Out priced at Disney - any suggestions

[mollies_mum]

Got flights booked for next year and usually stay onsite but it’s just too expensive for us next year so we are looking at alternatives.
Can anyone recommend a hotel close to Disney, free shuttle as we won’t have a car, nice pool area, food options, good for me and a 10 year old?
We have Cabana Bay booked for the last few days so we can spend some time at Universal so only need easy access to Disney
Thanks in advance

[Mariesmith]

We were supposed to be staying at Lake Buena vista resort village and spa earlier this year.

It's close to Disney and has an outdoor shopping centre next to it and a publix and Walmart close by. There are shuttles to Disney and universal. It's got a big pool with a pirate ship and a smaller quiet pool.

It would have been our first time without a car so was planning on using a mixture of the free shuttles and Uber/Lyft to get around.

[disney332]

Any of the Hotels on Hotel Plaza Blvd. Hilton is the best placed with walkway to Disney Springs a short stroll away.

Disney332

[DonkeyCentreArf]

Originally Posted by mollies_mum

Got flights booked for next year and usually stay onsite but it’s just too expensive for us next year so we are looking at alternatives.
Can anyone recommend a hotel close to Disney, free shuttle as we won’t have a car, nice pool area, food options, good for me and a 10 year old?
We have Cabana Bay booked for the last few days so we can spend some time at Universal so only need easy access to Disney
Thanks in advance

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I can recommend Bonnet Creek Resort - next door to CBR, several pools including a kids pirate ship one. A 2 bed deluxe apartment is about the same cost as a value room in Disney so a smaller suite should be much cheaper for you.

Not sure what the Wyndham next to Disney Springs is like but we used to stay there when it was the Grosvenor and loved it as it was a two minute walk into what is now Disney Springs so easy to keep close to the Magic

[cornishfrogboy]

LBV Village Resort and spa would get my vote. We were really impressed with a 3 bedroom in block 5.

Shuttles, close to a Walmart, next door to a outlet mall. good pool and good poolside bar. It also has an Irish bar and restaurant (decent) as part of the resort. It even had a huge Jacuzzi Bath in the main bedroom.

[Guest]

Doesnt most of the resort down Hotel Plaza Blvd now have disney bus's to take you to the parks ?

[Merryweather17]

Hotel Boulevard resorts have transport to the parks, but watch for the resort fees at those places, they can be over $30 a night which while it 'includes' the cost of shuttles soon adds up. Bonnet Creek shuttles have to be paid for, it may be worth checking out how much these are a day and how frequently they run. All shuttles often run to a timetable rather than a constant flow like the disney ones. Some off-site shuttles just take you to Epcot and then you have to catch another bus from there to your chosen park.

I am not being negative but I do hear from people who see that their hotel/resort offered free shuttles and thought they were getting something similar to the disney buses standard of transport only to be disappointed. A combination of shuttles and uber/lyft may be the most convenient and cheapest way to go. Lake Buena Vista has lots of hotels, there are also a few off Sherbeth Road leading to the 192, these are very close to AK and there are lots of food places along there that are an easy walk from some of these.

[Picalily]

Hi, the Rosen (used to be Clarion inn) on Palm Parkway is a good base, has shuttles to all the parks and the Lynx 50 stops outside if the shuttle times don't suit. No resort fees and roughly $12 to Magic Kingdom with Uber. $9 to Seaworld.

[mollies_mum]

Thanks everyone, definitely lots for us to think about. Deep down I’m hoping that Disney have a free nights offer or release DDP from October onwards and that I can make it financially work for us! Not sure what the chances of that is though...

[Merryweather17]

Have you looked at booking through the US site with disney? they charge 1 nights deposit and allow you to cancel foc up to 5 days before you travel. They also often have better offers and are happy to apply these (if eligible/available) if they are released after you book. We have saved 15-20% by applying a later discount on an existing booking in the past.