Author: Nancy

I have been talking on the past several posts about affordable options for where to stay on your Disney vacation. Today, I want to discuss an option that is familiar to many folks who have ever rented a beach house…..

Have you considered that a Disney World rental house just might be the best choice for your family?

If not, then I’m so glad you came to visit today!

If you are researching affordable Disney family vacations, it is hard to beat the value that a rental home will provide. For starters, you will have a LOT more space in a vacation home than a hotel room. More space will greatly increase family vacation harmony, I promise! =)

And if your family is one that typically needs multiple hotel rooms, then this will save you money as well. Vacation homes can sleep anywhere from 4 to 16 people comfortably, often for the same or less cost than you would have with one hotel room. No question where you are getting the most for your money.

With a rental house, you will have a kitchen. In fact you will likely have a well-stocked kitchen with everything you could possibly need including, dishes, pots and pans, glasses, coffee pot, can opener, bake wear, and other assorted kitchen items.

It is a great cost-saver to be able to make some of your own meals and snacks. By doing a little basic food preparation, and eating in at times, you will find that you have a greatly reduced meal budget. Just compare to what it would be if you ate all meals at the theme parks!

And no matter the size, your Disney World rental house will come fully furnished, with multiple bedrooms and bathrooms, in addition to the living/dining area(s) and kitchen.

One other thing: often overlooked is the fact that you may have in your rental property in-house home theaters, game rooms, private pools, video games as well as access to community centers with fitness and other recreation activities…at no additional cost. More savings!

I think it is easy to see why having a Disney World rental house is an increasingly popular choice for vacationers to the Orlando area. More space, more relaxing, saving money….there’s a lot of magic there!!!

Have a magical day!

In my last post, I discussed the benefits of staying in one of the hotels near Walt Disney World. Today I want to discuss a couple of the coolest resort hotels in Disney…the Walt Disney Swan and Dolphin resort .

OK, first of all, these properties are some of the neatest hotels around. If you have ever visited Disney World, you have surely seen these fantastic-looking landmarks, right next to Epcot’s Spaceship Earth icon (the giant “golf ball”).

They are definitely distinctive, to say the least. I have always thought that Michael Graves, the award-winning architect who designed the Swan and Dolphin, took his mission to design buildings that fit the “Disney magic”  veerry seriously. =) Check out the pictures. These buildings are way cool. And pretty hard to miss!

I will admit that great design fascinates me, so I find the architecture of the Swan and Dolphin very appealing. And the interiors and grounds are lovely as well, in fact they rival any of the deluxe Disney properties with some of the nicest amenities available. BUT, how they look is, frankly, the least of the benefits of being a guest here.

Owned by Starwood (the parent company of the Sheraton and Westin hotels) the Walt Disney Swan and Dolphin resort is actually located on Disney property, and is a short walk or boat ride from Epcot and Hollywood Studios. It is a GREAT location! And as a guest, you also get access to Disney’s bus service to the other theme parks as well.

One of the nicest benefits of staying at the Swan and Dolphin is that guests, while not officially Disney resort guests, still enjoy those great Disney resort perks: in addition to the transportation and location, guests of the Swan and Dolphin can participate in the Extra Magic Hours program, get free parking at the theme parks, and can get package delivery from the parks to the hotel.

And then there are the beds. Oh my gosh………..

If you have ever stayed at a Westin property, you may be familiar with their “Heavenly Beds”: pillow top mattress, triple sheets, down blanket and comforter, and goose down/feather pillows….

Let me just say that after a long day at the Disney parks….the Heavenly Bed is an extremely accurate name!!

So why on earth, on a blog and website devoted to planning affordable Disney family vacations, am I talking about a couple of resort hotels that are obviously so luxurious??

Because, the Walt Disney Swan and Dolphin resort is a great value.

Although in the “deluxe” category, these two hotels are less expensive than similar Disney-owned properties. And even better, they are well known for the frequent discounts for AAA members, Florida residents, seniors, government employees, members of the military, nurses, and teachers.

The reason we stayed here, is because we got a great deal MORE for our money than staying at an official Disney resort. But got the benefits of staying on a Disney resort. What’s not to love?

Have a magical day!

There are a number of ways to save money on a Walt Disney World vacation, and one of the best is to forget staying on Disney property, and check out one of the many great hotels near Walt Disney World. You may very well be impressed by what you find. I know, as I researched, this, I certainly was! In fact, I found that there are a number of benefits to staying off-property.

To start with, you will likely find larger, and perhaps nicer accommodations. This surprised me, as I am a big fan of the Disney resorts. But the fact remains that, for the same or even less money, you will get a lot more value staying off-site. And for families that find one hotel room is too small…and so they need two rooms… having the potential for larger accommodations, may mean only one room. Saving money already!!

Another thing to consider: The Disney properties can be difficult to book at certain times of the year (holidays, summer, school vacations), and so if you are trying to reserve at the last minute, or really need a lower price range, you will find the most options off-property.

Now if you are trying to plan an affordable Disney family vacation, being able to save money on things like meals, shopping, and even other attractions is important. Here, the best option is often to stay in one of the hotels near Disney World. Many provide free breakfast. Many also provide discounts and coupons to other theme parks, restaurants, and shopping. (And to be frank, having non-Disney options for any of these will allow you to save money.)

Many properties have pool areas that are the envy of anything on Disney property, as well as offering suites with mini-kitchens, fitness and recreation opportunities and a boatload of family and children’s activities.

Now what do you lose by staying in one of the hotels near Walt Disney World? Well, you will not have a 24/7 all-Disney-all-the-time experience…but you may be one who finds that to be a good thing! There are many who find they just need a break from all that pixie dust…and staying off Disney property can give you a much needed reality-check

However there is a compromise if you want to have your cake and eat it too!

Many folks do not realize that there are several “non-Disney” hotels that are actually on Disney property. There are a few in Downtown Disney, and then there is the fantastic Walt Disney Swan and Dolphin resort , located a short walk or boat ride of both Epcot and Hollywood Studios. Here you will get many Disney resort guest benefits, but without the corresponding price tag. If you want to save money, but still have your “Disney”, these properties can be a good option.

Now I will say, that transportation can be an issue if you don’t carefully look at the details.Some hotels use a shared shuttle system with other properties, which can add travel time. Some charge for their shuttle. If you are planning afternoon visits back to your hotel, you will want to consider all your alternatives. A rental car can be a good solution, but realize that you will have a parking fee at the parks, and on peak holidays, the parking lots may actually close to non-Disney guests. Still, do your research, and you will find many great properties where transportation will not be a problem.

If you need more information, as always, check out my resource site, The Affordable Mouse. =)

Have a magical day!