Offsites with shuttle service?

[Bounce_Tigger]

I stayed at the Raddison Celebration, and their shuttle services was okay, not the best though.
I'm looking for good, but inexpensive! If the hotel offers free breakfast, thats even better!

 

[isla bonita]

Mat I suggest renting a small car they are pretty inexpensive.

Shuttle service at any hotel is dismal at best in my opinion.

 

[Lucky82061]

In fact I think that most of the hotels use the same company for their shuttle service. I remember when we stayed at the worldgate ( ) There would always be 2 buses and the drivers would rattle off about 10 hotels or so in the area that each bus went to... so probably not going to get much better unfortunately.. I would say just rent an economy car, they aren't all that bad

 

[Bounce_Tigger]

Renting a car is most likely out of the question as myself and my travel companions are under 25

 

[Lewisc]

Renting a car is most likely out of the question as myself and my travel companions are under 25

The DTD hotels offer decent shuttles (every 20-30 minutes), otherwise your shuttle experience is typical.

I'd suggest staying at a Disney value resort. Not only will you get excellent transporation but airport transfers are free (DME).

You can get excellent deals offsite but I wouldn't suggest offsite without a car.

A couple of the smaller agencies have smaller underage surcharges. EZ rental and something like sunshine.

 

[spiceycat]

I have to agree

either stay onsite at one of the value resorts - or offsite and just live with their bad transportation.

here are the rates for the value
http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/disney-rates-2007.htm#VALUE

sometimes you might be able to get a decent discount for the value resorts as well.

http://www.mousesavers.com/disneyresorts.html#discountmenu

however this is a schedule for best western lakeside in Kissimmee.

read the notes at the bottom carefully
http://www.bestwesternlakeside.com/shuttles.html

if you miss the last bus then you need to take a taxi. get a new shuttle schedule when you check in. don't be surprised if this bus is full when it arrives - it also goes to other hotels.

 

[spiceycat]

sometimes the DD hotels are more expensive than the values.

othertimes you can find a deal on a DD.

 

[Brian Noble]

The only other option would be to take taxis back and forth, but I don't think that will end up being less expensive.

Offsite really works for our family, but if I wasn't renting a car, I would not for a minute consider staying anywhere but Disney property or the DTD resorts.

 

[isla bonita]

Bounce Tigger

I did not realize your situation. I think if I could not rent a car that I would stay on property if possible. I personally do not even like Disney transportation but between that and a shuttle I would choose Disney.

 

[spiceycat]

there are a couple of agency that do rent to people under 25 but you must be older than 18

min age 21
www.dollar.com
www.paylesscarrental.com
www.rentvans.com
www.orlando.thrifty.com

min age 18
www.eagle-rent-a-car.com

www.enterprise.com - does both - so be sure and rent from the one that does your age.

make sure they will come and get you from the airport and drop you off at the airport.

 

[LAS2AMS]

As mentioned, the Downtown Disney hotels offer an adequate transportation system. Other than that, transportation is poor.

Try checking rates at the Downtown Disney hotels. US Airways Vacations usually has excellent hotel-only pricing on the Grosvenor and Best Western (but don't forget about their resort fees, not included in those prices). If you can't find a deal, consider a hotel near the Downtown Disney hotels -- the Sheraton Safari is often available for $45 on Priceline, the Courtyard Vista Center often has "negotiated rates" of $45-$55, inclusive of tax & service fees (use Travelaxe to find the websites -- Google if you don't have it) and the Comfort Inn Lake Buena Vista always has cheap rates (like $30-$50/night, check their website) and the Fairfield Inn Marriott Village also has negotiated rates of around $60. The latter two offer a free breakfast. All of those hotels are only a 10-15 minute walk from the Best Western LBV, where you can utilize the Downtown Disney busses (they won't ask for ID). Or you could walk to Downtown Disney itself (30 minute walk) and utilize the Disney transportation outright.

 

[CarolA]

As mentioned, the Downtown Disney hotels offer an adequate transportation system. Other than that, transportation is poor.

