Celebration Best Neighbourhood In Orlando For Families
Celebration is one of the most unique neighbourhoods in Florida. Located south of Orlando, Celebration was originally developed by the Walt Disney Company as the quintessential American neighbourhoods. The neighbourhood evokes feelings of the 1930s with its beautifully designed buildings and overall charm.
The best place to stay if youre visiting Orlando with kids, every member of your family will be thrilled with Celebration. Not only does it have a storybook feel, but this delightful neighbourhood is bursting with shops, cafes, trails and parks, perfect for exploring and enjoying after a day at the theme parks.
Why We Love Disneys Riviera Resort
Seeing the magic of the nightly fireworks from Topolinos Terrace could possibly make this one of the best Orlando resorts.
Imagine not having to wade through the crowds after the showpriceless. But shhhdont let the secret out.
The Parisian-style cafes and rooftop dining, along with a gondola sailing you across the water like a bird to the theme parks, make this spot worth the visit. I guess you will just have to go and find out for yourself what all the hype is about!
Shop Around For Deals
Since nearby hotels know that many people enjoy the perks of staying at a Disney resort, they are constantly trying to compete for your business. Throughout the year, you can find deals during low seasons and special events.
Disney also runs specials from time to time. Usually, you can get the highest discount percentage off of a deluxe resort stay. Occasionally, Disney has discounts that make a value resort cost less than $100 per night.
Larger families should definitely consider rental homes or off-site hotels with suites if they want to save money. Off-site hotels, like SpringHill Suites by Marriott, have large guest rooms at prices much lower than Disney Vacation Club villas or family suites.
Pro Tip: When you plan to stay at the Walt Disney World Resort will have a huge impact on the price you pay for accommodations. I recommend September as the best time to visit Disney World for fewer crowds and lower prices.
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What Is The Best Disney Resort For Families
It really depends on what is most important for your family. If your children are animal lovers, the Animal Kingdom Lodge is a good option. If your kids spend a large amount of time in the pool, Disney’s Port Orleans Resort Riverside and Disney’s Beach Club, both have 3.5-acre mini water parks.
I am partial to the Riviera since most of the rooms are suites with plenty of room for the whole family, as well as lovely pools, a character breakfast, and the Skyliner, which will make for easy transportation around the park.
Four Seasons Resort Orlando At Walt Disney World Resort
The Four Seasons ResortOrlando at Walt Disney World Resort is synonymous with luxury. So of course, combine that with the magic of Disney and you have a recipe for perfection.
Theres an adults-only pool for romance, kids-themed activities for the family, 18-hole golf course, and plunging water slides for the outdoor lover. It seems they have covered it all.
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Make Use Of Your Hotel Kitchen Suites
Guests with cars can also save money on food by staying off-property at inexpensive suites with kitchen facilities, or by renting a vacation home Also, some non-Disney hotels and resorts offer free meals for kids when kids dine with a paying adult. Certain Disney lodgings have kitchens, i.e. the Vacation Club Resorts but these are not a low-budget choice.
Wherever you stay, and even if you cook your own meals every night, try to budget for a splurge at one or two of the restaurants in the Disney World theme parks. Character Meals with all-you-can-eat buffets, for instance, are both filling and fun.
Animal Kingdom Resort Area / Flamingo Crossings
Sitting area in the Gran Destino Tower at Disneys Coronado Springs Resort
Best Area For Roadtrippers | Best Animal Kingdom Area Hotels: Disneys Animal Kingdom Lodge Disneys Coronado Springs Resort SpringHill Suites by Marriott
Disney Worlds Animal Kingdom Resort Area includes Animal Kingdom Lodge, the All-Star Resorts, and Coronado Springs Resort, so there is a range of value resorts to deluxe resorts. Nearby, Flamingo Crossings has several affordable hotels. Many of the hotels here have suites for larger families. These accommodations are more affordable than the comparable family suites at Disneys Art of Animation Resort.
The Flamingo Crossings hotels and the Disney World resorts in this area are located on the west side of the Walt Disney World Resort. It makes transportation to the other theme parks a bit longer. If you are also spending time at Legoland or taking a day trip from Orlando to Tampa, this area has easy access to highways.
Pros of Staying in Animal Kingdom Area:
- Wide range of hotels for every budget
- Brand new hotels available
Cons of Staying in Animal Kingdom Area:
- Long distance to other Disney parks
- Disney parks shuttles cost extra
Animal Kingdom Area Mini Guide Best Area to Stay for Roadtrippers
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Free Transportation To The Universal Orlando Parks
Taking it one step further we understand that transportation is such an important part of deciding where to stay when visiting Universal Studios Orlando, but luckily even the value hotels offer free transportation too! You will have several options for free transportation throughout the resort, but please note it will be different depending on where you stay.
