Favorite OFF Property Resorts

This topic has 11 replies, 8 voices, and was last updated 2 years, 10 months ago by laurabell.

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May 15, 2019 at 6:53 am #110080

Disneydana
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So if you’re like me, you love to go to WDW but you can’t always afford the luxury of staying on property. I’ve stayed at some really nice places just outside the World and some really not so nice places. What are some of your favorite hotels and resorts outside of the Disney bubble?

This last visit we stayed at the Holiday Inn Orange Lake resort and I have to tell you, it was a pretty nice place. It was a timeshare resort with it’s own mini golf, lazy river, game room etc. I would stay there again. I think we paid about $400 for 3 nights. We found a fantastic deal for a small one bedroom condo once. I wish I could remember the name of the place! It was super cute and it was $120 for 3 nights!!! It was further down in the other direction on Irlo Bronson so the drive to the parks was about 15 minutes or more, but you couldn’t beat that price! I also love the Rosen Centre across from the Convention Center on International. It’s like staying at an airport because the lobby is sooo huge! It’s very clean and fresh and the beds there are super comfy! I have always been lucky and tend to find that one listed as a “secret hotel” on hotwire for about $99 a night, but you have to add in that they charge for parking there so it tends to run closer to $120 after that and taxes etc…but still a bargain for a resort not overrun with kids and not packed with park goers. More of a business crowd with us tourists mixed in. Definitely more of a luxury hotel.

May 15, 2019 at 9:20 am #110093

warrsm
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my parents bought into a Sheraton time share several years ago, the Vistana, just outside the main gate. We love it there, and actually just stayed at the other Vistana on International Drive. that was great too. they have some awesome restaurants and pools, and we love being able to do laundry. other than that we have stayed in the Disney Springs resort the “B” and that place was great. it had just opened and a friend worked there and got us a great rate. But whenever I can we prefer onsite, even if its an All Star

May 15, 2019 at 10:16 am #110108

RIDisneyPinGuy
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We stayed at the Sheraton Vistana as well, but had a less-than-magical experience.

The jacuzzi tub was dirty and full of hair. So after 23 hours in the car driving down, we had to go find a store for bleach and cleaning supplies, and waste another half-hour cleaning and disinfecting. The blanket in the closet was also loaded with hair.

We stayed on a ‘bonus week’ my in-laws had, so we had to go to one of the sales pitches. 90 minutes ended up 3+ hours of hard-sell tactics.

Even with only having to spend $250 for the week, by the time we added in parking, meals at full-price (vs. DDP, which was a better value then vs. now),etc. – the savings were marginal at best. Granted, WDW has now gotten far more expensive for less value included… but, after our limited experience off-property, we try to hold-out until we can stay onsite.

May 15, 2019 at 10:20 am #110110

warrsm
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@RIDisneyPinGuy iccckkkkk!! sorry!!!! yuck, not a magical way to start the trip, not at all!!

May 15, 2019 at 10:35 am #110114

RIDisneyPinGuy
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warrsm wrote:

@ridisneypinguy iccckkkkk!! sorry!!!! yuck, not a magical way to start the trip, not at all!!

It sure wasn’t. Especially since we had to clean it. The staff told us that housekeeping would not be there til two days later, and after almost a full-day of nonstop driving with my 6’9″ body confined to a 2008 Honda Fit… yeah, I needed a soak in the jets.

May 15, 2019 at 1:34 pm #110129

DizLuvrKAli
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We stayed at the Hilton Bonnet Creek last year. This was before they got the perks of the Extra Magic Hours etc. It was really nice. They have a lazy river and a restaurant inside. The restaurant was a glorified continental breakfast but it was a better rate than one of the Disney hotels. I’d stay there again.

This December we are staying at the Hilton in Disney Springs area. We shall see how that one fairs.

