Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do they still allow you to use the pools, etc at any resort even if you are not staying at that exact hotel? We stayed at Art of Animation and loved the pool areas there. But either Pop or All Stars was right next door so it would be an easy walk.

They have never allowed that. If you own DVC (Disney's timeshare company) you can use any pool except those on a restricted list---and the restricted list includes most of the "good ones" like the one at Beach club/Yacht club, the Polynesian, the Art of Animation, etc.

Ah! I was thinking you could access any of the amenities but maybe I was just thinking you could walk around the resort. We never actually tried to use any other pool, just looked around and at the time you could park for free at other resort if you were staying on property. I don't think that is the case anymore.

Art of Animation is actually pretty affordable if you stay in the Little Mermaid rooms but they are small.

Swan and Dolphin is the only way. I prefer it to the Contemporary and Animal Kingdom Savannah View. I can't quite say why, but I just really enjoy the environment at the Dolphin. Todd English Blue Zoo is a great restaurant, the rooms are modern and clean, there's a great lobby bar, nice big pools, an arcade, laundry, multiple other restaurants and a great early morning or late night breakfast/snack place (Fuel) in the lobby. You can't beat it for the price or really even come close IMO

We stayed at the Marriott cypress harbor and it was fantastic.

https://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/mcocy-marriotts-cypress-harbour-villas/

Look at the Marriott vacation clubs, there are five in Orlando.

I say that because there are two bedroom condos with kitchens and they’re huge, and they’re only 10 minutes from the parks.

You can book them on marriott.com.

Anonymous wrote:We have 2 teenagers and are looking to visit Disneyworld in May 2022 (if the COVID situation is OK). We have Marriott points and don't feel like spending an arm-and-a-leg for hotel rooms. That said, we would splurge for a lower-end Disney resort if it comes with tangible benefits such as early entry. Last time, we went to Disneyworld, they let us in early (we stayed off the resort), and so notsure that is really needed? Also, everything is so spread out I don't see us going back to a hotel unless it is super close to the specific part we are at.

Disney's Dolphin and Swan hotels are Marriott properties (40k-60k pts/night) and count as "on Disney" properties for the purposes of early park access. For going in May, you may be able to get 5 nights for 180k pts, 200k pts certainly. They do have a $35/night resort fee that you will still have to pay even on a points stay. Having stayed at the Dolphin on my last WDW trip, I have to say the bus and boat transportation to the parks was very nice and made getting to parks a breeze.

Anonymous wrote:Do you still get early entry from the Disney resorts? Or did they stop that during COVID?

They stopped doing that during Covid, but are starting up again on October 1. It's different than before though. Instead of an hour early at a specific park each morning, it's 1/2 hour early at all 4 parks.

Anonymous wrote:Do they still allow you to use the pools, etc at any resort even if you are not staying at that exact hotel? We stayed at Art of Animation and loved the pool areas there. But either Pop or All Stars was right next door so it would be an easy walk.

They have never allowed that. If you own DVC (Disney's timeshare company) you can use any pool except those on a restricted list---and the restricted list includes most of the "good ones" like the one at Beach club/Yacht club, the Polynesian, the Art of Animation, etc.

Anonymous wrote:If you want to use your Marriott points, maybe Swan or Dolphin? They're technically off-site, but they get many benefits of on-site hotels, like the early entry thing.

This is a good idea, I have stayed at the Swan/Dolphin using Marriott points.

The Disney hotels are fun with the theming and the transportation to the parks (boat, skyliner and monorail, but the buses tend to be slow and annoying). For mid-range Disney resorts we liked Coronado Springs and it usually is less $$ than lots of the other Disney hotels.

Look at the prices when you are going, but if it doesn't work out financially there are a lot of great Marriott properties a short drive from the parks, and many have shuttles. The Gaylord has a whole water park, and the new JW Marriott on Bonnet Creek is awesome (I stayed there with my kids and just drove to the parks).

I went a few months ago when COVID numbers were a lot better. Early entry for hotel guests was not happening and we usually go early with little kids, so parking was easy in the AM.

If you want to use your Marriott points, maybe Swan or Dolphin? They're technically off-site, but they get many benefits of on-site hotels, like the early entry thing.

Do they still allow you to use the pools, etc at any resort even if you are not staying at that exact hotel? We stayed at Art of Animation and loved the pool areas there. But either Pop or All Stars was right next door so it would be an easy walk.

They aren’t lower end, but we love the boat resorts around the magic kingdom. Contemporary, Polynesian, Grand Floridian, wilderness Lodge. We usually camp at Fort Wilderness. If you are military-affiliated Shades of Green is a good option too.

Do you still get early entry from the Disney resorts? Or did they stop that during COVID?

Anonymous wrote:Early entry is back on 10/1 for all onsite guests.

My favorite budget hotel is Pop, but the All Stars are just as good if you have a car. If you will be taking the bus stay at Pop.

Building on this, to my knowledge, Disney has not brought the parking trams back. That leads to long hot walks if you are driving. That might be a factor favoring staying at Pop and using the busses.

Early entry is back on 10/1 for all onsite guests.

My favorite budget hotel is Pop, but the All Stars are just as good if you have a car. If you will be taking the bus stay at Pop.

We have 2 teenagers and are looking to visit Disneyworld in May 2022 (if the COVID situation is OK). We have Marriott points and don't feel like spending an arm-and-a-leg for hotel rooms. That said, we would splurge for a lower-end Disney resort if it comes with tangible benefits such as early entry. Last time, we went to Disneyworld, they let us in early (we stayed off the resort), and so notsure that is really needed? Also, everything is so spread out I don't see us going back to a hotel unless it is super close to the specific part we are at.