Where's the best place to stay for Disneyworld Florida?

Question

We are going to Disneyworld Florida next October and haven't been before.
Was considering staying at Animal Kingdom but some people have mentioned IDrive with the close proximity of shops and restaurants.
Which would you recommend?

Answer 1

The hotels on iDrive are not Disney hotels. Many of them are on in the best condition and you would be further from Disney, even though there are more shops and things around.

The Disney hotels are great, and there are also a lot of extra benefits of staying onsite, which I will go into a little more later.

As far as which is best, it all depends on what you are looking for. Animal Kingdom is a great choice, it is the least expensive deluxe resort, you have the savannah, etc. However, it does sit out a little further and I have heard that there is going to be a lot of construction going on pretty soon. Wilderness runs the same price on some rooms, and there is a slight difference on some of the other rooms, it is a great alternative. It is not as new as Animal Kingdom, but it does offer the extra benefit of the boat transfers and is a little more centrally located than Animal Kingdom, which is located a little closer to Animal Kingdom.

The best resort is going to be different for each situation and party, what you are looking for, it also depends on what you are wanting to spend, etc.

The value resorts are the least expensive, but also are more popular for young kids and groups. The resort can be noisy and the rooms are a little small. However, the big icons at each of the values (All Star Sports, Music, and Movies and Pop Century) are always a huge hit with young children. Generally, children like the values more than the more expensive resorts just because of these icons. If you don't plan to spend much time in the room, then the value should be fine for you, it is a clean room, with everything you need, a nice pool and an inexpensive place to eat.

For a larger room, and a resort that is a little more quiet, I would go for a moderate. You get the extra space, a few extra little things and there are usually fewer kids. French Quarter is usually a big hit with children as well because of the great pool.

The deluxes are more expensive, but offer more benefits right at the resorts, such as more dining options, and better transportation (except for Animal Kingdom) The best part about the deluxe resorts is that they have more onsite, so you don't have to go outside of your resort as often and they also offer more transportation options, so you can usually get where you are going a little quicker. Each of the deluxe resorts offers a benefit, Wilderness and Animal Kingdom are the least expensive, Boardwalk and Yacht and Beach Club have boat transportation and you can walk to EPCOT. Then Polynesian, Contemporary and Grand Floridian are the most expensive but have the monorail. Of course, these are just a few of the benefits.

You also have your villas and then the Wilderness Cabins. This is if you are wanting more space and/or a kitchen. Also, the All Star Music resort now offers a family suite with a small kitchenette if you are needing a fridge or anything like that, you can request medical fridges or pay to have a fridge in regular rooms as well.

All the Disney resorts are great and they each have their own benefits, it just depends on which offers the most to you and which is in your price range.

Staying onsite also gives you a ton of benefits that you can't get offsite. Here are a few of the reasons I would stay onsite:

1). Better transportation- Especially if you are travelling with younger kids or older adults that need to rest in the middle of the day. Many offsite hotels, if they offer a shuttle (if they don't that is an additional cost you will have to pay) only run in the morning and in evening. You usually need to schedule the shuttle, etc. It can also be a long ride and take away a good portion of your time at the park. Onsite transportation is fast and easy, and it runs all day. Depending on where you would stay you have different transportation options, all resorts offer buses, some of them offer boat transportation and three offer a monorail for transportation.

2). You can take advantage of the Disney dining plan. This plan can save you 40% off of your food and you get to eat at the nicer restaurants that you may not eat at otherwise. It is a great deal.

3). I'm not sure when you are going, but Disney offers promotions for just about every date of the year. Unless you are going in the next few weeks, you should still be able to get a promotion for your dates. Currently they are offering free ticket upgrades, but they often offer free dining, especially during value season. So if you add up the saving there, you will more than likely be spending less, or possibly a little more than an offsite hotel, but you get all of the extra benefits and probably a lot more included.

4) The Disney touch- When you stay at Disney you know you are going to be staying at a nice place. I've gone past some of hotels that offer lower rates, and in some cases the same rates as Disney's hotels, and I think I would be afraid to go inside. Most of them aren't very clean, they can be a few miles away, etc. Also, you get the Disney service. If there is a problem, Disney will go above and beyond to try and fix the problem and do everything they can to make up for it. Even in cases where it isn't even their problem, they try their best to compensate in some way.

5). You can charge purchases to a room card so you don't have to bring your credit cards and cash with you everywhere you go.

6). Parking is free at your resort and you will also get free parking for the theme parks and some of the other places on property.

