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A trip to Disney World is many people’s dream, but the cost of a hotel near Disney World compels many of us to search high and low for Disney World hotel deals. At Almost Free Traveling, we specialize in helping people make their dreams come true by teaching you how to book entire Disney World trips using credit card points and miles!
For your next Disney World trip, we’ve compiled a comparison list of 27 hotels near Walt Disney World Orlando, noting the benefits and differences of each. This guide will help you find Disney World hotels you can book by opening one of the listed credit cards and using the welcome bonus points to book rooms.
HYATT
We’ll start with Hyatt, but not because they are the closest in location to Disney World; as you can see on the map below, all six are situated NE of Disney Springs, closer to Universal and downtown Orland than WDW. We’re starting with Hyatt because they’re a highly rated hotel chain, and many travelers favorite hotel brand (read more about that here). World of Hyatt, IHG and Marriott Bonvoy cards are all issued by Chase–a bank who only issues new cards to individuals who have opened less than five cards in the past 24 months–so although Hilton has great Disney World hotel options, consider prioritizing the other three brands before Hilton so Chase won’t cut you off.
To earn Hyatt points, I recommend a two-step process: 1. Open a Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening (that’s $750 when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®). For only a $95 annual fee, you’ll earn 3x points on dining and on select streaming services and online grocery purchases, 5x points on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards, and 2x points on other travel, as well as a $50 Annual Ultimate Rewards Hotel Credit. 2. Transfer enough CUR to Hyatt to book the hotel you want.
If you already have the Sapphire Preferred but you need another chunk of Ultimate Rewards to transfer to Hyatt, open this one:
Open a Chase Ink Business Unlimited Credit Card and earn $900 cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, for no annual fee!
Close to Disney Springs (full of shopping, dining and shows), Hyatt Place Orlando/Lake Buena Vista is 4.1 miles away and offers free parking (we rank this as one of the Top Disney Good Neighbor Hotels!).
The closest of the Hyatt properties, this amazing family retreat Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress is only 3.7 miles from WDW. To hear about a recent stay at the Grand Cypress, listen to this episode of the The Disney Points Podcast:
Hyatt Regency Orlando is an iconic hotel minutes away from Universal and Sea World, and 7.2 miles away from WDW. (This is one of the top ten value redemptions around WDW according to thepointsanalyst.com)
Proximate to all the Orlando theme parks and the convention center, Hyatt Place Orlando / I-Drive / Convention Center is 7.5 miles away and offers free breakfast!
Hyatt Place Across From Universal Orlando Resort™ offers a family-friendly environment, free breakfast, and might be a good choice if you’re doing Universal and WDW, which is 9.7 miles away (read here about how to use points & miles for a Universal Premier Resort including Express Pass Unlimited).
Also 9.7 miles from WDW, Hyatt House Across From Universal Orlando Resort™ most suites at the this hotel near Disney World have a fully equipped kitchenette and separate living area, and they offer free breakfast and parking.
IHG
As you can see from the map below, IHG properties at Disney World are a little more centrally located to the parks than Hyatt. Note that two of them are Disney Good Neighbor hotels which means they provide the benefit of free shuttles to the parks, including the close-in Holiday Inn which has a Waterpark.
We recently opened two IHG credit cards (one for me, one for my spouse, one at a time) and earned over ~300,000 points between our two sign-up bonus offers by putting all our regular spending on the cards. We plan to use those points for Disneyland Paris later this year–but if you’re planning a Disney World trip, open an IHG® Rewards Club Premier Credit Card and earn 175,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Enjoy a Reward Night after each account anniversary year at eligible IHG hotels worldwide (plus, enjoy a reward night when you redeem points for any stay of 3 or more nights: book three nights get the fourth night free). Use a Global Entry, TSA PreCheck® or NEXUS Statement Credit of up to $100 every 4 years as reimbursement for the application fee charged to your card. You’ll have Platinum Elite status as long as you remain a Premier card member. Cardholders earn up to 26 points total per $1 spent when you stay at an IHG hotel! Earn 5 points per $1 spent on purchases on travel, gas stations, and restaurants! Earn 3 points per $1 spent on all other purchases!
175,000 is enough for at least ~5 nights in a standard room at many of the properties listed below (remember, your fourth night with IHG is free!)
The newly renovated Holiday Inn Orlando-Disney Springs is walking distance from Disney Springs and 3.8 miles away from WDW (This is one of the top ten value redemptions around WDW according to thepointsanalyst.com).
Not as highly rated as some of the others on this list, Holiday Inn Resort Orlando-Lake Buena Vista is an official Disney Good Neighbor hotel and offers a free shuttle to Disney World, which is 4.1 miles away.
Candlewood Suites Orlando-Lake Buena Vista is highly rated, and centrally located between Universal & WDW which is 3.8 miles away (This is one of the top ten value redemptions around WDW according to thepointsanalyst.com)
Another Good Neighbor hotel, the Crowne Plaza Orlando-Lake Buena Vista offers free parking and a free shuttle to the Disney World parks which are 4.2 miles away.
As the name suggests, the all-suite famly-friendly Holiday Inn Resort Orlando Suites-Waterpark has a Waterpark, and a free shuttle to Disney World, which is less than a mile away (This is one of the top ten value redemptions around WDW according to thepointsanalyst.com).
