Looking for Orlando, Florida Area Hotels Near Walt Disney World? I recently posted the top 10 reasons to stay off site, but it can be hard to choose which off site resort to stay. So if you have stayed off site, please add a review to this post.
Review by me…
We were only here for one night before we checked in at Ft. Wilderness, so I didn’t spend that much time at the resort. The room we got was huge though and it had a full kitchen and a sofa bed for the kids. The grounds were huge and it was just outside the gates to Disney World. We liked it and we wouldn’t be against staying here again.
Review by Michelle …
- Why did you choose this resort? We chose this resort because it seemed like the best value for our money. We stayed for $99 per night, received every fourth night free (we stayed for 9 nights total), and two free adult breakfast buffets every morning. Can’t beat that!
- What were the hotel rooms like? Were they big enough for your family? Did you find them to be acceptable? The rooms were very nice. They were huge for just the two of us and would fit a family of four comfortably. The bathroom was enormous. Plenty of room for everyone to get ready in the morning. The best part? We had a jet-tub. Nothing better after a long day of walking all around Disney!
- What were the amenities of the hotel like? What was your favorite one? We didn’t spend all that much time in the hotel (except to sleep). That’s one of the reasons we were looking for the best deal. We would much rather spend the money doing things out in Disney than on the hotel. There was a good size pool and a game room. The hotel had all the amenities you’d expect from a full-service hotel. The staff was very helpful and friendly.
- What was the food court like? Any favorite foods? No food court, but there are a few restaurants. We only ate in one (for our free breakfast buffets) and it was delicious! The waffles and fresh fruit were great.
- How were the resort buses? What was your walk to the bus stop like? How were the resorts bus stops at the parks? How far was the walk to the gates? How crowded were the buses at any given time? The buses were wonderful. We never had to wait more than 5-10 minutes for a bus to come. There were always plenty of seats (sometimes only one or two other families). The bus stop was right at the front entrance of the hotel (so much more convenient than the treks you have to make at the Disney value resorts). The bus stops at the parks were right next to the Disney bus stops. Further than the monorail, but definitely closer than parking! Speaking of, you definitely do NOT need to rent a car when staying at one of the Downtown Disney properties. We did and only used it a few times…to drive to/from the airport, to go to Disney’s mini golf (awesome!) and to go to a few dinners at Disney resorts (free parking if you’re going to eat on property).
- Would you stay at this hotel again? If not, please provide a reason. I would absolutely stay at this hotel again. If you want to extend the “Disney” experience throughout your vacation this may not be the place for you. It’s not themed and aside from the gift shop you wouldn’t know you were in Disneyworld. However, you just can’t beat the value. It’s a much nicer hotel than the value Disney properties and can cost less!
Review by Linda…
Why did you choose this resort? My brother and sister-in law recommended the Buena Vista Palace. They were looking for a nice place to have a wedding for their daughter as well as nice accommodations for family and friends that would be attending – we were not disappointed. The resort offered a very reasonable discounted rate for our group too.
What were the resort rooms like? Were they big enough for your family? Did you find them to be acceptable? Our rooms were very comfortable with 2 queen-sized beds, plus a sitting area. The bath faciilities were nice also. We also had a balcony that overlooked the property.
What were the amenities of the resort like? What was your favorite one? The pools were great! There is a gameroom for the kids and walking paths throughout the property. Also, the hotel is within walking distance to Downtown Disney.> * What was the food court like? Any favorite foods? We had breakfast everyday at the hotel. You have the option of a buffet (definitely worth it) that offered a wide selection of breads, cereals, fresh fruit, eggs, potatoes, freshly-made waffles and omelets of your choice. On Sunday morning we enjoyed the company of the Disney characters – Minnie, Pluto and Goofy. The onsight restaurant was enjoyable though a little pricey if traveling with a family. It offered a nice variety of entrees including fish, meat, poultry and pasta.
What were the buses like? The bus stops right in front of the resort – you can’t go wrong with that. And, we were dropped off right in front of the Magic Kingdom entrance. The buses were never overcrowded. Overeall I would say convenient and pleasant.
Would you stay at this resort again? If not, please provide a reason. I would definitely stay at this resort again an would gladly recommend it as well.
Review by Nicole…
My husband and I stayed at Best Western Lake Buena Vista in March 2007 on our first trip to Disney World. We were looking for a hotel in the Downtown Disney area that had buses running regularly to and from the parks. Some hotels we looked at offered buses, but they only ran a couple of times at park opening and closing. With this hotel, the buses ran all day, and the longest we ever waited was about 30 minutes. At the parks, the bus stops were one of the first for off-site hotels, but it was still a pretty good walk from the gates. We found the rooms to be very clean, comfortable, and fairly large for the 2 of us. We had a king bed with a separate sitting area, a small table and chairs, and a decent sized balcony. We requested a higher floor, so we had a good view of the pool, some landscaping, and the lake. Off the main lobby, there was a small gift shop, a restaurant, a separate bar with a poolside window, and an express grab-and-go style market. We never ate at the actual restaurant, but we did get things from the grab-and-go market many times to take up to our room. The food there was nothing spectacular, but it served its purpose and was available later at night. The bar was decent but over-priced, as most hotel bars are. The staff was very friendly, and the décor and Caribbean style music gave the hotel a very upbeat atmosphere. Overall, the hotel was very clean although a little dated. (From what I understand, they have since undergone a complete remodel, so I’m sure this is no longer the case.) The only downside we saw was that the buses were shared with a few other hotels, so the rides were a little long and sometimes crowded. This didn’t bother us, but I could see where it may be bothersome to others. If we decided to stay off-site again, we would definitely consider this hotel for its location, room-size, and overall atmosphere.
