Disney World’s low-cost hotels: what you need to know

You’ve decided to vacation at Walt Disney World this year – hooray! One of the first choices you need to make during the vacation planning process is where book your hotel accommodation. Not only will it provide you and your travel group with a place to rest your weary heads at the end of a long day at the theme parks, but it’s also one of the most important (if not the most important) variables when it comes to your vacation budget.

Disney World hotels can easily climb into the $600-800 per night range (or more!), but you don’t have to break the bank if you want to stay on (or very near) Disney World property! There are several more profitable options, many of which can still regularly drop below $200 per night. Plus, there are several options right next to Disney World property if you don’t mind sacrificing a little on that Disney theme. These hotels, known as Hotels in the Disney Springs areaare often the most affordable options that keep you as close to the magic.

Things to consider when booking your Disney World hotel.

• Cost per night. Walt Disney World hotels can range from $100 per night to $800 and up per night. Staying in a cheaper hotel often gives you the possibility of booking a longer stayor the ability to book upgrades like nicer table service meals, more souvenirs, etc.
• Equipment. All Disney World hotels have the same basic amenities. Each hotel will have at least one pool, some restaurants, one gift shopetc. As you move up the ladder and spend more per night, you gain access to other hotel amenities, like on-site table dining, fitness centers, multiple pools, nicer rooms, and more.
• Transportation options. Each Disney World hotel offers free bus transportation to and from theme parks and Disney Springs. You can also request Disney World’s paid rideshare service, Minnie Vanfrom any resort hotel to and from any other location on the property. Beyond buses, you will notice that some hotels offer other means of transportation such as Monorail, Disney Skyliner, boats, and sometimes walking trails to parks.

Hotel prices can fluctuate throughout the year, but in general, the following hotels offer the lowest prices, regardless of when you visit Walt Disney World. Always do your own research before determining which hotel is best for your family and budget!

Disney All-Star Resorts for Music, Sports and Movies

Disney World offers three tiers of resort hotels: value, moderate, and luxury. The Value category is where you’ll find the three All-Star resorts, on the theme of music, sport or films. These three hotels are similar in their layout and basic amenities, and they are all located close to each other. So there’s not a huge difference between the three aside from the theme.

All three All-Star resorts are generally priced at the same price per night throughout the year. Many families love All Star Resorts because they offer lower-cost accommodations while providing access to the same on-site benefits you’ll find at any Disney World Resort hotel. This includes Disney’s free bus system, the ability to charge your hotel room, limited-time offers like free water park access on the day of arrival, and much more.

READ MORE: WAYS TO SAVE ON YOUR NEXT DISNEY WORLD VACATION

Disney’s Pop Century Resort

Another classic value hotel option at Walt Disney World is Disney’s Pop Century Resort. Themed on different decades of the second half of the 20th century, this hotel is vibrant and colorful with a fun pool. It is often a choice favored by families.

One of the main benefits of staying at Pop Century is that it located along the Disney Skyliner routewith easy access to EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

READ MORE: WHAT’S HAPPENING TO DISNEY WORLD IN THE COMING YEARS

Campsites at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground

Would you like to add a sense of adventure to your accommodation? If you and your family love the outdoors, you may feel right at home at Campsites at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground. The campsites are great if your ideal method of traveling is with a tent and sleeping bag, but they also welcome campervans. You can also book cabins, but these come at a higher price.

The campground is often the least expensive option on property, and this remains true throughout the year. Fort Wilderness Resort is also a great place to spend time outside of the theme parks. The grounds are where you’ll find Hoop-Dee-Doo Music Review, Tri-Circle-D Ranchand a ton of recreational activities horseback riding fishing.

READ MORE: HARD-TO-GET RESTAURANT RESERVATIONS AT DISNEY WORLD

Disney’s Art of Animation Resort

Disney’s Art of Animation Resort is Walt Disney World’s newest Value Resort. It is themed after several Disney classics animated films as The Lion King And Finding Nemo. The hotel has the largest pool on Disney World propertysolid dining options, including a poolside bar, and access to the Disney Skyliner. Family suites are also available in this hotel.

The art of animation is generally at the premium price of Value resorts, sometimes at a higher price than some moderate hotels, even by just a few dollars. If the theme isn’t that important and you’re looking to save more on your trip, you may have better luck finding lower rates at the other budget resorts listed above.

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Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort

The next tier of Disney World Resort hotels is moderate resorts. These offer mid-tier pricing compared to Value and Deluxe properties. You will also see notable improvements compared to what is available on siteincluding table service restaurants, larger rooms with upgraded views and select suite options, and more.

Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort is a great example of getting what you pay for. Coronado Springs has a conference center located within the resort, so the grounds have amenities generally reserved for luxury resortslike a fitness center, spa, themed pool, and even club-level accommodations.

You’ll also find several dining options, including one of my favorite places among the Disney World hotels, Trois Ponts bar and grill. Other dining options include rooftop Dahlia Lounge, Toledo, Barcelona Loungee, and more. A room in the Gran Destino Tower will generally cost a little more, but you can still save money if you stay in the “village” area of ​​the resort.

READ MORE: THE BEST DISNEY WORLD HOTELS FOR ADULTS-ONLY VACATIONS

Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort

Another great moderate resort option is Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort. This hotel features a sprawling layout that offers more peace and quiet compared to tower-style hotels. Some travelers may not like the large footprint (it means a longer walk to some amenities), but I love it when I don’t feel like I’m in a high-rise hotel on top of thousands of other guests.

The Caribbean beach has one of the most themed pools on the propertyseveral excellent dining options, and access to the Disney Skyliner for a quick and easy ride to EPCOT or Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

READ MORE: THE BEST DISNEY WORLD HOTELS FOR FAMILIES

Hotels in the Disney Springs area

If your ultimate goal is to spend as little as possible on your hotel, you may want to consider booking a hotel located outside of Disney World property. While it’s nice to stay as close to the magic as possible, it comes at an extra cost. Fortunately, there are several hotels near Disney Springs (most just across the street, no further from the shopping and dining district than Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort). These hotels, known as Disney Springs Area Hotels, offer a number of benefits beyond savings:

• The price per night is often (not always) cheaper than Disney-owned hotels without being much further from the parks
• Rooms are often larger than Disney hotel rooms and may include certain perks such as continental breakfast
• If you are part of a hotel rewards program, you can earn and redeem points during your stay.
• Free park transportation is providedalthough it may be more restricted than the transportation options available to Disney World hotel guests.

Often, you can find rooms in this category for less than $100 per night – something that is virtually unheard of when staying on Walt Disney World property. Here is a list of Current hotels in Disney Springs where you can benefit from lower nightly rates while still enjoying proximity to Walt Disney World:

• B Resort and Spa
• DoubleTree Suites By Hilton Orlando
• Drury Plaza Hotel Orlando
• Hilton Orlando Buena Vista Palace
• Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista
• Holiday Inn Orlando-Orlando
• Wyndham Garden Lake Buena Vista

READ MORE: FOOLPROOF TIPS FOR YOUR FIRST TRIP TO WALT DISNEY WORLD

Disney World’s Budget Hotels: What You Need to Know was originally published on The World of Spark.

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