More space
Sure, your hotel room might have the newest TV next to a tiny sofa and pearly white sheets on each of the beds, but is it really at the top of the priority list when it comes to finding a great place to stay? The small square of a room with a small sofa that can barely hold all of them at the same time is simply not going to be comfortable. When you rent a house or villa*, you are automatically guaranteed more space for children to run around and have fun. You will save yourself the headache of feeling cramped and overcrowded and will allow you to take advantage of more space within the home.
A large kitchen and a laundry room
Hotels often offer the typical mini fridge with a total of two bottles of water and enough room to fit one of four take-home boxes you just brought from a restaurant down the street. However, when you decide to rent a house, you are provided with a full kitchen with a stove, oven, and full-size refrigerator. Most vacation homes have a laundry room, which is great when you’re traveling with kids. Having a kitchen will also save you a lot of money because it allows you to cook your own meals and not have to go out to dinner every breakfast, lunch and dinner.
The price comparison
If you’re having a hard time deciding whether the first two reasons to stay in a house or villa over a Disney World hotel are on-site, perhaps the price comparison will sway your vote. The price of a room in the cheapest hotel within Disney is around $85.00. The price of a unit with kitchen and laundry for one night ranges from $250 to $500. Now the price of a night for a house or villa close to all the main attractions can be as low as $100 per night! Also, when it comes to hotel/resort rooms, they will add whatever additional fees they deem appropriate.
short list of cons
After thinking, contemplating, and researching all of the above reasons for why you should or shouldn’t rent a home the next time you vacation in Orlando, you may well find that the list of pros far outweighs the list of cons. The downsides are, of course, you can’t walk right out of your hotel and be steps away from the Disney parks, which is the main reason people give up on the idea of renting houses and villas. Another con is that if you have children who need to take several breaks throughout the day from excitement and fun, you will most likely have to take a rental car and drive back to the house. Although these are often minor and again a shorter list compared to the many benefits of renting a home, they will just have to decide for themselves what the top priorities should be.
When price is not an issue
If you are not on a tight budget, booking a good on-site resort or villa is the best idea so far. Disney really knows the meaning of the word “luxury.” You can find an amazing place to stay on site, which will be “THE experience” on its own. Disney is one of the best at separating you from your money, so this “experience” will come at a price.
Whether you choose to stay at one of the Disney resorts or a vacation home near the park, arrange your transportation in advance. Are you renting a car (#1 option for families renting a villa/vacation home) or are you using Disney’s shared ride service (cheap option, but not very convenient)? If you are looking for a stress-free vacation, book a private transfer. There are dozens of companies that offer private transfers from the Orlando airport to the Disney area. STAR TRANS-VIP is one of them. The company offers private transportation from the Orlando airport to Disney World area hotels and resorts, villas and homes.