Best Off-Site Hotels Near Disney World
Are you looking for the best off-site hotels near Disney World?
Keep reading for my top picks for the best off-property hotels at Disney World.
After more than 30 visits to Walt Disney World Resort over the years, I’ve stayed at tons of different hotels. I’ve stayed in a handful of on-site hotels, as well as even more off-site hotels. And in my experience, staying off-site is usually a better value, which is why I’ve put together this list of the best off-site hotels.
Off-Site vs. On-Site Hotels
Walt Disney World Resort has more than 20 on-site hotels, categorized into Value, Moderate, and Deluxe.
Staying at one of these hotels gives you perks like Early Entry to the theme parks and Extended Evening Hours (only for guests at Deluxe resorts.) You also get free parking at the theme parks.
However, you are generally paying a very high premium to stay on-site at Disney World. One night at a Value resort might be $200 compared to $150 at a comparable “real world” hotel like a Hampton Inn, and one night at a Deluxe resort might be $900 compared to $600 at the Four Seasons or somewhere similar.
This may be worth it to you if it’s your first trip to Disney World or if staying in the “Disney bubble” is really important to you. But as I’m about to show you with this list, there are a number of “off-site” hotels that are actually still on Disney property and offer some of the same perks for a lower price.
Even if you don’t stay at an on-site hotel, you can always visit them during your trip (if you have a day where you aren’t visiting the parks, resort-hopping is a fun activity!) For example, I always like to have breakfast at The Polynesian and dinner at Animal Kingdom Lodge on my longer trips to Disney World.
Where to Stay Near Disney World
Below are the best off-site hotels near Disney World.
As I mentioned, a lot of these are technically still on Disney property and offer some of the same perks as on-site hotels, including Early Entry, Extended Evening Hours, and free theme park transportation.
Here are my top picks for where to stay near Disney World:
- Best overall: Walt Disney World Swan
- Best luxury: Waldorf Astoria Orlando
- Best for families: Signia by Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek
- Best budget: Holiday Inn Orlando
And here’s a full breakdown of the best off-site hotels near Disney World.
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Walt Disney World Swan
Walt Disney World Swan is my number-one pick for the best off-site hotel near Disney World. This hotel is owned by Marriott but essentially functions like a Deluxe Disney resort… at a Moderate price point!
Staying at the Swan is almost always MUCH cheaper than staying at a Deluxe resort. And if you’re a frequent traveler like me, you can earn Marriott points by staying here (or redeem them for a stay.)
The location of the Swan is also amazing. It’s located on Crescent Lake, within walking distance of both Epcot and Hollywood Studios. Both parks are just a quick and scenic 15-minute walk away: Epcot can be accessed via Disney’s BoardWalk, and Hollywood Studios can be accessed via a riverfront path.
I LOVE this hotel, and it’s my favorite place to stay at Disney World. You also get access to Early Entry, Extended Evening Hours on select nights, and free parking at the theme parks when you stay here!
Walt Disney World Dolphin
Walt Disney World Dolphin is right across from the Swan, and overall these two hotels are very similar and offer the same benefits. The Dolphin is also owned by Marriott but functions like an on-site Deluxe hotel. It’s about twice the size of the Swan in terms of rooms, but the styles of the two hotels are very similar.
Like the Swan, the Dolphin is within convenient walking distance of Epcot and Hollywood Studios. (It’s maybe one minute closer to Epcot and three minutes further from Hollywood Studios.)
You get the same perks (Early Entry, Extended Evening Hours, and free theme park parking) at the Dolphin. I haven’t stayed at the Dolphin, so I can’t comment on it, but by all accounts, it’s just as good as the Swan.
Walt Disney World Swan Reserve
One more option in the Swan and Dolphin realm is Walt Disney Swan Reserve Hotel. This is a newer hotel (it opened in 2021, while the Swan and Dolphin opened back in 1990) with a more modern style.
