Best Offsite Resorts for Disney World

Here’s a list of some of the best offsite, non-Disney hotels for a family (or just adults) heading to Walt Disney World from people that have stayed there (including several that my family has stayed at). I used my own experience and reached to locals and travel experts to hear about the best ones they’ve stayed at.

Disney has over 30 hotels that they own, which offer great experiences and perks for the Disney theme parks. However, there are also great offsite hotels that offer incredible pools, competitive prices, luxury experiences, free breakfasts, and other amenities that may make you stay outside the bubble of the Disney property. Some of them also offer perks for the Disney parks that on-site hotels offer. Here are the best off-site hotels for Disney World.

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Best Resort Experience for Families

These offsite resorts are great for having experiences that may make you question whether you want to leave the resort to head to Disney at all (or maybe one less day). Here are the best hotels from our experience and the experience of others who have actually stayed there.

Gaylord Palms Resort and Convention Center

Gaylord Palms atrium. Photo Cred: Gaylord Palms 

The Gaylord Palms is a large convention resort with a spa, dining, golf, and waterpark/pools just a few miles from Disney World. It’s particularly well-known for it’s drone show and Christmas festivities, such as elaborate ice sculptures. It’s part of the Marriott family, so you can use Bonvoy points to book (and it’s fairly reasonable compared to most Marriott properties of similar cost). It does not offer early theme park entry to Disney Parks.

Cristy Stewart of www.happyfamilybog.com had this to say: it is so much more than a hotel stay. It is an immersive experience. You will want to stay in an atrium view room to
 see the nightly light shows.  We love the waterpark and three pools that are included in your stay.

Unbelievable water park at the Gaylord Palms. Photo Cred: Cristy Stewart 

They have great seasonal activities throughout the year - especially ICE! at Christmas time. They even have a drone show! They have an incredible location, amazing dining experiences like seafood on a boat, and the steakhouse is one of the most elegant restaurants ever.

Bob Berriz of Berriz Design www.berrizdesign.com also loves the Gaylord. “As an architectural designer running land development projects for over 30 years, my favorite offsite resort near Disney World is the Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center. Its architecture and landscaping are inspired by Florida's natural beauty, with an enormous glass atrium, lagoons, and acres of gardens. For families, the resort has everything from character dining with Disney characters to mini golf and an enormous pool complex.”

Signia by Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek

The pool at the Signia

The Signia by Hilton Bonnet Creek is a family-focused, upscale resort that’s part of a group of resorts called Bonnet Creek that are extremely close to Disney World. It boasts a huge pool with slides and a lazy river. They offer early entry and free shuttles as a Good Neighbor hotel.

George Patient of Merchmates.co.uk had this to say: The hotel's location is close to all the Disney parks with an added benefit of not being too far away from Universal either. This is a massive time saver if you plan on maximizing time spent at the parks.

The hotel runs a shuttle service with the hotel next door, the Waldorf Astoria Orlando. We found the shuttle service very friendly, reliable and spacious - we never struggled to get a seat on the first available shuttle.

Signia also boasts a few food options. We particularly enjoyed the shop/cafe in the hotel lobby that offered some convenient light bites and snacks when we were getting back late from the parks.

The rooms are big and spacious, ample for storing all the merch you buy. We actually got two droids and a lightsaber on our last visit. Beyond this, the rooms feature large comfy beds and big bathrooms with great amenities.

Signia by Hilton room. Photo Cred: George Patient

Jace Ross, a local that runs a angling store and fishing tours at tailwatershop.com, often books this hotel for clients, stating: “Just a walk from Disney Springs, the Hilton has lavish pools, golf courses and dining along with more affordable rooms. As a Hilton Honors member, my clients enjoy complimentary Wi-Fi and late checkouts. For the amenities and location, rates are reasonable compared to Disney resorts. The Hilton hits the sweet spot between luxury and value.”

Jess Rodley, who runs bookings for Andorraescapes.com, said this: “they have a lazy river pool, a spa, and multiple dining options. It’s a very relaxing stay after a long day at the parks. I was more excited about my time here than the rides if I’m being completely honest. It often runs around $150-$200 a night, which is a solid deal for what you get.”

