[MickeyMamma]

Let me start by saying inexpensive does not mean that I want a cheap hotel.

What I am looking for is a place to stay 2 nights in January. I am looking at staying at the All-Star Movies because it seemed fine, but I do not know much about the off-site hotels anymore.

Is there an off-site hotel that you particularly like or had a great experience at? I am hoping that since it is January, most hotels will be running specials so they may fit the budget.

Ideally, I would like to keep it to <$75 per night if I can. I already know about the All-Star $49 rate so that is already on my list.

Thanks in advance! :)

[LRTJS]

Hey MickeyMomma, you can check out reviews of offsite hotels at www.mouseplanet.com I have stayed off site many tmes and have never been disappointed. Last Jan. we stayed at the Holiday Inn Nikki Bird. It is an older Holiday Inn but has been kept up well. It is right at the Maingate entrance and has special kid beds and many activities for children. We also stayed at Wyngate Inn. It was nice but the rooms were small. I have stayed at so many it is hard to remember all their names! Wish I was going back this January. Have a blast!:D

[llama]

I just posted on another thread that we'll be staying for one night at the Hotel Royal Plaza, at Downtown Disney. I received a special offer's rate of $69.00 for a standard room, through Mousesavers.com

[preidel24]

Alissa:

We stay at the Hotel Royal plaza sometime before we start our disney on-site vacation. I was very impressed with it. It's very clean and the room are nice like a disney deluxe. The bathrooms have a large garden tub and bath and body works tolietries. I'd recoomend it.

Here's some info on it from Mousesaver.com

I have stayed at the Hotel Royal Plaza myself and really enjoyed it -- you can read a trip report from May 2002 and another from March 2003 (when 25 members of my family stayed there) for more details.

The Royal Plaza has an attractive pastel-toned lobby with extensive ceramic tile flooring and an upscale appearance. The rooms have two double beds or a king bed, plus a loveseat that makes into a single bed, so they accommodate up to five people.

Rooms in the wings (also called lanai or pool view rooms) have balconies with two chairs and a small cocktail table, or a private patio on the ground floor. Rooms in the tower are slightly larger and have upgraded bathrooms (some with whirlpool baths) and include small walk-out balconies.

All rooms include a safe, hairdryer, iron and ironing board, coffeemaker, and voicemail and dataport on the phone. They will supply a small refrigerator for a one-time fee of $28 (regardless of length of stay), on request.

The Giraffe Cafe, a very reasonably priced full-service restaurant in the Royal Plaza's lobby, serves breakfast, lunch and dinner and stays open late. I have eaten there quite a few times -- it's standard American fare, reasonably priced, and the quality of the food is good. A buffet breakfast is offered daily, but I found the food quality and prices to be better when ordering breakfast off the menu.

You can pick up light snacks and drinks at a counter-service area at the front of the Giraffe Cafe. Room service is available and offers extended hours.

There is a bar in the lobby, and seasonally another bar open by the very clean and pleasant heated pool. There is a whirlpool spa near the pool. (This hotel has no kiddie pool or slide -- a consideration for those with small children. There is a small video game room for kids, though.)

Four lighted tennis courts, a coin laundry and a workout room add to the amenities. The lobby also offers an ATM and a gift shop that sells Hopper passes. You can buy E-Ride Night tickets at this hotel.

The Hotel Royal Plaza is one of the Downtown Disney resorts, which operate their own bus system to the theme parks. The Downtown Disney buses run all day (from before park opening until after park closing) about every half-hour, and are much better than the transportation offered by most non-Disney resorts around Walt Disney World. (In fact, the buses are more comfortable than Disney's own buses!) However, be aware that the drop-off point is slightly further from the theme park gates than the Disney resort bus drop-off, so there's a little extra walking.

"... my husband and I, and our two kids ages 5 and 7, spent 5 nights ... at the Hotel Royal Plaza... The hotel was very nice and clean, and the room and bathroom were substantially larger than the one we stayed in at [Port Orleans] 2 years ago. The bus service was very good, too. We got the MouseSavers rate which helped us pay about 1/2 what we had expected to spend on a hotel. Also, the Hotel Royal Plaza is a 10 minute walk in one direction to Downtown Disney, and a 10 minute walk in the other direction to a McDonald's, Pizzaria Uno, TGI Fridays, Goodings supermarket, and more." - Terrelyn T from Sugar Land, TX
For those with a car, you can self-park at the Royal Plaza for free -- or use valet parking for $7 per day.

The Hotel Royal Plaza is well-kept and fresh-looking throughout. Rates are very reasonable, making this an excellent alternative to the Disney Moderate resorts. Also, since the rooms sleep 5, it's a great alternative for families with 3 kids -- Disney does not offer a lot of reasonably-priced options for families with more than 2 kids.

My last inspection of this property was early March, 2003.


There are special rates for MouseSavers readers at Hotel Royal Plaza in the Walt Disney World Resort!

The MouseSavers rates below are the best rates available to the public. To reserve your room at the MouseSavers rates below, click here!


