I am seeking advice on picking an off-site Orlando hotel for a WDW trip in March, 2001. I admit not researching very heavily through the past posts about this. Sorry... but I will if I don't hear back from anyone here.

Can anyone recommend a hotel that offers shuttle service to and from the airport AND ALSO to the WDW parks. Just a basic hotel will do, a pool would be nice, but not necessary. I appreciate any advice or opinions offered.

Thanks!

Sandi

I stayed at the Dolphin hotel and we had a great time. Everyone treated us wonderfully and the shuttle service is perfect, for visiting all disney parks. The rooms are a good size and dining in the hotel is an experience. The pool is beatiful, I sincerely recommend the Dolphin @ Walt Disney.

It all depends on how much money you are willing to spend. I would highly recommend any of the Disney resorts which could run any anywhere from 79$ (All Star Resorts) to 790$.

If you purchase a package trip, they usually throw in Hotel Transportation to and from the airport, although catching a taxi isn't that expensive or hard, so I wouldn't make that a big deal in your hotel choice.

I would highly recommend the Grand Floridian and the Yacht and Beach Club Hotels.

Hello, Marilyn and Mary. Thanks for your suggestions. I'm hoping for a price range of $50-60, and am not wanting to stay on Walt Disney property, although I've heard they are nice. Just a plain old Best Western, Days Inn, Comfort Inn, or Hampton Inn, anything like that. Thanks!

Sandi.

Hi Sandi

We stayed at the Doubletree Resort (I believe it's located on W.Irlo Bronson Hwy in Kissimmee Florida. This was a very nice place. Reasonably priced. I definetely recommend this hotel. They offer shuttle to/from Airport and also to the theme parks. The only catch is if you use it for the theme parks its on a scheduled basis. Like the bus may leave 3 times only in the morning and return later in the afternoon to the hotel. We had a rental car. We like to go to Universal/Island of Adventure too. We've also stayed off-site at the Comfort Inn Lake Buena Vista. (407) 996-7300 is the phone #. This was an OK property. Nothing special, but very cheap in the price range. I prefer Doubletree Resort instead. I'm not for sure if Comfort Inn offers shuttle from the airport, but they do offer free scheduled shuttle service to the parks.
Good Luck!
Jan

Hello Sandi,

I worked at the Dolphin for four years. At this time I do not know of any decent hotels in downtown or near Disney that offers a Airport shuttle.

If they do it is because that is the only way to get people to their 'dump'. Be very careful with hotels that offer this. The guests come without a shuttle, so the hotels see no reason to pay for this.

The Clarion (I drive) and the Quality Inn (LBV Village) offer very good rates.

Sandi, I don't have exact reference right in front of me but an excellent source of info is booklet provided by Chamber of Commerce (I think) out of Kissimmee-St Cloud. Use the internet to find it. It lists dozens of motels and other facilities in the WDW area. We have used it many times. This past fall our daughter stayed off-site and used motel shuttle. Also, there is an airport shuttle that charges. Again, I don't have info right in front of me. Rates in March could be very attractive so don't be afraid to check around and be sure to inquire about any discounts such as AAA, ARP, etc. Ah, yes, she stayed at Days Inn Suites/Motel right next to Old Town so she had several local attractions/shopping to check out within easy walking distance of hotel. I think her rate was less that $45 per nite. Again, it was in Sept.

Happy Travels.

Kissimmee is the way to go. They are considered the "maingate" area - basically the back entrance to the parks. Very close to all the parks plus down the road you have many restaurants, shops, and a really cool little shopping attraction called "Old Town." Try Best Western Maingate, Larson's Lodge, Holiday Inn Maingate, basically anything that ends in "maingate."
Dick is right - there is an excellent reference book about the Kissimmee area you need to get your hands on.

Sandi:
Check out www.go2orlando.com they have many hotel specials which you may be interested in!

Hi, just returned from Florida & Disney Parks. Upon arrival we stayed at Howard Johnson Lakeside off of Irlo Bronson Hwy in Kissimee. After touring around the area while, we later stayed at Masters Inn off of International Drive. I would highly recommend staying at a hotel off of International Drive. The area is nicer, cleaner, and a better selection of quality restaurants... Like Bahama Breezes, etc. Even though the hotels in Kissimee are maybe 10 minutes closer to Disney, they are not very nicer. The whole street is under construction, and makes everything seem very dirty & dusty... just a thought! Enjoy!

Check out trip reports on Deb Wills unofficial WDW site: www.wdwig.com Lots of info, pros/cons of staying on & off site. You may find the WDW "partner" hotels on Hotel Boulevard near Downtown Disney would meet your needs, they have regular bus service to all the parks, walking distance to Downtown disney / Pleasure Island, and some lower rates. Also hotelkingdom.com and go2orlando.com have good deals.

stay on international drive.....especially if your not renting a car.

I have stayed on I-Blvd, Maingate, and toward Kissimmee, all in basic motels. If you are without car, I agree that I-Blvd is best. There is a sidewalk for easy walking and shuttle bus along the street. Maingate area was under terrible construction this summer. Relatives without a car felt stranded and traffic was awful. Staying further east toward Kissimmee was quieter with a real grocery nearby, but the distance was greater (but if you stay offsite you won't go back to hotel until end of day). Most modest hotels offer a dedicated or shared shuttle service for a price. They run each direction only a couple of times in the morning and evening. My sister-in-law and niece used this from Maingate area and found the buses crowded and times very limiting (such as couldn't stay till closing at one park). I would discourage staying at Econolodge Maingate--she got a really low price (<$30) when calling the reservation number and asking for specials, so I was not surprised when the room was rather basic and worn, but I was upset when their phone was dead and no one at the hotel would look into it for 2 days until I kept calling every 30 minutes one night.

I just booked $45/nt plus taxes/charges at the Rosen Center for both late April and late October(I-Drive, formerly the Omni-Rosen)on the expedia website. Find the hotel in the list and click on "more rooms->" It appears to come with some good referrals on this site and others. Can anyone else recommend for this place?

Hello, Sandi!
Most hotels in the Orlando area offer free shuttle service to the Disney parks. That's the good news. The bad news is that not nearly as many offer shuttle service to the hotel. I've always rented a car, so have no personal experience.
I stayed at the Four Points Sheraton on Irlo Bronson Hwy. last summer and agree that the construction was horrible. I can't believe they haven't finished it yet! But then, I stayed in Lake Buena Vista the previous year and there was tons of construction on Hotel Plaza Blvd., so you never know.
OK, back the the Four Points Sheraton---do not stay there. It is fairly cheap, but not worth it at all. Poor service and unpleasant rooms.
A lot of people have mentioned the International Drive area, which is fine, but there are many nice, affordable hotels in the Lake Buena Vista area that are as close as you're going to get to WDW without actually being on site. The one I really like is the Sheraton Safari Hotel. I highly recommend it. Very clean. Not overly expensive, but not a budget property either. Any extra expense is worth it because of the amenities, and they have an awesome pool area.
The Kissimmee handbook mentioned earlier really is a lifesaver of information.
Hope you have a great time!

I would stay on International Drive. It is a much nicer area.