The spectacular Holiday Inn Club Vacations at Orange Lake Resort sits west of the parks next to Animal Kingdom, offers Free Parking and is 3.7 miles away from WDW (This is one of the top ten value redemptions around WDW according to thepointsanalyst.com).
MARRIOTT
Open a Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card and earn 3 Free Nights (each valued up to 50,000 points) after you spend $3,000 on purchases in your first 3 months from your account opening.(prices fluctuate, and some of the rooms at some of the properties will cost over 50,000 points during high season). If the room price is higher that 50,000 and you need a few more points to top off these certificates, you can use up to 15,000 points/night to cover the difference.
We focused this post on nine Marriott properties closest to Disney World that could be booked using the certificates from the bonus offer (rooms 50,000/night or less). We found during our search that there are actually a whopping 32 Marriotts within 15 miles of WDW, making Marriott the most prolific hotel chain in the area; you’re bound to find availability at a Marriott hotel near Disney World.
If you really want to maximize your Marriott points, read here about using Marriott points to book three different Disney Resorts at Disney’s Boardwalk, the three Marriott properties closest to WDW at Disney’s boardwalk!! The Disney World hotel early entry benefit, proximity and ability to book with bonus certificates makes these some of the best hotels to book near Disney World.
Located right off the 429 expressway NW of the Disney World just minutes from the western entrance, the brand new Flamingo Crossing Town Center is home to four different Marriott properties listed here that you can book with points:
Guests will enjoy free parking and spacious suites equipped with microwaves, coffee makers and mini-fridges at SpringHill Suites by Marriott Orlando at FLAMINGO CROSSINGS® Town Center/Western Entrance, 2.7 miles from the nearby Disney World western entrance.
Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Orlando at FLAMINGO CROSSINGS® Town Center offers free parking, a resort style pool and like the other Marriott properties at Flamingo Crossing, it’s proximate to many family-friendly restaurants.
TownePlace Suites by Marriott Orlando at FLAMINGO CROSSINGS® Town Center/Western Entrance offers free parking, a free shuttle to nearby Disney World, and suites with full kitchenettes.
The newest of the Marriotts at Flamingo Crossing, Residence Inn by Marriott Orlando at FLAMINGO CROSSINGS® Town Center offers one & two bedroom suites with full-size kitchens (This is one of the top ten value redemptions around WDW according to thepointsanalyst.com).
Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center is everything you’d expect from a Gaylord property, complete with many recreational options in a glass-covered atrium, only 3.6 miles from WDW (This is one of the top ten value redemptions around WDW according to thepointsanalyst.com).
Walking distance to nearby Disney Springs, Delta Hotel by Marriott Orlando Lake Buena Vista offers a free shuttle to and from Disney World and is only 3.9 miles away.
Orlando World Center Marriott boasts renovated suites, waterslides and a brand new pool area, and is only 3.3 miles from WDW.
Just one mile from WDW, Sheraton Orlando Buena Vista is a Good Neighbor Hotel!
A Good Neighbor Hotel, Fairfield Inn & Suites Lake Buena Vista offers suites with bunkbeds, and complimentary transportation to and from Epcot.
HILTON
Hilton Disney World hotels tend to be nearby, and the first two properties on our list are official Walt Disney World hotels, meaning you qualify for extra morning entry 30 minutes prior to park opening!
We’ve previously opened Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card (click on the blue ”American Express’ at this link) and earned over ~300,000 in bonus points, using half of them to book a week at Disneyland one year and the other half in London. If you open a Hilton Surpass card today and spend only $2000 in three months you’ll earn 130,000 points plus a free night reward (terms apply) for a $95 annual fee. These points should get you ~2-4 nights in a standard room at one of these properties (book four nights at Hilton and the fifth night is free!).
There’s also the zero annual fee Hilton Honors American Express Card (click on the blue ‘American Express’ at this link) with a welcome bonus of 70,000 points and a free award night when you spend only $1000 in the first 90 days (terms apply). That should get you a few nights at one of the Hiltons listed here!
Hilton Orlando Buena Vista Palace Disney Springs Area is an official Walt Disney World Hotel, which means booking a room here gets you continuous shuttle service and early access to the parks 30 minutes before opening. Plan on paying resort fees here; WDW is 3.4 miles away.
Another official WDW hotel, Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista – Disney Springs Area offers complimentary shuttles to the parks and is 3.6 miles away.
Situated close to the western park entrance, the highly rated new Homewood Suites by Hilton Orlando at FLAMINGO CROSSINGS Town Center offers free breakfast and parking and is only 2.9 miles away.
The pet-friendly all-suite Home2 Suites by Hilton Orlando at FLAMINGO CROSSINGS Town Center offers free breakfast & parking 2.7 miles from WDW.
You’ll pay resort fees here, but Signia by Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek offers shuttle service and a 3-acre lazy recreational river area only 2.6 miles from WDW.
The sophisticated Waldorf Astoria Orlando provides a golf course and luxurious pool area 2.7 miles from WDW; you’ll pay resort fees here.
TAKEAWAYS
With four+ different credit cards to open and 27+ hotels to choose from, there’s endless ways to book a Disney World hotel using credit card points year after year!
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