Learn more about the Walt Disney World Resorts and contact Destinations in Florida to help you book your perfect resort.
Ashley says
What resort did you choose and why? We stayed at the Holiday Inn on State Route 535. We received a great deal for $70 a night through US airways vacations.
What were the resort rooms like? The rooms exceeded my expectations. They were bigger and nicer than the value resorts on disney property. 2 queen size beds,mini fridge, microwave,iron, blow dryer, wireless internet, flat screen tv with HBO, great bathrooms, a work desk and chair.
Were they big enough for your family? Yes
Did you find them to be acceptable? Absolutely.
What were the amenities of the resort like? Wireless, Shuttle Service, pool side tiki bar, fitness center, game center, computer and printer room, and an on-site Applebees.They also provided shuttle services to Seaworld,Universal, and the Premium Outlets which are only minutes away.
What was the food court like? No food court but there were plenty on restaurants near by. There is an on-site Applebees. 7-11 is next door and walmart is down the street. There were numerous amounts of restaurants near the hotel.
Any favorite foods? boneless wings
Did the resort provide transportation to the parks? Yes
If so, how often? 0745- Epcot 0855-Magic Kingdom 1000- Epcot and1245- Magic Kingdom. That is the only downfall about this resort. Not many times available for shuttle services. This resort is located literally down the street from the Disney parks, so if you have a car and plan on driving to the parks, this place is great.
If not, how long was your drive to Disney? 5minutes
Would you stay at this resort again? Absolutely. Room and Service we received was better than the Value Resorts on Disney property.
brandy says
■Why did you choose this resort? We ususally stay on site @ Disney, however we were going through the Disney Youth Program this time so we couldn’t get the entire package. So, in checking options out, we got a great rate ($59) per night in May through ticketsatwork.com
■What were the hotel rooms like? Were they big enough for your family? Did you find them to be acceptable?
We had a room with 2 queen beds and a pull out sleeper sofa. (There were 6 of us in one room.) The bed themselves were great. The sofa sleeper mattress was definately in need of replacing. The room itself was a typical hotel room with a balcony that had a table and 2 chairs. We did have a problem with the air conditioner.
■What were the amenities of the hotel like? What was your favorite one?
I have to say the hotel was good for the time we spent in it – we simply needed it to sleep and shower. We spent the majority of our time in the parks and Down town Disney. The rooms come with a refridgerator, microwave, iron, ironing board, and blow dryer. The hotel offers a resturant (we didn’t eat here.) and decent pool. I think we were spoiled by staying on site @ Disney on previous trips so I can’t say this was our favorite place.
■What was the food court like? Any favorite foods? No food court. There was a resturaunt in there but we did not try it. No complimentary breakfast either.
■How were the resort buses? What was your walk to the bus stop like? How were the resorts bus stops at the parks? How far was the walk to the gates? How crowded were the buses at any given time? The buses schedule was wonderful. The picked us up right in front of the hotel about every 30 minutes. The perk for staying here – we were the first on the bus! No fighting for seats as the bus was often full by the time it stopped @ 4 hotels. The buses were Disney owned (as is Best Western Lake Buena Vista). The buses took you directly to Hollywood studios and Animal Kingdom; for Magic Kingdom and Epot you went to the ticket and transpotation center.
■Would you stay at this hotel again? When we return to Disney, I would consider staying here if we needed to. I really enjoyed staying on site in our previous trips so I must say, that would be my first choice. However this hotel will be kept in mind based on price.
One thing we did like was the coupon booklet we received on check in. We had a lot of nice coupons for Downtown Disney which is only a ten minute beautiful walk from this hotel.
Latasha says
On our first trip to see the Mouse we stayed at the Caribe Royale Resort. This is by far the most beautiful and well kept place we have stayed at. We have been spoiled since staying there. I found a code on the Mousesavers website and used that to get a one bedroom suite for $99 at this resort in May. The one bedroom suite had livign area that has a couch that pulls out into a bed, a fridge, and a microwave. There were 2 32 inch tvs in the suite, granite counter tops, and 2 queen size beds. The pools were immaculate and the decor was just so nice. We felt like we were living like kings. The drive to Magic Kingdom took around 6 -7 minutes or less. We were about 3 mintues from Downtown Disney. If anyone has the chance to stay at this resort take it becasue you will not be disapponted. Always call for reservations because they may be able to give you a better discount over the phone. They did for me : )
Monica Riley says
We stayed at the Hilton World and absolutely loved it. we got it for less than $100 by using priceline. Our room was awesome. it had a refigerator which is great for us because we usually pack our own food to save on expenses. We enjoyed the pools and the proximinty to Downtown Disney. Th kiddie pool was a great place for our little girl who was just learning to swim. It took less than 5 minutes to walk there. You definitely get the feeling that you are staying on propert when you stay there.One reason we liked it there is because we also got Hilton Honors points, to which we added to our account for a future stay.
