These Are the Best Hotels Near Disney World That Offer Free Shuttle, Plus the Ones That Also Get Early Theme Park Entry

For those staying off-site during their Walt Disney World vacation, a hotel with a quality shuttle service to the Disney parks makes a huge difference. Which Orlando hotels with Disney shuttle service should you select for your next Walt Disney World vacation?

In many cases, you can find hotels in Orlando that offer a Disney shuttle service. Nonetheless, not all Orlando hotel shuttle services are equal. In some cases, the Orlando hotel shuttle services to Walt Disney World’s four theme parks end up being more of a hassle than they are worth. In addition, some of the local hotels charge a fee for these shuttle services. Some have very limited schedules. Let's get into the best hotels with reliable shuttle services to Disney World.

READ MORE – Disney World Pros Know Not to Ignore These 10 Overlooked Food Items at the Parks

Shuttle Service to Magic Kingdom Can Be Complicated

One advantage of staying at an on-site Walt Disney World resort is transportation to the Magic Kingdom. The Magic Kingdom continues to be the most popular theme park in the world. Based on its design and location, guests driving to Magic Kingdom must park in the Transportation and Ticket Center (TTC) area. From there, guests take the Disney Monorail or a ferry boat across the lagoon to Magic Kingdom.

Depending on the season and time of day, this process takes significant time. In contrast, guests staying at Disney-owned hotels can use Disney transportation directly to the Magic Kingdom, bypassing the TTC.

If staying at a non-Disney-owned hotel, you should expect your shuttle service to take you to the Transportation and Ticket Center. As a result, you should plan for more time to reach the theme park fun of Magic Kingdom. Also, scheduling more time to return to your hotel when leaving the Magic Kingdom would be best.

Unfortunately, hotel shuttles from Good Neighbor hotels often contract their shuttle services with third party transportation companies to handle their shuttle service. This results in shuttle schedules that are quite sporadic with some hotels only offering transportation to and from the theme parks at the beginning of the day and end of the night. This is not ideal in many cases and why we often recommend our readers go with Walt Disney World resort hotels with provided on-site transportation or at least an option like the Disney World Swan and Dolphin.

However, we know that many guests utilize hotels like these to maximize their credit card reward points or other membership benefits so with that in mind, here is a comprehensive list of off-site Disney World hotels with shuttle services.

Best Off-Site Disney Springs Hotels with Shuttle and Early Entry

Let's start with the Disney Springs area hotels, which are all included in Walt Disney World's Early Theme Park Entry list.

There are seven hotels situated in the Disney Springs area along Hotel Plaza Boulevard. These have become known as Disney Springs Hotels. This includes seven different hotels. Sometimes, people state that there are eight Disney Springs hotels by dividing the Wyndham Garden Lake Buena Vista Hotel into two hotels based on the different room styles and layouts, making the total eight. However, the official Disney Springs Hotel website lists seven hotels:

• DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Orlando
• Drury Plaza Hotel Orlando Lake Buena Vista
• Hilton Orlando Buena Vista Palace
• Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista
• Holiday Inn Orlando Disney Springs
• Wyndham Garden Lake Buena Vista (and Wyndham Lake Buena Vista)
• Renaissance Orlando Resort and Spa

All seven of these hotels provide better options for those wishing to save a little money. Depending on when you visit, you should expect to pay between $100 – $250 per night for standard rooms in this area. Several of these hotels contain suites that sleep larger groups of people. You will find far more space in rooms and a lower price at these Disney Springs Hotels compared to the Walt Disney World options.

These seven hotels with Disney shuttle service offer regularly scheduled shuttle service to each of the four Walt Disney World theme parks. They tend to run every hour. During busier times, they run every half hour. Here's a sample look at the bus schedule at the Drury Plaza Hotel Orlando Lake Buena Vista from our recent stay. This is a look at the schedule from the hotel to the theme parks.

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Best Orlando Area Hotels with Early Entry

Now, let's look at the other Orlando hotels that include Early Theme Park Entry outside of the main Disney Springs hotels. These hotels are all favorites for guests visiting Disney World but choosing to stay off-site.

Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Hotels

Even though the name of these hotels makes one think that Walt Disney World owns these hotels, that is not true. The Swan and Dolphin Hotels are owned and operated by the Marriott Corporation. Also, a smaller, more upscale, The Swan Reserve Hotel, exists near these hotels, with the same advantages regarding early entry and Disney shuttles.

Since all those hotels are operated by Marriott, Marriott Bonvoy members can use their accumulated points to earn perks and even free nights staying at these hotels. The Swan and Dolphin Hotels often offer discounts for Florida residents, teachers, law enforcement, military, and Disney annual passholders.

The best aspect of these hotels revolves around the location. These hotels reside in the Epcot Resort area. These hotels provide complimentary transportation, of course. However, you can walk to either Epcot or Disney’s Hollywood Studios from these hotels. Also, the complimentary water taxi offers access from the Disney resorts’ dock, running approximately every 20 – 25 minutes to and from Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

Finally, these hotels are considered deluxe-level hotels on the Walt Disney World scale. Based on this, guests staying at any of these three Marriott-run hotels can access Extended Evening Hours on select nights. This means more time in the theme parks with shorter queues for attractions. For more information about those nights, please consult our Extended Evening Hours at Walt Disney World guide.

The Swan and Dolphin (and Swan Reserve) offer a great location, several transportation options, and extra perks. These hotels make a good choice for those looking for Disney Deluxe hotel advantages at a lower price.

Shades of Green at Walt Disney World

Shades of Green at Walt Disney World provides high-quality resort accommodations for only United States Military members and their families. The United States Department of Defense owns this hotel near the Magic Kingdom.

This hotel offers a scheduled shuttle service to the Transportation and Ticket Center (TTC) for guests visiting Magic Kingdom and EPCOT. However, Shades of Green provides a shuttle service in the morning directly to Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, and Disney Springs.

Guests staying here should know that the transportation back to Shades of Green may involve going to the TTC using Disney transportation. After that, the official Shades of Green bus picks up at the TTC every 20 minutes.

This Orlando hotel with Disney shuttles makes an excellent choice for military families, often costing half the price of a comparable Walt Disney World hotel.

Four Seasons Resort Orlando

For guests wanting genuine five-star top-of-the-line service beyond Disney level, the Four Seasons Resort Orlando has you covered. This hotel offers every amenity and luxury you can imagine. Four Seasons Resort Orlando resides on Walt Disney World property. In fact, it is about three miles from Magic Kingdom and EPCOT.

Guests can enjoy a full-service spa, an 18-hole championship golf course, and a free kids’ camp. There’s also a relaxing adults-only pool and a water park with a lazy river on the property.

The dining at Four Seasons matches up to anything in the Orlando area. For those wanting an authentic Disney character breakfast, the Ravello Restaurant here offers a fabulous character breakfast with Goofy and Pals at least twice a week.

Four Seasons provides a complimentary shuttle service to all four Walt Disney World theme parks. These run hourly throughout the day.

Waldorf Astoria Orlando

Still staying in the luxury price range, the Waldorf Astoria Orlando fits that bill also. The Waldorf Astoria Orlando offers luxury amenities like the Four Seasons Resort Orlando. This hotel resides within a few miles of the four Walt Disney World theme parks and Disney Springs since it is in the Bonnet Creek area.

The Disney shuttle schedule for the Waldorf Astoria Orlando allows guests to enjoy complimentary service to all four Walt Disney World Resort theme parks. In the afternoon and evenings, shuttles take guests to Disney Springs. The shuttles run about every hour on average. Mears runs this shuttle service. Due to that, we should expect consistent quality for those staying here.

Signia by Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek

This hotel, also located in the Bonnet Creek area near the Disney theme parks, functions as the sister hotel to the Waldorf Astoria Orlando.  This hotel shares the shuttle service with the Waldorf Astoria Orlando. So, reliable scheduled transportation to the four theme parks and Disney Springs will be available.

