Choosing a Hotel in Kissimmee

Staying off-site at Walt Disney World can save families a huge amount of money. Once you leave Disney property though, you are no longer assured of the high quality of service and care that the Disney World resorts provide. While there are great deals to be found outside the gates, there are also some pitfalls to be avoided. Here are some tips to help you find the perfect hotel for your stay:

Getting the Best Rate
Instead of calling the global toll-free number for chains such as Best Western or Marriott, you usually get much better rates calling the local phone number directly for the hotel. Make sure to ask about any potential discounts or lower rates available. Rarely will the hotel give you the best price in their first offer. Make sure to check the hotel's official website, as rates can often be least expensive on the internet. Try to book as much in advance as possible, especially if you are traveling in holiday periods.

Resort Fees
Before booking, make sure to clarify if there are any resort fees not included in the room rate. For some hotels the resort fee is only a few dollars, but at other hotels it can be over ten dollars a night. Also make sure that parking is included in the nightly rate.

Resort Transportation
While most hotels offer transportation to the theme parks, there are a few that only offer transportation to Walt Disney World. Remember, Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure, and Sea World are not found in Walt Disney World so if you are visiting those parks you need to make sure the hotel provides transportation. If traveling to Walt Disney World, try to find a hotel that includes a shuttle that drops off at every theme park, not just the Transportation and Ticket Center. While on-site transportation is free, traveling from the Transportation and Ticket Center to the different theme parks can take over thirty minutes. You also need to check on how frequently the transportation travels to the different theme parks. Most hotels offer only a morning and evening shuttle to the parks which gives family with small children no transportation back to the hotel for a midday nap. If you are not planning to rent a car, you also should remember that Walt Disney World is a huge complex with many miles of wilderness in between it's theme parks and the outside world. You need to make sure that the hotel shuttle has a schedule you can live with, as walking between your hotel and any Disney parks is not feasible. Even the hotels that are located on Walt Disney World property are miles away from the theme parks.

Capacity per Room
One big advantage to staying off-site is that there are more options for larger families. Most on-site rooms only accommodate four people, but many off-site hotels can accommodate six or more in available suites. If putting more than four people in a standard room, make sure to find out the room's capacity to avoid being evicted from the hotel.

Age of Hotel
While some hotels have received many upgrades and renovations over the years, others have seen little change or improvements. You may want to ask the hotel you are considering when their rooms were last renovated.

Meal Deals
Some hotels include free meals or kids eat free programs. If the hotel offers a continental breakfast, keep in mind it usually only involves a few pastries with coffee. Finding a hotel with a full breakfast can be tricky, but it can save a family of four over thirty dollars a day.

Pools
If swimming is high on your list than you'll want to inquire about the quality of the hotel's swimming pool. While nearly every hotel in Central Florida has a pool, the pool quality varies from hotel to hotel. Some newer hotels include modern features such as water slides, fountains and even elaborate water park-like complexes. Keep in mind that most hotels with more elaborate pools tend to have higher nightly fees as well as higher resort fees.

Location
If you listen to the advertising every hotel in Central Florida is right next to Walt Disney World. While there are many hotels near the theme parks, you might want to double check the location of the hotel on a map. Better yet, you can use MapQuest or a similar internet site and find the distance to Disney. You might use the address for Disney-MGM Studios (3111 World Drive Orlando FL 32830) as that park is centrally located in Walt Disney World.

Internet
Some hotels offer wireless internet access, or broadband access through a data port in the room. With internet you can use a phone service like Skype to avoid paying the high hotel phone bill costs.

In Room Kitchen
Many hotels offer a kitchenette which allows guests to cook meals while staying at the hotel. This can save a family hundreds of dollars by avoiding costly meals dining out. Make sure to clarify before booking what exactly comes in the kitchen. While some rooms can come with a fully equipped kitchen others may only come with a refrigerator and microwave. 

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