Wedi not eat at any of the restaurants, but would consider eating at the character breakfast next time.
We would definitely stay there again!
Karen says
We stayed at the Quality Suites Maingate East (now Royale Park Suites) a few years back (2007). It is under 2 miles from Disney property. We needed space for 7 people and we got a 2 bedsoom suite, with 2 bathrooms and a livingroom and a small kitchen and a livingroom. This hotel is on US 192. We really liked the room we had in the suite for all of us. It did have a free breakfast that was ok. We were really turned off by this hotel because the elevator smelt like beer every time you got on it. This hotel did go through a magor renorvation after we stayed there, which is good because we thought it did need some updating. I don’t think I would stay here again.
Jessica Jones says
*We choose the Lake Buena Vista Resort Village and Spa just off of SR536, it’s less than 10 minutes from Downtown Disney and the Parks. Plus it is close enough to restaurants,i.e. Bahama Breeze, and a Wal Mart for any last minute things you need or may have forgotten.
*Our most recent tripwas for Star Wars weekend at Hollywood Studios, we had 7 Adults and 2 children, and we choose the 3 bedroom condo. For choosing this we had plenty of room for everyone, we were able to brings goods to keep in the refridgerator for the kids as well as items to make our lunches to bring with us into the parks. The St. Lucia floor plan is the three bedroom, three bath luxury resort suite. It is 1,434 square feet (133 square meters). There are two master bedroom suites with king-size beds as well as one guest bedroom,everything was acceptable at the condo and the staff is amazing!
The resort is a full-service luxury destination within a destination, offering something for all the family to enjoy. From a splash into Pirates Plunge Resort Pool to a relaxing massage in our full service, first-class Reflections Spa. The Pirates Plunge Pool zero-entry pool features a Pirate Shipwreck complete with shooting water cannons, a water slide, Jacuzzi-style hot tubs, tumbling waterfalls, poolside loungers and hammocks.
*There is an Irish Pub in Building one that serves food, A Pizza Hut within the building as well that delivers late into the night.
* There was transportation provided, but only to certain parks. And with being this close to Downtown Disney and the Parks ( as well as our Annual Passes for Free Parking), it is/was more feasible to drive to the parks and come and go as we would like.
* We would definitely stay again, even without groups. THis last stay was $300 for 3 days / 2 nights, we spilt amongst the 9 of us staying. This made it $33.33 per person for the weekend! So for my family is was $100! This was also during season, whereas the Disney value resorts are at a peak of over $100 + tax per night to stay.
Kari Hanscom says
What resort did you choose and why? Vacation Village at Parkway. They are a timeshare, but also have a rental market, so you don’t have to own time share there (which is good, because we don’t) They were close, only 5 minutes from Disney, but were also close to other attractions in the area, so there was something for everyone.
What were the resort rooms like? Were they big enough for your family? Did you find them to be acceptable? The rooms (with full kitchen!) were very large, spacious, and plenty of room for our family. They were very clean, which is something I am very picky about. They offer 1 and 2 bedroom, and we were able to spread all 6 of us out with out falling all over each other.
What were the amenities of the resort like? What was your favorite one? They have a lot of towers (we stayed in tower 19, so they have at least that many) and 6 pools! My kids loved the pools and we swam every morning and every night when we got home. There is also an activities department had a swim in movie at the pool one night. That was a blast! The little one was not able to last for fireworks at Disney, but we could see them from our room! So the bigger ones didn’t feel like they missed out.
What was the food court like? Any favorite foods? There is no food at this location, but because we had a full kitchen, I was able to cook breakfast and dinner for my family there, cutting way down on our food budget! I could also save the leftovers rather than having to toss them out.
Did the resort provide transportation to the parks? If so, how often? If not, how long was your drive to Disney? I don’t know if they provide transportation, because we drove. I do know that they had a shuttle at the resort, but didn’t look into it going to the park. We preferred to drive our own vehicle so we were on our own schedule and not waiting around for a shuttle that may or may not have room for all our family. And it was only a 5 minute drive We were there before we knew it!
Would you stay at this resort again? If not, please provide a reason. YES! We have sense moved to Kissimmee, but when our AC went out a few weeks ago, we made a bee-line for the resort to stay for a few days until our AC was fixed. When we have family come out – that is the resort we send them too.
Missesdisney says
What resort did you choose and why? Residence Inn by Marriott- Lake Buena Vista
What were the resort rooms like? Were they big enough for your family? Did you find them to be acceptable? We stayed in a 1BR which was two rooms – king bedroom and living room/kitchenette. Very spacious room.
What were the amenities of the resort like? What was your favorite one? Free wifi, daily hot breakfast and tues – thurs manager reception with light dinner and free beer and wine.
What was the food court like? Any favorite foods? No food court but decent shop area at front desk and free hot breakfast of waffles, eggs, a few breakfast meats, pastries and breads, oatmeal etc.
