When planning a vacation in Orlando – the land of theme parks and other larger than life attractions, the question that often arises is where to put up – in a nearby hotel, in a Disney resort, or a vacation rental? Like you, I faced the same dilemma. With the convenience of my party members in mind, I decided to weigh the pros and cons of all three, before reaching a decision. So, I listed out all the pros and cons I could think of for a hotel, a Disney resort, and a vacation rental.
A hotel:
Pros: Booking a hotel room has some advantages. Like you get to enjoy the luxurious amenities of the hotel, you can dine at the onsite restaurants (if it has one) and need not search for a nice restaurant as soon as you arrive, order room service if you don’t feel like going out, and more. Some hotels also offer transport in the form of shuttle buses to the theme parks.
Cons: But, the problem lies in the price you pay and the returns you get. Unless you burn a hole in your pocket, you will not be able to get really good services. Apart from cramped rooms, you will find yourself facing crowded pools and saunas. Besides this, if you want to use the shuttle bus service, you will have to travel to and from the theme parks at the same time as the other 30 or so other guests. Moreover, after a particular time, the impersonal service of a hotel starts getting to you and you begin to think longingly of home.
A Disney Resort:
Pros: Staying at a Disney resort can be a very lovely experience with each resort having a different theme. All rooms of the resorts are decorated with that theme and have almost all the amenities of a hotel. Moreover, you are just a short way from the parks, so you can easily return for an afternoon siesta. Shuttles, ferries, and open air rides take you to the theme parks and back. Guests of the Disney resorts also have the advantage of getting access to early opening hours and late closing hours, so they can easily enjoy the more popular rides when the park is less crowded.
Cons: It is worth the money spent which is on the higher side. The only thing is that though you are near the parks, you are a bit further from other Orlando attractions.
A vacation rental:
Pros: A less expensive alternative to staying in a Disney resort. Vacation rentals are more spacious and private, have better amenities, and offer the warmth of a home away from home. As a vacation rental is in essence a home, you can rent it throughout, instead of booking different hotel rooms. Moreover, amenities such as a fully equipped kitchen, TV, VCR, washer/dryer, and in some cases, wireless internet access, computers, data ports, private pools and hot tubs are added advantages. In short, a vacation rental is more spacious, more economical and offers the amenities of a hotel but with the warmth of a home. As many vacation rentals are available in the Disney Area, you can easily hire a suitable vacation rental in Orlando with allocation central to all attractions and just minutes away from the parks.
Cons: You need to book well in advance, and have to pay an extra charge if you are bringing a pet along. You don’t always get what you are promised.
Listing the advantages and disadvantages of all three helped me to decide and finalize on an Orlando vacation rental. I hope this comes of a help to others in my position.
James Smith is working with http://www.alwaysonvacation.com as travel article writer. He is writing travel articles for the last 5 years.
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