2003 Dates MouseSavers Rates*
December 7-11, 2003 $79
December 12-19, 2003 $65
December 20-22, 2003 $99
December 23-24, 2003 $79
December 25-31, 2003 $109
2004 Dates MouseSavers Rates*
January 1, 2004 $99
January 2-14, 2004 $69
January 15-17, 2004 $159
January 18, 2004 $109
Jan 19 - Feb 12, 2004 $69
February 13-14, 2004 $119
Feb 15 - Mar 24, 2004 $109
March 25-27, 2004 $119
March 28 - April 8, 2004 $99
April 9-17, 2004 $119
April 18-30, 2004 $89
May 1 - June 3, 2004 $79
June 4-6, 2004 SOLD OUT
June 7 - July 1, 2004 $89
July 2-3, 2004 $109
July 4-17, 2004 $89
July 18-21, 2004 $119
July 22, 2004 SOLD OUT
July 23 - Aug 16, 2004 $89
August 17-21, 2004 $99
Aug 22 - Sept 8, 2004 $89
September 9-11, 2004 $99
September 12-18, 2004 $89
September 19-21, 2004 $99
September 22-30, 2004 $89
Oct 1 - Nov 4, 2004 $99
November 5-6, 2004 $109
November 7-20, 2004 $99
November 21-24, 2004 $79
November 25-26, 2004 $109
Nov 27 - Dec 23, 2004 $79
December 24-31, 2004 $119

*The quoted prices are for a standard room with two double beds and a single-sized sleeper sofa. Other room types available at higher rates. Rates do not include tax and $7 per night resort fee (resort fee goes up to $8 per night in 2004). Rooms accommodate up to 5 guests; additional charges apply for more than 2 adults in a room. You will be charged a one-night deposit at the time of booking; it is refundable up until the cancellation deadline (usually 3 days prior to check-in). Note that the standard room rate may pop up at the BOTTOM of the list of rates. Rates subject to availability. There are a few "blackout" dates when the hotel is already heavily booked. MouseSavers rates cannot be combined with other offers. To reserve your room at the MouseSavers rates, click here!

Kids eat free too with an adult at the Giraffe Grille and you can walk to downtown disney from there.

Stay away from the Holiday Inn Main Gate East (East and West) it was horrible and dirty. We left because there were two lizards in our room and the front desk said that'd good it means there isn't any bugs in the room (didn't make me feel better). Also people were smoking everywhere and I just can't handle that.

Paula

P.S.

Your christmas card came back to me today it's not mark for any reason (wrong address zip nothing) can you PM with your address so I can check it.

[Cheryl]

When we went almost 2 years ago we stayed at the Wyndham Palace right across from DTD and it was fine - we had a suite that was very spacious. Not sure whet it costs to stay there though.

[bsheaters]

Originally posted by MickeyMamma
Let me start by saying inexpensive does not mean that I want a cheap hotel.

What I am looking for is a place to stay 2 nights in January. I am looking at staying at the All-Star Movies because it seemed fine, but I do not know much about the off-site hotels anymore.

Is there an off-site hotel that you particularly like or had a great experience at? I am hoping that since it is January, most hotels will be running specials so they may fit the budget.

Ideally, I would like to keep it to <$75 per night if I can. I already know about the All-Star $49 rate so that is already on my list.

Thanks in advance! :)

Check out Pop Culture as I have read it is only $79 all year. It's Disneys newest hotel that just opened in Dec '03

[Al Edwards]

Stay on property....the transportation is worth it IMHO. I just like to keep it all Disney.

[Dana]

I would stay on-site too. I love the All Star Movies. You cannot beat having that 24 hour Disney magic...no matter how great the off-site place is or how cheap it is to stay there.

[iluvwdw]

Originally posted by Dana
I would stay on-site too. I love the All Star Movies. You cannot beat having that 24 hour Disney magic...no matter how great the off-site place is or how cheap it is to stay there.

I agree with Dana...especially with the $49 rate, you really can't go wrong!!!!!!!

[DisneyAnne]

Alissa.... For $49 a night, I'd take the All-Stars, but I am the queen of off-site so I can also tell you a couple of good places. I use Priceline so if you aren't familiar with the technicalities of it, you may want to check out this website beforehand...
BiddingForTravel

I have never paid anymore than $35 per night for nothing less than a 3* hotel... in fact, I got Marriott World Resort for $32 a night a couple of years ago.

You may also want to check the Downtown Disney Hotels. They have lots of deals at different times of the year including $29 per night for The Courtyard by Marriott (one of my favorite chains). Alot of the amenities allowed to onsite guests are also afforded to the guests of these hotels. Check here for the info:
Downtown Disney Hotels

All-in-all... I have never had a bad off-site experience, however, with the rates the All-Stars are offering, I would definitely take it.

[JOANN]

I always stay on property. Hotel Row is nice, but the bus system is not.
If you have a car, I guess it would be an option. But we do not drive anymore, so for us it's Disney Resorts.
Do you have an Annual Pass? Sometimes there are really good rates. And like eveyone has said, can't beat $49 a night.
Good Luck!!!:) JOANN

[emamasa]

[quote=MickeyMamma]I already know about the All-Star $49 rate so that is already on my list.

QUOTE]

where can I find this great deal? We are going in January, and need at least 4 nights! Thanks!

[SplashMtnMan]

IMHO if you have a $49 rate on property, go with it!!!

[mickaholic4077]

49 dollars a night is usually the value season AP/Fl res. rate for the value resorts,but given that the discounts haven't been as deep this year as in years past,I think that rate is probably gone for the forseeable future.

[cinderbella]

[quote=emamasa]

Originally Posted by MickeyMamma

I already know about the All-Star $49 rate so that is already on my list.

QUOTE]

where can I find this great deal? We are going in January, and need at least 4 nights! Thanks!

This is a pretty old thread (2003).....these deals come about sometimes but generally for Flordia Residents or Annual Passholders. A general public discount comes out around this time (sometimes) but genereally for about 60 dollars a night.. If these discounts come out, which is really unknown b/c of all the magic your way hoopla...it won't be until September, October...