- Bus shuttles
- water-taxis
- Walking trails
The Premier and Preferred Universal Orlando Resorts have water taxis docked right outside, where the Prime and Prime Value resorts only offer bus shuttles. There are also beautiful garden walking trails that guests can find that will lead straight into CityWalk. This is especially nice if you have to walk up and get into the parks bright and early with Early Park Admission. Get a jump start to your day with this Universal resort benefit starting at around 7am, with revolving transportation until about 2am.
Related Article: Off-site Universal Orlando Hotels with Free Transportation
Best Budget Accommodations In Thornton Park: Travelodge By Wyndham Orlando Downtown Centroplex
This is the best option for budget accommodations near Thornton Park. Located in neighbouring downtown Orlando, this hotel is close to the citys best bistros, bars, nightclubs and museums. It has a range of air-conditioned rooms that are outfitted with modern amenities. Also onsite youll find a restaurant, lounge and laundry facilities.
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Best Hotel In Downtown Orlando: Crowne Plaza Orlando Downtown
Our top pick for where to stay in downtown Orlando, this fantastic four-star hotel is located at the heart of the city. Surrounded by bistros and bars, this hotel is well situated for shopping, sightseeing and enjoying the nightlife scene. It has spacious rooms, an outdoor pool, and free wifi throughout.
For The Budget Conscious
For those with an eye on the budget, a great option is to camp at the Fort Wilderness Campground and Resort. This huge property has many activities and amenities, plus guests can take a boat to the Magic Kingdom.
Tip: keep an eye out for seasonal promotions that lower the prices at all Disney World resorts. Meanwhile, budget-wise travelers who want to stay off-property can find many promotions on hotel booking sites if they look early enough.
Families can also save money by staying at all-suites properties with kitchens for preparing their own meals. Still, visitors will be hard-pressed to beat the price of a Disney World Value Resort, especially when factoring in perks such as the free Magic Express airport shuttle and the Disney Bus system.
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Jw Marriott Orlando Grande Lakes
From upscale to modern, the Marriott always delivers something that is just right for everyone. The JW Marriott Orlando, Grande Lakesis no exception!
The rooms are residentially inspired to make it feel like a home away from home. But it adds a side of luxury with featherbeds, marble bathrooms, and oversized bathtubs to retreat into.
Benefits Of Staying On
Location & Convenience The biggest benefit of staying at an on-site Walt Disney World resort hotel is convenience. To one degree or another, just about every pro radiates out from here. The hotels are generally closer to the parks, which in some cases can mean its as simple as walking or taking a monorail or boat from the hotel to the park.
This short and simple commute can enable parties to split up more easily or go back to the hotel for a midday nap without killing a large chunk of the day. This convenience can make the day more efficient and enable your party to accomplish more. This is primarily a benefit if Walt Disney World is the top or sole priority on vacationas other non-Disney parks continue to add more compelling attractions, this is becoming less important to many guests.
Airport Transportation If guests so desire, they never have to rent a car or use ride share services if staying in a Walt Disney World resort hotel. Disneys Magical Express offers round-trip transportation between Orlando International Airport and all Disney-owned resorts, which is another huge convenience.
Unfortunately, Disneys Magical Express service ends in January 2022. This is a controversial decision, and the result will be that guests either have to take Uber/Lyft, another paid shuttle service, or rent a carall of those options can just as easily be utilized for accessing off-site hotels.
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Is It Worth It To Stay At A Disney World Resort
There is something to be said about staying in the Disney bubble, which allows you to continue the adventure even after you’ve left the park.
Additionally, many Disney World resorts come with perks such as early park admission. There are also distinct advantages when it comes to transportation. Guests may hop on Disney’s Magical Express bus at the Orlando airport for no added fee, which will take you to any Disney resort. But, keep in mind that this service will be discontinued by the end of 2021.
While in Walt Disney World, you’ll be able to navigate the theme parks by utilizing buses, boats, monorails, and the newest mode of transportation, the Disney Skyliner right from official Disney hotels, too.
Disneys Beach Club Resort
Take just about everything we love from the Yacht Club and apply it to the Beach Club as well. The Beach Club is the Yacht Clubs sister resort and offers many of the same amenities.
A key difference is the theming. Less formal than its sister, the Beach Club is more like staying on a New England beach. Its a little more rustic and a little more fun.
It has ample guest rooms and villas available to accommodate large families. Guests have access to Stormalong Bay, a 3-acre water park, and can rent boats to putter around on Crescent Lake.
The Beach Club also houses Beaches and Cream, a classic ice cream shop offering sweet treats and savory burgers. Add that in with proximity to Epcot and Hollywood Studios, and you have a winner.
