WDW recommendations for hotel stay

[TotoGogo]

I came across this article https://www.disneytouristblog.com/u...older-resort-discount-for-spring-summer-2024/ where there are suppose to be discounts for AP members starting July to October 2024. We normally just drive to the parks but we are thinking of staying on site. Does anyone have any recommendations as to where they stay as Florida residents? I want to try it for a couple of days. Are all these hotels likely to give complimentary early/evening passes? How does that work? I'm looking for the least expensive option for myself or a party of 2 persons.

 

[HeiHei2018]

Check to see if any discounted rooms are still available at the different hotels. They tend to sell out of discounted rooms quickly.

 

[Skippyboo]

The discounts for July to October have been out for awhile. If you stay at onsite hotel, you get into the parks 30 minutes early. Deluxe level hotels and DVC rooms have extended evening hours- Epcot on Monday and normally MK on Wednesday where you have 2 extra hours after park close.

The value level resorts are going to be the cheapest

The various discounts are under special offers on WDW website

 

[Sigal21]

For a budget-friendly stay with early park access, go for the value resorts at WDW.

 

[gottalovepluto]

Are all these hotels likely to give complimentary early/evening passes?

What do you mean “complimentary early/evening passes”? No hotels give complimentary admission passes. All hotels get ticket holders staying in their hotels 30 min early entry. Deluxe hotels get extended park hours at mk and ep once per week (usually, subject to change).

Plug your info into the Disney website and see the cheapest option for your dates. We can say Values are the cheapest resorts but if they aren’t available or there is no FL discount available on your dates they may not be the cheapest for you.

 

[lanejudy]

Since you have an AP, I'm not sure what "complimentary early/evening passes" you have in mind. There are Deluxe Evening Hours for guests of the deluxe level resorts, but these won't be the least expensive options.

All WDW resorts offer 30 minutes Early Theme Park Entry to each park every day.

As an AP you will still need a theme park reservation, but as an on-site resort guest those won't count towards your maximum allotment.

You also have the option of charging purchases (shopping or dining) back to your resort folio. Along with transportation, that's about it for "perks" other than just "being in the bubble."

As mentioned, "least expensive" will be the value resorts. However note that these may not be the closest resorts to a park. I suggest you think about what park(s) you want to visit during your overnight stay and pick a resort based on that.

Pop Century and Art of Animation are value resorts with Skyliner access to EPCOT and DHS, with buses to MK and AK. Caribbean Beach Resort and Riviera Resort are also on the Skyliner.

Other value resorts are the All Stars -- Sports, Music, Movies. These only have bus service to the resorts, though as a local I suppose maybe you'd drive. Onsite resort guests park for free at the theme parks.

Easy access to MK are the resorts on the monorail: Contemporary, Polynesian and Grand Floridian. Boats are also available from these resorts to MK, or you can walk (probably a long walk from Poly). Wilderness Lodge also has boats to MK. These are all deluxe resorts.

Easy walking distance to EPCOT includes Beach Club, Yacht Club, Boardwalk. The Swan, Dolphin and Swan Reserve are also in this area but are not Disney owned, though guests receive some of the onsite deluxe perks (early theme park entry and deluxe evening hours). Guests can also walk to DHS from these resorts, as well as a boat that runs between DHS and EPCOT with stops at the resorts. These are also all deluxe resorts.

Animal Kingdom Lodge is closest to AK, though it is still a bus ride. This is also a deluxe resort.