Did the resort provide transportation to the parks? If so, how often? If not, how long was your drive to Disney? Yes but we didn’t use. Hotel is very close to downdown Disney entrance. No more than 10 min to drive to parks.
Would you stay at this resort again? If not, please provide a reason. Absolutely – we had great service and loved the hotel. They also allow dogs which we did not use but is a nice feature.
Sarah R says
Where did you stay and why? We stayed at the Fairfield Inn & Suites, part of the Marriott Village of hotels. We stayed there because it was close to Disney, reasonably priced, and looked nice on the website. It WAS!
What were the resort rooms like? They were really nice. Make no mistake, they aren’t resort-size rooms, where you have tons of excess space. They’re about the same size as the resort rooms in moderate Disney resorts, such as POR. What they lack in space, though, they make up for in lovely decorating and cleanliness. The decor is light and colorful, but tastefully done, and the rooms were immaculately clean. The rooms we booked each had two double beds, a nice sized desk & comfy chairs, a large television and entertainment area, and a separate bathroom/dressing area. NOTE – they DO have family suites, including suites with bunkbeds. We elected to just get two basic adjoining rooms, since we knew we wouldn’t be spending much time in them except to sleep.
Were they big enough for your family: We rented two adjoining rooms, because there were 7 of us, and only 2 of the seven were small children.
Did you find them to be acceptable: Yes. It’s one of the nicest hotels I’ve stayed in, and I’m going back later this year.
What were the amenities of the resort like: It is part of the Marriott Village, which includes two other hotels. It’s a gated community, which is nice. Parking is free – another nice thing! There is a fantastic pool with a water feature area for littler ones (heated towels available poolside, also – NICE!), a great game room with air hockey & video games which is open 24 hours with room key, and also a fitness center. (I didn’t use that one – but I peeked in and the machines looked great & the room was very clean.) They also offer transportation to Disney, but we drove our own car so that wasn’t a necessity for us.
What was your favorite one: The pool, definitely.
What was the food court like: They offer free hot continental breakfast, and it is GREAT. HOT, plentiful food. Many wonderful options – lots of fresh fruits, yogurts, multiple drink choices, muffins, bagels, eggs, pancakes, waffles . . . we were thrilled with all the choices. It was wonderful to be able to fill up on good food before hitting Disney. They also have a food court that is part of the Marriott Village with a Pizza Hut Express, Starbucks, and some other little shops. It was really convenient and reasonably priced. If you wanted something different, there are multiple sit-down restaurants a quick walk or drive from the hotel.
Any favorite foods: No, they were all good.
Did the resort provide transportation to the parks: Yes
If so, how often: I’m not sure, we didn’t use this.
If not, how long was your drive to Disney: It’s one mile from Disney, so it took literally just minutes to get there.
Would you stay at this resort again: Absolutely, and I am, in fact, going back in a few months.
Brenda says
■What resort did you choose and why? We just got back last week and stayed at the “Mystic Dunes Golf and Spa Resort”. We paid $108/night. I chose this resort because it seem to be one of the best values for a condo. and with small childrend i wanted the extra space, washer/dryer in unit, multiple TV’s and full kitchen (to save money on meals!)
■What were the resort rooms like? Were they big enough for your family? Did you find them to be acceptable? We stayed in the 2 bedroom/2 bath condo. It was beautiful!!! Plenty of space for my husband and I and our 2 young children. The decor was beautiful and kitchen had all the basics needed to make easy meals.
■What were the amenities of the resort like? What was your favorite one? They had a clubhouse,spa, golf, tennis courts and I am sure others as we got a message each day about what activities were planned for the day. But the only one we took advantage of was the 4 pools and waterslide – which were excellent!
■What was the food court like? Any favorite foods? We didnt use this service – but they had a “Pizza Hut Express” on site.
■Did the resort provide transportation to the parks? If so, how often? If not, how long was your drive to Disney? They did but we had a rental car so we did not use this service either. From what i understood – they were on a a few scheduled times for the transportation. Our drive to disney was approx 10-15 minutes.
■Would you stay at this resort again? If not, please provide a reason. Definitely!! My husband is already thinking about our next trip there!
Marla says
What resort did you choose and why? DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Hotel Orlando. We wanted to take my 9 yo back to Hollywood Studios before the closing of Star Wars weekends.
What were the resort rooms like? The room was great! There were 2 double beds with doors to close off from the living/kitchen area. There was a queen pull-out sofa. There was a microwave, mini fridge, sink, and table with 4 chairs.
Were they big enough for your family? Yes
Did you find them to be acceptable? We would have preferred a King size bed, but the rooms were definitely acceptable!
What were the amenities of the resort like? We were only there one night, but there was a restaurant onsite. There was also a Disney store, gym, and pool. They also offered transportation to the Disney Parks and to the Downtown Disney area until 1 am.
What was your favorite one? Transportation
What was the food court like? No food court, but the onsite restaurant did serve Pizza Hut pizza.
