Hotel in Disneyworld for budget-traveling family (for May 2022)...

[Anonymous]

About 5 years ago we stayed at the Wyndham Bonnet Creek - it was highly recommended on this site at the time. We rented through one of the time share consolidators - I think it was called Vacation Strategies. We had a 2 br condo for a week for a total of about $1000. I have no idea what prices are like now but that seemed like a steal and it was SO nice having the extra space, full kitchen, washer, dryer, etc. They have some fun features like a lazy river, etc. You likely need a car (they have a shuttle but if I remember correctly it was neither free nor particularly convenient), but it's basically on property.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As between the Swan/Dolphin or the JW Marriott, which location has better casual dining options that are reasonable in cost (or have casual dining places nearby)?

Or, when you go to WDW, do you usually lunch AND dinner at the park?

Swan/Dolphin is right next to the boardwalk, which has additional restaurant options. JW is pretty secluded from any other amenities. You will be car dependent, so can drive offsite for cheaper eats.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Swan/Dolphin are accessible to Epcot/HS by walking or boat which is very convenient. We’re staying at Beach Club next year because of the convenience factor and pools. I’ve heard great things about the Poly and Riviera. AoA and Pop look very cheesy to me.

POP and AoA are both huge with the transportation and dining logistical challenges that come with that. AoA is geared towards families with younger kids who want larger suites to spread out in. They do have the mermaid rooms, which are traditional rooms, but the majority are double the size of a regular value resort room. Again, with the theming, AoA is really geared towards younger kids who would love to be immersed in larger than life Disney cartoon characters. POP theming is much less childish or overwhelming than AoA and the other value resorts. It also had a complete hard goods and soft goods refresh a couple of years ago and is pretty nice for a value resort.

I'm sure many DCUM moms wouldn't be caught dead stepping foot in POP, but it's a good option if you're going to be spending most of your time in the parks. When I take my older sons, we are hardly ever at the resort and it doesn't make sense to pay for the amenities of a deluxe. And a plus for staying "on property" is they can use disney transportation between the parks and room without being dependent on mom driving them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Swan/Dolphin are accessible to Epcot/HS by walking or boat which is very convenient. We’re staying at Beach Club next year because of the convenience factor and pools. I’ve heard great things about the Poly and Riviera. AoA and Pop look very cheesy to me.

POP and AoA are both huge with the transportation and dining logistical challenges that come with that. AoA is geared towards families with younger kids who want larger suites to spread out in. They do have the mermaid rooms, which are traditional rooms, but the majority are double the size of a regular value resort room. Again, with the theming, AoA is really geared towards younger kids who would love to be immersed in larger than life Disney cartoon characters. POP theming is much less childish or overwhelming than AoA and the other value resorts. It also had a complete hard goods and soft goods refresh a couple of years ago and is pretty nice for a value resort.

I'm sure many DCUM moms wouldn't be caught dead stepping foot in POP, but it's a good option if you're going to be spending most of your time in the parks. When I take my older sons, we are hardly ever at the resort and it doesn't make sense to pay for the amenities of a deluxe. And a plus for staying "on property" is they can use disney transportation between the parks and room without being dependent on mom driving them.

OP used both of the phrases "budget-traveling" and "lower-end hotel" in her original post. THE ONLY onsite hotels that meet that description are POP and the All Star resorts, and I think Pop is slightly better if planning to use the Disney busses (which saves the cost of renting a car if you fly down.) I do not think that Swolphin could be considered "budget" hotels by any stretch of the imagination.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Swan/Dolphin are accessible to Epcot/HS by walking or boat which is very convenient. We’re staying at Beach Club next year because of the convenience factor and pools. I’ve heard great things about the Poly and Riviera. AoA and Pop look very cheesy to me.

