Offsite first night??

[Pooh's World]

If you are really trying to save money you should just take the $2 LYNX bus. If you stay at the Sea World area the first night then you are looking at a 50 min ride on the #111 express from the airport which is the same thing as any hotel shuttle or Magical Express time wise.

The Double Tree Sea World Resort isn't bad. Only negative is thin walls (I just put on my noise machine when I sleep) but I have it booked for May for a night at $59 a night ($66 including tax and no resort fees). If you are a diamond member you get the free in restaurant/or carry out breakfast (breakfast has bacon, pancakes, french toast, made to order omeletees)

Then the next morning I just take the LYNX 50 down to Disney (around 25 minutes)

 

[Lewisc]

If you are really trying to save money you should just take the $2 LYNX bus. If you stay at the Sea World area the first night then you are looking at a 50 min ride on the #111 express from the airport which is the same thing as any hotel shuttle or Magical Express time wise.

The Double Tree Sea World Resort isn't bad. Only negative is thin walls (I just put on my noise machine when I sleep) but I have it booked for May for a night at $59 a night ($66 including tax and no resort fees). If you are a diamond member you get the free in restaurant/or carry out breakfast (breakfast has bacon, pancakes, french toast, made to order omeletees)

Then the next morning I just take the LYNX 50 down to Disney (around 25 minutes)

This is an interesting idea for single travelers, maybe even for some couples. Assuming very light luggageThe OP said:

she's willing to shell out a little bit more but is definitely looking for the easiest option

Your suggestion may work for some people, just not the OP.

JMO a hotel shuttle from MCO to an airport hotel will take a lot less then 50 minutes.

 

[Pooh's World]

This is an interesting idea for single travelers, maybe even for some couples. Assuming very light luggageThe OP said:

she's willing to shell out a little bit more but is definitely looking for the easiest option

Your suggestion may work for some people, just not the OP.

JMO a hotel shuttle from MCO to an airport hotel will take a lot less then 50 minutes.

Disagree. Mears hotel shuttles, etc make multiple stops at every hotel on their run. When I took it, it took maybe an hour and a half because at each hotel they had to unload people's luggage.

 

[Lewisc]

Disagree. Mears hotel shuttles, etc make multiple stops at every hotel on their run. When I took it, it took maybe an hour and a half because at each hotel they had to unload people's luggage.

OP was considering staying at an airport area hotel the first night. Those hotels run their own shuttles. It might stop at one other hotel and might have another stop at MCO. or Has something changed recently?
Is Mears even running their shared shuttle service from MCO?

 

[Pooh's World]

OP was considering staying at an airport area hotel the first night. Those hotels run their own shuttles. It might stop at one other hotel and might have another stop at MCO. or Has something changed recently?
Is Mears even running their shared shuttle service from MCO?

Depends on the hotel but the airport Sleep Inn has suspended their shuttle. So if you don't use the $2 LYNX bus you would have to pay a MEARS type multi hotel shuttle to get there.

 

[Lewisc]

Depends on the hotel but the airport Sleep Inn has suspended their shuttle. So if you don't use the $2 LYNX bus you would have to pay a MEARS type multi hotel shuttle to get there.

Then the OP should verify the airport hotel they're considering is running a courtesy shuttle and verify their hours. I remember some of the lower rated hotels didn't operate their shuttles 24/7. A cab ride from MCO would offset savings.

edited to add I'd call the actual hotel and not rely on the website or an operator on an 800 number.

 

[Pooh's World]

Then the OP should verify the airport hotel they're considering is running a courtesy shuttle and verify their hours. I remember some of the lower rated hotels didn't operate their shuttles 24/7. A cab ride from MCO would offset savings.

edited to add I'd call the actual hotel and not rely on the website or an operator on an 800 number.

Yes, right now especially you have to call the hotel.

the website may say free shuttle but they may not be running it or be charging $5 a run even if they have a shuttle. Or some like the Embassy Suites in Plainfield, Indianapolis are only running the shuttle on weekdays right now.

 

[Mandak22]

I have had plenty of late night flights coming in and just stay at the hotel at Disney that I am going to stay at for the rest of the trip. By the time you factor in transportation, changing hotels, all the time wasted moving hotels, the pain in the butt logistics that you are dealing with now, it's better to just get another night at your original hotel. You won't be able to go to the parks, but you can use that evening to unpack, settle in, check out the hotel and then be ready to go the next morning of your trip. That way you are not wasting several hours of your first full day changing hotels. To me, it is not worth the little bit of money you might be saving compared to the hassle and time lost from your vacation.

We originally were going to come in Monday morning, but the early morning flight already sold out of the cheap fare, so it ended up being cheaper to come in Sunday night and get a hotel room. We're staying at the Contemporary, so by adding one night there wiped out our flight savings by coming in Sunday. I think my mom is leaning towards the Hyatt airport and doing magical express on Monday morning. We've scheduled Epcot for that day since that's one of our lighter park days. Our must ride, rides are very few at that park due to motion sickness, and bad backs.

 

[Mandak22]

I vote for airport hotel then. While 1-2 value rooms might be nice, then you will have the issue of getting your luggage moved from one hotel to the other and yes, Disney does take care of that, but it may still be a hassle.

