Review of our Hotels on Recent Trip to Disney World, Plus Thoughts on “Onsite vs. Offsite” Argument

A few weeks ago, I published a post on our “swan song” visit to Disney World. We really splurged on it (specialty dining, souvenirs et. cet.) because I didn’t want to have any regrets after what was likely our last family trip to the parks. But one thing we didn’t splurge on was hotels and here is why.

I happened to have three IHG and four Hyatt certificates that were due to expire at the end of summer. And I didn’t really have any plans for them. Sure, I wouldn’t let them go to waste, and living in central Florida gives us all kinds of options within short driving distance. But we already had plans for Disney World, so it was a no-brainer to use them in the area.

We bought 3-day Florida Resident tickets and decided to spread our visit over two separate weekends. We were all glad we did, as going to Disney parks three days in a row would be too tiresome for my family (we are wimps). If you are not the energetic type, I recommend you also plan  a rest day during your visit. Or two.

STAYBRIDGE SUITES ORLANDO ROYALE PARC SUITES

We chose this particular hotel for one simple reason: suites with a separate bedroom. When it comes to lodging, this is the most important factor of all. I know many families don’t have a problem sharing one room, but this ain’t us. We are all loud and obnoxious, well, except for my husband who has to deal with all the craziness. The kids constantly argue, I yell at them, rinse and repeat. In addition, my husband loves to take a nap, and that’s difficult when you don’t have a separate sleeping area.

Normally, I would use my IHG certs on  Holiday Inn Club Vacations Orlando-Orange Lake Resort   (see my review). Unfortunately, this hotel wasn’t available for our dates, which wasn’t surprising considering the fact we were going to Disney during high season.

Staybridge Suites property was the only other place that would give us a separate sleeping area, so that’s what I booked. The award rate for our dates was 29k-32k points per night, so it was a decent use of certs that we have acquired for $49 each. I used my MIL’s certificate, but she didn’t mind.

During the check-in  it took the hotel worker awhile to figure out how to connect all three certificates. Unfortunately, I still had to go down to the front desk and get new keys on our second day due to us being locked out. But it was a minor inconvenience.

All the suites have an outside entrance:

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p style=”text-align: center;”>The pool was heated, and there was a hot tub

Laundry room on the second floor (free!)

The property has been recently remodeled, which is good. Still, this is an old motel, and it shows.

We struggled to close the front door

The sofa turns into a bed, but the mattress was awful with springs poking out. So, my daughter slept at the top of the couch, and we brought s foldable mattress for my son. It wasn’t ideal, but we managed.

We booked a suite with a king bed, but I asked to get upgraded to two queens, and my request was granted. I always ask for two beds, since I don’t sleep well in hotels and don’t want to keep my husband awake. Also, one or both kids end up in our beds half the time, and it’s easier for two people to share a queen than for three people to share a king. The beds were very comfortable.

Keep in mind, IHG Platinum status means very little here. The hotel didn’t even provide free water, and I didn’t bother asking for it since we brought some bottles with us. There is  a small kitchen, but I doubt it gets much use. But if you need to cook, you should be able to do so. I thought it was odd that there is no coffeemaker, so you might want to buy a cheap one if you have to visit a grocery store anyway. 

I forgot to take photos of the bathroom, but it’s quite cramped. My daughter was grossed out when she saw a bunch of hair in the drain. Like I said, it’s an older property, so adjust your expectations accordingly.

Breakfast room was a real zoo, I’ve never seen anything like it. We came in at different times, and it was completely packed. It was very hard to get a table, and some folks went to eat outside. On the last day we ended up taking food back to our room, and I recommend you do as well.

Breakfast is complimentary, and it’s merely OK. Of course, I appreciated not having to spend extra money each morning, so no complaints. Coffee was very good.

Fresh waffles

The hotel does provide free Disney transportation, though the times were inconvenient for us. But they may work for you, which can save you a good bit of money.

We drove our own car to Orlando, and ended up taking it to the parks. The location of the hotel is quite good, as it only took us 8 minutes to reach Hollywood Studios and 11 minutes to get to Animal Kingdom.

All in all, I recommend this hotel as long as you are not picky. For $49 per night (breakfast included) it would be obnoxious for me to complain. Parking is free, and you don’t pay resort fees when using points or certificates.

Is it a luxurious option? Not even close. But it’s perfectly adequate. That said, if you are debating between this hotel and Orange Lake resort mentioned earlier, I would go with the latter. Sure, you will forego the free breakfast and will have to pay a $30 daily resort fee. But you will get two bedrooms and two bathrooms, and that’s a big deal when traveling with kids.

HYATT REGENCY GRAND CYPRESS

I’ve reviewed this resort before, so will keep this section relatively brief. I do  think it’s one of the best uses of Hyatt certificate in the United States and a decent option for your Disney vacation. 

