Worried about hotel costs? We’ve got you covered!
Below is a list of affordable hotels we have put together that are either in the Disney World resort or immediately outside of it. If you don’t mind staying a little bit farther from Disney, many even more budget-conscious option can be found with a quick search of the Orlando, FL area.
All hotels on Disney World property are excellent quality and include free buses that depart regularly outside the hotel lobbies. Some also feature access to water transportation, the Skyliner (a gondola system connecting resorts to EPCOT and Hollywood Studios), and the monorail. Hotels located off of resort property are also available may not have the same range of transportation options as on-property locations, most feature complimentary shuttles to the parks and services to help arrange activities, park tickets, and restaurant bookings.
Prices listed are accurate to the best of our knowledge as of January 2024, but may not include taxes or fees.
MOST AFFORDABLE WITHIN DRIVING DISTANCE:
FAIRFIELD INN & SUITES LAKE BUENA VISTA (~$127/Night)
A short, 4 minute drive away from the ceremony location, continental breakfast included. There’s a Wendy’s next door, hot dang!
BUDGET-FRIENDLY, SHORT DRIVE AWAY:
HOME2 SUITES BY HILTON ORLANDO (~$135/Night)
A 10-minute Uber ride away from Disney World, complete with water slide. It’s next to a golf course, if you like hitting things with sticks.
MOST AFFORABLE OFF-PROPERTY YOU CAN WALK FROM:
WYNDHAM GARDEN LAKE BUENA VISTA (~$135/Night)
Lakeside hotel featuring 3 on-site restaurants and a poolside bar, all within a 12 min walk of Disney Springs’s dining, shopping, and transportation.
ANOTHER WALKING DISTANCE OPTION:
HOLIDAY INN ORLANDO: DISNEY SPRINGS AREA (~$155/Night)
Well-rated hotel within walking distance of the Disney Springs dining, shopping, and transportation.
MOST AFFORDABLE ON DISNEY PROPERTY:
ALL STAR MOVIES (~$160/Night)
ALL STAR SPORTS (~$160/Night)
ALL STAR MUSIC (~$160/Night)
Whimsical, budget-friendly trio of hotels featuring multiple pools and massive statues of sports, musical instruments, or Disney film characters. A great choice for any guest who wants to save money while having easy transportation and access to the parks.
BEST OFF-PROPERTY YOU CAN WALK FROM:
WYNDHAM LAKE BUENA VISTA: DISNEY SPRINGS AREA (~$189/Night)
The more luxurious sibling hotel to the Wyndham Garden Lake Buena Vista property listed above.
NEWEST OFF-PROPERTY:
DRURY PLAZA: DISNEY SPRINGS AREA (~$189/Night)
We don’t know! It’s new! Oooh! Go tell us about it! It says it’s near a Bahama Breeze!
OFF-PROPERTY CLOSEST TO DISNEY:
WYNDHAM BONNET CREEK ($209/Night)
Excellent hotel in central location. 6 minute drive to EPCOT and Disney Springs, 10 minutes to the Grand Floridian and Magic Kingdom. Great rooms and amenities. When Disney resorts are not available, this is where we stay.
**BEST BANG FOR YOUR BUCK OVERALL:**
THE SWAN (~$215/Night)
THE DOLPHIN (~$315/Night)
Kelly & Sean’s go-to for weekend getaways. A very short walk to EPCOT, Hollywood Studios, mini-golf, and a boardwalk filled with unique bars and restaurants. With some of the best fine dining on the resort, rooms with excellent views, multiple pools that never crowd, and an awesome lobby bar in The Dolphin, we could not recommend this one more for any guest.
CHILL OUT WITH GONDOLA ACCESS TO STAR WARS PARK:
POP CENTURY RESORT (~$245/Night)
A slightly upgraded, groovy-by-way-of-retro version of All Stars. That’s a sentence in the English language! Access to the Disney Skyliner gondola system for fast travel to EPCOT, Hollywood Studios, and the Boardwalk.
BEST FOR LARGE FAMILIES OR FINDING NEMO-THEMED PRE-GAMING:
ART OF ANIMATION RESORT (~$280/Night)
The most Disney-est of all Disney resorts. You want giant Nemo fish? An Ariel the size of a house? This place is going to make your day. Excellent for those with large families or groups, with rooms sleeping up to 8 people. It’s a total blast - just watch out for the car-sized Pumba. Or that Larry the Cable Guy car the size of a car from the movie Cars.
