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’ll go to every day and the place we’ll keep provides to the joy of our theme park visits.
In relation to deciding on a resort, my first resolution is all the time 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 may be dear, nonetheless. And, apart from a couple of artful workarounds, it is troublesome to earn or redeem factors and miles to cowl the price of your keep. Nevertheless, there are a number of factors properties adjoining to most main theme parks that mix one of the best of each worlds.
In my intensive expertise visiting theme parks (nearly too intensive, some could 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 a couple of of my favourite Marriotts close to Disney and Common theme parks.
Handy places
You may be shocked to be taught that some off-property resorts are literally nearer to the parks than their on-property counterparts. Due to its expansive measurement, that is notably true at Walt Disney World.
As an added bonus, some rooms on the Swan and Dolphin resorts even have views of Disney’s nightly fireworks exhibits.
Disneyland has a a lot smaller footprint than Disney World. All of Disneyland’s on-site resorts are inside simple strolling distance of the parks – however because of its small measurement, 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 Resort. TARAH CHIEFFI/THE POINTS GUY
Common Studios Hollywood would not have any on-site resorts (but), however the Sheraton Common Resort is simply throughout the road from the walkway that results in the parks. You will get to the principle safety entrance in 10 minutes or much less and you do not have to take care of 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’ll be able to snag the occasional Disney World resort low cost, however among the Marriott properties close to the parks have persistently decrease pricing than you will discover on-site.
Take the Renaissance Orlando Resort & Spa, for instance. This just lately renovated Disney Springs resort has rooms that vary from $149 to $189 per evening (plus a each day $45 resort payment). The resort recurrently runs particular affords that may deliver the nightly price beneath $130. When redeeming factors, you’ll be able to count on 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 similar to a Worth Disney resort like Disney’s All-Star Motion pictures 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 a minimum of $100 extra per evening for.
Theme park perks
There are particular advantages you’ll be able to count on once you keep on-site at a theme park like Disney World. You will get into the parks earlier than different company, use free bus transportation to the parks (or park your automobile free of charge should you drive) and luxuriate 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 identical rewards.
Theme park transportation
Even the most important factors resorts that are not inside strolling distance of a theme park sometimes provide complimentary transportation for his or her company, identical to you’d get should you had been staying on-site.
Along with being walkable to Epcot and Hollywood Studios, you too can 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 Resort offers 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’ll be able to select from resorts with traditional Disney characters, just like the Disneyland Resort, or ones with nods to extra fashionable movies, like Pixar Place Resort. The identical is true for resorts within the surrounding space.
On the Fairfield Anaheim, visitor rooms have giant wall murals depicting iconic items of Disney historical past like Sleeping Magnificence Citadel and the Walt Disney Studios water tower.
One in all my favourite options of the Sheraton Common Resort was the classic images of Common Studios Hollywood and the backlot movie studio.
Although these properties could not have intensive theming, the delicate touches assist to maintain you immersed within the expertise. Along with art work, these properties sometimes have present retailers 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 company, 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 on the subject of that profit.
Associated: A magical information for tips on how to plan a visit to Disney World
Which means company 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 may give you an enormous benefit over company who’ve to attend till the official opening time to begin their day.
Household-friendly facilities
If you’re planning a theme park trip longer than two days, I normally advise taking a half day or full day away from the parks to relaxation and recharge. Even should you favor to squeeze in as many rides as attainable, you could have some further 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 affords a complete 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 street on the Orlando World Heart Marriott, you’ll be able to 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 through the day, and attend poolside films, 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 children membership.
Rewarding loyalty advantages
One of the simplest ways 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 once you stick with collaborating properties and benefit from discounted charges, the power to share factors between relations, make the most of cell check-in and cell 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 by means of 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’ll be able to 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 a normal view room to an atrium view at Gaylord and from a normal room to at least one 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 in all 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 scale back the price of your resort keep, and doubtlessly 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 provide a 50,000-point certificates after you spend $15,000 in a cardmember 12 months, 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 on 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 persistently delivers with its places, facilities and advantages that make theme park journeys much more thrilling.
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