Hotels in Orlando With Disney World Shuttle – Our Favorites, Top Tips to Choose

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?

One of the critical decisions for your Walt Disney World vacation revolves around where to stay in the Orlando area. The Walt Disney World Resort provides many wonderful hotels for guests to enjoy. One of the most significant benefits derived from staying at a Walt Disney World hotel involves the complimentary transportation service to the theme parks and other locations around the resort. This perk allows guests to visit theme parks and then freely take Disney transportation back to their hotel to relax and recharge.

What about those that stay off-site? Can they utilize shuttle service to the Walt Disney World theme parks also?

In many cases, you can find Orlando hotels with 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. As will be said numerous times in this resource, check with your hotel about the Disney shuttle service specifics! The schedules vary depending on the time of year.

Saving Money Staying at an Orlando Hotel With Disney Shuttle Service

The key reason to consider staying off-site, as opposed to at one of the many Walt Disney World hotels, pertains to cost. Staying off-site saves money and usually offers more spacious rooms. However, you will need a plan regarding transportation to and from the theme parks.

Would staying at an off-site Disney World hotel with a shuttle service to the Disney theme parks save money on car service or ride-share expenses? For those staying off-site, many hotels in the Orlando area provide shuttle service to the Walt Disney World theme parks. If those shuttle schedules fit your plans for visiting the theme parks, this hotel feature can save your group significant money on transportation fees.

The cost of traveling to and from Disney’s theme parks makes off-property hotels less economical in some cases and more time-consuming. So, if you decide to stay at a non-Disney hotel, choosing one that offers shuttles (preferably free) to Walt Disney World makes sense.

This resource will suggest some of the better Orlando hotels with Disney shuttles. For many of these non-Disney-owned hotels, the shuttle service changes to some extent each year and during different times of the year. As previously mentioned, we suggest confirming the shuttle schedules with your hotel when planning your stay due to potential schedule changes.

Despite that, our suggested Orlando hotels with Disney shuttle will make transportation easier while staying off-site. In fairness, nothing can compete with staying on-site in terms of transportation. However, if staying at a non-Disney-owned off-site hotel saves you significant money, it might be worth it.

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Shuttle Service to Magic Kingdom

Another advantage to staying at an on-site Walt Disney World involves 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.

On a more positive note, the shuttle services from many non-Disney-owned hotels drop off guests as close as the Disney-owned hotel shuttle to the other three Walt Disney World theme parks. In some cases, the drop-off from non-Disney-owned hotel guests is even closer.

Early Theme Park Entry to the Four Walt Disney World Theme Parks

Related to that, one of the advantages of staying at a Walt Disney World-owned on-site hotel relates to the early entry perk. All guests staying at one of the Disney-owned hotels receive the ability to enter one of the four Walt Disney World theme parks at least 30 minutes before other guests.

This early entry advantage empowers guests with a head start to enjoy the big-ticket attractions at each theme park, like Avatar Flight of Passage or Slinky Dog Dash.

Some non-Disney-owned hotels also provide guests with this privilege. However, this advantage for certain off-site guests gets renewed each year. For example, at the time of writing, one of the hotels with early theme park entry perks for guests, B Resort & Spa, has yet to renew it officially for the following year.

Nevertheless, this pattern happens each year. We expect all non-Disney-owned hotels listed below to have early theme park entry through 2024.

Non-Disney Owned Orlando Hotels With Early Entry

Below you will find the current list of non-Disney-owned hotels with early theme park entry privileges. All the following Orlando hotels provide Disney shuttle service also.

• Walt Disney World Dolphin Hotel
• Walt Disney World Swan Hotel
• Walt Disney World Swan Reserve
• DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Orlando
• Drury Plaza Hotel Orlando Lake Buena Vista
• Four Seasons Resort Orlando
• Hilton Orlando Buena Vista Palace
• Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista
• Holiday Inn Orlando Disney Springs
• Shades of Green® on Walt Disney World® Resort
• Signia by Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek
• Waldorf Astoria Orlando
• Wyndham Garden Lake Buena Vista (and Wyndham Lake Buena Vista)
• B Resort & Spa (only confirmed through 2023 at present)

All these Orlando hotels with Disney shuttle service reside technically on Walt Disney World property.  Also, some sit very close to at least one Walt Disney World theme park or Disney Springs.

Non-Disney Owned Orlando Hotels With Disney Shuttle Service and Early Theme Park Entry

A list including every hotel in the Orlando area with a shuttle service of some type to the Walt Disney World theme parks would be incredibly long. For this resource, we will start with the Orlando hotels with early theme park entry. After that, we will describe some of the better options without that advantage but worth considering.

Remember, not all Disney shuttle services are equal.  An Orlando hotel with a Disney shuttle service with only one pickup and drop-off time each day quickly becomes impractical.  Also, some shuttle services take you to the TTC, no matter which Disney theme park you plan to visit.

Our list includes hotels with either continuous shuttle service or several pickups and drop-offs to Walt Disney World theme parks. Of note, our list starts with the more luxury or deluxe-level hotels, so do not lose hope for more budget-friendly options as you read this list.

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 nightly hotel rates start around $250, with varied pricing based on the time of year.  These hotels offer some excellent table service dining also.

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 kid’s 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

Non- Disney Owned Orlando Hotels with Disney Shuttles: Disney Springs Area

Seven hotels sit 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.

All seven of these hotels provide better options for those wishing to save a little money. Depending on when you visit, one should expect to pay between $100 – $250/ 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.

Also, as the name implies, the Disney Springs Hotels are near the Disney Springs complex. These hotels make great choices for those wishing to visit Disney Springs during their vacation.

