Staying off Property...

[ThreeMusketeers]

Dare I say it..I don't want to stay off site, but I want to make a trip down again this year..(which would otherwise have to wait until Next year..) and I am thinking that maybe..just maybe I can cut down costs a bit by staying off property.

Can anyone reccomend a good, clean LOW cost hotel nearby?

Thanks so much!

 

[kilee]

Would priceline be an option???

 

[HappyLawyer]

go to skyauction and get a villa, i got one for 7 nights, 2 bdr total of 215.00 have fun

 

[kilee]

There is a great skyauction tutorial thread here to look at if you'd like to think of going this route:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=964820

 

[Mouse-n-Mini]

We did the same thing this December. We stayed at the Sheraton Safari near downtown disney. We had hoped to cut back on costs but it didn't work out too well. The room was quite nice...a suite, but it was still $169 a night...we only saved a little by staying offsite due to the price raising Disney does at Christmas time. What we saved there we ended up forking out for parking after we decided to dump the hotel's bus service and drive to the parks ($9 for parking each time...that adds up!). We gave up on the nightmarish bus service, as we wasted SOOOO much time coming and going. You wouldn't believe the time we wasted on that bus service! Plus, English was not the primary language of a single employee at the Safari. It was frustrating to communicate with the staff. I think you should consider a value or moderate instead of staying off site...the Disney resorts are magical and can be affordable if you go during the value season.

 

[kilee]

I'm going to have to disagree---first when staying offsite we never pay over $75 (w/ the exception of a pool home). If I wanted to pay $100+ then I would stay onsite. We've done the Sheraton Safari and it in general gets rave reviews. However, we got it for $37/nt on priceline-- thats a huge difference from what you paid.

I can echo about the bus service---I've only tried it once at a Day's Inn-- and I'll never use the shuttles again. We did find them to be a major hassle and just not worth it. If you're staying offsite, I'd be hesitant to rely on these to get you to and from the parks.

 

[ytown818]

I just booked my hotel off site for October (5 nights), its the Days Inn, Ive never stayed here before, but it was super cheap $29.00/night. I figure we are only there to sleep, they have free shuttles to the parks, We are renting a car, I got a quote for $118 for the car (Compact). Hope this helps

 

[spiceycat]

okay first florida has roaches - big ones, also lots of ants.

they are everywhere - you don't see them often at disney - because Disney doesn't want you to see them. (except at the AK)

so don't freak out if you offsite place has one or the other - they are everywhere in Florida - comes with the area.

here are some sites

www.bestwesternlakeside.com

www.hotelkingdom.com - make sure what you are looking at is close to Disney - any question just ask

www.hotelmartusa.com - again ask if you are unsure

www.choicehotels.com

you might consider a house or condo rental
www.vrbo.com
or
www.skyauction.com

for more about the area
www.floridakiss.com - get their guide

www.orlandoinfo.com - get their magicard

 

[Brian Noble]

If you are willing to stay in a Value resort, it is going to be moderately difficult to beat that price point. The problem is that theme park parking effectively adds $10/day to any offsite hotel rate you get. So, in value season, you've got to find a place around $65 or less before tax, just to break even. There are some places in that price range, but I wouldn't stay in many of them personally.

You can try skyauction, but at least during times I find myself wanting to go, their inventory is limited to non-existant.

Priceline would be another good option if cost is your only consideration, however it is pot-luck. And, some of the quality ratings priceline hands out in Orlando I think are fairly generous---many of those "2 star" properties aren't even close. Sometimes you get a *great* deal, other times not so much. You really have to be going during a low-demand time to do well.

We enjoy our stays offsite, but we aren't doing it to save money compared to a value room---in fact, we spend a little bit more. We do it to get significantly more space and better quality lodgings than one finds in a Value resort, for only a few extra dollars per night.

 

[Cdn Friends of Pooh]

For about $70-75 a night you can stay at the Comfort Suites Maingate East which is close to Disney Property. It's one of our favorite off-site hotels. Saying that, it's no 4-star resort but the rooms are spacious and clean. They offer a free breakfast buffet which saves you a few dollars each day. They also offer free shuttles to WDW, Universal, Sea World, and even to Busch Gardens in Tampa, however keep in mind their shuttle schedule is quite limited though so you really have to base your park planning around their schedule if you want to rely on the shuttles. If you're interested here is their website: http://www.comfortsuitesfl.com/

 

[MomofKatie]

I just booked my hotel off site for October (5 nights), its the Days Inn, Ive never stayed here before, but it was super cheap $29.00/night. I figure we are only there to sleep, they have free shuttles to the parks, We are renting a car, I got a quote for $118 for the car (Compact). Hope this helps

Did you book the Days Inn Maingate East on 192? If so, and the ressie is refundable, I'd recommend you back out. We just stayed there 2 weeks ago, and I didn't feel safe. Our door lock never worked right, and our key cards didn't work, no matter how many times they were replaced or re-keyed. The room was small, not too clean, and the staff was pretty apathetic. We stayed 2 nights, then moved over to the Howard Johnson Maingate East. That stay was much better. The room was larger (with a kitchenette), and the staff were friendlier. The housekeeping was great! I paid the same price (about $30/night, through Hotwire) for both hotels, but I felt ripped off by Days Inn.