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Proximity To The Universal Orlando Theme Parks
One of our favorite things about Universal Orlando resort hotels are how close they are to each other and to the three different parks. Nearly all 8 of the onsite hotels are within walking distance, where bothEndless Summer Resorts are a very short bus ride across the interstate. No matter what resort you choose, you will be within 20 minutes of a short walk to any park. Below are the most common questions we receive when deciding where to stay at Universal Orlando based on transportation.
Disneys Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
The Grand Floridian is probably the most traditional and iconic of Disney Worlds high-end hotels.
You wont find a ton of in-your-face character themes here, but you will find some of the most upscale amenities, including a spa and the fanciest restaurant at Disney.
Its one of Disney Worlds most expensive resorts thanks to its proximity to The Magic Kingdom and top-notch facilities. As such, youll see rates for standard rooms often starting at $500 per night, with prices during peak times regularly exceeding $700 per night.
Fortunately, the Grand Floridian recently began what we hope to be a resort-wide renovation that involved converting one of the hotel buildings into all-new DVC studios that are absolutely beautiful.
In addition to being situated on the monorail, the resort offers a water taxi service that brings guests across Bay Lake to the park entrance. A newly added walking path to The Magic Kingdom is also available, so you dont need to rely on any transportation at all .
For an equally excellent but more affordable option, check out 1900 Park Fare. The Beauty and the Beast-inspired Enchanted Rose bar on the second floor of the Grand Floridians lobby is another popular place to sip your evening cocktail in style.
Related: 9 ways to enjoy Disney World without kids
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Should I Stay On Or Off
With the number of tourists who travel to the Orlando area every year, the variety of accommodations is large and growing, both on and off Disney property. There are several things to consider when choosing where to stay for your vacation. While some guests enjoy staying off-site for their vacation, there are several perks to consider when making the decision. In addition to a list of perks for staying on Disney property, also consider The Magic Factor and transportation issues when choosing where to stay.
There are also select non-Disney-owned or off-property hotels, such as the Swan and Dolphin hotels, Disney Springs hotels, and Good Neighbor hotels. These can be booked directly through Disney with limited packages and a few Disney extras. Hotels located in Disney Springs may be able to take advantage of a few limited Disney perks such as Early Theme Park Entry, package delivery from parks to resorts, and free parking at the parks. These perks will vary for hotels or hotel groups, and be sure to check on resort fees that might be charged on top of the advertised rate.
Cabins At Disneys Ft Wilderness Campground
We really stumbled upon the Cabins at Disneyâs Fort Wilderness Campground. We discovered them while searching lodging online. Being from Colorado and not really liking lines and crowds we thought we would appreciate a return to nature and quiet when we returned to our room. Also, the cabins have more space than a hotel room. And, we loved the idea of driving a golf cart around the campground as well as the idea of taking the boat to Magic Kingdom. It was a good choice.
Insider Tip: If you book the Cabins at Disneyâs Ft. Wilderness Campground work $59 plus tax per day into your budget for golf cart rental and call 407-824-2742 anywhere from one month to three months in advance to ensure being able to reserve a golf cart. There is no information anywhere about this and it is just about the only thing you canât book through the My Disney Experience account or the Disney app. These will sell out. They only have enough golf carts for about a quarter of the sites available. The campground is large and spread out. You will not be able to drive your car to most of the amenities so if you donât rent a golf cart you will be waiting for buses . If you do miss out on golf cart rental, bike rental might be another good option.
Lodging at the Cabins at Disneyâs Fort Wilderness Campground
Pool at the Cabins at Disneyâs Fort Wilderness Campground
Dining at the Cabins at Disneyâs Fort Wilderness Campground
Activities at the Cabins at Disneyâs Fort Wilderness Campground
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Best Places To Stay In Southwest Orlando
Sonder Vista Cay
We are starting off strong with a great option for where to stay in Orlando that wont break the bank!
Sonder Vista Cay is one of the best hotels in Orlando if you still want a nice experience but dont need all the extras of a luxury resort!
Dont get us wrong, its still luxurious but in a different way: this is because the building was once an apartment that has now had new life breathed into it!
The central location to all the parks make it arguably one of the best places to stay on international drive, especially if youre visiting more than one of them!
The hotel itself doesnt include a restaurant on-site but there are plenty nearby, and its also worth mentioning that their kitchenettes are quite substantial, which makes it one of the best places to stay in Orlando especially if you will be preparing your own food for the trip
The closest theme park nearby is Seaworld, but its still within very close range of all the others, making it arguably the best option of where to stay in Orlando near Universal Studios!
Worldmark Orlando Kingstown Reef
Love the vibe at Sonder Vista, but its not quite as lively as you like? We have the perfect option for where to stay in Orlando for you!
Worldmark Orlando Kingstown is where to stay in Orlando if you want a full kitchen AND a lot going on outside because it has both, its also one of the best places to stay on international drive!