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Off-Site Disney World Resorts – best options, some with onsite perks!

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Off-Site Disney World Resorts – best options, some with onsite perks!

There are lots of reasons why people traveling to Disney World choose to stay off-site.

Lower costs and the ability to use reward points plays into the decision-making for some.

Others find the frequently larger spaces available in off-site rooms to be a better fit for them.

And, of course, there are some people that are interested in doing other things outside of Disney World (gasp!), and an offsite room simply makes that easier.

Whatever the reason, we want you to get the most bang for your buck and to help, we have some information about the most popular off-site resort options near Disney World.

Resort Fees

Before we dive into some of your best options for offsite resorts at Disney World, we wanted to talk a little bit about resort fees.

When you are looking at prices, Disney World resort hotels do not charge a separate Resort Fee.

They do, however, charge you parking fees (which are $15 per night for Value resorts, $20 per night for Moderates, and $25 per night for Deluxe), and in some rooms that sleep 4, you are charged an additional adult fee of $15-$35/night.

That isn’t true for your offsite options.

Most – if not all – offsite resorts near Walt Disney World will charge you an extra Resort Fee that can range from a few bucks a night all the way up to $30, $40 or even more for every night of your stay.

The Resort Fees are for things that the hotels provide (but you may never even use). Things like fitness rooms, pools, local phone calls, etc. And, although some resorts include self-parking in their resort fees, many do not, so that can be an extra fee you’ll need to take into account, too.

Resort Fees often aren’t included in the room cost you’ll see when booking. So, while the price may appear to be less expensive than an onsite Disney World resort, the final cost (after all the fees) may not be as big of a saving as you thought.

Off-site hotels with the most Disney-like benefits

Did you know that there are some off-site hotels that provide nearly all of the benefits that you’d find at an on-site Disney World resort?

Shades of Green, and the Disney World Swan, Swan Reserve, and Dolphin Resorts all offer some of the perks you find for onsite guests:

  • Early Entry
  • Extended Evening Hours
  • Advanced Tee Times
  • Dining reservations for entire length of stay (up to 10 days)
  • Complimentary parking at the theme parks (Disney Swan, Dolphin, and Swan Reserve only)
  • Complimentary package delivery to your resort (currently unavailable)
  • 7 a.m. purchase of Individual Lightning Lane selections

Shades of Green

Shades of Green is located across the road from Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort. It is only available to U.S. Military members and some government employees.

  • Pros: Access to Early Theme Park Entry and Extended Evening Hours, ability to make up to 10 days worth of dining reservations at 180 days out, only Armed Forces Recreation Center in the continental U.S. and is only available to U.S. military members (and some government employees), large rooms, easy walk to the Polynesian for additional transportation options
  • Cons: No free theme park parking
  • More info

Swan, Dolphin, Swan Reserve

The Swan, Dolphin, and Swan Reserve are a cluster of 3 resorts located in the Boardwalk area, which is near both Epcot and Hollywood Studios.

  • Pros: Access to Early Theme Park Entry and Extended Evening Hours, ability to make up to 10 days worth of dining reservations at 180 days out, onsite location, walking distance to Epcot and Hollywood Studios, free theme park parking, can use Marriott Reward Points to book stays here
  • Cons: Can be pricey, it is a long walk from the Swan Reserve to Epcot
  • More info

Disney Springs Resort Area Hotels

The 7 official Disney Springs Resort Area Hotels are another great option for families.

Although you won’t have access to Extended Evening Hours or 7 a.m. Individual Lightning Lane selections, the Disney Springs Area Resorts are eligible for Early Theme Park Entry.

In order to attend the Early Theme Park entry, guests must have a hotel confirmation number, a Park Pass reservation, and a valid theme park ticket, all linked to their My Disney Experience account.

Other perks available (no park ticket necessary):

  • Purchases made on Disney property delivered to your resort (currently unavailable)
  • Walking distance to Disney Springs
  • Transportation to the parks (Note: this isn’t the same transportation you’d find at the on-site resorts, but rather a shuttle service operated by the Disney Springs Area Resorts)

Tip: When booking offsite, keep in mind that you’ll likely see lots of resorts with very similar names. Make sure you double (and triple!) check the locations BEFORE you book.