Any favorite foods? No
Did the resort provide transportation to the parks? Yes
If so, how often? Every half hour
If not, how long was your drive to Disney? NA
Would you stay at this resort again? If not, please provide a reason. YES!!!
crystal says
this is about the clarion inn on palm parkway in lake buena vista. it’s located just of disney property and is near alot of places to eat.. i usually book this hotel on book it and get it for $35-$40 a night.. it has been totally redone.. and our room was just as nice as our room at coronado springs only here you get a microwave and free wireless! they have buses that take you to the different parks and a onsite restaurant they have a security guard at the main gate so people dont wander in and out. i used their washers/ and dryers last time i was there.. everything was clean and nice! our lock on our door wasnt working right when i was there last and they sent someone right away to fix it.. awesome place.. my no.1 pick if i’m staying off property.
sheree says
how did you get to disney world from the hotel?
sheree says
please reply to this post not the one above I would like the responses sent to me via e-mail
Nicole t says
We stayed at the orange lake resort and had a bad experience. We received constant calls to take the sales tour, we all got our feet hurt on the pool slide because they have a large drain cover sticking up at the bottom that really hurts your feet when you slide in. Limping around Disney was not fun! Plus our window had a view of the front lobby! We could open the curtains without everyone checking in seeing inside our room! The girl at the front desk didn’t even care
Candice says
It seems like this post is directed towards Disney World, but I wanted to throw my 2 cents worth for a recent stay at a Disneyland hotel, since I’ve only ever been to the park in California!!
■What resort did you choose and why?
We stayed at the Fairfield Inn Anaheim Disney Resort, which is a Mariott Hotel. We chose this hotel primarily because they had a promotion through Costco Travel to get the 4th night free, and we were wanting to stay for 4 nights. We also liked that it was across the street from the park entrance, and reasonably priced.
■What were the resort rooms like? Were they big enough for your family? Did you find them to be acceptable?
The rooms were not very large, but comfortable enough for 3 adults and 2 children to sleep and get ready in. The sink/vanity area is located next to the restroom, but in the general room area which helped us to get ready faster in the morning, but it was strange brushing my teeth 5 feet from a bed. There were 2 queen beds, plus a chair that pulled out into a bed just smaller than a twin-size. My 5 year old loved sleeping on it. Maid service came around late (around 3) but the room was cleaned very well.
■What were the amenities of the resort like? What was your favorite one?
We were happy that there was a refrigerator in the room! We also useda microwave located just down the hallway for general use in the food area. They have a nice pool and hot tub, but we never had a chance to use it.
■What was the food court like? Any favorite foods?
They served Pizza Hut pizza (very reasonably priced) as well as coffee and breakfast sandwiches in the morning. A very good restaurant is located at the hotel’s entrance that does room service. There was no breakfast (continental breakfast, etc) provided with the room though.
■Did the resort provide transportation to the parks? If so, how often? If not, how long was your drive to Disney?
The walk to the Disneyland gates was less than 10 minutes, walking with kids. They do not provide hotel transportation, but you can take the Anaheim Transit for a fee and it will take you closer to the gate. This seems costly and pointless for such a quick trip, though.
■Would you stay at this resort again? If not, please provide a reason.
I would stay here again, however I would have liked it if the hotel had interior hallways and not exterior hallways (it reminds me a bit like a motel having a door on the outside rather than the inside), and if they provided something for breakfast though. Otherwise, it was very reasonably priced for a hotel so close to the park!
Sonya Ziegenhorn says
Thanks for all the information for staiying off-site. I’ve been kicking and screaming to go back to Disney and $$ is the main excuse so I’ve been looking for ways to cut out the extra expenditures such as staying off-site. These reviews were very helpful to me. Thanks agaiin!
francene says
Which offsite hotel and why? I chose the Wyndam Lake Buena Vista Resort during my trip in December. I chose this resort because of the price and it’s proximity to Downtown Disney. It is just across the street from DTD; very convenient. There are courtyard rooms, very reasonable in price. In the tower, there are rooms with an awesome view of Downtown Disney. And every night, I could see Illumintations from Epcot! It was within close driving distance to a market, McDonalds and other casual dining restaurants in the Crossroads shopping Mall. It’s just across the freeway from the Priemium Outlet stores.
What were the rooms like? The rooms were well mantained and very large; more than big enough for three adults. The rooms were very clean and nicely decorated. There are free, hair dryers, irons, refrigerators and coffee makers in the room and for a fee, internet access. The TV s were flat screens, and on stands that allowed you to angle the screen toward various locations in the room.
Hotel amenities? The hotel has a gym/weight room, business center and an outdoor pool area. The pool also has a hot tub and a play area for kids. There was also a small quick service restaurant. They also have tennis & basketball courts. I used the pool, very relaxing, even with kids nearby. I also used the business center; there is free access for airlines check in. No food court, but a small market in the lobby with grab and go food items. The restaurant in the hotel was okay; it has a character breakfast on certain days.(Goofy), and a mystery dinner theater too. Across the street at the Hilton, there was a Starbucks.
Transportation to the parks? The hotel shared bus transportation with two other nearby hotels. Pick up was twice an hour. The bus pick up was right in front of the hotel. At the theme parks, the pick ups weren’t too far away from other hotel pick ups, alittle further from Disney hotel pickups, but not too inconvienient. Always had available seating on the bus.
