Possibly it is simply me, however planning my household’s theme park holidays brings me nearly as a lot pleasure as the holiday itself. I do not go overboard planning out a structured itinerary for each minute of our journey, however selecting which parks we are going to go to every day and the place we are going to keep provides to the thrill of our theme park visits.
In relation to deciding on a resort, my first choice is at all times whether or not to remain on or off the park property. The advantages of staying at an on-site resort at locations like Disney World or Common Orlando are apparent – proximity to the parks, immersive theming and facilities like complimentary transportation and early theme park entry that additional improve your trip.
Theme park resorts could be expensive, nevertheless. And, apart from just a few artful workarounds, it is tough to earn or redeem factors and miles to cowl the price of your keep. Nonetheless, there are a number of factors properties adjoining to most main theme parks that mix the very best of each worlds.
In my in depth expertise visiting theme parks (nearly too in depth, some might say), I’ve discovered that I most frequently flip to Marriott properties once I select an off-site resort. Listed here are my prime causes for why, together with just a few of my favourite Marriotts close to Disney and Common theme parks.
Handy places
You may be stunned to study that some off-property resorts are literally nearer to the parks than their on-property counterparts. Due to its expansive dimension, that is significantly true at Walt Disney World.
The Walt Disney World Swan, Dolphin and Swan Reserve resorts are inside strolling distance of two Disney World theme parks — Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Epcot. Outdoors of the Magic Kingdom and BoardWalk resorts, even Disney’s personal resorts will not be inside strolling distance of its theme parks.
As an added bonus, some rooms on the Swan and Dolphin resorts even have views of Disney’s nightly fireworks reveals.
Disneyland has a a lot smaller footprint than Disney World. All of Disneyland’s on-site resorts are inside straightforward strolling distance of the parks – however because of its small dimension, so are a number of properties close to the parks.
The Westin Anaheim Resort; Courtyard Anaheim Theme Park Entrance; JW Marriott, Anaheim Resort; and Fairfield Anaheim Resort are all a 10- to 15-minute stroll from Disneyland’s entrance gates.
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Sheraton Common Lodge. TARAH CHIEFFI/THE POINTS GUY
Common Studios Hollywood does not have any on-site resorts (but), however the Sheraton Common Lodge is simply throughout the road from the walkway that results in the parks. You may get to the primary safety entrance in 10 minutes or much less and you do not have to cope with discovering (or paying for) a parking spot.
Preferable pricing
I am not telling you something you do not know once I say that theme park resorts can carry a hefty price ticket. Positive, you possibly can snag the occasional Disney World resort low cost, however among the Marriott properties close to the parks have constantly decrease pricing than you may discover on-site.
Take the Renaissance Orlando Resort & Spa, for instance. This lately renovated Disney Springs resort has rooms that vary from $149 to $189 per evening (plus a each day $45 resort payment). The resort repeatedly runs particular presents that may carry the nightly fee beneath $130. When redeeming factors, you possibly can anticipate to pay about 30,000 to 40,000 Marriott Bonvoy factors per evening.
Associated: The perfect Disney Springs resorts with charges as little as $98
This resort’s money pricing is corresponding to a Worth Disney resort like Disney’s All-Star Films Resort or Disney’s Pop Century Resort, the place pricing averages between $125 and $200 per evening. However the facilities and decor lean nearer to a Average Disney resort, which you’d pay no less than $100 extra per evening for.
Theme park perks
There are specific advantages you possibly can anticipate if you keep on-site at a theme park like Disney World. You may get into the parks earlier than different visitors, use free bus transportation to the parks (or park your automobile free of charge in case you drive) and revel in enjoyable theming.
Associated: Causes to remain at a Walt Disney World Resort property
However you do not have to remain on the property to reap these similar rewards.
Theme park transportation
Even the main factors resorts that are not inside strolling distance of a theme park sometimes supply complimentary transportation for his or her visitors, identical to you’d get in case you had been staying on-site.
Along with being walkable to Epcot and Hollywood Studios, you may as well make the most of the Swan and Dolphin’s water taxi to get to each parks or take the complimentary shuttle to get to Disney’s different theme parks and Disney Springs.
Equally, regardless of its walkability, the Sheraton Common Lodge supplies complimentary shuttle transportation to Common Studios Hollywood. The shuttle picks up on the resort’s entrance door about each quarter-hour, which is extra handy than some off-site resorts that require you to make a reservation to make use of the shuttle.
Enjoyable decor and theming
At theme parks like Disneyland, you possibly can select from resorts with basic Disney characters, just like the Disneyland Lodge, or ones with nods to extra trendy movies, like Pixar Place Lodge. The identical is true for resorts within the surrounding space.
