Hotels outside of Disney World properties
 

What are some good hotels near Disney World that are higher rated (similar to Disney property hotels)? We will be at Animal Kingdom next month. Thank you!

There are many in the Downtown Disney area, Hyatt Grand Cypress, Hilton, Wyndham are a few. Also nearby are the Gaylord Palms and Marriott World Center.

There is also an Omni Resort a few miles west of the first exit to Disney off I-4 which is very nice. They have a great pool.

We love the Marriott World Center & the JW & Ritz at Grand Lakes...very upscale. JW has a great lazy river/pool area & the World Center has huge pools with water slide.

Reviews of the Omni Championsgate say it is also great.

Disney has quite a range of hotels and resorts. What type of Disney hotel are you trying to match?

If you're looking for something comparable to say the Grand Floridian, I'd try the Grand Cypress or the JW Marriott.

Or you could rent an apt at one of the time share resorts located near Animal Kingdom. We were there in Dec and stayed at Windsor Hills and rented a six bedroom house for 9 or us. It was clean, comfortable with a kitchen and laundry facilities and best of all, it was only 10 mins to AK and the most 15-20 mins drive to the other parks.