Orlando Hotels With Disney Shuttles: The Seven Disney Springs 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)
• B Resort & Spa.

Most of these Disney Springs hotels are operated by major chains. So, if you stay at one of these, you can use hotel rewards points.

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. You will need to schedule these at your hotel. Each uses a slightly different system, but the process is simple.

However, if planning to attend an after-hours event like Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, these shuttles will not run late enough to use after the event. This principle rings true for almost all non-Disney-owned hotels with shuttle service. We will now list the highlights of each of these seven Disney Springs hotels.

DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Orlando

This all-suite hotel does more than provide the signature cookie at check-in. For example, this hotel provides spacious one and two-bedroom suites. The prices start at $109 for a one-bedroom and $215 for a two-bedroom. If you have a large group, Staying here with a Disney shuttle could save you significant vacation budget money.

Drury Plaza Hotel Orlando Lake Buena Vista

The Drury Plaza Inn features newly renovated rooms. Also, like other Drury Inns, this one serves a complimentary warm breakfast, a kickback light meal from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., and some complimentary alcoholic beverages each evening. Also, unlike most other hotels on this list, the Drury Plaza Inn does not charge resort fees.

Hilton Orlando Buena Vista Palace

This Disney Springs hotel offers nice rooms that sleep three up to eight. This hotel resembles a true resort more than the other Disney Springs hotel. The price point for rooms starts at around $165.

Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista

This hotel resides across the street from Disney Springs. Guests take a pedestrian bridge and either some stairs or elevators to go to Disney Springs from this hotel. The prices start at around $135 for a standard room.

Holiday Inn Orlando Disney Springs

The Holiday Inn in the Disney Springs area offers everything you would expect from a Holiday Inn. Families with children under 12 will appreciate that kids eat free in the hotel restaurant with a paying adult. Rooms start at around $120 per night.

Wyndham Garden Lake Buena Vista (and Wyndham Lake Buena Vista)

This Disney Springs hotel sits on the same side of Hotel Plaza Boulevard as the entrance to Disney Springs. This hotel offers an excellent pool area for the entire family. Also, one can often find hotel room rates at $100 or slightly below for a standard room.

B Resort & Spa

With a touch of a resort hotel feel, this boutique-style hotel provides some features of a true resort with a bright, clean interior. We enjoy The American Kitchen Bar and Grill here for a table service meal. The starting price for rooms is around $115.

Orlando Hotels With Disney Shuttles: Walt Disney World Good Neighbor Hotels 

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 Guests 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. Also, some hotels charge an additional fee. However, that is only a few of the Good Neighbor Hotels. In addition, your travel advisor can help book a vacation package at these hotels, including your room and Walt Disney theme park tickets. Unlike the previously listed hotel, these hotels offer far more limited shuttle service.

Guests at these Good Neighbor Hotels do not receive early theme park entry, unlike the ones listed earlier in this article. You can find a complete list of Good Neighbor Hotels on the Walt Disney World website. This resource will not describe all of them. We have selected the most highly regarded (with an eye to a more budget-friendly one when possible) to aid your planning for your next Walt Disney World vacation.

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” 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 kid’s 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. The current schedule looks like this:

Departs from Rosen Inn Lake Buena Vista

• 9:45 a.m. (Hollywood Studios),
• 10:40 a.m. (Epcot),
• 4:25 p.m. (Disney Springs)

Departs from Walt Disney World back to Rosen Inn Lake Buena Vista

• 4:00 p.m. (Hollywood Studios)
• 9:45 p.m. (Epcot),
• 11:15 p.m. (Disney Springs)

As you can see, the shuttle schedule is limited compared to many of the earlier Orlando hotels with Disney shuttle service. Once again, this hotel offers limited shuttle service to SeaWorld Orlando and Universal Orlando Resort.

Courtyard by Marriott Lake Buena Vista at Vista Centre

This Marriott hotel makes another good choice for those with Marriot Bonvoy Rewards. This hotel sits about a mile from Walt Disney World. This hotel on Palm Parkway contains standard rooms and one-bedroom suites.

Some advantages of this hotel include two swimming pools, a rock waterfall whirlpool spa, and a kiddie pool. In addition, this Courtyard Marriot has an on-site table service restaurant and a lounge.

The shuttle service involves a one-morning shuttle to each Walt Disney World theme park and one shuttle pickup in the late afternoon or evening.

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. According to the hotel’s website, the current shuttle schedule looks like this:

Departures:

• 9:55 a.m.:    To the Magic Kingdom (Transportation and Ticket Center)
• 12:10 p.m.:  To EPCOT

Return Shuttles to the Floridays Resort:

• 7:45 p.m.:    Magic Kingdom (Transportation and Ticket Center – Lane #16)
• 10:05 p.m.:  Magic Kingdom (Transportation and Ticket Center – Lane #16)
• 10:15 p.m.: EPCOT (Transportation Center – Lane #45).

Based on this shuttle schedule, one should budget some extra time to reach your desired theme park. 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.

Looking to Stay at an Orlando Hotel With Disney Shuttle Service?

Do some of these Orlando hotels with Disney shuttle service sound interesting? Are you looking to plan your next Walt Disney World vacation? Did you know that MickeyVisit creates a free Deals newsletter? You can subscribe here to avoid missing out on the latest news and saving opportunities for your Disney vacation.

Also, the team of writers at MickeyVisit work hard to keep everything updated to help readers plan their theme park vacations. As a result, we placed a few additional articles below to help with your planning. Happy planning!

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