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Disney Springs Hotels
Are you considering staying at a Disney Springs hotel for your Disney World trip? It’s a great decision. It is a great way to stay onsite at Walt Disney World Resort and get the perks (book fastpasses 60 days in advance, busses that come every thirty minutes, extra magic hours, etc.) without the huge price tag. And Disney Springs hotels can actually have benefits Disney hotels don’t. You can see in our comparison of Disney value hotels and Disney Springs hotels.
But once you have decided you want to stay at a Disney Springs hotel, you have a new decision to make. And that’s which Disney Springs you want to stay in! And one common question I’ve heard that comes up a lot when looking at Disney Springs hotels. What on earth is the difference between Wyndham Lake Buena Vista and Wyndham Garden Lake Buena Vista?
Wyndham Lake Buena Vista vs Wyndham Garden Lake Buena Vista
You may have to read this more than once to see that there is a difference. Basically, one says Wyndham Garden and the other does not have Garden in the name. And it can get a bit confusing when you book your stay. So with a name that sounds so much alike, is there a difference? And I have stayed at both, so I can tell you what the differences & similarities.
So basically here is the big similarity: they are located in the same location with the same parking. They even share the same lobby. But first, here is the big difference. Wyndham Lake Buena Vista Disney Springs Resort Area is in the main building, in a 19-story tower. Wyndham Garden Lake Buena Vista Disney Springs Resort Area is in a separate, motel-style wing of the building. And (as the name might imply) it is a courtyard style building with a beautiful garden (complete with a Hidden Mickey!).
Hotel Similarities
So let’s go back over the hotel similarities. The hotels do share a lot of great amenities. So you may decide the similarities are enough to pick your hotel based on price. Or not, given the differences that I’ll go over later. But first, the similarities:
- Both are a quick walk to Disney Springs. Especially the Christmas Tree Trail, which you should check out if you’re visiting during the holiday season.
- They share a lobby.
- They share a parking lot.
- Both give you access to the hotel complex’s great pool, hot tub, poolside bar & children’s splash area
- Both give you access to the great dining options here, including a Disney character breakfast
Oh and here’s one really great similarity – you can save a lot of money on both if you book through this website. You can save up to 28% on your stay, which makes staying at one of these hotels during your Disney World trip an even better decision!
Differences
So now let’s go over the differences.
Hotel Rooms
The hotel rooms are one of the big differences for me. The rooms at Wyndham Lake Buena Vista Disney Springs all have king or queen beds. They are 312 square feet. Staying in this room was quite comfortable for my family of four. There was enough room for our stuff and to walk around without stepping all over each other.
Now, the rooms at Wyndham Garden Lake Buena Vista have kings or queens if you are staying in a room for a couple people. So it won’t be as big of deal if this is you. But if you need two beds, they have double beds at Wyndham Garden Lake Buena Vista. This may not be a dealbreaker for you but it is something to consider if you prefer queens to double beds. The rooms are slightly smaller, too, at 291 square feet. Now, this isn’t a huge difference. We are literally talking a difference of about 20 square feet. But still, it is something to consider.
Price
This, to me, is the other big difference between the two hotels. Wyndham Garden Lake Buena Vista is consistently a lot cheaper than Wyndham Lake Buena Vista Disney Springs. So if the differences aren’t a big deal to you, I would definitely pick Wyndham Garden Lake Buena Vista.
Convenience
Since the rooms at Wyndham Lake Buena Vista Disney Springs are in the main building, it is a bit more convenient to both the dining and to get to the busses to the Disney theme parks (Epcot, Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, Blizzard Beach, Typhoon Lagoon). But it is not a huge deal, because it’s not a huge walk. And even though it is a motel style building, you don’t have to walk outside to get to the main building. You can use the elevator. But still, it’s something I thought I should mention.
Although on the other hand, Wyndham Garden Lake Buena Vista is more convenient to the parking lot. So it does make loading and unloading a little easier. But once again, there’s not a huge difference.
Atmosphere
Now, this is really personal preference. But the atmosphere for Wyndham Lake Buena Vista is more of a hotel or even resort feel since you are in the main building and you get to walk through hallways to get to your room. Wyndham Garden Lake Buena Vista Disney Springs, on the other hand, has more of a motel feel. If you really dislike the motel feeling, then this is something you should think about before you pick which hotel to choose.
Conclusion
Both Wyndham Garden Lake Buena Vista Disney Springs Resort Area and Wyndham Lake Buena Vista Disney Springs Resort Area are great hotels to choose for a Walt Disney World vacation. Wyndham Lake Buena Vista has a few advantages (bigger rooms, bigger beds, slightly more convenient) that might make it worth the extra money. But Wyndham Garden Lake Buena Vista Disney Springs is a great choice if you don’t mind the differences and want to save money.
And finally, check out our videos of both hotels to see for yourself!