Travel Guides Family Friendly Disney
Amanda Finn
Taking a budget-friendly vacation to Disney World can be hard, especially if you’re coming in from out of town. Staying on-site can be financially difficult for many folks, since Disney-owned hotels are often several times the cost of other hotels in the area. Luckily, several nearby accommodations offer perks similar to Disney World hotels — without the prohibitive costs.
Especially if you have a larger family or group going to the Most Magical Place on Earth, staying off-site is one of the easiest ways to save money and keep your group together. Several of the following hotels have suites that can provide the whole family much more room than you’d get in even some of the most spacious Disney World hotels.
All of these hotels are in the “Good Neighbor Hotels” category at Disney World. The company doesn’t own them; however, they collaborate with the resort to offer guests some extra perks, like having a cast member on-site to help coordinate Disney World plans. Please note that any price ranges listed here are correct as of the publication of this piece in August 2023.
B Resort & Spa
B Resort and Spa / Facebook
B Resort & Spa is only a few minutes walk to Disney Springs. With pools and spa facilities, you get all the relaxation you’d get at an on-site resort without the exorbitant fees. One of the perks for hotel guests is the paid on-site parking and the shuttles to and from all of the Walt Disney World parks.
B Resort has three dining options: American Kitchen Bar & Grill, the Pick Up, and the Pool Bar & Grill. Inside The Kids’ Zone, you’ll find arcade cabinets and games the whole family can enjoy, or you can catch a movie in the B Social area in the lobby.
While here, you can workout in the fitness center, do your laundry in the paid on-site laundry facilities, and if you need it, there is a 24-hour business center too. Rooms here start at $80/night (excluding taxes and fees) for a standard, two-queen room.
Best Western Plus Kissimmee-Lake Buena Vista South Inn & Suites
Best Western Plus Kissimee Lake Buena Vista / Facebook
Despite its very long name, Best Western Plus Kissimmee-Lake Buena Vista South Inn & Suites is a huge cost saver with a shuttle to the Disney parks, a complimentary breakfast buffet, and free parking. There is an on-site gym, a game room to keep the kiddos occupied, and a pool for cooling off on those sweltering Florida days. A standard, two-queen room here starts at $83. You can also join the Best Western Rewards program for free and start earning points towards your next visit.
Besides regular rooms, the Best Western also has family-friendly room options. It offers KidSuites with a private sleeping area for the adults and kid-friendly beds for the little travelers in the party.
It’s worth noting that the shuttle to the Disney World parks is listed as limited. So it might be worth taking advantage of the free parking at the hotel to drive yourselves to the park even though it will cost $25 for standard parking at Disney. That fee is less than many hotels charge to park your car per night, so it might be worth the investment if it means not waiting around forever for a shuttle.
Caribe Royale Orlando
Caribe Royale Orlando / Facebook
A gorgeous Good Neighbor Hotel, Caribe Royale Orlando looks a lot like the Caribbean Beach and Old Key West hotels at Disney World. This hotel also has a free transportation to Disney parks and Disney Springs and seven restaurants and bars. Standard queen suites here start at $190. Although these rooms are more expensive than the others on this list, all rooms at the Caribe Royale are suites. This hotel also has villas that are two-bedroom accommodations.
In addition to The Island Spa, there are many water features to enjoy here. There’s a splash pool for the kids, an outdoor pool with a waterslide, fishing opportunities, and even a private pool/hot tub for villa guests. And if you feel so compelled on those days off from the parks, you can even rent a cabana for a full day of relaxing by the pool.
A significant bonus for the Caribe Royale is its pet-friendly nature. There aren’t a lot of pet-friendly hotels in the area, so if you plan on bringing your furry friend, consider staying here.
Delta Hotels by Marriott Orlando Lake Buena Vista
Delta Hotels by Marriott Orlando / Facebook
Delta Hotels is a less assuming accommodation near Disney World. It’s also only 2 miles from one of the best-kept secrets of the area — the Character Warehouse at Orlando Vineland Premium Outlets. That’s where you can buy deeply discounted official Disney merchandise. Spirit jerseys for $20? Yes, please!
The Marriott Bonvoy loyalty program is free to join and allows you to earn points towards your hotel stay. It’ll also offer you slightly cheaper room accommodations, though only by a few dollars: For a double queen room, rates start at $109/night, while Marriot Bonvoy members start at $107/night. While this might not seem like a lot for one or two nights, it can add up over a week or two, especially if you opt for more expensive suites.
There is an outdoor pool and hot tub to enjoy, a fitness center to sweat off those churros, and an on-site restaurant when hunger strikes. Paid on-site parking is available for only $15 a night, much less than other hotels in the area.
DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Orlando – Disney Springs Area
DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Orlando / Facebook
You can walk to Disney Springs in less than 20 minutes from this DoubleTree and even access the early entry at Disney for hotel guests, which allows you into the parks 30 minutes before the general public. Plus, the DoubleTree offers suites-only accommodations, giving the whole family much more space. Queen suites start at $120 with a Hilton Honors discount, the chain’s free loyalty program. As with other loyalty programs, the base rate isn’t much more expensive, at $129/night.