Recommendations, I would definitely stay at this hotel again (in fact, I’ve stayed here a total of 5 times!). I really like it’s location, cleanliness and the transportation to the parks. Although I was with a group of friends, I felt very safe there, and had no problems walking to DTD by myself at night.
Jennifer H says
Previous post was in regards to a resort with rental properties. This review is about a hotel/resort in Kissimmee.
What resort did you choose and why? — Howard Johnson Maingate East Kissimmee. Chose it for price (less than $30/night) when it was just myself and my husband. Stayed here a couple of times before we realized we could get a good deal on a condo/townhome and spend the same amount of money on a home in Kissimmee.
What were the resort rooms like? Were they big enough for your family? Did you find them to be acceptable? Rooms are small, but probably a little bigger than the rooms found at Pop Century (stayed there in December). For just my husband and myself, it was fine. We were only there long enough to sleep each night before leaving back out again. Our rooms were always pretty clean, but it’s not a place we’d take our 12 yo son.
What were the amenities of the resort like? What was your favorite one? — They have a pool that was always too crowded for us to take the time to enjoy. Have a small ice cream shop and store inside the lobby, but we never used it either.
What was the food court like? Any favorite foods? — No food court, but an ice cream shop I believe.
Did the resort provide transportation to the parks? If so, how often? If not, how long was your drive to Disney? — Yes, but both times we stayed there, we drove to Orlando from NC, so we didn’t use it. Drive to WDW was about 10 minutes at most to Hollywood Studios (the closest park) and 15 mins to the others.
Would you stay at this resort again? If not, please provide a reason. — Maybe. Only if I couldn’t find a better place to stay for a comparable rate. Our 2nd time staying at Windsor Hills Resort we scored a condo for only $199/week, so it made it a better deal than a hotel.
Jennifer H says
This was a rental inside Windsor Hills Resort (gated community). There are several websites that rent their condos/townhomes/houses.
What resort did you choose and why? — Windsor Hills. Was looking for a property close to WDW that WAS NOT a hotel. Much prefer the home-like setting and full kitchen/fridge.
What were the resort rooms like? Were they big enough for your family? Did you find them to be acceptable? — Stayed in a 3BR TH the first time, 3 BR condo second trip, and a 3BR TH again a couple of weeks ago. All very spacious. Had 7 ppl in our last trip in the townhome.
What were the amenities of the resort like? What was your favorite one? — Clubhouse with movie theater, large resort-like pool w/slide, putting green, tennis courts (I think) – I didn’t use any of these since each of their townhomes have 12×12 5ft deep pools included.
Did the resort provide transportation to the parks? If so, how often? If not, how long was your drive to Disney? — No, but we rent a car every time we fly to Orlando for convenience sake. Takes 5 minutes to arrive at Animal Kingdom and no more than 15 mins with traffic to get to the TTC at Magic Kingdom.
Would you stay at this resort again? — Absolutely – we’ve stayed there three times in the last year, all different units.
Terah Baldwin says
Lake Buena Vista Resort and Spa
The rooms were wonderful!!! We went with another family, there were 4 adults and 2 kids. We had a 3 bedroom suites. The rooms were great, it had a full kitchen and washer and dryer in room. There were 2 full bathrooms and we were nice and close to Disney :) Not to mention, the rooms were very reasonably price. Plus they have offered nice discounts when we call and tell them that we are returning guests. Would definitely stay again and recommend this resort to all our friends. If you can’t stay at Disney this is the next best thing.
Some of the ammenities are listed above and to add to that, they have a great pool with a nice pirate ship and play area for the kids. They have Internet available for an additional fee, the views from most rooms are amazing. a huge plus for us was the full kitchen and washer and dryer in room.
No food court, but there are several places to eat a short car ride away.
The hotel offers transportation but we did not use it. We chose to drive ourselves and we were less then a 10 minute drive to Disney.
We would definitely stay at this resort again. We loved it! It was very clean, spacious and very close to Disney.
Leslie says
We stayed at Lake Buena Vista Resort. It is a 3 bedroom 3 bath condo with all the luxeries of home including jacuzzi tub in each master bedrooms!!! It has an awesome pool including a pirate ship slide!!!
We loved it!!!
Tia says
Embassy Suites Orlando-Lake Buena Vista
The rooms were really nice. We stayed in a room that had a mini fridge and a microwave. There was a king size bed in one room and a pull out sofa in the other room. There were 4 of us.
My favorite amenitiy by far was the free breakfast every morning. It was a full size breakfast-they have a cook that cooks up fresh eggs and bacon. We would go down and enjoy our free breakfast and be good to go till the afternoon for food. They also have free managers reception every afternoon where they had free sodas and slushies (I can’t tell you how many slushies my kids ended up drinking)! My other favorite amenity was the pool and the big screen that you could watch while in the pool. They usually had Disney movies playing every night and you could watch them while in the pool or sitting in a lounge chair.
Yes they did provide complimentary shuttles to parks. We didn’t use them though as we just drove in. I don’t remember how long it took us as we went a few years ago but I know it wasn’t that long (under 20 minutes).