POP and AoA are both huge with the transportation and dining logistical challenges that come with that. AoA is geared towards families with younger kids who want larger suites to spread out in. They do have the mermaid rooms, which are traditional rooms, but the majority are double the size of a regular value resort room. Again, with the theming, AoA is really geared towards younger kids who would love to be immersed in larger than life Disney cartoon characters. POP theming is much less childish or overwhelming than AoA and the other value resorts. It also had a complete hard goods and soft goods refresh a couple of years ago and is pretty nice for a value resort.

I'm sure many DCUM moms wouldn't be caught dead stepping foot in POP, but it's a good option if you're going to be spending most of your time in the parks. When I take my older sons, we are hardly ever at the resort and it doesn't make sense to pay for the amenities of a deluxe. And a plus for staying "on property" is they can use disney transportation between the parks and room without being dependent on mom driving them.

OP used both of the phrases "budget-traveling" and "lower-end hotel" in her original post. THE ONLY onsite hotels that meet that description are POP and the All Star resorts, and I think Pop is slightly better if planning to use the Disney busses (which saves the cost of renting a car if you fly down.) I do not think that Swolphin could be considered "budget" hotels by any stretch of the imagination.

The reason why people are saying swan and dolphin is budget is that if you use points and assume a 1% cash back rate on the average credit card, booking those hotels with points comes out to about $200 per night on average.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Swan/Dolphin are accessible to Epcot/HS by walking or boat which is very convenient. We’re staying at Beach Club next year because of the convenience factor and pools. I’ve heard great things about the Poly and Riviera. AoA and Pop look very cheesy to me.

POP and AoA are both huge with the transportation and dining logistical challenges that come with that. AoA is geared towards families with younger kids who want larger suites to spread out in. They do have the mermaid rooms, which are traditional rooms, but the majority are double the size of a regular value resort room. Again, with the theming, AoA is really geared towards younger kids who would love to be immersed in larger than life Disney cartoon characters. POP theming is much less childish or overwhelming than AoA and the other value resorts. It also had a complete hard goods and soft goods refresh a couple of years ago and is pretty nice for a value resort.

I'm sure many DCUM moms wouldn't be caught dead stepping foot in POP, but it's a good option if you're going to be spending most of your time in the parks. When I take my older sons, we are hardly ever at the resort and it doesn't make sense to pay for the amenities of a deluxe. And a plus for staying "on property" is they can use disney transportation between the parks and room without being dependent on mom driving them.

OP used both of the phrases "budget-traveling" and "lower-end hotel" in her original post. THE ONLY onsite hotels that meet that description are POP and the All Star resorts, and I think Pop is slightly better if planning to use the Disney busses (which saves the cost of renting a car if you fly down.) I do not think that Swolphin could be considered "budget" hotels by any stretch of the imagination.

The reason why people are saying swan and dolphin is budget is that if you use points and assume a 1% cash back rate on the average credit card, booking those hotels with points comes out to about $200 per night on average.

I'd say it comes back at around $350/night if you use points for a 5 night stay but that's just using the cash valuation of $0.008/pt for Marriott points (about what you would pay to buy points with the latest promo) plus $35/night resort fee. If you already have points, then your out of pocket is much lower. By contrast, POP will be running close to $300/night all in before discounts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Swan/Dolphin are accessible to Epcot/HS by walking or boat which is very convenient. We’re staying at Beach Club next year because of the convenience factor and pools. I’ve heard great things about the Poly and Riviera. AoA and Pop look very cheesy to me.

POP and AoA are both huge with the transportation and dining logistical challenges that come with that. AoA is geared towards families with younger kids who want larger suites to spread out in. They do have the mermaid rooms, which are traditional rooms, but the majority are double the size of a regular value resort room. Again, with the theming, AoA is really geared towards younger kids who would love to be immersed in larger than life Disney cartoon characters. POP theming is much less childish or overwhelming than AoA and the other value resorts. It also had a complete hard goods and soft goods refresh a couple of years ago and is pretty nice for a value resort.

