Where to Stay in Disney? – Planning Your Disney Vacation

The most obvious answer to where to stay in Disney  is on Disney property. But it’s probably not the most cost effective. We stayed at Port Orleans Riverside on our first trip to Disney, but haven’t stayed on Disney property since. That being said, there are some upsides to staying in a Disney resort:

1. Disney buses provide free transportation so no need for a car
2. complete Disney experience, especially for first time visitors
3. Disney vacation packages are occasionally discounted
4. the option to purchase a meal plan.

Despite those benefits, we prefer to stay off property, primarily because it’s less expensive. Even with the additional cost of renting a car, we have always saved money staying in a hotel or renting a home. And after staying on property once, we didn’t feel we were missing anything by retiring to a plain ol’ hotel without mouse ears.

Buena Vista Suites was our hotel of choice the next three times we visited Disney. The HUGE selling point? A suite – comprised of a bedroom, bathroom, and den area with a pull out couch and kitchenette. When we had one room at Port Orleans, our evenings went something like this:

1. Gwen (age 5 1/2) sets up her 27 stuffed animals on one of the two double beds.
2. James (age 2 1/2) is tucked into his little spot on the floor between the beds because there is now no room in Gwen’s bed for another body.
3. Dana and Matt (age 30 something) get in bed and turn on the TV very softly. But Gwen and James don’t want to miss anything, and clearly will not sleep while the TV is on.
4. Defeated Dana and Matt retreat into the tiny bathroom to chat and plan the next day. When their butts fall asleep from sitting on the edge of the bathtub, they give up and go to sleep. Disney is not conducive to romance.

Rooming with my kids makes me grumpy.

As lovely as that scenario was, we wanted OUR OWN ROOM the next time around. The suite was perfect, and our stay also included a free buffet breakfast. The hotel is less than five minutes from Disney, and everyone was happy. Only negative? The coffee sucked.

Fast forward six years, and it finally occurred to me that we could rent a condo for the same price as the hotel, and have even more space. So last year I found a place on VRBO (Vacation Rentals by Owner).  I booked nine months in advance and got seven nights for the price of six – paying even less than I did for the hotel two years earlier. No free breakfast, but a full kitchen and much better coffee sealed the deal. Each kid had their own room, and we had two bathrooms and a washer/dryer. The place was nicer than our first townhouse.

First trip to Disney? Go all out if you can afford it and stay at a Disney resort. If you’ve already done that, or you’d rather put your money elsewhere, look into staying at a non-Disney hotel or a rental property. Your wallet and your sanity will thank you.

Resources:

• Check out Mousesavers for loads of info on Disney resorts and off site hotels. That’s where I found Buena Vista Suites.

• Browse VRBO, Homeaway, or google “Disney rentals” for more spacious options

To Do List:

√ Do your internet research using referenced websites, Disney’s site, and any others – there are oodles of great ones!
√ Determine which ticket plan works for you and purchase them if budget allows.
√ Book your hotel or rental property
NEXT: How will we ever see everything – this place is huge!