We would definately stay here again! I just can’t say enough about their free breakfast since I know how expensive it is for food down there! Depending on how early we got up and ate, we weren’t hungry till afternoon. We also were able to bring lunch meat and other things to store in the mini fridge.
Karen says
We also stayed here and by far this was our favorite off site hotel that we have stayed at. We picked this hotel mainly because it was a Hilton family hotel and it had breakfast included. We stayed here for about 10 days total one time. We even extended our stay by a couple of days because we liked it so much. The made to order breakfast was wonderful. My husband got omlets made every day. I think that was his favorite thing about this hotel.
We liked that we had a bedroom with 2 double beds and the livingroom with a pull out couch, that had a door seperating the two rooms.
We would definately stay at this hotel again. Each time we go to Disney we look at this hotel to see if it is having a special. But it wasn’t running any like we has on our first trip.
Julie says
What resort did you choose and why? We stayed at the Sheraton Vistana Village in September 2005. I found a great rate associated with allears.net, and we were excited to pay not much for a 1br suite with a real kitchen to save at least on breakfast.
What were the resort rooms like? This property is a timeshare property that makes extra rooms available as if it were a hotel. It was very nicely furnished with a beautiful sitting area, small kitchen, and large bedroom and bathroom. The bed was very comfortable, and for our low budget, it all felt very luxurious for the price paid. This trip was before we had kids, so just me and my husband, and we had plenty of room. I think the sofa in the living area was a pull-out, so you could definitely fit more people.
What were the amenities of the resort? What was your favorite one? While they had beautiful pools and walking paths, we were only there a few days, so we wanted to maximize our time in the parks and didn’t take advantage of them. For us the best amenities were the kitchen and the close proximity to the Disney parks as well as good grocery and drug stores.
What was the food court like? We didn’t take advantage of any of the dining there, and I don’t remember what the options were.
Did the resort provide transportation to the parks? We rented a car, using a great discount, because we wanted to have complete control over our schedule, but there was shuttle service to the parks.
Would you stay at this resort again? I would generally say yes except we were harassed heavily by the timeshare sales staff and then treated extremely rudely by them, such that we did file a complaint with the management. The general staff of the hotel was very friendly and helpful, from check-in to housekeeping (excluding the sales staff members we dealt with). I think if we had given them a strong no on the first day, we would not have had the trouble we did. Still it was a very nice room at a great rate (I think we paid just over $100 a night).
Julie says
Wyndham Bonnet Creek Resort
* What resort did you choose and why?
It is inside the Disney gate so close to the parks. I found it on VBRO, I rented a timeshare from someone. The price for a 2br/2ba was less than a Value resort. We did NOT have to attend a timeshare presentation to stay here.
* What were the resort rooms like? Were they big enough for your family? Did you find them to be acceptable?
We had a 2 bedroom 2 bath deluxe unit for me, my husband, 3 year old and mother in law. PLENTY of space and enough beds for everyone. Rooms are very spacious. Master bath had jetted tub and large shower. Master had king bed, 2nd bedroom had 2 queens. Can’t believe how nice it was for the price….decor wise similar to 4* hotel room in my opinion. Loved the fireworks view of Epcot and Magic Kingdom from our balcony!
* What were the amenities of the resort like? What was your favorite one?
5 pools, 2 water slides, 2 lazy rivers. Onsite activities everyday for those who don’t want to leave the resort, some free some a small fee. Also miniature golf at no charge to resort guests. Love the pools. Washer and dryer in every unit which is convenient and when you need soap they provide it.
* What was the food court like? Any favorite foods?
Only 2 very limited restaurants…no breakfast served. One was pizza, one was burgers and sandwiches. Not open late. Food is decent, resort prices. Loved having the full kitchen in our unit for quick easy meals.
* Did the resort provide transportation to the parks? If so, how often? If not, how long was your drive to Disney? Yes free transportation to all parks varies based on time of year. Parking at resort was free. Parks were like 15 minute drive….well Animal Kingdom was a bit more. This resort is next to Disney’s Caribean Beach.
* Would you stay at this resort again? If not, please provide a reason.
Have since stayed again and staying again this year. Truly a great resort.
You have to rent from someone or you can rent from Wyndham, but for a great deal, rent from someone directly.
Christy says
We LOVE Wyndham Bonnet Creek & have stayed several times. They have movie nights where you can watch the feature on the big outdoor screen and they serve popcorn for $1.
Kids arts & crafts range from $4 and up – there are special craft times or you can just drop in the craft room anytime except during the ice cream social hour (sundaes & root beer floats are $2 each, usually 3-4 pm everyday).
They have beach volleyball, kids playground, mini golf, table tennis, pool tables, arcade, on-site video rental kiosk (like Redbox, but $3), and the lake in the center of it all makes for a nice setting. You can also see the Epcot “golfball” from certain places within the resort as well as Epcot’s fireworks.
