off site recommendations ??

[DisneyRookie2007]

- We are going May 9-18, 2017 for our 25th wedding anniversary and have always stayed onsite for all our previous visits
- This trip we have a room only reservation for Caribbean Beach Resort (never stayed here before).
- We will not have a rental car during our stay.

- I'd be open to an off site stay if I could get some recommendations from my fellow DISers for a location with the following amenities:

- walking distance to Disney Springs or a reliable free bus service from the hotel
- awesome pool area, lazy river, etc. to relax on our non-park days
- walking distance to restaurants or a good restaurant on site
- we don't want to be hit up for time share presentations wherever we stay

Any recommendations ?

 

[BigredNole]

You are going to be limited in all offsite accommodations without a vehicle.

1. Walking distance to Disney Springs: That limits you to the Disney Springs hotels
2. Awesome pool area is subjective. I am not sure of any that would classify as awesome.
3. Most hotel restaurants are just "blah" in my opinion. Walking distance to restaurants would take you away from Disney Springs unless that is where you want to eat.
4. I can only speak for WBC, but avoiding it is simple. Avoid the parking desk at check-in. No one has to go there. Disconnect your room phone.

You can always use Uber to cut down on the walking and it is not expensive both ways. What you save in resort cost easily covers Uber plus many meals. For 9 nights, I know some timeshares charge a cleaning fee after the 7 nights. You need to add in the cost to get to your resort from the airport (assumes you are flying).

For those dates, you are looking at $1,808 for the room at CBR. A 1BR room at WBC should run you about $600 or less during that time for 7-nights. 2 additional nights + cleaning fee would be about an additional $250. That would save you almost $1000. If you assume Uber is $40 a day (2 full round trips), that is another $360. Transportation to/from airport would be $140 (guesstimate for easier math) and you are at about $1,300 for the 9 nights + all transportation. You get better than Disney accommodations, a great location and property, a full kitchen, separate and nicer bedroom. The money saved will pay for quite a few meals.

 

[msb578]

And by great location- we're talking right next to Caribbean Beach!

 

[BadgerGirl84]

I was thinking the same thing--I'd try to get a 1 bedroom at Wyndham Bonnet Creek and then take Uber anywhere you need to go if you don't want to rent a car.

 

[DisneyRookie2007]

Could you please clarify.... Wyndham Grand Orlando Resort Bonnet Creek or Wyndham Bonnet Creek Resort ? Both show great pricing on Expedia. I just wanted to know if there is any significant difference between the two.

 

[BigredNole]

Grand = Hotel; Other is Timeshare. They are all on the same property, access to all amenities. I know nothing about the Grand side but looking at the prices, it is for a Studio room. For less money on the timeshare side (WBC), you can get a 1BR with a full kitchen.

Go to Vacation Strategy or Vacation Upgrade and see what they quote you. They would be a little more than a private owner, but they can get you a better price over Expedia.