The Omni Resort Orlando at Championsgate

The Omni Orlando Championsgate Lazy River

The Omni Resort Orlando at Championsgate is a great family resort with multiple pools, and even a wave pool! It has more golf than any resort I’ve ever stayed at, including 2 18-hole courses, a 9-hole par 3, minigolf, and Eagles Edge, a Top Golf-style party driving range. They offer free shuttles to Disney World.

My wife and I stayed there for a conference for my real job, and it was phenomenal. It’s a little far from Disney if you’re going every day, but it’s great for staying mostly at the resort and going a couple days to Disney, like we did. Click here for a full review of the Omni Championsgate.

Best Offsite Luxury Hotels at Disney World

There are a couple of luxury resorts that eclipse even a Disney deluxe resort on their service, design, food, and experience. Here are two of the best places for a luxurious, off-property stay.

Waldorf Astoria Orlando

The Waldorf elevator lobby. Photo Cred: Jesse James https://flic.kr/p/2kJpo8w

Waldorf Astoria is synonymous with luxury, and the Waldorf Astoria Orlando is no exception. This resort has amazing restaurants, a spa, golf, and a pool. As a bonus, it shares the water park area with the Signia by Hilton next door. I’m taking my family there this December for these reasons. My wife and I will love the luxury, and my kids will love the water slides and lazy river. It’s a Hilton resort, so you can use Hilton points to book. It also offers early entry as a Good Neighbor hotel.

The Waldorf Astoria pool. Photo Cred: Jesse James https://flic.kr/p/2kJtAua 

Bob Berriz of Berriz Design says this: For a luxury hotel, the Waldorf Astoria Orlando is unparalleled. Set on a private golf course minutes from Disney, it's a haven of spas, golfing, and fine dining. The sophisticated rooms, styled like a modern hunting lodge, are worth the splurge for a special trip. As a Hilton Honors member, the perks and upgrades make every visit memorable.

If it has the green light from the architectural designer, I’m excited.

Four Seasons Orlando at Walt Disney World

The Four Seasons Pool. Photo Cred: Four Seasons

The most prestigious resort near Disney World is most likely the Four Seasons. It has a rooftop, Michelin-star restaurant, golf, water park, and so much more. You can even get a butler to take your kids to golf and tennis lessons. It shares amenities with the Golden Oak community, a multi-million dollar neighborhood for the wealthiest Disney enthusiasts.

The Rooftop Restaurant, Capa. Photo Cred: Four Seasons

Jace Ross, a local who books lodging for his fishing tour guests, says this: “My favorite offsite resort is the Four Seasons Orlando. The amenities are unparalleled, from the championship golf course and spa to the five-acre water park, all situated on a natural 300-acre preserve. The luxurious rooms have 180-degree park views. While pricey, the Four Seasons offers supreme quality and seclusion that feels worlds away from the bustle of Disney.”

If you’re looking for a fancier stay than anything you’ll experience at Disney, here it is.

Best Offsite Budget Hotels at Disney World

If you’re looking to go to Disney and save money, check out these resorts. They offer free breakfast, cheap lodging, and a good experience.

Holiday Inn Express SOUTH

The Holiday Inn Express and SOUTH Suites Orlando- Lake Buena Vista is a no-frills hotel with free breakfast, three pools with water slide, and rooms that can go for less than $100. If you want to go to Disney and save money on lodging, this is the one. It’s just across I-4 from Disney Springs. It even has a splash pad and miniature golf! It’s a little further out than most of the hotels on the list but not by much.

IMPORTANT NOTE: There are two Holiday Inn Expresses with almost identical names. For what it’s worth, they have the same ratings. However, the Holiday Inn Express S (or south) has the multiple water slides, zero entry pool, and mini-golf.

Here’s Jace Ross’ take: For families on a budget, the Holiday Inn Express Lake Buena Vista is ideal. It has everything you need including multiple pools, playgrounds, and a game room to keep kids entertained. The free shuttle to Disney Springs and the parks alone saves over $25 per ticket. Standard rooms comfortably sleep a family of four and rates often start under $100.