TOP RESTAURANTS & CENTRAL LOCATION:
CORONADO SPRINGS (~$300/Night)
Sprawling lakeside hotel near EPCOT and Hollywood Studios. Featuring the Salvador Dali-inspired Destino Tower and a number of top notch restaurants and bars, including the Three Bridges Bar and Grill (which holds the title for the best burger in Disney World).
DON’T KNOW WHY WE LOVE IT, BUT WE DO:
CARIBBEAN BEACH RESORT (~$330/Night)
Colorful, different, and absolutely adorable, this hotel is so much fun. It feels like we end up here at least once every trip, even when we’re not staying here. thanks to its position as the central hub of the gondola system. Its signature restaurant, Sebastian’s Bistro, is one of our all-time favorites. Kelly wants to mention it has a plant-based buffet. So, yeah. It has that too. Check it out! Maybe you’re like us and will end up here for some reason you don’t understand, so may as well make it an official stay.
BEST FOR R&R WITH BOAT TO MAGIC KINGDOM:
WILDERNESS LODGE (~$590/Night)
For outdoors-y types, Yellowstone enthusiasts, crazy horse girls, and those who prioritize relaxing. This rustic, quiet hotel features a gorgeous lobby modeled after The Old Faithful Inn, along with walking trails, horsey stables, campgrounds, bike paths, and archery. You may not, however, hunt Goofy with a longbow. Boats behind the lobby are available to take you directly to the Magic Kingdom. If you want to upgrade, private lakeside cabins are available. #Glamping
*KELLY’S FAVORITE*
BEST POOL & QUICKEST WALK TO EPCOT:
BEACH CLUB (~$675/Night)
Kelly likes to double fist margaritas and go on the lazy river here. What better review could you want? 3 acres of pools so good, guests need a wristband to enter. When wristbands are involved in Disney, it’s serious business. Located on Disney’s boardwalk and within a 3 minute walk to EPCOT, this may be your best bet for post-reception collapse and relaxation.
The wedding ceremony will be taking place at the Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, where we will be staying Friday through Sunday.
These options are priced higher than others due to their direct monorail access to the Magic Kingdom park. If you would like to book at any of these, we again remind you to please call us beforehand, since we be able to quickly find out if discounts and sales are available.
THE ONE WITH THE MONORAIL IN THE LOBBY:
THE CONTEMPORARY (From $500/Night)
Striking, modern, and… contemporary. Featuring a monorail station and a 90 foot tall mural by legendary artist Mary Blair located inside the main lobby, along with perks such as a direct walking path to the Magic Kingdom, boat rentals, and the absolute character chaos of Chef Mickey’s restaurant, this is an excellent choice for parents who want to get to the parks or the ceremony location quickly and easily.
*SEAN’S FAVORITE*
THE TIKI GOD OF HOTELS:
THE POLYNESIAN (From $600/Night)
This is it. The one and only. There are Beach Club people, there are Grand Floridian people, but the best people are Polynesian people. Sean’s soul is buried somewhere here. The Beatles broke up here. There’s a volcano water slide. A perfectly situated tropical hideaway so deeply loved that our guest bedroom is a near-perfect replica of one of the guest rooms. It also features our favorite Disney restaurant of all time, ‘Ohana. If we could get married here, we would.
Fun Fact: Sean once choked at ‘Ohana on his birthday. His EMT mom only watched and laughed at him while he tried to swallow it away with Diet Coke. A tactic which, if you’ve never choked before, just leaves you still choking with a mouth full of soda. So he couldn’t figure out how to both not die and not shoot soda onto the table. He chose to projectile soda all over the table. His mom fell out of her chair laughing. It’s the only time she has ever found him funny.
*CEREMONY LOCATION*
VICTORIAN ELEGANCE:
THE GRAND FLORIDIAN (From $700/Night)
The crown jewel of the Disney hotel kingdom, the Grand Floridian is in its own league. Bespoke, elegant, but certainly not without character, the GF is one monorail stop from the Magic Kingdom, and includes three of Disney’s best restaurants, a luxury spa, a hair salon, an incredible Beauty & The Beast-themed bar, as well as Sean and Kelly.