May 17, 2019 at 6:35 am #110207

Disneydana
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RIDisneyPinGuy wrote:

We stayed at the Sheraton Vistana as well, but had a less-than-magical experience.
The jacuzzi tub was dirty and full of hair. So after 23 hours in the car driving down, we had to go find a store for bleach and cleaning supplies, and waste another half-hour cleaning and disinfecting. The blanket in the closet was also loaded with hair.
We stayed on a ‘bonus week’ my in-laws had, so we had to go to one of the sales pitches. 90 minutes ended up 3+ hours of hard-sell tactics.
Even with only having to spend $250 for the week, by the time we added in parking, meals at full-price (vs. DDP, which was a better value then vs. now),etc. – the savings were marginal at best. Granted, WDW has now gotten far more expensive for less value included… but, after our limited experience off-property, we try to hold-out until we can stay onsite.

Aww man there is nothing worse than checking into a place and finding it dirty!

May 22, 2019 at 11:30 am #110524

tkeon200
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I stick to Marriott properties because of the benefits.

For value properties, I like the Fairfield Inn or SpringHill Suites in the Marriott Village. It doesn’t have anything to offer but the bed and location, though. I am not going to spend time at the pools there when WDW is right across the street. It’s affordable, though.

I’ve stayed at both Sheraton Vistana properties (why they named two properties with such similar names is beyond me…Sheraton Vistana Resort Villas & Sheraton Vistana Villages Resort Villas…figure that one out). Both are great, but I like the Villages Resort Villas property better becuase I found it to be cleaner and have better pools. My most-desired moderately-priced hotel would be Marriott Harbor Lake. My kids love the pools there. Grande Vista is nice, too.

If you’re able to splurge. The Ritz-Carlton/JW Marriott Orlando Grande Lakes is just a phenomenal vacation. The pool at JW is amazing and the service at the Ritz is unmatched. I personally enjoy the Ritz pool because there are less children and it is a much quieter & relaxing atmosphere.

May 22, 2019 at 12:23 pm #110527

bexruns
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The upside of Disneyland over WDW (IMO and from what people have told me who are more WDW than Disneyland, but have come to visit) the off property hotels here are WAY more convenient because EVERYTHING is within walking distance. There’s like 2 BW hotels that are less than a15 min walk to the front gates, and like 5-10 min from Downtown Disney. And most of the year they’re pretty reasonable with pricing. Obviously summer and winter holidays are a bit more pricey and when there’s conventions (the Anaheim convention center is right across from DCA).

May 22, 2019 at 6:37 pm #110546

Disneydana
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bexruns wrote:

The upside of Disneyland over WDW (IMO and from what people have told me who are more WDW than Disneyland, but have come to visit) the off property hotels here are WAY more convenient because EVERYTHING is within walking distance. There’s like 2 BW hotels that are less than a15 min walk to the front gates, and like 5-10 min from Downtown Disney. And most of the year they’re pretty reasonable with pricing. Obviously summer and winter holidays are a bit more pricey and when there’s conventions (the Anaheim convention center is right across from DCA).

So true! I flew out a few years back all by my lonesome and booked a shuttle from LAX to a little hotel across the street from the Disneyland entrance. It was about the equivalent of a city block or so. I would stop in for breakfast at a place called Marie’s. I would walk back to my room in the middle of the day to rest and I felt perfectly safe in that area because there was always a group of people doing the exact same thing so you were never really alone. I don’t remember exactly the cost but I would say it was a 3 star place for in the neighborhood of $110 a night. I’d do it again for sure. It was really nice to just explore at my own pace and have it so convenient.

June 4, 2019 at 9:43 pm #111795

BacksideOfWater
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I’ve never stayed off property on a WDW trip but I did when going to Disneyland. I recommend the Candy Cane Inn. It is right behind Carsland. It’s a very short walk to the gates of Disneyland and DCA and is very affordable.

January 13, 2022 at 7:33 pm #154310

laurabell
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OMG , Haven’t been to Disneyland in years but ,I would have to agree you could not get any
closer than the Candy Cane –
Do they still have the gate right across the street there ??
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