Drury Plaza Hotel Orlando- Disney Springs Area

The entrance to the Drury Orlando during our last stay.

This is my favorite budget hotel at Disney World. My family loved staying here. With a decent pool, hot tub, and splash pad, free breakfast and kickback (free drinks and light dinner), the Drury is an amazing experience for not much money (AND NO RESORT FEE!!!). We stayed in a suite for not much more than a value resort at Disney World. It’s a Good Neighbor hotel with early entry and has a shuttle to Disney. It’s also in walking distance of Disney Springs.

Victoria Watts of bridgesandballoons.com says this: “The Drury Plaza Hotel in the Disney Springs area is my favorite offsite hotel at Disney World because it offers a fantastic balance of value and convenience. For around the same price as Disney’s most budget hotels, like the All Star range, you still get a free shuttle bus and early entry to the parks, plus the extra perk of a free breakfast and dinner buffet.

The food is fairly basic (think nachos and chili, or chips and dippers), but it amounts to a big saving, especially for families. And the pancakes for breakfast tend to be a hit with everyone. (Second Dad to the Right Note: They also have Mickey Waffles!)

The breakfast area at the Drury is as big or bigger than any cafeteria in a Disney hotel.

The buses to the parks get crowded in the morning, but we found them to be reliable and got us there on time for early entry (it’s about a 25-minute ride to get to Magic Kingdom). And the hotel is also super close to Disney Springs (only a 15-minute walk or a 5-minute bus ride).

While the hotel’s design is unremarkable and has no overt Disney theming, it’s still great for families with its big pool, splash pad, arcade, and buffet meals. You can even see the fireworks in the distance from some rooms.

While the Drury Plaza Hotel is definitely not the place for a quiet, romantic getaway, it’s ideal for a family-friendly Disney trip where you’re looking to save some cash.”

Click here for my full review of the Drury from our recent stay.

Closest Offsite Hotels to Disney

Hilton Orlando Buena Vista Palace 

The pool at the Hilton Palace

My family enjoyed staying at the Hilton Orlando Buena Vista Palace. It has great food options and an amazing pool with a lazy river. It wasn’t the most amazing hotel, but it’s proximity to Disney Springs is better than any Disney hotel. It also has a tower taller than all of the Disney resorts, giving it amazing views of fireworks and the surrounding area. The food is good, but pricey, unless you can get deals with Hilton status.

Click here for our review of the Hilton Orlando Buena Vista Palace.

Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resorts

My view from the Boardwalk of the Dolphin part of the Swan and Dolphin. You can tell because it has a fish on it, and the designers don't know that dolphins aren't fish. They are more accurate with the swan.

The Swan, Dolphin, and Swan Reserve (or The Swolphin, as we call them) have the unique position of being on-property while not being owned by Disney. It's known for it's easy access and short walk to EPCOT, Boardwalk, Disney's Hollywood Studios, Skyliner, and transportation to Disney World (though not quite as good as Disney buses to Magic Kingdom). It also has great restaurants, a decent pool, and luxury accommodations. My family stayed there and enjoyed the location and arcade, and I loved the coffee shop in the lobby: some of the best coffee I've had at Disney. All three hotels are owned by Marriott, so you can use points to stay there. However, points redemptions are high compared to the cash price because the demand is high.

Conclusion

Staying at an offsite resort is a great way to save money, use hotel points, and experience some resort features that you won’t find at a Walt Disney World resort. Don’t get me wrong. I’d still rather stay on property, but we love switching it up, especially if the property ends up being free with credit card points and miles. A couple of things to be aware of. A lot of these resorts charge resort fees and parking fees that may increase the amount. A lot of these can be waived with status or points perks. All of these resorts have decent to great pools, nice guest rooms, a fitness center, and shuttles to Walt Disney World theme parks.

 I’ll keep adding to the list as we stay in more properties, and continue to give you our top picks. Until then, check out my Disney packing guide, my explanation of Disney World, and my guide to my favorite onsite resort, the Gran Destino Tower at Coronado Springs.