Try checking rates at the Downtown Disney hotels. US Airways Vacations usually has excellent hotel-only pricing on the Grosvenor and Best Western (but don't forget about their resort fees, not included in those prices). If you can't find a deal, consider a hotel near the Downtown Disney hotels -- the Sheraton Safari is often available for $45 on Priceline, the Courtyard Vista Center often has "negotiated rates" of $45-$55, inclusive of tax & service fees (use Travelaxe to find the websites -- Google if you don't have it) and the Comfort Inn Lake Buena Vista always has cheap rates (like $30-$50/night, check their website) and the Fairfield Inn Marriott Village also has negotiated rates of around $60. The latter two offer a free breakfast. All of those hotels are only a 10-15 minute walk from the Best Western LBV, where you can utilize the Downtown Disney busses (they won't ask for ID). Or you could walk to Downtown Disney itself (30 minute walk) and utilize the Disney transportation outright.

Well, the DTD hotels do give you a transportation pass in theory could ASK for it. And the Marriott Fairfield Village is NOT a 15 minute walk to the DTD hotel area. It's longer and it is no a very busy strech of road with no sidewalks. Walking there can be very dangerous and I would not recommend it at any time!

However, I would not suggest walking to DTD. The ONLY place you can go on a bus from there is to another hotel. So you are talking 30 minutes to walk to Disney, catch a bus and then either walk or take another transport to the park.... This is going to take a while. Not to mentino that DTD buses don't even start until DTD opens!

 

[mrsklamc]

I have heard that even at the value resorts the shuttle service isn't that good?

 

[CarolA]

I have heard that even at the value resorts the shuttle service isn't that good?

I suspect you have heard wrong.

 

[LAS2AMS]

And the Marriott Fairfield Village is NOT a 15 minute walk to the DTD hotel area. It's longer and it is no a very busy strech of road with no sidewalks. Walking there can be very dangerous and I would not recommend it at any time!

Huh? A highly-frequented concrete pathway runs between the Marriott Village and the Crossroads, where you cross to get to DTD. I've made this walk several times and it's no more than 15-minutes (to the Best Western LBVR). Yes, the pathway cuts under I-4, but a traffic light guides you & there's an oversized stretch of concrete running beside you under I-4. No more dangerous than walking along any other sidewalk.

Well, the DTD hotels do give you a transportation pass in theory could ASK for it.

I have NEVER been asked for my pass to board the bus (more than a hundred rides). And I rarely receive the pass, anyway (and I've made close to a couple dozen stays at various DTD hotels in the past seven years). If you read tripadvisor, you'll discover that many others have successfuly used this tip (not mine BTW).

However, I would not suggest walking to DTD. The ONLY place you can go on a bus from there is to another hotel.

It makes most sense to board the bus at the BW LBVR... busses run every half-hour to the four theme parks, and to the water parks in the morning. They go to DTD in the evening. As an option, one can always walk to DTD, take a bus to a local resort then hop a monorail/boat (or other bus...) to their final destination. It gives a nice scenic view/interesting option (e.g. taking bus to Beach Club, boat to Epcot World Showcase).

 

[Lewisc]

POP has only one bus stop, doesn't share buses with other resorts and has enough guests to merit frequent bus service. The bus service from POP is better than the bus service that guests generally get at most deluxe hotels.
A Disney value makes sense if you have to pay for airport transfers.

I think the hotels in the Marriott village charge for their shuttle service to WDW. Do you really want to plan on a 15 minute walk, maybe in the heat or rain, to a DTD hotel and then hope they're not checking to make sure you're entitled to use the bus?

http://www.sunshinerentacar.com/

has the lowest underage charges but I don't know anything about the agency.

 

[LAS2AMS]

A Disney value makes sense if you have to pay for airport transfers.

Not always. If you're a pair of budget conscience travelers (as the OP seems to be), there could be better deals available off-site.

Example relevant to the OP:
My girfriend and I stayed at the Comfort Inn LBV for eight nights in late summer. Our nightly rate was $39 -- compared to $99 ($84 AAA) at Disney's value resorts. Including taxes, we saved $400. Factoring airport transportation ($30pp at Mears), we're still ahead $340.

But our rate (booked on their website) also included two hot breakfast buffet. Breakfast with juice/milk will cost $10pp (half that for VERY light eaters, a couple dollars less for those willing to drink coffee/soda from their refillable mugs) at Disney. Also consider that the Comfort Inn's within walking distance of many good restruants (a burger or chicken strips basket will set you back $7 at the vlaues, get a coupon book and you can get sit-down meals for that price or a couple dollars more) and the rooms included microwaves/fridges (good for storing soda, water, etc. bought nearby and cans of soup, sandwich makings, etc. bought nearby or even brought from home). Bottom line: we ate a lot better for a lot less.