On the Fairfield Anaheim, visitor rooms have massive wall murals depicting iconic items of Disney historical past like Sleeping Magnificence Fort and the Walt Disney Studios water tower.
Certainly one of my favourite options of the Sheraton Common Lodge was the classic pictures of Common Studios Hollywood and the backlot movie studio.
Although these properties might not have in depth theming, the refined touches assist to maintain you immersed within the expertise. Along with art work, these properties sometimes have present outlets with licensed Disney or Common merchandise and ticket desks with associates who can help with theme park questions and ticket purchases.
Get a head begin on the parks
Early entry is often a perk reserved for on-site resort visitors, however the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin resorts and the Disney Springs resorts are in a novel place of being thought of official Disney World resorts in the case of that profit.
Associated: A magical information for the right way to plan a visit to Disney World
Which means visitors staying on the Walt Disney World Swan, Dolphin or Swan Reserve or the Renaissance Orlando can enter any of Disney World’s 4 theme parks half-hour previous to the posted opening time. This profit can provide you an enormous benefit over visitors who’ve to attend till the official opening time to start out their day.
Household-friendly facilities
In case you are planning a theme park trip longer than two days, I often advise taking a half day or full day away from the parks to relaxation and recharge. Even in case you choose to squeeze in as many rides as attainable, you will have some additional time in your arrival or departure days to benefit from the resort facilities.
That is one space the place Marriott properties actually shine … generally even brighter than official theme park resorts. The Courtyard Anaheim Theme Park Entrance has a kid-friendly water park that rivals that of any official Disneyland resort, with waterslides, a pool and a splash playground.
Gaylord Palms’ Cypress Springs water park is virtually a theme park in and of itself. This 3-acre water park has seven waterslides, a fast-moving “motion river,” an enormous splash playground, a surf simulator and two swimming swimming pools.
Gaylord Palms presents an entire host of different family-friendly actions, together with the model’s signature vacation occasion, “Ice!,” a self-guided augmented actuality scavenger hunt, and weekly fish and alligator feedings.
Down the highway on the Orlando World Middle Marriott, you possibly can benefit from the three multirider waterslides and the lazy river at River Falls Water Park, relax on the Falls Pool Oasis lagoon-style pool and splash pad throughout the day, and attend poolside motion pictures, pool events with actual mermaids or watch a laser mild present from the pool or the consolation of your balcony within the night.
And the JW Marriott Orlando Bonnet Creek Resort & Spa (additionally close to Disney World) has two heated swimming pools, a whirlpool, pool cabanas and an “Exercise Backyard” with minigolf, a rock wall, garden video games, health courses, and an indoor youngsters membership.
Rewarding loyalty advantages
The easiest way to reap the rewards of staying at a Marriott property close to a theme park is by becoming a member of the free Marriott Bonvoy loyalty program. This lets you earn and redeem Marriott Bonvoy factors if you stick with taking part properties and make the most of discounted charges, the power to share factors between relations, make the most of cellular check-in and cellular key, and get your fifth evening free on award stays.
Whereas it is free to enroll in a Marriott Bonvoy membership, you get higher perks as you progress via the upper elite ranges.
As a Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite member, you will get bonus factors earnings, designated check-in lanes, a 2 p.m. late checkout (so you possibly can squeeze in just a bit extra park time), room upgrades, welcome presents and extra. These are issues I’ve by no means gotten when staying at an official theme park resort.
Room upgrades are depending on availability, however I have been upgraded from an ordinary view room to an atrium view at Gaylord and from an ordinary room to 1 with a balcony overlooking the resort on the Walt Disney World Swan resort.
Associated: Greatest Marriott bank cards
You possibly can fast-track your technique to elite standing with one among a number of bank cards that include automated Marriott Silver, Gold or Platinum elite standing as a cardholder perk:
The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless comes with an annual 35,000-point certificates that may assist to considerably cut back the price of your resort keep, and probably even cowl an evening at a resort just like the Walt Disney World Swan.
The data for the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful Credit score Card has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or supplied by the cardboard issuer.
The Marriott Bonvoy Bevy and the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful supply a 50,000-point certificates after you spend $15,000 in a cardmember yr, which you possibly can use to cowl an evening at a location just like the JW Marriott Bonnet Creek Resort & Spa.
Backside line
You’ve gotten a number of choices when deciding on a resort to your subsequent theme park trip. Marriott is much from the one model with resorts close to theme parks or with among the perks talked about right here.
However Marriott most impresses me with its properties close to Disney and Common parks. Marriott constantly delivers with its places, facilities and advantages that make theme park journeys much more thrilling.
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