suggestions for a short stay - FL resident

[sterre]

I am going for a short (two night probably stay) to Disney, with my Mom, and my DD (3). It is DD's first Disney trip. We are researching on site, but Mom is paying and she wants to have some thing offsite to compare to. We are FL residents and live just an hour away, so we don't need airport shuttle, but would like transport to MK and/or Epcot. Our other requirement, is that Mom would like it to have a nice pool for DD to swim in. So something with a kid friendly pool. We don't need anything fancy for the room.
(on site recommendations ok too, although we know we DON'T want the value resorts. Mom stayed there last year and refuses to go back. She hated it)

 

[lizabu]

I'm pretty sure Sheraton Safari has a Florida residents rate. Other hotels might too but thats the one that comes to mind.

 

[sterre]

I'm not worried about getting a FL resident rate, just threw that in there because we don't need a car rental. We can drive ourselves, so that's not a consideration.

 

[goNDmay9]

here is the list from Mousesavers - she lists her "preferred" offiste hotels: Am i allowed to copy that here? Please delete if not!!!! The site is free to sign up too and has a ton of useful info.

http://www.mousesavers.com/preferred.html

Doubletree Guest Suites in the WALT DISNEY WORLD® Resort - The only all-suite hotel in the Downtown Disney area offers extra space for families. MouseSavers.com readers get FREE continental breakfast! Suites sleep up to 6 people.

Buena Vista Suites - Convenient all-suite resort close to Disney World offers 1-bedroom suites that sleep up to 6 people, and FREE daily breakfast buffet.

Caribe Royale Resort - Beautiful resort near Disney World features 1-bedroom suites (sleep up to 6) and 2-bedroom villas (sleep up to 8), plus a lovely waterfall pool and many other amenities.

Royal Plaza in the WALT DISNEY WORLD® Resort - This boutique-style high-rise hotel located on Disney property is one of my favorite places to stay. It's close to Downtown Disney and offers standard rooms that sleep 5. Kids eat FREE at breakfast!

Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek - This stunning luxury hotel is surrounded on three sides by Walt Disney World® Resort. Kids eat FREE at breakfast and dinner, plus get 20% off meals with an exclusive MouseSavers.com offer! Standard rooms sleep up to 4 people.

Best Western Lake Buena Vista in the WALT DISNEY WORLD® Resort - Moderately priced full-service hotel near Downtown Disney offers spacious rooms that sleep 4 (5 with a rollaway). Some rooms have great views.

Marriott Village, which includes Courtyard, Fairfield Inn & Suites and SpringHill Suites - Gated village located just a mile from Disney property includes three different Marriott-branded hotels with some shared amenities. Reasonably-priced accommodations range from standard rooms that sleep 4 guests up to studio suites and family suites that sleep 5. MouseSavers.com packages at these hotels include FREE extras!

Hilton in the WALT DISNEY WORLD® Resort - Offers the only access to the Extra Magic Hours of any hotel in Downtown Disney, plus extensive dining and shopping. Kids eat FREE with a special MouseSavers.com offer! Standard rooms sleep up to 4 people.

Gaylord Palms Resort and Spa is a fabulously themed luxury hotel just one mile from Walt Disney World property. Enjoy the remarkable facilities and amenities! Standard rooms sleep up to 4 people

Happy Disneying!!!

 

[tednvon]

For this short a stay, I am going to recommend that you skip the shuttle to EPCOT/MK. These can be notoriously slow and unpredictable and take lots of valuable time from the parks. It will cost $15 to park but you can hop from park to park each day and the close hotels to Disney are only a 10 minute drive at most.
I would stay away from International Drive because it can get really congested. Best area in my opinion is Lake Buena Vista or just west of Disney on 192. Sheraton Lakeside Kissimmee gets great reviews and is very close to Disney.

Not sure how you feel about this idea, but if budget is an issue, we have had great luck with Priceline, 3 1/2 star Lake Buena Vista at about $55/night. Some very nice properties including Hotels along Hotel Blvd right inside Disney and Embassy Suites Lake Buena Vista.

Mousesavers is a great site and my ideas are just an addendum to Mary' great recommendations

Of course, you can call Disney for Florida Resident rates and if cost is not an issue and you want perfect transportation get a room at Polynesian, Grand Floridian, Contemporary that use the monorail to get to MK and EPCOT...

Good Luck...Ted

 

[BadgerGirl84]

My favorite off-site hotel is the Marriott Residence Inn Lake Buena Vista. Very clean, quiet, AWESOME breakfast, and fun pool.