Disney Springs area resort map

B Resort & Spa – Disney Springs Resort Area

B Resort
  • Pros: Bunk beds in some rooms, kitchenettes in some rooms, suites available
  • Cons: Despite some areas receiving a recent refurbishment, there are lots of reports of some spaces still being outdated, air conditioning not fully operational in resort common areas, and additional resort fees that are added to your bill may push the total cost higher than expected
  • More info

DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Orlando – Disney Springs Resort Area

  • Pros: All-suites with at least 1 private bedroom, microwaves in every room, patio and 2 bedroom suites available
  • Cons: Some rooms may need a refurbishment, a ways away from Disney Springs
  • More info

Druy Plaza Hotel Orlando – Disney Springs Resort Area

  • Pros: Newly refurbished (replaces the Best Western Lake Buena Vista Resort), free hot breakfast and nighttime snacks and drinks daily, pet-friendly
  • Cons: This resort reopens December 16, 2022
  • More info

Hilton Orlando Buena Vista Palace – Disney Springs Resort Area

  • Pros: Walking distance to Disney Springs, pool with lazy river
  • Cons: Recent reports of resort being rundown, some rooms with double beds
  • More info

Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista – Disney Springs Resort Area

  • Pros: Closest location to Disney Springs, suites available, Disney character breakfasts on Sundays
  • Cons: Resort fees can add up
  • More info

Holiday Inn Orlando – Disney Springs Resort Area

  • Pros: Consistently gets high reviews, clean, updated, within walking distance of Disney Springs, great buffet breakfast
  • Cons: Resort fees are about the only con here
  • More info

Wyndham Garden Lake Buena Vista – Disney Springs Resort Area

  • Pros: Affordable
  • Cons: Resort fee is kind of high and parts of the resort are outdated
  • More info

Other off-site options with Early Theme Park Entry

There are a couple other resorts that are located near the parks and offer Early Theme Park Entry:

Four Seasons Resort Orlando

  • Pros: Lovely upscale resort, fabulous pools and dining options, immaculate facilities, rooms with park views available, access to Early Theme Park Entry
  • Cons: Pricey
  • More info

Waldorf Astoria Orlando

  • Pros: Upscale luxury resort close to all parks, located on a golf course, rooms with firework views available
  • Cons: Not many early or late dining options and pricey resort fees
  • More info

Signia by Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek

  • Pros: Fantastic pools and guests staying here can use the pool at the Waldorf Astoria (the resorts are connected), rooms with fireworks views available
  • Pricey resort fee, hosts lots of conferences
  • More info

Bonnet Creek Area

The Bonnet Creek Area consists of what is basically a tiny island (70-acres) of land that is surrounded on 3 sides by Disney-owned property.

As you can see by the map below, this area is very near Caribbean Beach; however, there are no walking paths between this area and any of Disney’s property.

This area is home to 4 different resorts and a golf course.

Three of the resorts are “regular” resort hotels (and 2 of them, the Waldorf Astoria and the Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek offer some on-site perks), and one is a timeshare comprised of apartment-style units which are available to rent/book through their owners.

Transportation is provided by the 3 resort hotels; however, a car or using Uber/Lyft/taxi is recommended if staying here as transportation is not as regular as what you’d find if staying on-site.

And, in the case of Wyndham Bonnet Creek (the timeshare option), the transportation costs to use and must be reserved in advanced.

Bonnet Creek Resort Area

Signia by Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek

  • Pros: Fantastic pools and guests staying here can use the pool at the Waldorf Astoria (the resorts are connected), rooms with fireworks views available
  • Pricey resort fee, hosts lots of conferences
  • More info

Waldorf Astoria Orlando

  • Pros: Upscale luxury resort close to all parks, located on a golf course, rooms with firework views available
  • Cons: Not many early or late dining options and pricey resort fees
  • More info

Wyndham Grand Orlando Resort Bonnet Creek

  • Pros: Close to all of the Disney parks, lots of shade available at the pool, large rooms with bunk bed options
  • Cons: Parking fees and resort fees are pricey and can add up
  • More info

Wyndham Bonnet Creek

  • Large apartment-style accommodations with fully furnished kitchens and washers and dryers in the units, no parking fee, fantastic pools
  • Timeshare (can book through sites like VRBO) so no daily maid service (although you can pay to have it if you wish), transportation options are very limited so a car or using an Uber/taxi is necessary
  • More Info

Flamingo Crossings / Western Entrance

Here are a few more of our favorites that are worth checking out. All are located near the Western Entrance of Walt Disney World in a new development called Flamingo Crossings.

This location is just off of Western Way and State Road 429, and is near Coronado Springs and Animal Kingdom.

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Heather Thomas
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