Downtown Disney Resort Area Hotels

written by Matt Popovich, specialist in Disney destinations

There are two things I love most about going to Walt Disney World.  1. Being with my kids and 2.  Being able to be a kid again myself.  Both of those are a few things to consider when planning your Walt Disney vacation.  Also, besides going to the parks, my next favorite thing is choosing where to stay!

While there are many factors in choosing where to stay during your trip to Disney World including cost, ease of access and family size, the most popular place to stay is on Disney property both for myself and my clients.  Did you know that besides staying at an official Walt Disney World Resort there are brand chain hotels known as Downtown Disney Resort Area Hotels? In fact there are at total of seven of them.

In my recent trip, my family and I stayed at one of those Hotel properties.  We checked out the Double Tree Suites which boasts as the only all-suites hotel in the group.  This hotel features 229 suites with one or two bedrooms.  These suites features include; separate living rooms with queen sofa sleepers, movies, workspaces, wet bars and more.  The hotel also has a Budget rental car desk, market, onsite restaurant and outdoor pool.  The best feature of staying here is the complimentary cookies, which Double Tree is known for.  There is also a little kids check in area that kids can sign in the guestbook and also receive a little gift.  Of course, it wouldn’t be Disney if there wasn’t a gift shop located in the lobby.

During our stay we found the staff to be very friendly and helpful, they had that Disney “Charm”.  The lobby is spacious but does get crowded during check in and checkout times.  While our 1 bedroom suite was roomy, there was noticeable wear and tear.  One of the major disadvantages, if driving, is the daily parking fee of $15 and then having to pay for parking at the Parks, as parking is not included like when you stayed at a Disney property hotel.  There is separate bus transportation that picks you up from the hotels and drops you at the parks.  Be sure to inquire about the daily schedule as it is different than Disney transportation.

While we had an okay time at this property, and it surely offers another choice for families, I still prefer to be staying onsite at an official Disney Resort.  The ease of using the bus transportation, having the ability to book the dining package, having your room keys linked up, and being able to enjoy the resort amenities at your own pace are some of the major advantages for families.  Soon the My Magic Plus will even take that guest experience to the next level.  While the cost of staying at one of these Downtown Disney properties is enticing, the value of the amenities for staying at an official Disney property is something that should be considered.

Wish Upon a Star with Us Travel is able to book a vacation with any of these options for you and your family.  We would be very happy to connect with you and discuss all of your options to help your family plan the most magical vacation!