Resident parrot Merlot who thinks he owns the place

We had a total of four certificates and originally, my MIL was supposed to come with us and keep the kids in a separate room. Unfortunately, she had to cancel, so my husband and I each took a kid. I called the resort and asked for connecting rooms, but they weren’t able to provide them. Well, at least we got rooms next to each other and unlike last visit, this time they upgraded us to a very nice view. Both me and my husband have a Discoverist status through Hyatt credit card, so upgrades are complimentary. And yes, we also got our free water.

The next morning my son accidentally spilled the beans that him and my husband stayed up till 2 am playing video games. Say what?! This would not  have happened on my watch if we had connecting rooms. Sometimes I feel like I’m raising three kids…

We paid $190 total for two certificates via renewal fees on Hyatt credit cards, and acquired the other two via 5-brand promo. When you use points or certificates, the resort fee is waved, making the deal even better.

The rooms here are not fancy, but linens are of fine quality, and you won’t find hair in the drain. My daughter commented how much she preferred this resort to Staybridge Suites. Well, I don’t disagree, but I only had four Hyatt certificates. Is it worth spending 36k Hyatt points per night on two rooms during high season?  I personally don’t think so, especially if you plan to be gone for most of the day.

But if you are OK sharing one room with your kids, then it could certainly make sense, especially if you plan to have downtime at the resort itself. The pool area is quite magnificent, and they even show movies in the evening.

Do keep in mind that the large pool is not heated, so you probably won’t be able to use it during winter months. Still, it’s a nice resort with lots to do, and most kids (and adults) will love it.

If you happen to have Globalist status (free fancy breakfast),  then it’s almost a no-brainer to pick this place over other options in Orlando. Especially if you can use a suite upgrade. The same goes for Hyatt certificates. Otherwise, it’s a lot of points to spend each night for just a place to sleep. IMO, you may be better off staying at Hyatt Place Orlando/Lake Buena Vista

The resort offers free shuttle to TTC at Magic Kingdom at certain times, but we didn’t use it, so I can’t comment on it. Parking costs an extra $32 per night unless you are Globalist.

A reminder: The Chase Ink Business Preferred currently has a welcome bonus of 100k after spending $8000 in the first three months, and the annual fee is only $95. You can transfer these points to Hyatt, or use them to pay for travel in Chase’s travel portal as well as transfer them to a number of other travel partners.

Onsite vs. offsite

First, let me say that I’m not an expert in this area. I’ve only stayed in Fort Wilderness back when my in-laws had a camper, and it was ages ago. My blogging partner Nancy is the person to contact if you want advice, and you can reach her at nancy@milesforfamily.com

As mentioned earlier in my post, having hotel certificates makes this sort of decision a no-brainer, at least for me. I’m not about to spend a ton of money when I don’t have to. Sure, it means we didn’t have “free” transportation and weren’t in Disney bubble, but somehow we survived.

Honestly, with plethora of options like Uber, paying extra to stay onsite is far less compelling these days. I checked, and it would have cost us $20 to get to Epcot from Hyatt, and $25 to get back to the resort at the end of the day. Certainly not a dealbreaker, plus you can use the complimentary shuttle which has decent times for Magic Kingdom.

Yes, you get other perks like access to dining reservations before offsite folks can make them. But honestly, we’ve paid for several dining experiences (including Space 220) that are the hardest ones to snag, and I don’t feel any of them are a “must do.” Of course, others may disagree, but I think the only “must do” in Disney are  certain rides, like Guardians of the Galaxy. Plus, you can always check obsessively for dining cancellations like I did.

My son and I took a Skyliner from Epcot to Hollywood Studios, and I do understand why many folks recommend Pop Century Disney resort that has access to this mode of transportation.

I really enjoyed the ride, and it’s so convenient. However, the rate for Pop Century was $350 per night for our dates. For a small room with two queen beds! Yes, Skyliner is great and all, especially if you plan to visit Hollywood Studios or Epcot. But you will pay a premium compared to offsite options, and it may break down during your visit. This will force you to use Disney buses, which may not get you to the park much faster than Uber.

No question, there is something special about Disney onsite hotels and we marveled at various resorts when taking a boat ride back to Epcot in the evening.

You can also use Marriott points or certs on Swan and Dolphin properties, which is the best of both worlds.

But if you want a suite in Disney during high season, you will pay through the nose.

During off-season it could makes sense to check DVC rental options via sites like Mousehousemagic where you can occasionally find good deals:

But again, having hotel points and certs on hand means I will always go with those options before spending real cash. However, everyone has different priorities and I certainly don’t fault those who insist on being in Disney bubble. For some the juice is totally worth the squeeze, and I respect that.

Readers, share your thoughts on “onsite vs. offsite” debate!