Where to stay Sat. night?

[Jacksmom99]

Next August, we are planning a trip with my DM,DF, DB and SIL, in addition to DH, DS, DD, and myself. We will all be arriving on Saturday either by plane or car. The question is, where to stay off site? We would really like to be close to DTD so we can go over there for dinner and exploring that night. Where have other DVCer's stayed in order to make the most of their points?

 

[lurontravel]

There are several hotels that are reasonably priced right down the street from DTD. If you can find anything at the Comfort Inn, 8442 Palm Parkway in Lake Buena Vista (probably the cheapest of those I'm recommeding, always ask for discounts, they are usually available, but be sure to request rooms not facing the highway, they have been noisy in our experience), the Courtyard at 8501 Palm Parkway in Lake Buena Vista (this hotel is too far from the highway to have any noise), or the Fairfield Inn (also on Palm Parkway with no highway issues, a bit cheaper then the Courtyard, plus serves free cont. breakfast), and I believe that there may be other hotels on Palm Parkway too. We used to always stay off site before DVC, and probably still will occ. on w/e's. I have stayed at all of the ones I mentioned, and they are all clean and VERY convenient to DTD.
Enjoy!
Laura

 

[timC]

The last time we paid cash was just before we realized we really needed to buy some more points.... we got a pretty good deal for Coronado Springs. We got a good discount code off Mousesavers.com

I have to say, compared to our fine DVC resorts, CS was actually pretty good. Our superb room location (close to the main building and 5 steps away from the quiet pool) certainly helped.

Off-site? I don't think there is anything off-site... No. I'm quite sure there is absolutely nothing beyond WDW except alligators, swamp and Vero Beach.

 

[robinb]

I usually use Priceline for my weekend nights. Of course, you can't just select the DTD area, but the Courtyard and the Best Western come up a lot at the 2.5* level for less than $30 per night. Check out www.biddingfortravel.com for more info on how to bid on Priceline .

 

[lurontravel]

Just FYI, DTD is off of I-4 at Exit 27 which is Route 535. To get to DTD from I-4 take exit 27, and go North on Route 535, turn Left at the first trafic signal onto Hotel Plaza Blvd (there is a Courtyard here on your left too, but more expensive then the other one I mentioned), go to the traffic signal and turn left, DTD is just down on your right. To get to the hotels on Palm Parkway, take I-4 to exit 27, North to the 2nd trafic signal and turn right onto Palm Parkway. THe road is a mile or so long with a bunch of hotels on it. There are many restaurants in the area, should not choose to eat on Disney property (Burger KIng, Taco Bell, Fridays, that chicago style pizza restaurant, and a place like a Pondersosa, as well as a Kobe steak/Japanese restaurant I believe). Hopefully that will give you an idea of distance/and surrounding area. Also, there is a grocery and a liquor store in the Crossroads Plaza, but if you go North on Rt. 535 another mile or two you will find a Winn Dixie grocery store. We've found it to be very clean and has a nice deli, and produce dept. as well as cheaper then the grocery in the Crossroads Plaza. Don't forget you can buy your groceries on Sun. am and leave them with the Luggage in their refrigerator before you go to the parks!

 

[KNWVIKING]

It used to be Exit 27. I-4 now uses mile markers as exit numbers. I think DTD is 68 or 72 ???? It's well marked though.

 

[CaptainMidnight]

I know you mentioned DTD, but catching some of the deals at Swan and Dolphin can make for a very nice first night arrival inclusive of the Crecent Lake Disney magic. Both hotels to a very nice job.

We wish we would have stayed there instead of Courtyard at DTD, it was a dump. It was so bad we left. And teh DTD buses that dump you off in the middle of a parking lot at the Transportation Center aren't the same as the direct disney buses. There's no comparison.

