Disney World Orlando Hotels Help Please

[Greedyfly]

Hello all

I have found some reasonable flights for Orlando from Manchester through most weeks of September 2015 and so I am looking for a hotel. We do not drive so I am aware that we will need to stay on International Drive for access to both Disney and Universal. I had a couple of hotels in mind that were reasonable cost (around £650 for two weeks stay)and good reviews on Tripadvisor but having looked into them further they are supposedly around a 90 minute shuttle trip from Disney which is likely where we will spend most of our time.

I have looked at hotels within the Disney area but they are obviously more expensive and located in Kissimee, I am worried that as we don't drive we are going to be stuck. Ideally we would like to explore the surrounding areas as well as the parks.

Probable travelling dates will be 23/09/2015 to 07./10/2015

Any advice on where to stay that won't cost the earth, is nice and is reasonable distance from attractions/things to do please?

Thanks for your advice and Merry Christmas

GF

[BRIGHT SPARK]

Life without a car in central Florida is not easy.However most decent hotels around the 192 area will run shuttle buses to the attractions a few times a day.September is a good time to go ..as is Feburary.

[Greedyfly]

That's exactly what I am looking for Bright Spark - a decent hotel with a shuttle not too far away from Disney World

[VHG]

The Disney site is HUGE, about as large as Manchester, and the resorts and hotels are spread out all over it.

So even if you are in a hotel on the Disney site it can still be a fair drive to one of the resorts (the resorts are not all close to each other).

But staying on International Drive does have its advantages as there are plenty of shops, restaurants etc on the drive.

So you will have to accept that there will be shuttle coach drive to any of the Disney resorts you visit.

p.s. Even with a car it can still take a long time to get to the resort, even after you have parked your car. The car parks for these resorts are huge and it can be a 20 minute walk from your car to the entrance of the resort.

[Greedyfly]

It is hard to imagine the size VHG until you put a city on it.

I think I will just have to accept decent hotel suggestions :)

[VHG]

>>>Ideally we would like to explore the surrounding areas as well as the parks.

I assume from your question that you have never been to the Orlando theme park area before.

If so then you need to understand that the theme parks are scattered all over the place (even within Disney World), so wherever you stay you are going to have to make a possibly long shuttle bus / taxi trip to the resort.

And being the USA there is not a huge amount of public transport, so having a car makes the holiday so much easier.

When I was there they had a bus that run up and down International Drive called iRide that takes you to SOME of the resorts, but by no means all of them.

I think the only "theme park" you can walk to is Wet and Wild which is on International Drive, the rest you need to get to them with a shuttle bus or taxi.

And you say you wish to explore the surrounding area, but this may be difficult without a car because, as I said, public transport is very limited.

Here is a map that shows you how scattered the theme parks are. Number 3 is International Drive. You can see that Universal and Sea World are fairly near (but not within walking distance).

But look on the left to see Disney World, and look how large it is, and look how far away it is from International Drive, probably about 10 miles (depending which resort you go to).

http://www.disney-villa-rent.com//wp-content/uploads/2010/08/map2.jpg

So it is important to understand the scale of things when planning where to stay, and what you want to visit.

And if it is at all possible to hire a car while you are there then you should consider doing so as the wait for shuttle buses to get you there AND get you back, can be quite long.

[Greedyfly]

Thanks VHG. Neither of us can drive so hiring a car is out of the question.

I shall just keep trawling online to see where to stay and I suppose we will have to figure it out when we get there? I knew there was a reason why I wasn't that bothered about going lol

Thanks for all your help

GF

[Cloverjo]

It's some years since I went there, but we have stayed in the Sports and Music themed Disney hotels. They were good value, had reasonable food courts, play areas and swimming pools and frequent shuttles to the main parks.

[puzzled54]

How about the lake Buena vista area? I recall looking at some there before we decided to go to a villa instead. Think they are near Disney and some have shuttles, usually the virgin site is good for checking out hotels.

[puzzled54]

Actually, if I were going to Disney and universal, I think I would move hotels and stay on international drive for universal and then move to nearer Disney for the second week. Will write more tomorrow zzzzzzzz

[puzzled54]

Sorry I didn't read the question properly last night. So I will try again!
If you are visiting the Universal parks, then International Drive is ideal. I have stayed at the Quality Inn International on International Drive and managed without a car - but we did do a lot of walking! Wet and Wild is on I-Drive, and Universal (both studios) are not far off I-Drive. There is a trolley bus that runs up down I-Drive; SeaWorld is at one end and so easy to get to, and I forget what is at the other end. It is a long way from Disney though, some hotels may have a shuttle bus, and there is public transport to Disney involving the trolley bus and a public bus. However, if I was going (I wish) I would spend the Universal week on I-Drive,then move nearer to Disney for the second week - Lake Buena Vista area or on the I192. The Virgin book is helpful as it shows which of its hotels are ok for non drivers and have shuttle buses.

[Bazile]

Have a look at the Quality Inn Plaza on international drive .
All you need is a place that is clean to lay your head at night .
Afterall you dont go ( or you shouldn't go ) to Orlando to spend a lot if time in your hotel - there is more to see and do than you can fit in a 2 week holiday , as it is . ( it always suprises me when i hear people say that they are going to take a few days off to spend at the pool )

It sounds as if you are arranging the holiday yourself - is that corect ?
If so dont forget that you'll also need to arrange transport from the airport to your hotel .

As has been said a car is a must ( i note that you dont drive ) for the Orlando area so you'll have to put up with shuttle buses , which dont run to all the resorts .

Wet 'n' wild is on International drive - The Universal complex is off int drive and Sea world is at the other end of int drive 'around the corner'

It's a shame you dont drive , because a lot of the disney shows are at night , when the shuttle buses stop running or run on an even more limited timetable .

enjoy your holiday

[Greedyfly]

Thanks all - very helpful! We are currently looking at staying nearer Lake Buena Vista as I am sure we will spend more time in Disney than Universal etc