Other Hotels in Disney World
By Dave Shute
STAYING IN A HOTEL THAT DISNEY DOES NOT OWN
The best reason to stay in a non-Disney hotel is to save money. (For the Disney-owned hotels, see this.)
Water Play Area at Four Seasons Orlando
Four non-Disney hotels are in the heart of Disney World, and offer deluxe-quality rooms and amenities for typically less than the Disney deluxes (at Shades of Green, much less).
Shades of Green Resort
Shades of Green Floor Plan
They are the Swan and Dolphin, Four Seasons, and Shades of Green. (I’ve stayed in all these multiple times–the links go to detailed reviews.)
Four Seasons Resort Orlando
Four Seasons Floor Plan
All these participate in Disney’s Extra Magic Hours program.
Disney World Dolphin
Dolphin Floor Plan
The Swan and Dolphin in addition use Disney’s transportation system and have access to FastPass+ 60 days in advance, not 30. As of late 2017, Shades of Green als0 has 60 day FastPass access (but not the Four Seasons).
Swan Floor Plan
The Swan and Dolphin used to be part of Starwood, but are now part of the Marriott family. These means many more folks will have points they can use to rent these, as they now go for both Marriott and Starwood points.
I’m not keen on any of these four for first timers.
- None has any distinctive Disney theming–you could be anywhere.
- Shades and the Four Seasons have less than great transportation
- The Swan and Dolphin have transportation comparable to the Disney-owned resorts, but are inconveniently located for a Magic-Kingdom-centered trip–which most first visits are.
They can each be great choices for returning trips–Shades of Green for its prices, The Swan in particular for a lower-priced way to be close to Epcot (the Swan has queen beds and two sinks, making it a better family choice than the Dolphin with its full beds and one sink), and the Four Seasons for its stunning amenities, and in particular its pool complex–the best at Disney World.
Complete reviews:
Another group of hotels on Hotel Plaza Boulevard are on Disney property but isolated from the main attractions at Disney World except for the shopping and dining at Disney Springs. In 2018, these hotels gained access to Extra Magic Hours and 60 day FastPass+.
There are literally hundreds of other hotels and thousands of condos/villas/homes for rent off the property. The condos/villas/homes for rent will particularly save money for larger families or groups.
Be careful in your price comparisons to include added rental car costs, hotel parking, resort fees, theme park parking.
For more on saving money on lodging at Disney World, see this.
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2 comments
Hi Dave,
Thanks for all your info. We are considering a trip for 2018, but would likely stay off property. Without having the magic bands, how or what is used to make and hold the fast pass and dining reservations?
Thank you,
Marianne
Marianne, you book everything in your My Disney Experience account, and make sure your tickets are linked to it as well. Then you use your tickets to link to your reservations.
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