Where you stay at Walt Disney World Resort matters. A great Disney World hotel can offer convenience and save time and money getting to the parks while enhancing your stay with amenities such as resort pools, dining, and spa or golf facilities.
Disney World Resort hotels like Disney’s BoardWalk Inn, , and offer the best Disney amenities. However, guests seeking more affordable accommodations that blend comfort, convenience, and Disney magic may find a good fit in Walt Disney World Good Neighbor Hotels.
From cozy suites to sprawling villas, Good Neighbor Hotels can offer accommodations to meet the needs of various travelers, whether you’re visiting Disney as a couple, with friends, or in a large group.
Let’s explore the benefits of Good Neighbor Hotels, see the types of accommodations available, and look at some of the best-rated Good Neighbor properties available.
What Are Good Neighbor Hotels?
Disney doesn’t own Walt Disney World Good Neighbor Hotels, but they meetDisney’s exacting standards for being a Good Neighbor Hotel and offer a good Disney experience.
You can expect Good Neighbor Hotels to be close to Disney World, offer transportation to the parks, and provide information and assistance for Disney World guests. Often, Good Neighbor Hotels have Disney theming, such as a gift shop filled with Disney items, character art on the walls, movie memorabilia, or free Disney DVD checkouts in the lobby.
Good Neighbor Hotels may offer benefits such as Walt Disney World Vacation packages (including park tickets), complimentary breakfast, an evening reception, kitchenettes, pet-friendly rooms, and guest rewards programs.
Booking a Good Neighbor Hotel is not the same as staying at a Disney Resort hotel, as booking a Disney Resort hotel comes with benefits you can’t get elsewhere, such as early theme park entry, extended evening hours, resort transportation (bus, boat, Skyliner, and monorail services), and complimentary standard parking at Disney theme parks, water parks, and Disney Springs.
Why Choose a Good Neighbor Hotel?
- Price: Good Neighbor Hotels can be a good choice for saving money on your Disney vacation while still enjoying some Disney perks. Generally less costly than Disney on-property resorts, Good Neighbor Hotels can be a good value.
- Flexibility: While cost savings are a popular reason for choosing Good Neighbor Hotels, these properties can also offer flexibility. For example, maybe you plan to spend time at non-Disney attractions and prefer to avoid the Disney bubble but still want to be close by. Many Good Neighbor Hotels offer shuttles to other nearby attractions, such as Universal Studios Florida and SeaWorld Orlando.
- Space: With various properties and rooms appropriate for any party size, Good Neighbor Hotels can be a perfect choice if you visit Disney World with a large group.
- Points: You might choose one of these hotels to book your room with hotel points or earn rewards with a particular hotel brand.
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Types of Good Neighbor Hotels
Disney World classifies Good Neighbor Hotels into 3 categories: standard, suites, and premium.
Standard hotels generally offer good service and Disney-friendly accommodations but may have fewer or less luxurious amenities than other Good Neighbor Hotel properties. Examples include Holiday Inn Resort Orlando Lake Buena Vista, Hyatt Place Orlando/Lake Buena Vista, and Aloft Orlando Lake Buena Vista.
Suites hotels typically accommodate more guests, such as large families or groups. These rooms may offer amenities such as kitchenettes or adjoining rooms. Examples are Embassy Suites Orlando — Lake Buena Vista Resort, SpringHill Suites Orlando Lake Buena Vista South, and .
Premium hotels are resorts or hotels with extensive amenities and luxury features. Prime examples are Omni Orlando Resort at ChampionsGate, Margaritaville Resort Orlando, and The Grove Resort and Water Park.
How To Choose a Good Neighbor Hotel
Consider these factors as you find a suitable Good Neighbor Hotel for your Disney vacation:
- Location: Good Neighbor Hotels are close to Disney World, but some are closer than others. Also, consider proximity to the particular Disney parks you plan to visit.
- Transportation: All Good Neighbor Hotels must offer transportation to Disney parks. Check the details, such as cost, available hours, and how long it takes to reach the parks using the hotel’s transportation.
- Room Occupancy: Some Good Neighbor Hotel rooms can only accommodate up to 4 guests, while large suites may be appropriate for larger groups.
- Amenities: Consider the hotel’s amenities, such as pools, fitness centers, restaurants, laundry, game rooms, and gift shops.
- Room Rates: Look for a balance of quality and affordability, choosing the hotel with the best rooms and amenities within your budget.
