Hotels Near Walt Disney World: Saving Money by Not Staying With Disney

Posted on | July 10, 2009 |

Planning a trip to Disney World? Hooray for you! Now that you have started researching this family vacation, you are probably also realizing that a Disney vacation can be a budget buster. But it does not have to be. There are a number of ways to save money on a Walt Disney World vacation, and one of the best is to forgo staying on Disney property. Look into one of the many lovely hotels near Walt Disney World and you may be very impressed by what you find!

There are many advantages to staying off site. You will probably get larger/better accommodations for the same price, and may very likely save money as well. This can be very important for larger families, where a standard size hotel room is not big enough. It will generally be easier to find rooms in a lower price range, especially if traveling at the last minute, or during the busy summer and school vacation seasons.

Many folks would like to visit non-Disney attractions while in the Orlando area. Staying off-site makes this a bit easier and less expensive as well, since a number of hotels provide discounts and coupons to other area theme parks and restaurants. And you will find more options for less expensive meals and shopping.

Some of the other amenities you may find are theme park transportation, free breakfast, fitness and recreation opportunities, and your choice of family and children’s activities. Many hotels offer suites with mini-kitchens and fantastic themed pool areas that are on par (if not better) than anything Disney offers.

But what about that 24/7 immersion in the Disney “magic”? It is true that you will lose that experience if staying off-site, but many people actually find that to be an advantage. And for your family, having a break from all-Disney all the time may be the key to your sanity.

It should be noted that there are several “non-Disney” hotels that are located on Disney property. Some are located in the Downtown Disney area, and others, such as the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin are near Epcot and Hollywood Studios. These hotels, while not Disney properties, still offer a number of Disney World benefits, but without the associated cost. If you are trying to save money but still really want the full Disney experience, then you may want to consider this alternative.

Are there any disadvantages to staying off Disney property? The greatest potential problem could be transportation, and this is one are that you should investigate carefully if you are planning on using your hotel’s available shuttle service. For example, some hotels share shuttles, or charge for their use. This can become challenging if you want to take afternoon breaks from the parks. You can rent a car, but you should know that there will be a parking fee, and if visiting on peak holidays, the parking lots may be closed to non-Disney guests. Nevertheless, if you do your research, you will find a number of excellent options where transportation will not be an issue.

If you are looking to save money on your upcoming Disney vacation, you will find that there are many hotels near Walt Disney World that offer lots of great advantages, and few real disadvantages. Going to Disney World and saving money: it’s a winning combination!

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