[daisyd]

Does anyone have a good or bad experience to share with me about an off-site hotel/resort? Transportation ease to/from the hotel to the World would be appreciated as well, as Disney's transportation is a big reason I want to stay onsite.

In my attempt to persuede my DH to take our first trip to WDW, I have been learning all about the WDW resorts. I have written out budgets for some of them (a value, a mod and WL), and now I am on to the next step of comparing the WDW resorts with off site properties (including DTD properties). I want to pick a good property or two to compare--just in case ...

The thing is, I am so overwhlemed by the choices and super confused about a 'good' location I need some help please (everything says it's 'minutes from Disney'--are they really?).

I am interested in all kinds of properties except super budget and super deluxe. We are a famiy of 5 (little one okay in a pack and play). I like a nice place, my husband still brags about his $12 night room on the beach in Thailand 12 years ago, lol. He claims he will sleep anywhere, I know better If it helps, POFQ is running top of our list for onsite-even with the crib in the room.

Thanks in advance for any input!

[Cavey]

Daisyd,
I've had some good experiences stay off-site. (Of course, now that I've stayed on-site, I probably won't go back, but...)

You want to find hotels in the "Maingate" area off Iron Bronson Highway. These hotels are normally only 5-15 minutes from WDW's property. Going with a name-brand hotel should provide you with a clean, but unexciting room. Pools aren't anything special (but do kids care). The maingate area is gawdy and tacky with tons of weird things to see, trying to draw you into a tourist trap.

Avoid the ticket sellers on the corners. It is illegal to resell tickets, and yet these booths stay open. (You have NO WAY of knowing if a used ticket still has days left on it, and the newer tickets require biometric scanning.).

My first adult trip to WDW we stayed at Holiday Inn Maingate East. It was a very nice hotel. Reasonably priced and only 5 minutes from WDW. If your budget can't afford even a value resort, I would recommend this hotel.

Our second trip, we used www.priceline.com We booked an okay room at Ramada Maingate West for $24/night. It was about 15 minutes from WDW. The best part though was the Krispee Kreme Doughnuts nearby (we don't have KK in our area).

Neither of these hotels had the Disney magic, but for the price, it was a good deal.

Hope this helps.

[peter pan]

I stayed at the Hotel Royal Plaza 2 years ago .

I used the Mears shuttel back and forth to the airport with no problem.

The hotel has it's own bus for the parks which run just about every hour .

The pool was great as well had a bar at pool side .

Downtown Disney is about a 10 min walk from the hotel and supermarket is about a 10 min walk as well .

Over all the stay was great .

Here is some more info on the hotel .


http://www.royalplaza.com/

Hope this helps you out and enjoy your first time at WDW

[Cavey]

You are definately better off using your own car if you are staying off-site. The complementary shuttles run limited hours and if you miss one shuttle, you wait an hour or more to catch the next one.

Of course, driving a car will cost you $8/day in parking (A good trade-off if your room is only $24/night).

[daisyd]

Thanks caver_jeffery and peter_pan, very helpful advise :) I'll check out the 3 you mentioned.

It isn't so much budget as it is 'What do you get for it?' that sways my DH one way or another (that's why I am looking into so many different places, lol). I think if we stay offsite we need a car as you mentioned, caverjeffery, and that expense will outweigh any savings we'd get in a room. So it's a bang-for-a-buck kind of elimination, and I think even the value resorts have one up just because of the 24/7 magic.

Thanks again guys, and if anyone else has anything to add, I'd appreciate it

[whb]

We have come to love the Sheraton Vistana Resort. You can rent a two bedroom condo for a very reasonable price. It is literally right across I-4 from Downtown Disney. We used our own car and found that it took only a few minutes to get back and forth. In addition, we had a full kitchen and were able to have several nice meals at home in a controlled atmosphere. Our children are 4 and 1 1/2 and it was very nice to have a nice washer and dryer in the condo. The pools are great and there are some very nice restaurants (fast food and sit down) right outside the front gate. I still love the AKL, Poly and Contemporary - but with two young kids on a stay longer than 2 days, you can't beat the Vistana. We usually book through the link on Deb Wills' website and get great rates! Good luck and have a great time at WDW wherever you stay!!!