Like the Swan and Dolphin, this hotel is also owned by Marriott. I stayed at this hotel recently, and while it’s very nice, I don’t think it’s worth the premium price compared to the previous two hotels.
It comes with all the same perks as the Swan and Dolphin (Early Entry, Extended Evening hours, and free theme park parking) and is also within walking distance of Epcot and Hollywood Studios. However, it’s about a 20-minute walk from both parks because it’s a little further away.
It’s worth noting that this hotel, like the Swan and Dolphin, has premium amenities you would expect from a higher-end hotel, like a swimming pool, hot tubs, fitness center, and more. You’re paying for a newer, modern hotel, but in my opinion, I still think the Swan and Dolphin are better.
Signia by Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek
Moving away from the Swan and Dolphin hotels (which are my top picks for the great perks, good value for money, and amazing convenience), we have my next pick: Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek.
This hotel is a perfect choice for families. It has two swimming pools and a lazy river, which are perfect for relaxing in during any days you aren’t at the parks. This hotel is convenient to the parks too.
It’s still located on Disney property, so you’re only a 10-minute drive or less from all four theme parks. The hotel also offers free shuttle transportation all day long to each of Disney’s four theme parks plus Disney Springs. And guests staying at this hotel get to take advantage of Early Entry, another nice perk to have.
Waldorf Astoria Orlando
If you’re looking for the best luxury off-site hotel near Disney World, Waldorf Astoria Orlando is my top pick. This five-star hotel is typically less expensive than a Deluxe Disney resort, but you get all the same amenities. The only thing missing is the Disney theming, but if you don’t mind that, this is a good choice.
The hotel offers amenities like two swimming pools, a full-service spa, and an 18-hole golf course. Guests can also use the facilities like the lazy river at the Hilton Bonnet Creek, which is next door.
This hotel is in a similarly good location as the Hilton Bonnet Creek, located less than a 10-minute drive from all four theme parks. There’s a free shuttle to all the parks, and you get Early Entry staying here.
DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Orlando
One of the best budget-friendly off-site hotels near Disney World is DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Orlando. It’s an all-suites hotel, so it’s a great place to stay if you want some extra space at a good value.
This hotel is located near Disney Springs, a massive shopping, dining, and entertainment complex. You can actually walk there from the hotel (it takes a little over 15 minutes) or you can take the hotel’s free shuttle. The hotel also offers a free shuttle to all four Disney theme parks, which are 10 to 15 minutes away.
A big benefit of this hotel is that it is also included in Disney’s Early Entry perk.
Holiday Inn Orlando
Finally, another one of the top budget hotels near Disney World is Holiday Inn Orlando. This family-friendly hotel is a great off-site hotel that’s still on Disney property, located near Disney Springs.
In fact, this hotel is just a 10-minute walk from all the action at Disney Springs. It’s also just a convenient 10- to 15-minute drive to get to any of Disney’s four theme parks from this hotel.
Holiday Inn Orlando also offers a free shuttle to the theme parks and gives guests the added benefit of Early Entry. Kids under 11 also eat breakfast free at this hotel with a paying adult, a nice perk.
Best Off-Site Hotels Near Disney World
This guide showed you the best off-site hotels near Disney World.
To recap, my top picks for where to stay are:
- Best overall: Walt Disney World Swan
- Best luxury: Waldorf Astoria Orlando
- Best for families: Signia by Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek
- Best budget: Holiday Inn Orlando
Have a great trip and enjoy your visit to Disney World!
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- How to Survive Disney World in the Summer
- Disney World Essentials: 11 Things You Can’t Forget
- 20 Genius Ways to Save Money at Disney World
- A World Traveler’s Guide to the Epcot World Showcase
- 12 Best Hotels Near Universal Orlando
- Disneyland vs. Disney World: Which Theme Park Is Better?
- 10 Best Day Trips from Orlando, Florida