The DoubleTree has pet-friendly accommodations, a shuttle to Disney World and Disney Springs, and even tennis on the property. An outdoor pool and fitness center offer exercise options you may not need after walking miles in the Disney parks.
There’s room service if you’d rather not venture too far on a rest day, which is cheaper than dining at most Disney resorts. Plus, three on-site eateries to cater to your needs: the EverGreen Cafe, the EverGreen Lounge (for cocktails and snacks), and The Reef Pool Side.
Drury Plaza Hotel Orlando – Disney Springs Area
Drury Plaza Hotel Orlando / Facebook
Less than a mile from Disney Springs, the Drury Plaza is a favorite among frequent Disney World attendees — especially since it offers a free shuttle to all four of the Disney parks. With complimentary breakfast, some accommodations even have furnished balconies that offer incredible views of the surrounding area for just a slightly higher rate than the non-terrace rooms. Queen rooms start at $149 with the free Drury Rewards program, which gives a bit better discount than other rewards programs on this list — the standard rate starts at $155/night.
Not only does Drury Plaza offer free breakfast every day, but it also offers a free 5:30 Kickback offering each evening. The Kickback has a daily menu of hot food as well as beer, wine, mixed drinks, and soft drinks. You can also enjoy food from The Kitchen + Bar or the Lakeside Bar & Grill, grab something to go from Pizza Hut Express, or pick up snacks from the Market Place.
There is also a saltwater pool and a 24-hour arcade without even leaving the property. Cats and dogs are also allowed at the hotel for a daily fee of $50 per room.
Floridays Resort Orlando
Floridays Resort Orlando / Facebook
Over near International Drive, Floridays Resort Orlando is perfect for folks looking to split their time between Disney World and Universal Studios. It offers rooms several times larger than the average hotel room in Orlando, with only two and three-bedroom suites available. A standard two-bedroom suite starts at $179 a night. And these suites have kitchens, laundry facilities, and balconies for optimal views of the area.
Floridays has two pools to enjoy: One includes a water playscape for kids, and the other is quieter with a jacuzzi. Not only does Floridays have a shuttle to the Disney World parks, but it also offers shuttles to SeaWorld and Universal Studios. Plus, the property is pet-friendly, so even your furry friends can appreciate the room to stretch out in these massive suites.
Palm Café is on-site to ensure you have snacks at the ready. The Café serves fresh pizzas and salads as well as Starbucks. If you aren’t up for the trek down to grab some food yourself, you can always have it brought to you with room service.
Hyatt Place Orlando/Lake Buena Vista
Hyatt Place Orlando / Facebook
Another hotel with complimentary breakfast and a Walt Disney World park shuttle, the Hyatt Place is another terrific cost-saving option. Plus, some of the rooms have bunk beds, which are a lot of fun for kids sharing a room. A family room with two queen beds and a sofa start at $137 per night with the World of Hyatt members’ advanced rate ($139 for non-members).
The pet-friendly Hyatt Place also has Chromecast in all of its rooms — a must for families depending on that quality “Bluey” content to keep the kids quiet. And the 24-hour availability of food between The Placery restaurant and The Market will keep the hangry pangs at bay.
After a long day of adventuring around Orlando or Disney, you can enjoy the outdoor pool or take a load off at the bar. Should you feel so compelled, there are also laundry facilities, a fitness center, and a 24-hour business center on-site too.
Omni Orlando Resort at ChampionsGate
Omni Orlando Resort at ChampionsGate / Facebook
The most chic of the options on this list, the Omni Orlando is a budget-friendly hotel with more perks than you’ll get even at a moderately priced Disney World hotel. A wide range of swank accommodations is offered, with suites and even villas available. You won’t believe how much you get at Omni, starting at just $188 per night for two queen beds, including shuttles to the Disney World parks, of course.
Everyone is welcome at the family, zero-entry pool. Kids can hang out at the lazy river winding through the property, while the adults relax at the adults-only pool. Omni is also the only hotel in Orlando with its own wave pool! You can also find the ultimate comfort in the oasis at Mokara Spa.
Omni is home to a wide range of sports, including tennis, pickleball, Surrey bike rentals, and basketball courts. Plus, there are multiple golf courses on-site to enjoy: Champions 9 (a small, nine-hole course), Cranes Adventure Golf (a mini golf course), and 36 holes across two standard-sized golf courses.
Wyndham Lake Buena Vista Disney Springs Resort Area
Wyndham Lake Buena Vista / Facebook
Just a 10-minute walk from Disney Springs, the Wyndham allows guests to enter Disney World 30 minutes early, like other Disney World hotels. You might get a room facing Lake Buena Vista or one of the Disney parks for spectacular views — and maybe even fireworks. Wyndham Rewards members get the most bang for their buck with member prices on this list, saving about $18 a night from the average price. A standard queen room with these member rates will run you about $100.
On-site parking is available with both self-parking and valet options for guests. If you don’t want to drive to the parks every day, however, you can enjoy one of the hotel’s free shuttles to the Disney World theme parks.
You can enjoy sand volleyball or basketball when you aren’t spending time by the Oasis Aquatic Pool Area. There is also a children’s pool area at the Wyndham for kiddos to enjoy. Speaking of a world of childlike fun, don’t forget to check out the on-site arcade while you’re here!
