Off-Resort Hotels

[leebier]

I've been trying to plan a trip with some friends and hit a wall regarding cost issues. At this point, we're down to two people staying in the hotel (don't ask), and that makes the Moderate resorts too expensive for our grad student budget (though 3 or 4 in the room would have been entirely manageable and the Values are sold out for the dates we're looking for). Anyway, this is going to put us off-Resort property and I was looking for suggestions where to go.

I'm admittedly spoiled and have pretty much always stayed on-resort and having full access to Disney Transportation all day every day is something that has great value to me. So what are some affordable hotels that are close by that offer frequent, useful transportation options? We will have a car, but I'd rather not deal with parking and/or designating a driver for the evenings.

Thanks a lot for any help and you'll save me from pulling out more hair!

Leebier

 

[barnum42]

I doubt any of the off site hotels have buses anywhere near as frequent as on-site. The ones I have stayed at had maybe three times they went out and the same coming back back. But as I use a car, that's never been a problem.

You could try one of the hotels at Lake Buena Vista, in the Crossroads Area. It's within walking distance of the Downtown Disney hotels - I'd guestimate 20-30 minutes from Downtown Disney by foot.

 

[Moustronaut]

Are either of you AAA members? AAA is running a special rate at the Doubletree Club hotel on 535. I'm not even gonna try and remember how to spell apopka or whatever. Anyway it's right by the cross roads shopping center pretty much on the corner where Hotel Plaza Blvd his 535.... Big WDW gateway and everything. The hotel is going for $69/night booked through AAA... regardless of season it appears. They do have shuttles to the park. It's a very easy drive to Downtown Disney or any of the parks. It's about a mile, maybe mile and a half, walk from Downtown Disney Marketplace to the hotel. Have no idea what the regular rate is.

 

[Nut4Disney]

The Doubletree club is nice. We stayed there once. It's the one right across from Crossroads with the huge pineapples on the side of the building. The normal rate is usually between $89-109. The place I would recommend, and we've stayed there several times, is the Hampton Inn on Palm Parkway. It's one street up on the right from the Doubletree mentioned above. It's usually around $65 a nite, and you get a free hot breakfast buffet every morning. I wouldn't use the bus system that all of the offsite hotels use as it stops at 10+ hotels, and you might have to stand. I would drive over to Downtown Disney and park, and hop on a Disney bus. I've never done this, but I was told by several cast members that alot of people do this, and they never ask if you are a resort guest or not.

 

[leebier]

Am conferring with the rest of the party on the Doubletree now. They have a "GIVE US ALL OF YOUR MONEY UPFRONT" rate of $93. I should have mentioned this trip is over spring break, so all rates are higher than normal. The Hampton is already booked for our dates.

Last time I was down there, I was told that buses from DD only go to the TTC and the resorts because too many people were using it as a gateway to the Disney Transport system. I also seem to recall that buses on start at DD after 11:00 or so. This may mean driving to the parks, and then utilizing disney transport for the evenings, but is a LOT better than dealing with the "3 times a day shuttles."

Thanks everyone for your help, and keep the suggestions coming anyone else out there, I haven't booked anything firmly yet!