 

[dtauer]

I just booked my hotel off site for October (5 nights), its the Days Inn, Ive never stayed here before, but it was super cheap $29.00/night. I figure we are only there to sleep, they have free shuttles to the parks, We are renting a car, I got a quote for $118 for the car (Compact). Hope this helps

Everyone can make their own lodging decisions, but since you are a relatively new member I would suggest searching DIS for Days Inn. I think that with a few exceptions you will find some very negative comments.

Yes, $29 seems great, but you also need to be comfortable and safe. Also, I heard about this story a couple of weeks ago on Orlando Channel 13:

"Orange County Deputies are investigating a third suspicious death from Thursday. The discovery was made by maintenance workers at the Days Inn on South Orange Blossom Trail. Deputies say a man was found dead, taped and bound."

Crime can happen anywhere, but I have heard from several here that they didn't always feel that Days Inn in Orlando was as safe as they'd like.

 

[ytown818]

Ok, so the Days Inn is not that great, so its got stained rugs and smelly rooms, air conditioners that are unreliable.......its an old hotel. So it has bugs and roaches, its Florida you can find them in any hotel, even the nice ones. Personally I am not going to Florida to hang out in my room. I spend 90% of my time at the parks. So its not fancy and full of frills, Its LOW Budget traveling, what do you expect for $29.00 a night??

 

[dtauer]

Ok, so the Days Inn is not that great, so its got stained rugs and smelly rooms, air conditioners that are unreliable.......its an old hotel. So it has bugs and roaches, its Florida you can find them in any hotel, even the nice ones. Personally I am not going to Florida to hang out in my room. I spend 90% of my time at the parks. So its not fancy and full of frills, Its LOW Budget traveling, what do you expect for $29.00 a night??

I'm sorry. I didn't mean to offend.

It sounds like you've made up your mind. I've regretted a few choices in hotels I've made over the years to save a few dollars. Just want to let new members know there is a wealth of information on DIS regarding low cost hotels that can be found with a little research.

 

[MomofKatie]

Ok, so the Days Inn is not that great, so its got stained rugs and smelly rooms, air conditioners that are unreliable.......its an old hotel. So it has bugs and roaches, its Florida you can find them in any hotel, even the nice ones. Personally I am not going to Florida to hang out in my room. I spend 90% of my time at the parks. So its not fancy and full of frills, Its LOW Budget traveling, what do you expect for $29.00 a night??

What I was trying to get across is that there are other hotels out there that are just as inexpensive- that are kept in better shape and are "nicer". If you want to stay there, great. I wouldn't ever stay there again- that was just my opinion.

 

[mom2of2]

The Days Inn on SOBT isn't anywhere near WDW. WDW isn't in Orlando. WDW is in Lake Buena Vista which is a suburb of Orlando. The areas closest to WDW are the safest since they are tourist driven. OBT is a badddd area!

 

[ytown818]

I am not offended at all!!
I have stayed at alot of budget hotels on property and off, (Pop Century, All Star Sport, Econo Lodge, HoJos to name a few) searched the net til Im blue in the face,(Hotwire, Skyauction (lots of hidden fees),Orbitz,Priceline...Etc.), read tons of reviews and they all have bad reviews and good. What I was just trying to say is when you get any hotel for $29.00 a night you have to know its not going to be the Hilton......All smiles here, Im just happy Im headed to DISNEY.

 

[ytown818]

The Days Inn on SOBT isn't anywhere near WDW. WDW isn't in Orlando. WDW is in Lake Buena Vista which is a suburb of Orlando. The areas closest to WDW are the safest since they are tourist driven. OBT is a badddd area!

What does SOBT stand for???
Thanks

 

[grlpwrd]

Ok, so the Days Inn is not that great, so its got stained rugs and smelly rooms, air conditioners that are unreliable.......its an old hotel. So it has bugs and roaches, its Florida you can find them in any hotel, even the nice ones. Personally I am not going to Florida to hang out in my room. I spend 90% of my time at the parks. So its not fancy and full of frills, Its LOW Budget traveling, what do you expect for $29.00 a night??

I could live with budget accomodations, but I would expect it to be safe and at least make it out unharmed and alive.

 

[cgcruz]

I've stayed 2 places off-site. One was Days Inn Maingate Inn, Twice. The second time was worst. Very run down. Last August we went to Orlando we stayed in the Howard Johnson Maingate East the first and last day we were in Orlando (main stay was at Pop Century). It was a lot better! The first night though we had a nicer place facing I-192, the last night we had a room in the back. A little older looking, with some real shady looking next door neighbors. but the room itself was just fine. I'd recommend staying there.

Remember, you can save a lot if you have AAA. Check to see if any motel you want accepts it.