[Chuck]

My wife and I are in process of planning a Walt Disney World trip in the near future, can anyone give us any reviews pros and cons
on any of the hotels in downtown Disney. Any thoughts on the Hotel Royal Plaza or Grosvenor Resort? Thanks

[dab]

Chuck welcome to Disney Central! I don't have any first hand experience with either resort but can refer you to a wonderful web site...
http://www.wdwig.com/faq_hot.htm

I'm sure someone out there can be of more help. This site has a great group of knowledgable folks!

[joseph3947]

WE STAYED AT THE ROYAL PLAZA FOR A LONG WEEKEND (5 DAYS) AND FOUND GETTING AROUND WITHOUT A CAR IS A PROBLEM. THE BUS PROVIDED BY THE HOTELS ON "HOTEL ROW" STOPS AT ALL THE HOTELS FOR ABOUT TEN MINUTES AT EACH. THEN YOU ARE TAKEN TO THE PARK FOR WHICH THE BUS IS PROVIDED.
IF YOU ARE USED TO STAYING ON PROPERTY, AS WE ARE, AND USED TO THE DISNEY BUS, YOU WILL BE VERY DISAPPOINTED!!
ALSO THE BUS WILL DROP YOU OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PARKING LOT, NOT AT A "CURB" STOP LIKE A DISNEY BUS, YOU HAVE TO WALK ACROSS THE PARKING LOT. BUT ROOM RATES ARE MUCH LESS AT THESE HOTELS. ALSO YOU COULD WALK FROM DISNEY MARKETPLACE TO YOUR HOTEL. DEPENDING ON WHICH HOTEL, THE WALK CAN TAKE FROM 5 TO 15 MINUTES. HOPE THIS HELPS!!! HAVE A MAGICAL DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :)
P.S., WE STAYED THERE IN OCT. 2000, SO THERE IS NO CONFUSION BASED ON THE LIST BELOW.

[trishb]

I have stayed at the Courtyard by Marriott at Downtown Disney. The rooms were nice and big. The rates were good. But, the highlight is the short walk to Downtown Disney.

It was such a nice vacation. We felt free to enjoy the other attractions in the Orlando area, not just Disney World.

[TINK61]

We stayed at the Grovsner Resort in 2001. I was able to get an unbeatable rate ($39.99 per night) and our room was in the tower. Very nice hotel, good location to the Downtown Disney area (just a short walk across the street). If you don't want to use the Downtown Disney buses, you can always us the Disney buses and walk from the Downtown Disney area. Anyway, I didn't find the bus system bad at all. Maybe because it was November instead of peak season.

Unless you are able to get a great rate at the one of the Downtown Disney Hotels, I would rather stay on a Disney owned property. But these Downtown Disney hotels are the next best thing.

Good Luck!:)

[Cinderellafifi]

I have enjoyed staying at the Royal Plaza each time I have gone. Even this past trip, with a few annoyances, the stay was nice. I have not read anything bad about this hotel.

As for the bus service, yes, you could get some wait time. We always have our car with us and it is usually more conveinent.


I have not stayed at the Grosvner but did read a review about it where it wasn't compared as highly as the Royal Plaza. Here is the link to www.mousesavers.com. Mary's site is easy to navigate - just look for the Downtown Disney hotel section.

Hope this helps! :)

[Brian]

Chuck, my wife and I stayed at the Courtyard by Marriott in October of 2001 and had a great time. The bus service was fine and it was about a 5 minute walk to Downtown Disney Marketplace. They had a nice pool area as well. I agree with others though that I would rather stay on property but if Downtown Disney is cheaper than the Value Resorts it is definitely worth doing. Hope this helps.

Brian

[Peggy]

We've stayed at the Grovsner three times over the past six years or so. We LOVED it. The bus service to the parks was fine, but what was best was the short walk to Pleasure Island. Going again to Disney this May and wondering if anyone has been at Lake Buena Vista Resort?

[shines]

Hi Chuck-
Back in 88 my parents took me and a friend to Disney, and we stayed at the Buena Vista Palace- it was GREAT then, good resturants, great service- Had never stayed on Disney property before this so had no idea what I could be missing- Bus hassels wherever you stay, even on WDW property- thats why we stay at the Polynesian for monorail.. and still rent a car! Good Luck and have fun!!:D

[Cinderellafifi]

just an FYI: the former Buena Vista Palace at Downtown Disney (which I absolutely loved and had the best time at) is now the Wyndham Resort. Best Western is now using the term Buena Vista with their hotel name in some way. They are in no way similar! I have also stayed at the Best Western (when it was Travelodge) and, although it was a decent hotel, I wouldn't stay there again considering the other options at Downtown. :)

[Angie]

We stayed in Courtyard by Marriott in 2000. It was free by using Marriott reward points for a 6 night stay so you can't beat that, but the bus service was very lacking. You wait forever and hope you can fit on it after it has picked up at all the other DD hotels and then when you finally get there, you are dropped off in Siberia and have to trek quite a way to the park entrances. Other than that, the room was fine and the close proximity to the marketplace and westside and pleasure island was very nice. If you can't get a better deal in a WDW resort they are still nice hotels, just plan on driving yourself or taking a cab. Even with the negative of the transportation, it was still a great trip.

[khawk]

I have reservations at Best Western Lake Buena Vista. I have never stayed there but I have heard excellent things about it. Am I wrong? Is it possible to walk to downtown disney and catch a disney bus from there to the other theme parks if we dont like the buses at BW LBV? I heard they run every half hour. Also, how do I get one of those countdown clocks that everyone has?
Kim
PS... I will be going to WDW May 7-13, 2003

[DisneyTeacher]

Originally posted by khawk
Also, how do I get one of those countdown clocks that everyone has?

Follow the link in any of Mickey's posts for directions.

[TINK61]

I've never stayed at the Best Western, but I have stayed at the Grovesnor in Down Town Disney. I can tell you that all the hotels in this area look nice. I'm sure the Best Western will not disappoint you. Yes, you can walk to the Marketplace and Downtown Disney from your hotel, but if I remember correctly, I think your hotel is probably the farthest away, or one of the farthest away, but definitely not too far to walk. Yes, you can use the Disney buses if you prefer. You just have to walk to the bus stop at Downtown Disney to catch it, rather than outside your hotel door. :)

[twwintn]

I have reservations for the Doubletree Suites in October and want to know if anyone has has any experience (good or bad) with the Doubletree Suites.

Can you get an Ultimate Partk Hopper pass at the Doubletree?