I'm sure many DCUM moms wouldn't be caught dead stepping foot in POP, but it's a good option if you're going to be spending most of your time in the parks. When I take my older sons, we are hardly ever at the resort and it doesn't make sense to pay for the amenities of a deluxe. And a plus for staying "on property" is they can use disney transportation between the parks and room without being dependent on mom driving them.

OP used both of the phrases "budget-traveling" and "lower-end hotel" in her original post. THE ONLY onsite hotels that meet that description are POP and the All Star resorts, and I think Pop is slightly better if planning to use the Disney busses (which saves the cost of renting a car if you fly down.) I do not think that Swolphin could be considered "budget" hotels by any stretch of the imagination.

It's because you can use points to stay at Swolphin. If you have the points, the cost of staying at Swolphin becomes $35/night + tax, which is a the cheapest on-site hotel. OP said they have Marriott points, though didn't specify how much.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Swan/Dolphin are accessible to Epcot/HS by walking or boat which is very convenient. We’re staying at Beach Club next year because of the convenience factor and pools. I’ve heard great things about the Poly and Riviera. AoA and Pop look very cheesy to me.

POP and AoA are both huge with the transportation and dining logistical challenges that come with that. AoA is geared towards families with younger kids who want larger suites to spread out in. They do have the mermaid rooms, which are traditional rooms, but the majority are double the size of a regular value resort room. Again, with the theming, AoA is really geared towards younger kids who would love to be immersed in larger than life Disney cartoon characters. POP theming is much less childish or overwhelming than AoA and the other value resorts. It also had a complete hard goods and soft goods refresh a couple of years ago and is pretty nice for a value resort.

I'm sure many DCUM moms wouldn't be caught dead stepping foot in POP, but it's a good option if you're going to be spending most of your time in the parks. When I take my older sons, we are hardly ever at the resort and it doesn't make sense to pay for the amenities of a deluxe. And a plus for staying "on property" is they can use disney transportation between the parks and room without being dependent on mom driving them.

OP used both of the phrases "budget-traveling" and "lower-end hotel" in her original post. THE ONLY onsite hotels that meet that description are POP and the All Star resorts, and I think Pop is slightly better if planning to use the Disney busses (which saves the cost of renting a car if you fly down.) I do not think that Swolphin could be considered "budget" hotels by any stretch of the imagination.

The reason why people are saying swan and dolphin is budget is that if you use points and assume a 1% cash back rate on the average credit card, booking those hotels with points comes out to about $200 per night on average.

I'd say it comes back at around $350/night if you use points for a 5 night stay but that's just using the cash valuation of $0.008/pt for Marriott points (about what you would pay to buy points with the latest promo) plus $35/night resort fee. If you already have points, then your out of pocket is much lower. By contrast, POP will be running close to $300/night all in before discounts.

It's all so variable... for example right now the cash price for Dolphin from Nov. 1-Nov. 4 is $202 per night. The cheapest POP quote from a reputable website on those dates is $232

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Swan/Dolphin are accessible to Epcot/HS by walking or boat which is very convenient. We’re staying at Beach Club next year because of the convenience factor and pools. I’ve heard great things about the Poly and Riviera. AoA and Pop look very cheesy to me.

POP and AoA are both huge with the transportation and dining logistical challenges that come with that. AoA is geared towards families with younger kids who want larger suites to spread out in. They do have the mermaid rooms, which are traditional rooms, but the majority are double the size of a regular value resort room. Again, with the theming, AoA is really geared towards younger kids who would love to be immersed in larger than life Disney cartoon characters. POP theming is much less childish or overwhelming than AoA and the other value resorts. It also had a complete hard goods and soft goods refresh a couple of years ago and is pretty nice for a value resort.

I'm sure many DCUM moms wouldn't be caught dead stepping foot in POP, but it's a good option if you're going to be spending most of your time in the parks. When I take my older sons, we are hardly ever at the resort and it doesn't make sense to pay for the amenities of a deluxe. And a plus for staying "on property" is they can use disney transportation between the parks and room without being dependent on mom driving them.

