What is the closest/nicest/inexpensive hotel?

[Mbcalebd]

we are looking to stay off site...and was wondering what the best place to stay is? We are driving there so transportation back and forth isnt a problem.

 

[veenstra56]

You'll get tons of opinions, but I would suggest you try an expert at mousesavers.com and click on the "Preferred Hotels Near Disneyworld" link. The site is free, you don't need to register to use it, and it is full of great WDW information.

Another option is priceline.com. You can search for hotels in the Disney area only if you wish, so you have some control in that regard. Priceline can save you lots of money, but you have to be careful. Stick with 3 star hotels or resorts and stay around $60 per night. Perhaps you'll get lucky.

We stayed at the Downtown Disney Hilton last September by:
1) clicking the 'Name you own Price" option on priceline
2) choosing the "Disneyworld Vicinity" and "resort" options
3) entering $60 per night

Priceline has saved us in the past. I don't know if you've ever tried Priceline, but it is a bit of a gamble, because you pay for the hotel immediately, there are no refunds, and they pick the hotel for you. Again, you can minimize the 'risks' by sticking with "resorts" or "3 star" hotels. Also, the fact that you'll have a car helps, too.

Hope this helps. Good luck!


Good luck!

 

[sympatico]

According to the time of year you're going you may be able to rent a condo or townhouse in Windsor Hills, Windsor Palms or Emerald Island or some of the other developements in the Kissimmee area for the same amount as you'd pay for a hotel. You can rent directly fromt the owners and get good deals. Since you'll have a car anyway it would be ideal for you.Look on windsorhillsrent.com , vrbo.com (Kissimmee area), or homeaway.com This is the vrbo site:
http://www.vrbo.com/vacation-rentals/usa/florida/central-disney-orlando/kissimmee

 

[4eyedbuzzard]

we are looking to stay off site...and was wondering what the best place to stay is? We are driving there so transportation back and forth isnt a problem.

Closest + nicest usually just don't equal inexpensive, what's best for one person isn't always best for another, and there are SO MANY to choose from.

Honestly, you'll find mixed reviews on almost every property in the area. You tend to get what you pay for. Orlando is a very difficult area to assess the quality of lodging in. A nice hotel can become a dive within 6 months with poor management as the rooms get a lot of use and abuse. Sometimes bad places become better with new management and refurbs.

Adult travelers wants are different from those with small children, large families needs are different than those with an only child, some value pool and playground ammenities above free breakfasts, etc.

Try this board (use the search feature in the menu bar - search on best hotels, worst hotels, specific hotel names, etc ) and similarly on tripadvisor.com for reviews, and pay particular attention to the more recent reviews(within a year). Expect a few bad reviews even on a nice property as some people would complain endlessly about taxes and accounting expenses after winning Powerball.

In the end you usually get what you pay for - and rarely more. I tend to agree with all who suggest condo rentals(we always vacation this way). You can generally get a 2 - 3bdr townhome out towards Davenport(15 minute drive) as cheap as a single room closer in, and for slightly more a condo can be had in a close in resort such as Windsor Hills, etc for $100 night plus-or-minus depending upon the season.

 

[HappyLawyer]

go to akyauction.com and get a 2 or 3 bedroom villa for much cheaper then a hotel stay.
It was the first and best advice i got when i joined the boards.

 

[4eyedbuzzard]

Just a warning about some of skyauction.coms condos and packages:

Be sure to READ ALL THE FINE PRINT BEFORE BIDDING!!!

Many times there are large surcharges passed off as "tax and service charges"(sometimes as much as $300+ per unit or $200 per person with airfare packages) in addition to the actual auction bid amount. None of these "tax and service charges", of course, appear in the advertised bid amount. Amazingly , many of these are TS operations and operate according to their typically low advertising and booking ethics.

Sorry if I offend anyone, I just don't like seeing people get ripped-off. Just be sure to factor all those service charges in along with booking date restrictions and price your vacation through non-auction venues as well. Often times you can get as good a deal with conventional booking services or by negotiating directly with the resort.

 

[Lisa BC]

Hi and welcome!

If you want some specific suggestions, you should provide more details about what you are looking for - then you'll see people responding with specific hotels. What's your ballpark budget for lodging? Is a pool area important? How far are you willing to drive to get to the parks? What time of year are you planning to travel? Are you looking for the most basic accommodations or do you want a more resort style atmosphere? Are you traveling with children and need space or a kid-friendly property with a playground?

Bottom line, you can get some very nice rooms in the $60 - $95 per night range that are very close to Disney. If you are traveling in the off season, you can save some money using priceline. If you are hoping to spend less than $60 and are unwilling to take a chance on priceline ore hotwire, look a little futher away from Disney to find a nicer property.

If you are comfortable paying in the $80 price range, and you plan to stay for 5 or more days, you should consider renting a townhome, condo or villa. I was searching on VRBO.com for homes in the Davenport area, and I could rent a 4 bedroom home with a private pool for about $600/week during the summer season - which is much cheaper than selecting 2 hotel rooms.

Good luck!

Lisa

 

[TheresaNY]

Marriott Village....Fairfield Inn, Springhill Suites,or Courtyard. Can't go wrong at these three.

 

[Luv2Roam]

Also I suggest people stay with Disney Good Neighbor Hotels. The GNH do need to meet specific standards and can be eliminated from the GNH useage if they do not.
If an offsite hotel is not on the GNH list, I would be more leery about staying there as someone who does not know of the hotel personally.
The closer you get to WDW, the more expensive the stay will be. There are "cheap" places. But there probably is a reason too.
All this will depend on how much of a risk taker you are and what you want from a resort too.
Not long ago there was a hotel near WDW many were booking through (I think) Travelocity. Meanwhile the mangement/ownership changed and it was a short term living place that did not even provide daily maid service.