The lazy rivers are probably are favorite there! The tubes are free as long as there are ones available (we’ve never really had a problem getting them, though we may have had to wait a few minutes). Other places charge a fee to rent. :(
There’s also a kids’ splash pool and play area, which our son loves! It “rains” in the center of the pool and there is water spraying out from everywhere all around the splash area. There are chairs and tables in a dry area surrounding the splash area, so parents can relax and watch the kids play. One thing I REALLY like is that the kids’ splash are is COLORFUL. I do not understand how hotels and resorts make a dedicated kids’ play are with no color.
We have never eaten at their restaurants since each suite has a full kitchen. We love being able to cook our meals – it is more relaxing than rushing out to eat somewhere and obviously saves money. They didn’t include a blender (I don’t think) or a cookie sheet, so we’ll take those with us next time.
FYI: Publix is the main grocery store there (there’s Winn Dixie also, but Publix is better IMO), so check their store ad online and take coupons accordingly to do the grocery shopping for your stay. Publix almost always has awesome BOGO deals. Also, there are baskets near the main doors downstairs where you can drop off non-perishables if you don’t want to pack. They donate the basket contents to a local food shelter.
A nice touch: A little sample package when you check in. When we visited last month, they included a men’s razor (non disposable!) among other samples. In the suite they have kitchen/laundry samples to use during your stay – dish detergent, dish washer detergent, laundry detergent, popcorn, coffee, tea, mini s&p shakers, etc.
Maid service is available is for an additional fee, but otherwise you just do your own straightening up. If you want fresh towels everyday, just wash & dry them. ;)
I love the big jet tub and the big shower in the Master Bath (there’s a full bath for the second bedroom also).
The one bedroom is actually pretty spacious and sleeps 4 easily (2 on King in Master & 2 on Queen sleeper sofa). The 2 bedroom can easily accomodate 2 small families – or a small family with an extra family member or 2 (grandparents?) – as it sleeps 8 (same as 1 BR + 2 Full/Queen beds in 2nd BR).
Each suite has a spacious balcony with 4 chairs and 2 side tables. Ash trays are provided on balcony if you are a smoker.
We love that it is “sorta” on-site – it seems to be within the Dinsey resort, though the property itself is private land.
ALSO, recently announced – they are building a hotel on the property of Wyndham Bonnet Creek. While it will be more hotel like I’m sure, it will have access to all the amenities / activities.
We’ve stayed at Disney Budget Resorts and a Moderate Resort and prefer the activities and water features at Bonnet Creek hands down over Disney’s.
Angela Henderson says
The best place to stay in Orlando (offsite from the parks) is Marriott’s Grande Vista Resort on International Drive. It is a lavish resort with a bunch of pools, golf, spa, etc. and is minutes from Disney, Seaworld and Universal Studios. We always stay there because they always have ticket packages that include free parking for whatever park you choose…included in the price of your room. Its so beautiful and cost savvy.
jan says
■What resort did you choose and why? We chose to stay at the Seralago Hotel and Suites Maingate East. This is our second visit to this hotel. We originally chose it because of their online advertising, they looked like an inviting, family friendly hotel and the price was definitely right.
■What were the resort rooms like? Were they big enough for your family? Did you find them to be acceptable?
From the Hotel Website:
Guests at the Seralago Hotel choose from several different room and suite types – Deluxe Guest Rooms, Two-Room Suites, and Kid’s Suites. All rooms are comfortably furnished and come with many extra amenities, including mini-refrigerators, microwave ovens, iron/ironing boards, and complimentary high-speed wireless internet access. For our guests with pets under 40 lbs, we have a limited number of Standard Deluxe Rooms. The Kid’s Suite concept was pioneered by us, and no Orlando, Florida hotel does it better. Each Kid’s Suite features a main room for adults and a themed area for kids, designed to provide a home-like environment that gives kids and parents togetherness and privacy at the same time. Sleeps up to 5 people (2 adults and 3 children).
Yes the room was big enough for our family of 5.
■What were the amenities of the resort like? What was your favorite one?
Complimentary high-speed wireless Internet access, Complimentary breakfast for children 10 and under, Full-service family restaurant, Food Court, General Store with snacks and sundries, 2 heated Olympic-style swimming pools 2 relaxing whirlpool spas Convenient poolside bar Kiddie pool, Playground, Complimentary nightly family movies at our In-Hotel Theatre , Fitness Room , Coin laundry facilities, Tennis court, Sand volleyball court
Basketball hoop, Flexible meeting space accommodating up to 50 guests, “Dungeon” Video Arcade Room
Our favorite was the pool, it was open until midnight.
■What was the food court like? Any favorite foods? We didn’t eat at the food court.
■Did the resort provide transportation to the parks? If so, how often? If not, how long was your drive to Disney? Complimentary scheduled shuttle to the Walt Disney World® Transportation and Ticket Center and Universal Studios Florida® it wasn’t convenient for us, so we drove to the parks each day. It took us 20 minutes to get into a parking spot in EPCOT. ( I know this because I had to drive it twice in one morning as I left the tickets on the dresser of the hotel)
■Would you stay at this resort again? We would stay again. This hotel is by no means new, it used to be a Holiday Inn and is now privately owned. If you are looking for a clean safe place to stay on your vacation, or for your night before you go onsite, this could be the place for you.
Micayla says
Do rental properties belong under hotels? Or would there be a separate category for that?