- Reviews: Read hotel reviews to learn what previous guests have experienced and whether they liked the hotel.
How To Book Good Neighbor Hotels
Unlike Disney World resort or resort-area hotels, you can’t book Good Neighbor Hotels through Disney. You can browse hotels on Disney’s site, which will take you to the hotel’s website.
From there, you can book directly with the hotel. If you prefer, you can book with a third party, such as a credit card travel portal like Chase Travel, or an online travel agency such as Hotels.com.
Hot Tip: Generally, if you want to bundle your room and theme park tickets, you’ll need to call the Disney Reservations Center at 407-939-1283.
Resort Area Hotels — Alternatives to Good Neighbor Hotels
If you’re looking for more benefits, such as early theme park entry, extended evening hours, and different transportation options, you may want to look beyond Good Neighbor Hotels.
Properties in this category include Walt Disney World Dolphin, Walt Disney World Swan, Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World Resort, Hilton Orlando Buena Vista Palace, and .
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Many of these hotels are within the Disney Springs area, but there are resorts in Flamingo Crossings Town Center, Bonnet Creek, and EPCOT.
Although this category of properties does not have an official name, it is usually referred to as “More Great Accommodations” on Disney’s website and booking engine.
The resort area hotels fall somewhere between official Disney World resorts and Good Neighbor hotels. They may be less costly and less convenient than Disney on-property resorts, but they still offer some helpful Disney perks.
These hotels can be booked through the Disney World resort booking engine or directly with the hotel.
It’s a good idea to compare pricing between a Disney booking and a direct booking and consider whether you want to book directly to earn or redeem rewards points with the hotel. For example, there are a few Hilton properties in this category with which you can earn or redeem Hilton Honors points.
If you book a room with one of these hotels through Disney World, your package will include a 1 Park Per Day ticket for each travel party member based on the number of travel days provided. When you book directly with the hotel, you typically can buy park tickets through the hotel’s link, which may offer special pricing. That can allow you to book the exact number of park days and ticket types you’d prefer.
A Complete List of Good Neighbor Hotels
Disney World has nearly 50 Good Neighbor Hotels. Here’s a list of all of them, including each property’s location and category:
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The 4 Best Standard Good Neighbor Hotels
These Good Neighbor Hotels have great reviews, offer excellent value, and feature crowd-pleasing amenities. Whether you’re looking for a standard hotel room that gets you close to the action at a great price, need to accommodate a group or family in a suite, or prefer premium accommodations with luxurious amenities, you have options among Good Neighbor Hotels.
1. Comfort Suites Maingate East (Celebration/Kissimmee)
An all-suite hotel, Comfort Suites Maingate East rooms range from a 1-room suite with 1 king bed that sleeps 4 to a 2-room suite with 2 queen beds that sleeps up to 6. There’s also an option for a 1-king suite with 2 bathrooms if you’d like some extra room to get ready in the morning. All rooms offer a sleeper sofa and a small kitchen with a sink, microwave, minifridge, and coffee maker.
The hotel features a 24-hour heated pool and hot tub with a poolside tiki bar open Tuesday through Saturday from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. Before you hit the parks, fill up with a complimentary hot breakfast buffet at the Jolly Harbor — including Mickey Mouse waffles, eggs, and fresh fruits. Additional amenities include coin-operated laundry facilities, a game room, free Wi-Fi, a 24-hour fitness center, and a gift and sundries shop on-site for snacks and other necessities. Parking is free, and so are the scheduled shuttles to Disney World.
Rates start around $116 or 25,000 Choice Privileges points per night.
2. Holiday Inn Resort Orlando Lake Buena Vista (Lake Buena Vista)
At Holiday Inn Resort Orlando Lake Buena Vista, you can choose a room or suite that sleeps up to 6. Rooms range from a 2-person king room to a king bed and 2-bunk bed suite with an Xbox and pool view that sleeps 6. Premium rooms are available, including a 1-king bedroom suite with a jetted tub and balcony. All rooms and suites offer a microwave, minifridge, and coffee machine.
You can get to Disney World with the hotel’s free shuttle. There’s also free Wi-Fi. The pool is heated and features a splash pad and 2 whirlpools, with poolside activities including dive-in movies, ping-pong, and chess. Rocco’s Rockin’ Tiki Bar serves lunch, dinner, and tropical drinks poolside. Additional amenities include an arcade, lobby movie theater featuring daily family movies, fitness center, gift shop, and an on-site Applebee’s restaurant, where up to 2 kids ages 11 and under eat free any time with adult meals.
