waldorf Astoria). I'd stay at the Hard Rock, but only if I was going to the parks.

 

[World Showcaser]

Thank you all for your reviews. I think that Hard Rock and Gaylord Palms sound really really cool. Has anyone stayed at the Nick Hotel?

 

[keywestbride]

We stayed at Hard Rock this past October. It was amazing! Our room was really nice, the pool was awesome, gorgeous views, nice transportation to the parks, and stellar service. The website does not do it justice.