The Signia by Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek used to be known as the Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek Hotel. This luxury resort hotel features a championship golf course, a full-service spa, a pool with a waterslide, a lazy river, and cabanas to enjoy a relaxing day. Various restaurants are on-site, making this a literal one-stop accommodation option. Guests can also enjoy dining at nearly a dozen restaurants. Some upgraded rooms offer views of Disney fireworks

Local Orlando Hotels with Disney World Shuttles

Walt Disney World partners with many off-site hotels in a relationship called the “Good Neighbor” program. As a result, these hotels enter a special relationship with Walt Disney World. Many of the hotels previously mentioned participate in this program.

All the Good Neighbor Hotels provide Walt Disney World Resort information and help with vacation planning for guests. This will usually be done at the hotel Disney Guest Services desk located in or near the hotel lobby.

More importantly for this discussion, all these hotels provide transportation to the Walt Disney World theme parks. The schedule varies between hotels. Guests at these Good Neighbor Hotels do not receive early theme park entry, unlike the ones listed earlier in this article. We have selected the most highly regarded from that massive list below to consider.

Remember: these hotels listed below DO NOT offer Early Theme Park Entry like those listed previously.

Margaritaville Resort Orlando

The Margaritaville Resort Orlando looks like you would expect a Jimmy Buffett-inspired resort to look like. This resort hotel resides in Kissimmee, west of Walt Disney World.

Margaritaville Resort Orlando offers traditional hotel rooms and “Cottages” with up to eight bedrooms. Also, this laid-back island-style resort includes several dining options, a vast pool complex, and plenty of on-site shopping and entertainment.

This hotel offers limited service with morning and evening runs regarding the Disney shuttle schedule. The Walt Disney World shuttle will not allow you to arrive at your chosen Disney theme park for rope drop. If you must rope-drop, you should plan for other transportation methods.

The current shuttle schedule can be found on the resort’s website. Still, Margaritaville Resort Orlando also offers limited shuttle service to SeaWorld Orlando and Universal Orlando Resort.

Rosen Inn Lake Buena Vista

Many Rosen Inn Hotels exist in the Orlando area. These hotels offer reliable, no-frills hotel stays. You can often find excellent discounts at these hotels. This hotel, on Palm Parkway, is not far from the Walt Disney World theme parks.

Guests have several on-site dining options. Other notable amenities include heated swimming pools and a kids’ splash pad.

The Disney shuttle schedule is subject to change. The hotel encourages guests to confirm the schedule at the Guest Services desk in the lobby. This hotel offers limited shuttle service to SeaWorld Orlando and Universal Orlando Resort.

Comfort Inn Kissimmee by the Parks

This hotel is sometimes called Comfort Inn Maingate. This hotel also resides near the Walt Disney World Resort property. Guests enjoy a complimentary breakfast each morning.

The room prices match many of the standard-level hotels in the Orlando area. However, this hotel does not charge a parking or resort fee.

Platinum Transportation operates the shuttle service. The shuttle service schedule can be found on the hotel's website. Nonetheless, the shuttle service is minimal. Also, it will not get you to your Walt Disney World theme park for theme park opening. If you need to rope-drop the theme parks, you will need another transportation option. Shuttles to SeaWorld Orlando and Universal Orlando Resort are also available.

Floridays Resort Orlando

Floridays Resort Orlando provides an all-suite resort. This makes an ideal choice for guests needing more space and looking to do more than just Walt Disney World on their vacation.

This beautiful property showcases a lush landscaped 20 acres to enjoy as a guest here. Also, these two or three-bedroom suites have everything you need for an extended stay, including clothes washers and dryers, a full kitchen, and a balcony to overlook the property.

Like many of these Good Neighbor Hotels, this hotel offers limited shuttle service primarily to and from the Transportation and Ticket Center (TTC). From the TTC, guests use Walt Disney World transportation to the theme parks. The TTC has Disney shuttles that will take guests to Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Disney’s Animal Kingdom. From the TTC, the Disney Monorail makes a quality option to visit Epcot.

