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Travel Guide: Orlando
Picking the Best Hotel Location
Finding the right Disney World area hotel location for you and your family can make a big difference in your enjoyment. You want the best balance between convenience and price while staying in Orlando or nearby.
Whether you want a cheap, but good quality basic hotel or a big discount on a deluxe luxury hotel in Orlando, the information here helps you make the right choice. You find the pros and cons of hotel neighborhoods.
Some of the concerns discussed include
- Should I stay at a hotel on the Disney World transportation system like the Walt Disney World Swan Hotel or Walt Disney World Dolphin Resort?
- Should my family stay at a hotel adjacent to Disney World like the Sheraton World Resort?
- What about nearby alternatives, such as being near Universal Studios and International Drive, or staying in Kissimmee?
- Could I save more in other areas of Orlando?
- How about visiting and staying in nearby cities?
- How do I get the cheapest prices for the hotel quality I want?
To view hotel locations, click here to open a Priceline.com Hotels neighborhood map. Check the box for Orlando and input any future date. (These hotel zones are similar to the ones used by Hotwire.com
.)
Should I stay at a hotel on the Disney World transportation system?
Yes, if you are willing to pay top price for convenience.
You definitely pay more—considerably more—to stay virtually inside the gates. You seldom find discounts on these popular hotels.
On the other hand, you have no parking hassles. No time wasted commuting. Priority “jump the queue” status in the Disney parks. Nothing gets in the way of your fun.
However, teenagers especially will want to roam to Universal Studios and to the beaches and to other spots outside the Disney World complex.
This means part of your money spent for convenience at Disney World goes to waste.
Should my family stay at a hotel adjacent to Disney World?
Again, you spend more for being “at the gates.”However, the premium you pay is much less than staying at Disney-owned hotels that are on its transportation system. Instead, you use quick and usually free transfers by van to avoid parking hassles.
Because you are on Disney World property (or adjacent to it), you remain in an uplifting and pleasant environment. First-class restaurants and top fun spots like the House of Blues Orlando are at your doorstep.
On the Priceline.com Hotels map, this area is called “Disney World Vicinity.” With Hotwire, it's called "Disney Main Gate." (Check out typical Priceline discounts in this are on Priceline 10 most requested neighborhoods!
)
NOTE: With Priceline, you bid on two-person rooms. Additional beds for children are not guaranteed and may cost extra. You cannot request rooms with kitchens.
Use Hotwire.com or Hotels.com if you need suites or kitchenettes. On Hotels.com, click the "Suites & vacation rentals tab in the upper left for a huge selection. Hotwire usually offers the greatest savings.
What about nearby alternatives such as being near Universal Studios, on International Drive, or in Kissimmee?
International Drive, Kissimmee, Disney West (Walt Disney area on Priceline), and the area around Universal Studios are where most visitors stay.You remain reasonably close to Disney World, but tend to pay less for accommodation, especially in Kissimmee.
In most cases you can still transfer by van to avoid parking problems, but you may have to pay a nominal fee for each trip.
You are close to most attractions and a large variety of restaurants and fun places like the House of Blues Orlando. In many cases, the restaurants are less expensive than those on or adjacent to Disney property.
You are convenient to Orlando International Airport and to the Amtrak and Greyhound stations in either Orlando or Kissimmee.
Overall, these areas areas fine choices for most visitors.
Could I save more in other areas of Orlando?
Except for downtown, neighborhoods away from Disney World and Universal Studios tend to be less expensive.However, you'll pay a very heavy price in time due to Orlando’s notorious traffic congestion. The Interstate 4 corridor is an especially busy bottleneck.
Nevertheless, all areas on the priceline map, such as Altamonte Springs and Winter Park, are suitable for travelers, in terms of neighborhood quality and general safety, if you use reasonable care as you would in any urban area.
Before you choose this alternative, make sure that you try to get a low price in close by Kissimmee.
How about visiting and staying in nearby cities?
Sightseeing in Ocala National Forest, Silver Springs, St. Augustine, Canaveral National Seashore, Ormond Beach, Cocoa Beach, and the Kennedy Space Center are great alternatives to spending all your time in theme parks.
To save driving time to and from Orlando, you may wish to stay elsewhere several nights.
This is discussed in BidonTravel's nature tour. (We've also tips for planning your time in Orlando.)
How do I get the cheapest prices for the hotel quality I want?
BidonTravel may be—well, is—biased on this point, but definitely consider using Hotwire.comYou pick the neighborhood; you pick the quality and amenities (1 to 5 stars); and you pick the price you want to pay. You don’t choose a specific hotel.
When you think of it, neighborhood, quality, and price are all most people want.
Click here to get priceline bidding tips to help you save. However, remember that Priceline works for two-person rooms only. Use Hotwire.com
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