I think the airport hotel are what the adults and my 13 year old are leaning towards. We told her there's a Chick-fil-a in the airport for breakfast so she's in on that!

 

[Mandak22]

Unfortunately, because there are six of you and you're only going to stay one night, you're going to pay over $400 for a Friday or Saturday night for 2 rooms at the All Stars.

Two rooms at the Hyatt Regency is going to cost a similar price.

Since you "mom is paying and she's willing to shell out a little bit more but is definitely looking for the easiest option", getting a couple of rooms at the All Star. This way, you can use Disney's Magic Express to get to WDW (and not have to pay for a shuttle), and then have Disney transfer the luggage for you.

Where are you staying for the rest of your trip? Can't you just get one more night there?

We're staying at Contemporary, so Hyatt or All Stars would be cheaper. We're leaning towards the Hyatt, due to ease, getting dinner faster, and hopefully Chick-fil-a for breakfast. Plus, there's a slim chance my youngest and I may have to fly in Monday due to softball all star tournament.

 

[Mandak22]

I dont know where you are staying the rest of the vacation. Do you want to stay offsite because of the price of the hotel or because an extra night is not available?
Seems like a lot of moving around. I'm mean it will take some time to from the airport hotel back to the airport to catch another bus to the resort. Does not sound fun with kids and luggage.
See if a family suite is available at AoA they will move your luggage to your main disney resort and you can take the skyliner to Epcot. You are on vacation dont spend it on buses and waiting around to catch them.

We're staying at Contemporary, so the money we saved in switching our flights from an early Monday to a late Sunday would be gone plus more. I think we're leaning towards the airport Hyatt so we can get them dinner faster, and take magical express in the morning. It also seems like less of a hassle than a different Disney hotel. We're more casual park goers, no rope drop to close, like to go back and shower before dinner, and made Epcot our Monday park since it's a lighter park day for us.

 

[Mandak22]

Thanks everyone! This is the first trip we've taken that we don't either drive straight to our Disney hotel, or take magical express to our Disney hotel. I was checking to see if there's anything I missed since it's been a few years and Covid has changed everything! We're looking at just doing the Hyatt airport and eating Chick-fil-a (bribery for getting up early for my oldest) and then going to the Contemporary. Plus there's a slim chance my youngest and I may have to change our flight to early morning Monday due to all star softball tournament. We've booked Epcot for the first day, so it's not a true rush to get to the parks since that's a light park for us. Though my oldest is hoping Ratatouille has a sneak preview while we're there (one can dream)!

 

[Erica Ladd]

If adding an extra night isn’t worth it I’d definitely stay at the Hyatt to make it easier and still enjoy DME while it still exists!! I used to be the type to try and save $$$ but DH has convinced me that it isn’t worth the hassle especially when it’s your vacation! Our first trip we drove down and since we were racing a hurricane the roads were empty and we made it all the way to Orlando (we had planned to stop). I wasn’t sure what to do but called our TA at the time and was able to add a night to our existing BWI ressie. It was $$$$ but it also included the free dining so we score a bunch more meals and snacks and were able to get some late night pizzas on the boardwalk and started our vaca in style!!

 

[Lewisc]

Thanks everyone! This is the first trip we've taken that we don't either drive straight to our Disney hotel, or take magical express to our Disney hotel. I was checking to see if there's anything I missed since it's been a few years and Covid has changed everything! We're looking at just doing the Hyatt airport and eating Chick-fil-a (bribery for getting up early for my oldest) and then going to the Contemporary. Plus there's a slim chance my youngest and I may have to change our flight to early morning Monday due to all star softball tournament. We've booked Epcot for the first day, so it's not a true rush to get to the parks since that's a light park for us. Though my oldest is hoping Ratatouille has a sneak preview while we're there (one can dream)!

What time will you be landing on Sunday? Most of the food court restaurants close between 5p and 8p.
edited to add I'm not even sure what restaurants are open at the Hyatt and if room service is available.

 

[Lilsia]

What time will you be landing on Sunday? Most of the food court restaurants close between 5p and 8p.
edited to add I'm not even sure what restaurants are open at the Hyatt and if room service is available.

Yep, McDonald's is the only one open late until 10.

 

[Pooh's World]

Yep, McDonald's is the only one open late until 10.

what about the Burger King inside the terminal?

 

[Lilsia]

what about the Burger King inside the terminal?

I got my info here.

https://orlandoairports.net/getting-around-mco/shops-restaurants/

 

[Erica Ladd]

Can you get door dash at the Hyatt?

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

We have stayed at the Country Inn and Suite by the airport. It is 2miles away from the airport and they have a free shuttle that runs till 11 p.m
Then in the morning we took the shuttle back to the airport to get on the ME. We have done this a few time. They have suite rooms as well. And there are a lot of places to eat within walking distance to the hotel. TGIFridays and Wendy's are where we have eaten.

 

[FCDub]

Can you get door dash at the Hyatt?

even if you could, please do not make a delivery driver drop off food at the airport. That’s one of the worst things I could ever imagine doing to a delivery driver.