Not to mention our package also included two PI tickets... overall, the Comfort Inn was a decent place (resort-like atmosphere, clean rooms, OK beds and minimal noise). The shuttle service was OK, but sometimes we wanted a little more, which is why walking to the Best Western paid off. The CI also offered service to Universal.

Our total savings for the week was at least $600 -- sure we lost out on the Disney ambience, but we made-up for it elsewhere (good food) and had a great time. $600 goes a long ways when you're a young couple...

I think the hotels in the Marriott village charge for their shuttle service to WDW. Do you really want to plan on a 15 minute walk, maybe in the heat or rain, to a DTD hotel and then hope they're not checking to make sure you're entitled to use the bus?

The Marriott was one example (and their shuttle service is cheap, anyway). As mentioned, the walk's just a fallback for times where shuttle service isn't viable. And yes, it's worth it. Car rental charge + gasoline + parking adds up...

 

[Lewisc]

I'll agree with everything in your post except I'm not sure I'll agree with the OPs objectives. The OP said they weren't happy with the shuttle at the Raddison. If transportation is an important criteria than a rental car or a Disney value resort is the best way to improve transportation.

Not always. If you're a pair of budget conscience travelers (as the OP seems to be), there could be better deals available off-site.

Example relevant to the OP:
My girfriend and I stayed at the Comfort Inn LBV for eight nights in late summer. Our nightly rate was $39 -- compared to $99 ($84 AAA) at Disney's value resorts. Including taxes, we saved $400. Factoring airport transportation ($30pp at Mears), we're still ahead $340.

But our rate (booked on their website) also included two hot breakfast buffet. Breakfast with juice/milk will cost $10pp (half that for VERY light eaters, a couple dollars less for those willing to drink coffee/soda from their refillable mugs) at Disney. Also consider that the Comfort Inn's within walking distance of many good restruants (a burger or chicken strips basket will set you back $7 at the vlaues, get a coupon book and you can get sit-down meals for that price or a couple dollars more) and the rooms included microwaves/fridges (good for storing soda, water, etc. bought nearby and cans of soup, sandwich makings, etc. bought nearby or even brought from home). Bottom line: we ate a lot better for a lot less.

Not to mention our package also included two PI tickets... overall, the Comfort Inn was a decent place (resort-like atmosphere, clean rooms, OK beds and minimal noise). The shuttle service was OK, but sometimes we wanted a little more, which is why walking to the Best Western paid off. The CI also offered service to Universal.

Our total savings for the week was at least $600 -- sure we lost out on the Disney ambience, but we made-up for it elsewhere (good food) and had a great time. $600 goes a long ways when you're a young couple...



The Marriott was one example (and their shuttle service is cheap, anyway). As mentioned, the walk's just a fallback for times where shuttle service isn't viable. And yes, it's worth it. Car rental charge + gasoline + parking adds up...

 

[Bounce_Tigger]

I never said I wasn't happy with the service at the Raddison. I simply was looking for other alternatives. The Raddison is a good offsite choice, but hardly cheaper than a value resort and I know that it makes more sense to stay at a value (excluding the food cost) than an offsite with mediocre shuttle service

 

[Lewisc]

I never said I wasn't happy with the service at the Raddison. I simply was looking for other alternatives. The Raddison is a good offsite choice, but hardly cheaper than a value resort and I know that it makes more sense to stay at a value (excluding the food cost) than an offsite with mediocre shuttle service

Your thread title asked about offsites with shuttles and you said the Raddison was just OK. From that I thought you were looking for a resort with better shuttle service.

LAS2AMS is correct, there are many decent offsite properties that offer savings BUT either a Disney value resort or a DTD hotel is the best way to get superior shuttle service. All the offsite resorts feature "mediocre shuttle service". The trick is to either find a rental agency with low enough underage fees or book an offsite property cheap enough to offset mediocre shuttle service.

I'm not one of the DIS members who think you have to stay onsite in order to enjoy a Disney vacation but I wouldn't consider staying offsite without a car.