Fodor's Expert Review Best Western Lake Buena Vista Resort

Only 15 minutes' walk or a quick shuttle ride from Disney Springs' growing number of shops and restaurants, this family-friendly resort tower offers many of the amenities of staying in a Disney hotel (including some rooms with fireworks views), but for a bargain price. You can hop a free bus at the front door to get to the parks or to Disney Springs, the nearby shopping and entertainment district. For the retail-minded family members, the factory outlet stores are only 10 minutes’ drive away.

YOU SHOULD KNOW Daily parking ($8) and resort fees ($14) can eat into the budget a bit, but the overall price of a room, including the fees, is still a bargain for a property this close to the parks.

Photo: Standard room with 2 queen beds.

room

Beds have duvet-style linens, all rooms have 37-inch flat-screen TVs, refrigerators, an iPod docking station, and Wi-Fi. Sliding glass doors frame views of lush Florida greenery, no matter what side of the hotel you are on, and lead to balconies furnished with table and chairs. Many of the rooms on higher floors have views of Disney’s nightly fireworks.

YOU SHOULD KNOW As you might expect, room rates rise along with the floor level, and fireworks views are pricier than rooms overlooking the trees. If you are staying for a week, do you really need to see seven nights of fireworks? On at least one of those nights you will likely be much closer to, perhaps directly under, the fireworks if a visit to Magic Kingdom or Epcot is on the schedule.

Photo: Standard room with 2 queen beds.

bathroom

Nothing more than standard beige bathrooms, with rather old-fashioned granite counter tops. But you are not here for the bathrooms, are you? They're bathrooms--and they are very functional and clean!

lobby

Impressive columns support the high ceilings of this large, airy lobby, giving it the feel of a much more luxurious resort, but the vibe is very laid back, and the guests always seem to be having a good time. The desk staff is available 24 hours a day.

pool

Heated outdoor pool, and a separate children's pool and play area.

gym

A standard fitness center is available.

Photo: Traders Island Grill

dining

Traders Island Grill offers a buffet breakfast and full dinner menu, and, best of all for families, one child 10 and under eats free, adding a little bonus to the budget available for theme-park spending. A Pizza Hut Express in the lobby sells, you guessed it, pizza, along with sandwiches, wine, and beer.

Photo: Traders Island Grill

Photo: Flamingo Cove Lounge

drinking

The Flamingo Cove Lounge offers drinks and lunch in the cool interior or beside the pool.

Photo: Flamingo Cove Lounge