Offsite hotel to go to Disney and Universal

[Pooh_Friend#1]

I have researched and managed to confuse myself completely on where to stay. I have never stayed offsite so I am feeling overwhelmed. We will be celebrating my niece's high school graduation at Disney for 3 days (6/2-6/4) and will be headed to Universal for 1 day on 6/5. I'm trying to figure out where the possibly cheapest but nice offsite place to stay. We do not need anything fancy but a free breakfast would be nice. I'm thinking staying closer to Disney would be better since we will be there 3 days. We will have a rental car. There is 2 families going for a total of 9 adults. We could either do separate rooms or stay together, we really don't care either way. I just don't know the area well and need all the help I can get! Any suggestions or help is much appreciated. Thanks!!!

 

[happymommy]

Hi! First of all, congratulations on your niece's graduation!

That is a rather large group - hard to please so many. It sounds like you'll need a fairly large villa, or several separate rooms. With only 3 days at Disney, you probably won't be in your rooms much other than sleeping and getting ready in the mornings, so I understand free breakfast is a plus (grab and go!).

What is your budget, either total or per person, nightly?

I would start with looking at one of my favorite websites: www.mousesavers.com to see some of Mary's preferred Disney area hotels. There are some nice options very close to Disney, like Buena Vista Suites as well as the Marriott Village hotels (3 midrange Marriott brand ones very close to Disney, two of which offer free breakfast and I think you can get a free parking deal there).

There is a lot to choose from nearby - but narrowing it down can help with your budget and amenities you're seeking. Like, is a nice pool important, or with only 3 days is that not really an issue?

You can even look at renting condos on redweek (I've done that with good experiences a few times) - if your stay starts or ends on a weekend (they're usually Friday to Friday or Saturday to Saturday type rentals) - even not using the whole week (leaving a day or two early) can sometimes save money. With 9 adults, though, I'd guess you would at least need a 3 bedroom condo.

I know many folks here on the Disboards love Bonnet Creek also - do some looking around at those places - they have larger condos too and offer (limited) bus transport to the parks.

I hope this is at least a start - have fun planning!

 

[Pooh_Friend#1]

Thanks so much for the suggestions and help! A nice pool will not be important to us because like you said we will just be there to sleep! I don't want to pay more than $125/night per room since that is around the same price I could pay to stay onsite. I am a federal employee so I am hoping that will help me find something cheaper. I saw Embassy Suites for $122/night that I am thinking about. It said it is 3.5 miles outside Disney. Not sure if there is anything better (meaning cheaper out there with breakfast) out there! There we would get 2 rooms with the 2 queen beds with a sleeper couch.

 

[Ksquared]

So if you are willing to pay $125 per room per night your budget really is $250 per night total for everyone. I think you should look into renting at Bonnet Creek. They have 3 and 4 bedroom villas and even though there is not free breakfast, it would have a full kitchen so you could grab breakfast in your room. Since you have a rental car, you can pick up groceries easily and a low cost and the 4 bedrooms would have plenty of room to spread out. It wouldn't hurt to look into Vacation Strategies and get a quote.

 

[Sephora]

Floridays Resort Orlando

 

[Pooh_Friend#1]

So if you are willing to pay $125 per room per night your budget really is $250 per night total for everyone. I think you should look into renting at Bonnet Creek. They have 3 and 4 bedroom villas and even though there is not free breakfast, it would have a full kitchen so you could grab breakfast in your room. Since you have a rental car, you can pick up groceries easily and a low cost and the 4 bedrooms would have plenty of room to spread out. It wouldn't hurt to look into Vacation Strategies and get a quote.

Oh wow...I will check it out. Thank you.

 

[4forMe]

Thanks so much for the suggestions and help! A nice pool will not be important to us because like you said we will just be there to sleep! I don't want to pay more than $125/night per room since that is around the same price I could pay to stay onsite. I am a federal employee so I am hoping that will help me find something cheaper. I saw Embassy Suites for $122/night that I am thinking about. It said it is 3.5 miles outside Disney. Not sure if there is anything better (meaning cheaper out there with breakfast) out there! There we would get 2 rooms with the 2 queen beds with a sleeper couch.

Please note that Embassy Suites is now charging a parking fee of $12 per day.

Oh wow...I will check it out. Thank you.

I don't think Bonnet Creek is an option for your group as most owners require a stay of 3 nights or more.

I would suggest looking at Hawthorn Suites Lake Buena Vista located at 8303 Palm Parkway in Orlando. Expedia and Travelocity currently have a special of $119 per night for a 2 Queen bed suite (sleeps six). Room includes a kitchenette with a full fridge and dishwasher. The rate includes free breakfast, free WiFi and free parking. This hotel gets good reviews if you want to check out the reviews on tripadvisor.

 

[Pooh_Friend#1]

Please note that Embassy Suites is now charging a parking fee of $12 per day.



I don't think Bonnet Creek is an option for your group as most owners require a stay of 3 nights or more.

I would suggest looking at Hawthorn Suites Lake Buena Vista located at 8303 Palm Parkway in Orlando. Expedia and Travelocity currently have a special of $119 per night for a 2 Queen bed suite (sleeps six). Room includes a kitchenette with a full fridge and dishwasher. The rate includes free breakfast, free WiFi and free parking. This hotel gets good reviews if you want to check out the reviews on tripadvisor.

Oh wow, good to know about the parking. Thank you. We will actually be staying 4 nights but I am still trying to figure out the best way to get a quote. Thank you!!

 

[4forMe]

Oh wow, good to know about the parking. Thank you. We will actually be staying 4 nights but I am still trying to figure out the best way to get a quote. Thank you!!

If you go directly to the Hawthorn Suites Lake Buena Vista website, they are offering special discounts during your stay. Click on the top tab that says specials and then click on "sizzling summer savings". The room I mentioned previously (2 Queen beds with sleeper sofa) is now $91.56 per night directly on their website. I really think this hotel would be your best bet.

Good luck with your search!

 

[2girlsmom]

I would look at Caribe Royal and/or Buena Vista suites. They are right next to each other, sister resorts. I haven't stayed at BV, only at Caribe. They do have free parking, Buena Vista offers free breakfast. They are 1 bedroom suites at Buena Vista or 1 and 2 bedroom suites at Caribe. Generally they have 2 queens or 1 king in the bedroom plus the pull out couch in the living room on the one bedrooms. We love the 2 bedrooms, as my teens hate to sleep together, that way they each get a queen bed, plus there's a king in the master bedroom, 2 full bathrooms, a 2 person jacuzzi in the master, full kitchen, etc. They are very close, right on world drive so it takes maybe 5-10 minutes (and none on the interstate) to get to the Disney parks, about 15-20 minutes to Universal.

 

[thehogsters]

Make sure youlook out for parking and resort fees. LBV Hilton and Sheraton will run you $20 for parking and $21 resort fee.
I just won a bid for Caribe for $97 ($120 with tax and fees.) Just bid in LBV East and start at $90.

 

[Pooh_Friend#1]

You all have been so helpful and made things a lot less stressful. I cannot thank you enough.