OP used both of the phrases "budget-traveling" and "lower-end hotel" in her original post. THE ONLY onsite hotels that meet that description are POP and the All Star resorts, and I think Pop is slightly better if planning to use the Disney busses (which saves the cost of renting a car if you fly down.) I do not think that Swolphin could be considered "budget" hotels by any stretch of the imagination.

The reason why people are saying swan and dolphin is budget is that if you use points and assume a 1% cash back rate on the average credit card, booking those hotels with points comes out to about $200 per night on average.

I'd say it comes back at around $350/night if you use points for a 5 night stay but that's just using the cash valuation of $0.008/pt for Marriott points (about what you would pay to buy points with the latest promo) plus $35/night resort fee. If you already have points, then your out of pocket is much lower. By contrast, POP will be running close to $300/night all in before discounts.

It's all so variable... for example right now the cash price for Dolphin from Nov. 1-Nov. 4 is $202 per night. The cheapest POP quote from a reputable website on those dates is $232

Damn .. maybe I should use that AA travel credit and fly down for early Nov!

OP indicated the dates they were looking for at Swolphin were $500+, so I'd book then with points but definitely cash for $202/night.

[Anonymous]

Currently there are minimal benefits to staying on property, but that could evolve.

I think you get 30 minute early entry, and will be able to book the new fast pass system (if you spend the $15 per person fee) an hour before the park opens.

I've never been, but Marriott has this property with 2 bedroom townhouses for $250 a night. https://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/mcovs-sheraton-vistana-resort-villas-lake-buena-vista-orlando/

[Anonymous]

The 5 Marriott vacation clubs, like the one above and the harbor lake and the cypress harbor, which are basically the timeshares that also rent like hotels, are the best deals in Orlando, especially if you have Marriott points.

Close to the parks but you’re not stuck at them, relatively affordable, and you get two bedrooms in the kitchen and multiple nice pools.

[Anonymous]

I am the OP! We do have a large amount of Marriott points for either swan/dolphin or one of these Marriott villa options. Which is more practical considering (1) the advantages of being on site, (2) our desire to not deal with a rental car, and (3) the practical need for food for breakfast and dinner for our week-long stay? The swan/dolphin have the advantage of being so close we will be fine without a car. Just wondering if there are going to be enough practical, low-cost dining options for four people for our week-long stay. Are the Marriott long term places a better option (even if we just use Uber to get around)? Bc then we can cook and order pizza? I guess I am also torn bc the early admission of 30 minutes is really not that huge of an advantage bc don’t they let you in early with the early rope drop anyway?

[Anonymous]

I should add that we do plan to spend nearly all of our time at the parks since we have only been to Epcot previously

[Anonymous]

Keep in mind, you can get groceries delivered, so you can order things for breakfast and lunch (cereal, sandwiches, and snacks) just keep in mind you probably will only have a fridge in most of the standard hotel rooms, but might sometimes get a microwave.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am the OP! We do have a large amount of Marriott points for either swan/dolphin or one of these Marriott villa options. Which is more practical considering (1) the advantages of being on site, (2) our desire to not deal with a rental car, and (3) the practical need for food for breakfast and dinner for our week-long stay? The swan/dolphin have the advantage of being so close we will be fine without a car. Just wondering if there are going to be enough practical, low-cost dining options for four people for our week-long stay. Are the Marriott long term places a better option (even if we just use Uber to get around)? Bc then we can cook and order pizza? I guess I am also torn bc the early admission of 30 minutes is really not that huge of an advantage bc don’t they let you in early with the early rope drop anyway?

Once early entry takes effect Oct. 1, offsite guests will not be allowed in until official park opening time. That is the way magic hours worked before at least. I would personally do swan/dolphin in your case. You have the boardwalk food (great pizza window!) and the Epcot restaurants. Will you have park hopper?