Also, limited shuttle service to SeaWorld Orlando and Universal Orlando Resort is provided here. Based on this resort’s location on International Drive, guests can use the I-Ride Trolley to get around the Orlando tourist area

Hampton Inn Orlando/Lake Buena Vista

This Hampton Inn is about two miles from Walt Disney World Resort. This Good Neighbor Hotel provides guests with a complimentary breakfast with hot items. This hotel on Palm Parkway does not charge for parking.

The room options match many hotels in the area. You will find the basics you need with a price to match.

The complimentary Disney shuttle schedule is listed on the hotel website. Platinum Transportation operates the shuttle service. Based on that, a few shuttles run in the morning and return guests in the evening. These shuttles take guests to the TTC. From there, guests utilize the Walt Disney World transportation to their selected theme park.

Embassy Suites Orlando – Lake Buena Vista Resort

The Embassy Suites near Walt Disney World functions as a Good Neighbor Hotel. Like other options in this hotel chain, guests receive a nice room for their money. This all-suite hotel comes with a separate bedroom and a living room. These suites sleep up to six adults.

Guests enjoy a complimentary made-to-order breakfast each morning and a free evening reception with beverages and snacks. Amenities range from tennis, basketball courts, sand volleyball courts, a putting green, a kids' pool, and a splash pad with “dive-in” movie nights.

The Disney shuttle schedule can be found on the hotel website. With the current Disney shuttle schedule, the first bus leaves the hotel at 8:40 a.m. That one goes to the TTC. Other limited scheduled shuttle pickup times occur in the morning, with evening return service in the early afternoon and evening. This hotel also offers a shuttle service to SeaWorld Orlando and Universal Orlando Resort.

Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress Resort

The Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress Resort is known for its family-friendly atmosphere. The Hyatt is only about 8 miles away from Magic Kingdom, so after a quick shuttle ride, you will feel completely immersed in the magic.

779 resort-style hotel rooms and 46 suites offer guests a lot of luxurious options to book the perfect stay for their Orlando Stay. With views of the grounds of the hotel or even a nightly view of the theme park fireworks, the rooms will feel magical and refreshing.

There is a lagoon-style pool for the entire family to enjoy, a full-service spa, a fitness center featuring Peloton bikes, an award-winning golf course, and 3 on-site restaurants. With so many activities, it will be hard to fit everything in with your theme park vacation as well.

When you are ready to leave the Hyatt Regency, the complimentary shuttle will take you to Walt Disney World's Transportation and Ticket Center at Magic Kingdom and evening trips to Disney Springs. For a fully updated schedule, stop by the concierge desk when you check in.

Sheraton Orlando Lake Buena Vista Resort

The Sheraton Orlando Lake Buena Vista Resort feels beachy and relaxing in contrast to the high-energy theme park days at Walt Disney World. It may be just what your family needs to unwind at the end of a long day.

Guest rooms feature warm wood furniture, white linens, and either tile or cool blue carpet. These inviting rooms are available as standard 2 queens or 1 king. 1 and 2-bedroom suites can also be booked with many different bed options to fit all of your family’s needs.

Two full-service restaurants are located on the property as well as the Springboard Market, a grab-n-go station featuring snacks, bakery options, and Starbucks coffee. On the hotel property, guests can also choose to work in the Sheraton Fitness Center or relax at the Top of the Palms Spa. Two pools and a whirlpool are also available to hotel guests to cool off on those hot Florida days.

When you are ready to visit the parks, the complimentary free shuttle service to all Disney Orlando theme parks is available. Make sure to check in with the front desk upon arrival to receive a full schedule of departure and return times.

Avanti International Resort

The Avanti International Resort is conveniently located on International Drive. This hotel is in a great location for families who want the full Orlando experience, including access to the Walt Disney World Theme Parks.

Rooms offered include two queen beds, 1 king bed, or executive suites for booking. Room features are Wi-Fi, a 55” Flat Screen TV, a Hair Dryer, an in-room coffee maker, a refrigerator, a microwave, an iron and ironing board, room service, and dry cleaning pick up.