Pets are welcome, and there’s a pet-walking area available. The fee is $100 for the first 4 nights for pets up to 50 pounds or $150 for pets over 50 pounds. After that, it’s $10 per night, with a maximum of 2 pets per room.
Rates start around $76 or 12,000 IHG One Rewards points per night, but there’s a $30 nightly amenity fee on top of that. There’s also a $10 nightly parking fee.
3. Hyatt Place Orlando/Lake Buena Vista (Lake Buena Vista)
Hyatt Place Orlando/Lake Buena Vista is particularly close to Disney Springs. Choose from king or 2 queen rooms, some offering kids’ bunk beds. All rooms sleep at least 4, though rooms with 2 queen beds can sleep up to 8 with a sleeper sofa and bunk beds. All rooms offer a living area with a sleeper sofa, desk, minifridge, and coffee maker.
The hotel offers a complimentary shuttle service to Disney World, but you’ll need to plan ahead to use it. The shuttle will take you to and from either Hollywood Studios or Magic Kingdom in the morning and the evening, and you’ll need to reserve a spot on the shuttle with guest services at least 30 minutes before departure. If the shuttle isn’t going to the park you want to visit, you’ll need to use Disney transportation once you get to the resort. There’s also a paid shuttle to Universal Studios Florida and SeaWorld Orlando.
Amenities include a pool, fitness center, complimentary breakfast, free Wi-Fi, laundry, and a business center. The Breakfast Bar serves breakfast, and The Placery lobby restaurant and bar serves burgers, salads, and sandwiches. There’s also a grab-and-go market with snacks and drinks.
This hotel is pet-friendly for dogs weighing up to 50 pounds — or 2 dogs with a combined 75-pound weight. The fee is $75 for the first 7 nights and another $75 plus an additional $100 cleaning fee for 7 to 30 nights. For more than 30 nights, a fee will be assessed at the hotel’s discretion.
Room rates start at around $130 or 9,500 World of Hyatt points per night, and parking is $17.63 per night.
4. Hilton Garden Inn Lake Buena Vista/Orlando (Lake Buena Vista)
Hilton Garden Inn Lake Buena Vista/Orlando is convenient to Disney World, SeaWorld Orlando, and Universal Studios Florida. Rooms range from 1 king bed that sleeps up to 2 to a premium 2 queen room with in-room drinks and snacks. There’s also a king 1-bedroom suite with a sofa bed that offers a separate living room.
Confirmed connecting rooms are available if you need to book multiple rooms together, and accessible rooms are available for mobility and hearing impairments. Rooms feature desks, microwaves, refrigerators, coffee makers, and more.
The hotel offers a free shuttle to Disney World. Other hotel amenities include free Wi-Fi, an outdoor pool, a fitness center, an on-site restaurant, room service, and a concierge. There’s also a basketball court and arcade room. Dogs and cats are allowed for a $75 fee for up to 4 nights or $125 for 5 or more nights, with a 2-pet max.
Nightly rates start at about $100 or 37,000 Hilton Honors points per night. The nightly parking fee is $25.
The 4 Best Suites Good Neighbor Hotels
1. Embassy Suites by Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista South (Celebration/Kissimmee)
Close to Disney World and golfing, including Champions Gate and Bay Hill, Embassy Suites by Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista South has rooms with fireworks views and a complimentary evening reception. All rooms feature a separate living area with a sofa bed — some have separate bedrooms with a door, while others have a divider. Suites can fit up to 6 people if you choose a room with 2 queen beds and a sleeper sofa. Rooms feature a wet bar with a microwave and refrigerator.
Connecting rooms and hospitality suites with extra space, additional seating, and a large table to accommodate groups are available. You can also book mobility access suites with roll-in showers.
Guests can enjoy dining options, including a free made-to-order breakfast, complimentary evening reception, room service, and an on-site restaurant. There’s also an outdoor pool, fitness center, and gift shop. Dogs and cats are allowed—up to 2 pets per room—with a $75 fee for up to 4 nights and $125 after that. The hotel offers a scheduled shuttle service to Disney World, but a fee may apply.