[Laneysdad]

My experience is one and only and never again. If the option for on property exsists Do yourself the favor and do it.

I do not recommend the Grovsnor resort. When we were there in '03 it was looking run down and thats just how the service acted as well. The location to Downtown Disney was a huge perk but hardly worth it when we could have stayed at a Disney Value resort and had the transportation for the same price if not a bit less..

If you are looking to use an off-site for their transportation good-luck. Its not accomodating.

Disney property perk - Free package delivery to your room - Regular transportation schedules - Disney theming.

Off site - none of the above and price by probably $20 per night.

[angell1975]

We have had our share of good and bad luck staying offsite. We have stayed at the Holiday Inn Nikki Bird Resort on Irlo Bronson Highway and had really good service from them. The rooms were clean and everyone is always really nice. Now on the opposite end is the Ramada Inn Resort that is across the street from the Holiday Inn on Reedy Creek Blvd. I would run the other way if anyone ever sees this hotel giving away rooms. Service was horrible and housekeeping would short sheet the bed about every night we were there. They even did this after management was notified. We will never stay in a Ramada after everything that happened. Now, if you do stay offsite, I would recommend your own car since there is limited service with shuttles. Good luck in your decision!

[daisyd]

Thanks for the additional input everyone! This will be our first trip to Orlando, and this thread has been a great help to me!

WHB, I found out my good friends mom stays at Vistana every winter (I never knew she went to WDW every Feb, lol). I poured over her photos, and it looks beautiful! We have decided only to go the condo route if DH's father and sister join us from Ireland--and even if they do come along we still may stay in a resort.

From everything I am reading, staying offsite really is a grab bag of sorts--from really bad to very nice, but mostly mediocre. I am not seeing an advantage of staying offsite for us. Any money we'd save staying off site in a mediocre place would be eaten up in car rental and parking fees at the parks--and there is no bang-for-your-buck about a standard Ramada room. If we spend more money for a nicer place we still won't get the things laneysdad pointed out, or EMH.

I think onsite is the way to go for us.

Thanks again

[queensmama]

We stayed off site last year at the Lake Buena Fairfield Inn. It was very nice, we had access to two other pools. Clean rooms and easy drive to WDW.
But if you stay off site having a car is a must.

[jodilt]

I stayed offsite once at the Carribe Royale. It was a very nice place and provided transportation to the parks, but as Caver pointed out the bus times are scheduled. If you miss one bus, it is often an hour wait until the next one. Sometimes the same bus services more than one off site hotel and you are in the same predicament if the bus is full...you wait an hour for the next one. Staying onsite is well worth the extra cost.

[roxie]

Originally Posted by daisyd

WHB, I found out my good friends mom stays at Vistana every winter (I never knew she went to WDW every Feb, lol). I poured over her photos, and it looks beautiful!

If you do go the condo route, the Vistana is very nice. We have stayed there before and are again this fall. It's nice, but it's not Disney.

[acarballo]

DaisyD,

When on a budget, my wife and I like to stay at the Fairfield Inn Orlando Lake Buena Vista in the Marriott Village. The rooms are nice, it is near DTD, the price includes breakfast and has a foodcourt.

You might want to check it out.

[jeannej]

Comfort Inn and Suites near Splendid China was a very nice place to stay.
Hampton Inns I have had really good luck with as well Wyndam Palace.
My all time favorite place off site is very pricey. I absolutely adore the Gaylord Palms.

I forgot. My son and I stayed at the Spring Hill Suites at the Marriot Village and the room was very nice and room. Plus clean.

Jeannej

[JEANY031]

the newest hotel has transportations is Nickelodeon family suites. and the web site is www.nickhotel.com and click on transportations.