Where to Stay in for Disney Florida

I am lucky enough to have visited Disneyworld Florida on numerous occasions both with and without the kids! I am also lucky enough to have owned a rental villa there for a brief period (sold just before Covid!), so here is my guide “Where to stay!”

You have a couple of options when it comes to Disney Florida, you can either stay in a Villa or Condo Apartment complex or you stay in a hotel, either onsite at Disney/Universal or off-site at one of the surrounding resorts.

Villa
Pro’s

Your own space, you can cook, come and go as you please, you will either have your own pool or possibly a shared pool if on an apartment complex
Economical as you can eat in (food is pricey in Florida!)
Get away from the hustle & bustle at the end of the day
Space – if you are a large family or two families, there is a lot to be said for all having your own rooms which you won’t get in a hotel!

Con’s

You will need a car, the closest villas are found a few miles from Disney, however, the traffic around Disney is bonkers so you need to factor in driving times as well as $25per day to park!
You have to cook & wash up after yourself!!

Condo/Apartment Complex
These are a good “happy medium” for some, they sit between hiring a villa and staying in a hotel. There are many condo complexes to choose from, and most offer multi-bedroom suites, with kitchen & living areas. Most also have onsite cafes/restaurants or are within a short walk of amenities. Many also offer transport to the parks so you don’t necessarily need car hire and can do a nice mix of eating out and cooking for yourself.

One of my fav condo complex resorts is Floridays, they have a bus service to all parks, swimming pool, restaurant onsite but there are also a couple of restaurants a short walk away, plus you are right at the end of the Itrolley stop on International Drive so can hop on and head to I Drive. The apartments are a great size and include either 2 or 3 bedrooms, lounge/dining area & kitchen, plus balcony/terrace. Loads more space than a traditional hotel room but with all the hotel amenities.

Disney Hotel/Resort
There is a Disney hotel for every price point, from the value/budget options up to luxury!

Pro’s

You are onsite so can take advantage of the transport network, which includes busses, monorails & water taxis.
As you are pretty close to everything you can pop to a park in the morning, head back to the pool in the afternoon & head back out at the end of the day to watch parades & light shows!
Dining & Room Credits – Disney often has offers whereby you will receive an amount per room as “room credit” on your stay, this can be used against food in the hotel/parks.
Extra/Extended park hours for hotel guests – Guests can get a 30min head start when staying at a Disney resort in the morning, those staying at the “Deluxe” Resorts & Villas enjoy extended evening hours on select nights

Cons

Depending on your budget staying at a Disney hotel will push your limit as it is more expensive than staying off-site
Rooms – Unless you stay in one of the Disney villa resorts, generally speaking as a family the cheapest option is to be in one room, this novelty wears off pretty quickly!!
You will need park tickets, staying at an onsite resort doesn’t give you park tickets, so these still need to purchased.

If you are thinking of travelling to Disney with kids, check out my Top Tips for Disney Holidays with kids!

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