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If you are looking for a good, affordable hotel option on the Walt Disney World Resort property in Orlando, Florida, then your best bet is Wyndham Garden Lake Buena Vista Disney Springs Resort Area. Wyndham Garden Lake Buena Vista Disney Springs Resort Area are part of a select group of hotels called the Disney Springs hotels; we talk about the Disney Springs hotels here. But today, I want to talk about Wyndham Garden Lake Buena Vista, and specifically eight reasons why you should consider staying at Wyndham Garden Lake Buena Vista:
1Price
Of all the Disney Springs hotels, this is the most affordable option. You can even save 20% if you stay more than one night and book your stay here. This rate is more comparable with off-site Disney hotels. Actually, it can be much better. Depending on the date you choose and the people in your party, you can get a room for under $100 a night, which is outstanding these days.
2Perks
But unlike other off-site Disney hotels, you get perks that more resemble an onsite Disney hotel. For example, you get early entry into the Disney parks like Disney hotel guests do.
You also get access (for free!) for bus transportation to Magic Kingdom, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park. The shuttles depart hourly, running until one hour after the park closes. You are not going to get that kind of shuttle service at offsite Disney hotels. Those hotels may drop you off in the morning and come back for you at night, but that’s about it. This is much more convenient if you like the option to come back to your room during the day (which is really a necessity if you have a child who needs their nap, or an adult in your party who needs their nap like I often do).
3Convenience to Disney Springs
One of the things I like about some of the Disney deluxe hotels is how close they are to Disney parks and how you can walk to them (like how you can walk from The Beach Club to EPCOT, Contemporary to Magic Kingdom, etc.). It’s really great that for an affordable price you’re able to get that same feature at Wyndham Garden Lake Buena Vista, because the walk to Disney Springs is close – like, so close you probably would walk less than you would if drove and parked and then walked to Disney Springs. It is also an easier walk than from Saratoga Springs, the one official Disney hotel that is within walking distance of Disney Springs.
There is a super convenient skywalk you can use to quickly get to Disney Springs, and you’re right there near Earl of Sandwich (which is a great, affordable restaurant – we review Earl of Sandwich here). If you haven’t been to Disney Springs before, you’ll love it; they have great restaurants (my favorite being T-Rex Cafe, a fun restaurant with animatronic dinosaurs & delicious food – we review T-Rex Cafe here), great shopping and entertainment – even a Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique!
4Size of the hotel
I really like how compact the entire resort is, because it’s a lot easier to walk around at night, and that’s a relief when you’re tired from a day at the parks.
5Beautiful Grounds
Just because the hotel is compact doesn’t mean the hotel isn’t beautiful.
You can see its beauty in our video of the hotel:
I really like the gardens, and especially the Not So Hidden Mickey.
6Dining
The hotel has great dining options. There’s a breakfast buffet at Lakeview Restaurant (a highlight there are fittingly the Mickey waffles!). You can also enjoy delicious foods & drinks at the Oasis Bar & Grill by the pool. There are also picnic tables available if you like eating outdoors. If you want some quick food indoors, I recommend the Sundial 24-7; I had a great muffin for breakfast. There’s also an Eclipse Lounge where you can sip cocktails, enjoy snacks or watch the game on the lounge big-screen TV. And room service is available if you want to stay in.
7Great Amenities
When you’re not having fun at the parks, there’s plenty to do at the hotel. It’s got a great pool complex with an 189,000-gallon heated pool, a hot tub and an Oasis Aquatic Pool Playground that’s a zero entry pool with a rock waterfall & interactive water features. Additionally, there are courts for tennis, basketball & beach volleyball. There’s also a fitness center and a video arcade.
8Less themed than Disney
Now, this may or may not be a good thing depending on your opinion of Disney, but if you stay here rather than say a Disney Value Hotel the hotel will seem less “Disney”. Sure, there’s a Disney gift shop in the lobby and a Disney character breakfast available, but the rest of the hotel has a very sophisticated feel and if you feel like you’ve been overdosed with Disney characters all day, you’ll be pleased with the rooms that are not themed to Disney.