 

[freediverdude]

The DTD hotel that I've had the best experiences with is the Hilton. It's recently refurbished, very nice, unusually clean like most Hiltons are, and it's directly across the street from DTD. Just walk west between the building and the pool in the back of the building, and there's a little walkway that takes you right to the intersection, cross the street, and there's the new Once Upon A Toy store right there. And during that time of year the rates are typically between 100 and 130 per night without having to use priceline or hotwire, although it does frequently show up on those services if you know what to look for. I think the rooms here are similar to a Disney deluxe, without a balcony. There's a separate sink outside of the bathroom (another one inside the bathroom), minibar, desk, large comfy living-room type chair, coffee maker with free packet, 24 hour room service and a 24 hour deli downstairs, nice fitness center, etc etc.

 

[JVL1018]

Originally posted by Jacksmom99
Next August, we are planning a trip with my DM,DF, DB and SIL, in addition to DH, DS, DD, and myself. We will all be arriving on Saturday either by plane or car. The question is, where to stay off site? We would really like to be close to DTD so we can go over there for dinner and exploring that night. Where have other DVCer's stayed in order to make the most of their points?

We are booked at the ASMovies for our first night(a Saturday)..just because we have little ones and I think they would love all the big icons. And for $69, I'm happy with the price.
If AP rates ever come out, we are cancelling that and also Sun. at BWV and booking AKL.
I am on a mission to stay in all WDW resorts..and I like to have a stay of at least 2 nights to get a feel.

 

[Jacksmom99]

Thanks for the replies. I'm looking for something on the cheap, $69-79 max. We are treating my parents and DB and his wife to the accomodations for the week, so I don't want them to have to cough up too much for the first night. I am looking for cheap, CLEAN, and close to Disney. I am going to keep an eye on the deals as the date gets closer. The Radisson seems to have some good deals now. Is the Comfort Inn the one next to the Waffle House? I looove the Waffle House, you can't get grease like that in New England!

 

[KNWVIKING]

In the past we've spent the first nite out on International Drive. There are many nice places to stay within your price range and I- Drive is fun.It's only a few miles north east of WDW.

 

[colleen costello]

Also, FYI, the latest copy of "Unofficial Guide to WDW" lists "best bargains" in one chapter about hotels. I am looking into some of these. We are going down in November and are trying to arrive one night early. We'll get in quite late so I am looking for a clean yet affordable room. The Guide mentions the DD Hilton as one of the best ones off-property. If you can score a discount here, the Hilton might be perfect.

We also stayed one night at Coronado Springs, last summer. We had a ball. It has an amazing pool. If you are arriving fairly early, this place is well worth the money and with AP will be reasonable.

Good luck.

 

[BCV23]

We haven't done it for a few years but we used to often spend our first night before a WDW trip at an airport hotel...either the Marriott or the Hyatt. Both are very clean and could accomodate all 5 of us with a rollaway. In the am my husband would pick up the rental car so we saved a day on that too. The Marriott has a shuttle from the airport to the hotel (but not to WDW) and the Hyatt is actually in the airport complex...you just walk to it. We could often get good weekend rates at either.

Haven't tried it but I know there is a fairly new Country Inns and Suites in the WDW area. Very nice, clean budget hotels with continental breakfast. If we were to drive I might try that.

 

[Granny]

We stayed at the Hotel Royal Plaza for our Saturday night stay last month. This is one of the hotels right next to DTD inside the Disney property gate. We paid $69 a night using a code from Mousesavers.com.

 

[SheriB]

How about the Buena Visa Suites? Has anyone stayed there? This site had an ad for them. I was looking at their 2 room suites for just $89 a night. They sleep max 6 people.

Sheri

 

[marty]

We have stayed in 2 bedroom suites at the Summerfield Suites Lake Buena Vista. They were okay. Generally, I book rooms on Priceline. I have never gotten a bad deal on Priceline. This year we will be staying Saturday night at the Ren. Worldgate (yes, I abbreviated because I couldn't spell!) for $35 a night. Last year we stayed at the Hyatt Orlando for $30.

 

[CK1]

AN interesting thread, since we too are looking at next August and are now thinking about spending our first night in a cheapie place and saving pts.

SO the COurtyard was a dump? So much for that idea -- the rates looked good.

Is the best bet to simply wait until about 30 days before we go and try for a cheapie rate?

Cindy