The Resort offers an arcade-style game room, fitness center, oversized pool and recreation area, on-site dining, room service, laundry facilities, EV charging stations, and more.

The resort provides a complimentary shuttle to Magic Kingdom and EPCOT. Guests wishing to visit Hollywood Studios or Animal Kingdom must transfer at the Transportation and Ticket Center to a Bus.

With a dedicated shuttle service, plus the newly updated rooms and state-of-the-art amenities, this resort is a great option for families looking to experience the full Orlando vacation.

Holiday Inn Orlando – Lake Buena Vista

The Holiday Inn Orlando is a family’s paradise for hotels. Rooms are specifically designed with kids in mind, as well as hotel activities. This Good Neighbor Disney hotel has it all.

Guests booking at the Holiday Inn Orlando can choose from many standard guest rooms: King Room, 2 Queen Bed Room, Deluxe Rooms, Rooms with Balconies, and more. There are also options for a KidSuite King Bed One Bunk and a KidSuite King Bed Two Bunk. Rooms come with a mini-refrigerator, microwave, Keurig coffee maker, in-room laptop safe, iron and ironing board, hair dryer, work desk, 42” flat screen TV, complimentary Wi-Fi, and more.

For dining options, guests can choose from the full breakfast buffet, the Tiki Bar for lunch or dinner, and the Applebee’s accessible from the lobby of the hotel.

There are also a ton of on-site activities and benefits for guests. Take a swim at the oversized heated pool, work out at the fitness center, play table tennis or billiards, watch movies in the lobby, and play games at the Cyber Arcade. Store luggage on your check-in or check-out days, access a safety deposit box if you need to store valuables, and use the 24-hour business center if you need to work.

The complimentary shuttle service to the theme parks is also available. Holiday Inn asks that guests budget 30-40 minutes for trips.  While there are not many flexible shuttle times for getting to and from the park, the hotel does a great job at providing a ton of family-friendly options for guests, and can make a great vacation spot!

Fairfield Inn & Suites, Courtyard, and SpringHill Suites by Orlando Lake Buena Vista in the Marriott Village

Located only about 5 miles from Walt Disney World theme parks lies the Marriott Village in Lake Buena Vista. Close to Disney World property, this Disney Good Neighbor hotel is a great option for families on a budget without compromising access to amenities.

Each of the three hotels is within walking distance of the other and has many of the same amenities. Guests can use the Marriott Village Fitness Center, swim at one of the 3 pools, or relax at one of the three whirlpools. There is also a centrally located play area, Starbucks coffee, and the Connections Food Hall and Connect Cafe. Free Continental and Buffet breakfast is available as well.

Fairfield Inn and Suites has standard guest rooms that feature two double beds or a king bed. Suites can also be booked and include a king bed and a set of bunk beds.

At Courtyard, guests can book a wider variety of guest rooms. Options include 2 queen beds, a King and Sofa bed, a King Suite with a balcony, or a queen pool view with a balcony.

SpringHill Suites features the largest amount of room space. Guests can choose from 2 doubles and a sofa bed or 1 king and a sofa bed, with varying room location options.

The theme park shuttle does require reservations that must be made at least 1 hour before departure time. The schedule changes each month, so times can vary.

Hilton Garden Inn Lake Buena Vista/Orlando

The Hilton Garden Inn Lake Buena Vista/ Orlando is within 5 miles of Walt Disney World and is a Disney Good Neighbor Hotel.

Hotel guests are able to book standard rooms (queen or king) or suites. Rooms come with a microwave, refrigerator, coffeemaker, HDTV, ergonomic desk chair, and other hotel comforts.

The hotel has many features for guests, including an outdoor pool, fitness center, on-site restaurant, pet-friendly rooms, a business center, free Wi-Fi, and more.

The hotel offers a free shuttle to all four Walt Disney World Theme parks. Guests should check in with the front desk upon arrival for the most up-to-date schedule.

Whether you choose a Disney Springs Hotel or a Disney Good Neighbor Hotel with Early Theme Park Entry or without it, the shuttle service is beneficial when visiting Walt Disney World!

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