Your recommendation:Budget hotel near Disney?

[floridagirrl2]

Yippee!! DH and I just bought Florida Resident Seasonal Passes and will be hitting the World Nov. 6th-9th. Unfortunately, all the Disney Resort Value and Moderate hotels are booked solid for those dates.

Of course, I have been Googling like crazy for alternatives, but I would really like to hear some first-person recommendations from people on this board re: a good budget (less than 80 bucks a night) hotel within a couple of miles of the World. We would prefer a hotel that has a really good breakfast restaurant, but our only absolutes are that the hotel must be clean, safe, and close to Disney. Thanks in advance!

 

[CarolA]

Have you thought about Priceline?

I routinely get a Resort hotel in the $60 range. No breakfast, but...

My other suggestion would be the Fairfield Inn in the Marriott Village. Clean, new and a breakfast.

 

[conntom]

I stay at the Grosvenor Resort its a short walk to Down
town. The Room are big and clean there is a very good
Breakfast Buffet and Bus service to all the Parks. I know
some people don't like this Hotel but I love it. I have been
going to this Hotel for about 16 years so look at the
Grosvenor Resort you may like it www.Grosvenorresort.com

 

[floridagirrl2]

After browsing various hotel threads on various Dis boards, I went ahead and used Priceline. Ended up with Clarion Hotel Maingate for $30/night--concensus seems to be that it's a decent, clean hotel with pleasant staff and is very close to Disney. Nothing fancy, but has lots of restaurants nearby.

Next time I will definitely consider only bidding on a Resort-level property--60 dollars would be a great deal for a resort. We will probably end up going back to Disney in December for DH's birthday.

Thanks for the responses, conntom and CarolA!

 

[CPM]

I have gotten the Clarion on Priceline before. It's fine. It's very close to AK. You're lucky to have gotten anything on those dates. I ahve been trying to get anything on Disney property or DTD to no avail! I have Mon-Wed and Fri.& sat. at OKW, no Thursday! So I booked the ES and waitlisted the Thursday night. There is a big convetion, Super Soap weekend and the Art festival at DTD and Epcot's F&W that week!

 

[SonicLogic]

Contrary to popular thought, Disney resorts (even value) are seldom if ever booked solid. I checked the time period you posted (Nov. 6th-9th) and found many rooms available at the value and moderate resorts and all offered the Florida resident discount!

 

[floridagirrl2]

SonicLogic!! What reservation number did you call? I called the one on the official Disney site that advertised the Florida Resident discount and special code. After checking all the value and moderate resorts, the agent told me there were NO rooms available (not even non-discounted rooms, because I asked her to check those too, after she told me there were no rooms available with the Florida Residents Discount). The agent I talked to on the phone said they had some rooms available starting on the 9th and on available for the 6th only but nothing for the 6th-9th.

Oh, and I also tried making reservations online through the official Disney site, and got the message that there were no rooms available, too.

So please tell me how you checked the room availability. Thanks!

 

[PixieMagic]

I agree with the Priceline idea. I got the DTD Hilton for $60 last month. I bid resort and would have been happy with any of them -- way better then a budget hotel.

 

[Candace]

Expedia.com shows that all three of the All Star Resorts have rooms for those nights which are $77 per night.

 

[floridagirrl2]

Candace, you're right! I wonder why the agent at the Disney site told me otherwise?? And why I couldn't book online through the Disney site?

Oh well, next time I want to stay on-site I will know to check around. I can't complain though--we can use all the $$ we will save by staying off-site to go again in December for DH's birthday.

 

[Rpsemont]

While I realize you're all set for now, another option would have possible been the Sheraton Safari - They're running a promo - use the code Jungle and get rooms for $49. That's what we have a reservation for for one night next week. If I hadn't ssen that special, I would have done pricline. I have used them for 3* and Resort rooms and gotten great deals.

I usually don't do pricline until closer to the day. I try to find an inexpensive backup the keep calling WDW just to make sure there aren't any specials. I try to finalize about 2 weeks out.

 

[floridagirrl2]

We did stay at the Sheraton Safari once, several years ago--I'd forgotten about it. I like your idea of using Priceline closer to the date of your trip, after exhausting other possibilities--I will keep that in mind for my next trip (probably in December for DH's birthday).

 

[floridagirrl2]

CPM, I just saw your reply (somehow missed it up to this point!). I didn't realize there would be so much going on in Orlando--what is Super Soap weekend?

We are really looking forward to the Food and Wine fest--that's why we chose these dates...figured it wouldn't be too crowded at the beginning of Novemeber, but I guess we're mistaken! I do also plan on going to the art festival, too.

 

[SonicLogic]

Originally posted by floridagirrl2
SonicLogic!! What reservation number did you call? I called the one on the official Disney site that advertised the Florida Resident discount and special code. After checking all the value and moderate resorts, the agent told me there were NO rooms available (not even non-discounted rooms, because I asked her to check those too, after she told me there were no rooms available with the Florida Residents Discount). The agent I talked to on the phone said they had some rooms available starting on the 9th and on available for the 6th only but nothing for the 6th-9th.

Oh, and I also tried making reservations online through the official Disney site, and got the message that there were no rooms available, too.

So please tell me how you checked the room availability. Thanks!

Booking narrow dates such as 11/6 thru 11/9 never works. You'll always be told that they are full. Instead expand your dates when you make the reservation such as 10/21 thru 11/9 and then you'll get a room. After you have made the reservation just call and cancel the days you don't need (in your case 10/21 thru 11/5). You'll then still have the dates you originally wanted.

 

[floridagirrl2]

SonicLogic, thank you for the words of wisdom--I will remember them the next time I try to book a room on-site.

 

[Forever a Princess]

Rpsemont,

Please post where you got the info on the "Jungle" code for the Sheraton Safari.

Way to go on your deal!
Renee

 

[Rpsemont]

Renee - sorry I don't remember! Probably here or at Mousesavers or who knows where else. I'm always looking. I do know that I couldn't do it on line though, It didn't work, so I called the Sheraton Directly. It was a "fall promotion" so don't remember if it was only good through October or maybe until the December Holiday season.

Sorry I don't have more info! If I come across it, I'll post again.