7). You packages can be delivered to your room. I know this doesn't sound like much now. But when you are in the parks, it is hot, you've been there all day, your tired and you have a ton of purchases to carry around, put on the bus, take back to the room (especially if you have kids that have purchases and/or diaper bags, strollers, etc.) it is nice to be able to make your purchase and then let Disney deliver it to your room.

8). Disney also offers Magical Express. Now, this isn't the best service and it does have some room for improvement, but it is also free. So that is another $100 or so dollars that you can save just for your transfer to and from the airport.

These are just a few of the benefits. I think that if you actually figure out your costs, everything that is included, etc. you will probably find that an offsite hotel actually ends up being more and you don't get all of the benefits. Most people think they are saving a ton of money by staying offsite, but they don't figure in the costs for everything else, or consider other benefits. After everything is said and done, I can almost guarentee you can save money by staying onsite, and you know you have a good room and things like that.

Unless I am in Orlando for business, or have to attend a convention, meeting, etc. I always stay onsite, I even stay onsite when I am just there for business because I like the Disney hotels that much.


If you need any ideas or need some more help, please e-mail me. I go to Disney several times a year and I love to help.

Answer 2

That is great you decided to stay at a Disney Resort! They are so much fun! There are many different "experiences" your can choose on you vacation!

My personal favorite of all the Disney Hotel's is Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. It is Victorian themed and absolutly beautiful. It is also closest to Magic Kingdom and has the monorail service. It usually only takes about 5 minutes to get to Magic Kingdom! The resteruants are amazing and the people are very nice there!

Animal Kingdom Resort- I think the Animal Kingdom hotel is amazing. The Lobby is the most beautiful of all the hotels and the animals in the back are fun to watch as well. As far as proximity to other resteruants and shops, it is one of the farthest away in the park! Another downfall to this hotel is the transportation service. You have to ride the bus and it can take an hour sometime's! I would stay at a hotel with a monorail service if I was you! The Grand Floridian, The polynesian and the contemparary are all on the monorail.

The most resonable of all the monorail hotel's is the contemparary resort. Although the oldest it is still very nice. Many people go with very high expectations but are dissapointed. If you go thinking it is a normal resort you will still think it is a very nice hotel and the rooms are a comfertable size. Hope this helps! Have a great time!

Answer 3

You will have the best experience stay inside Disney World itself at one of the resorts. You have access to a selected park an hour before all other guests. You can park your car for the duration because the bus system is great and can get you everywhere you need to go. International Drive is nice, but you can get that and so much more inside the Disney resorts, plus you don't have to contend with the traffic and parking everyday. There are a lot of restaurants and shops located at the parks and all at all the various resorts. And, Downtown Disney is a great place to shop and eat. A lot of great restaurants there like Rainforest Cafe and Planet Hollywood. There are also quite a few bars and clubs to go to here if you are looking for some night life.
Animal Kingdom Lodge is very cool and you might wake up with giraffes right outside your window. There is a great restaurant there that serves traditional meals from various countries in Africa. If you are looking for a more budget hotel, Check out the All-Star Hotels, not a lot of frills, but still very nice and they have fun themes. Also the new Decades hotels. I think these run anywhere between 80-100 a night depending on the time of year. I believe Animal Kingdom is one of the more expensive, but it is very cool to have the animals right outside. Another I would recommend looking at are the Wilderness Lodge. And honestly, I couldn't say anything bad about any of them. Enjoy the trip!

Answer 4

we've stayed on deepest villas down street 27. The Hampton Lake section. The villas are superb theres 3 to seven bedrooms couple of bogs and fully equipped kitchens. theres a publix and a vast walmart interior 2 or 3 minutescontinual and its fifteen minutes to disney in case you decrease down Ronald Reagon expressway and with the aid of Champions Gate (theres a publix there and a mcdonalds a sub keep etc.) in case you pass east on 27 and link directly to the 192 you're able to do the buffets the ponderosa the golden corrals etc that are great for babies (ice cream for breakfast) there are superb chinese language and crimson meat o,bradys etc if thats your bag for a real high quality villa pass to vista park on 27. we've been there christmas/new 300 and sixty 5 days absolute high quality not something too lots worry in a non intrusive way. Its a gated community yet all and sundry is comfortable and friendly. we flew with virgin and its as stable as any airline and refer to the greeter at orlando airport and you gets each and all of the help and suggestions you want

Answer 5

Hello. Before you decide on a hotel if it be a disney hotel or on International Drive, You should take a look at a villa holiday you get much more freedom and room with your own pool/jacuzzi etc.My family and I have tried this one and can say it is better than any hotel holiday, it is worth taking a look
www.a1floridavilla.com
I would not recommend Int Drive its a bit over rated a bit OTT