When planning a trip to Walt Disney World, there are a lot of things to consider when deciding where you want to stay. Budget, location, and convenience are top considerations when booking a hotel for a visit to Walt Disney World. While many choose to stay on property, it is not the first choice for all guests. This could be due to pricing or the availability of rooms. However, whatever the reason, if you are looking to stay at a non-Disney hotel, there are few that you may want to look at first as there are hotels in the area that offer similar benefits to staying in a Walt Disney World Resort hotel.
Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin
You may not know this, but the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin and Swan Reserve hotels are not actually owned by Disney. These hotels are going to have a higher price point than some of the other off-property hotels we are going to talk about, but they are the closest non-Disney hotels to some of the parks. In fact, you can walk to both Epcot and take a boat to Disney’s Hollywood Studios from these hotels. There are also shuttle buses.
They are similar to a deluxe resort feel and offer restaurants, a beautiful 3-acre pool area, a kids club, and a spa. Guests of these resorts also benefit from 30-minute early entry and the extended evening hours that are only offered to deluxe resort guests. One perk that these hotels have over Walt Disney World Resort hotels is that Marriot owns them. If you are a Marriot rewards member, you can use those benefits for these hotels which could save you big money if you are looking for the deluxe resort benefits at a lower price point.
Disney Springs Resort Area Hotels
If you want to stay off-property due to budget reasons, I recommend checking out the Disney Springs Resort Area Hotels first. These hotels are all within walking distance of Disney Springs and offer shuttle bus transportation to the parks. In addition, they are included in the 30-minute early entry benefit that is available to Walt Disney World resort guests. Many of the rooms in these hotels will typically cost less than the Walt Disney World Resort hotels. Some rooms may go for slightly higher than some of the value resorts but may offer larger rooms or other perks like free breakfast.
They also have special deals from time to time and if you are a rewards member for one of the hotels you can use those benefits as well. These hotels include the DoubleTree Suites by Hilton, Holiday Inn Orlando-Disney Springs Area, Wyndham/ Wyndham Garden Lake Buena Vista, Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista, B Resort and Spa, Hilton Orlando Buena Vista Palace, and Drury Plaza Hotel Orlando- Disney Springs Area. Some of these hotels even offer park view rooms!
Bonnet Creek Area Resorts
There are a few other hotels that are close to the Disney Parks and offer some perks over other off-property hotels including 30-minute early entry and shuttle transportation to the Disney parks. The first is the Waldorf Astoria Orlando. This resort is more of a luxury hotel and the price point will reflect that. However, the amenities are plentiful, and the room rates still run lower than some Walt Disney World Resort hotels. There is a luxurious pool area, restaurants and bars, a fitness center, concierge, spa, kids club, and golf club.
The next hotel is the Signia by Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek. This hotel is at a slightly lower price point than the Waldorf Astoria. Amenities include a great family-friendly pool area that includes a lazy river and private rentable cabanas. They also have use of many of the Waldorf Astoria amenities including the spa, golf club, kids club, and restaurants.
Both hotels also offer daily recreational activities like poolside activities, movies, and even a scavenger hunt. Additionally, they offer Disney view rooms where you may catch a view of the fireworks. If you are looking for a little more luxury and amenities than some of the lower-priced Walt Disney World Resort hotels offer, these two hotels could be a great choice. They are also great for Hilton Honors members.
Have you stayed at any of these off-property hotels? Let us know what your experience was by leaving a comment below or on our Facebook page!
