Quote:
Originally Posted by Sammymydog1
We just got back from FL a couple weeks ago. We used a rental car for 5 days on the Gulf coast & then turned it in when we went to Disney as we so no need for the car when we weren't planning on leaving the resort area.
Initially, I was against staying at a Disney property due to my belief of the cost. We ended up staying 6 night at disney coronado springs resort and I am very happy we stayed at a Disney resort. The hotel package, including park passes & meal plan ended up being very reasonable in my opinion. There are numerous shuttle busses all day long going to the different parks and I was thankful to not have to drive, fight traffic, park etc etc. Come out of the park at the end of the night & simply get on the bus heading directly back to your hotel. It was very easy.
The meal plan was also great. We could eat at any hotel restaurant, any park or any restaurant at downtown Disney. Has an outstanding meal at House of Blues in DT Disney. Well worth it imo.
If we were to go back, I would definitely stay at a Disney property again.
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I know the OP said he was on a budget, however, I would recommend looking into this. We also stayed at the Coronado Springs resort. At the same time we had some friends that decided to stay off-Disney at one of the hotels nearby.
We would catch a bus at about 7:50AM to the resort we wanted. We would always be there just as the doors opened. Meanwhile we would get a text from our friends saying they were leaving the hotel at 7:30AM, in the lineup to get into the parking area at 8AM. Then they were in the lineup/waiting for the golf cart thingy to pick them up. Then the lineup to get into the park. By then it would be 9AM. It was the same on the way out, it was an ordeal everytime for them.
One day my daughter didn't want to move about after a bit, just wanted to go back and relax. Caught a bus, went back and relaxed an hour or two on their faux beach, then went back to the park. Try that with having to drive or shuttle. When their daughter was tired, find some shade and sit for a while, but the crankiness never really leaves.
Other perks, late night ones not open to those not on the resorts. They even had parades and fireworks! :-)
They pick you up at the Orlando airport and they pick up your luggage for you. Very nice. They drop you at the airport for your flight too. You don't need a car.
As for cost, I ended up paying less than our friends staying off-Disney including the flights. Disney throws in lots of stuff if you wait for a sale (gift cards, % off total, free pass upgrades, and so on).
The final thing was that our friends thought they would have "freedom" if they had a car and stayed offsite. They never used that freedom as the long day and a couple hours of sitting in a car never really let them exercise it.
ers