Room rates at this hotel start around $230 or 50,000 Hilton Honors points per night. Parking is $18 per night, and 2 Tesla chargers and 1 non-Tesla EV charger are available.
2. Hampton Inn Orlando/Lake Buena Vista (Orlando/Lake Buena Vista)
Just off I-4 in the Lake Buena Vista area, Hampton Inn Orlando/Lake Buena Vista is just minutes from Disney World. It offers convenience to Universal Studios Florida and SeaWorld Orlando, too.
Rooms can accommodate 2 to 4 guests, with options ranging from 1 king bed to 2 queen beds. Some king bedrooms have a sofa bed to accommodate more guests. The hotel offers confirmed connecting rooms and has accessible rooms that feature roll-in showers or accessible tubs. Room amenities include a coffee maker, desk, hair dryer, microwave, and minifridge.
There’s a complimentary breakfast, free parking, and free Wi-Fi. Recreation options include an outdoor pool and fitness center. Pets (dogs and cats) up to 25 pounds are welcome, with a maximum of 2 pets per room. There’s a $75 pet fee for up to 4 nights or $125 for 5 nights or more.
You can take a free scheduled shuttle from the hotel, though it is limited to single daily departures for the Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, and Disney Springs and returns from Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, and Disney Springs. If the shuttle’s drop-off or pick-up schedule doesn’t align with your plans, you may need to utilize Disney transportation to get to the right park. The shuttle can also take you to or from Universal or SeaWorld.
Book rooms here for as low as $99 or 29,000 Hilton Honors points per night.
3. Candlewood Suites Orlando – Lake Buena Vista (Lake Buena Vista)
Close to Disney Springs, Candlewood Suites Orlando – Lake Buena Vista offers spacious rooms with full kitchens that can accommodate 2 to 8 guests, depending on the room. The king-bed studio suite has a large desk, microwave, refrigerator, stovetop, and more. The 1 king, 2 queen beds 2-bedroom suite offers a separate bedroom with living, dining, and kitchen areas, sleeping 8 occupants with a sofa bed.
Amenities at this comfortable suite hotel include an outdoor pool with a gazebo grill, on-site laundry, a fitness center, a business center, and complimentary Wi-Fi. There’s no complimentary breakfast or on-site restaurant, so plan to use the in-room kitchen for meals. Pets are welcome with a pet fee of $75 for up to 6 nights or $150 for 7 or more nights. There’s a maximum of 2 pets, no more than 80 pounds.
A complimentary shuttle service provides scheduled drop-off and pick-up service. Plan ahead to use the scheduled departure for Magic Kingdom at 9:55 a.m. and pickup from Magic Kingdom at 4:45 p.m. or EPCOT at 8 p.m.
Rates for this hotel start around $84 or 17,000 IHG One Rewards points per night plus a $10 nightly amenity fee. There’s a $20 per night parking fee.
4. Floridays Resort Orlando (International Drive)
With a location on International Drive, the expansive 20-acre Floridays Resort offers convenience to Disney World and the Orange County Convention Center, along with the attractions, dining, and shopping of International Drive.
Suites at this hotel are large, starting with a 2-bedroom suite that sleeps up to 6 people and features a washer and dryer, full kitchen, dining area, and a separate living room with a sleeper sofa. The master suite bedroom has a bathroom with a Jacuzzi tub, an additional bedroom has a bathroom, and the suite has a private balcony. If you need more room, the 3-bedroom suite sleeps up to 8, adding another bedroom with 2 full beds.
This resort offers plenty of outdoor recreation, with 2 pools. The family pool offers a kids’ water playscape, while another has a quiet and relaxing Jacuzzi. You can also stay active in the hotel’s fitness center. The resort fee includes parking and Wi-Fi access.
A scheduled shuttle departs for Magic Kingdom at 9:55 a.m. and EPCOT at 12:10 p.m. daily. Return shuttles leave Magic Kingdom at 7:45 p.m. and 10:05 p.m. and EPCOT at 10:15 p.m. You can also take shuttles to SeaWorld and Universal Studios Florida. If you’re exploring International Drive, take the I-Ride Trolley for a fee.
Nights at this hotel start at about $139, plus a $30 resort fee.
The 4 Best Premium Good Neighbor Hotels
1. Omni Orlando Resort at ChampionsGate (Celebration/Kissimmee)
Featuring a championship golf course, resort pools, a full-service spa, and more, the Omni Orlando Resort at ChampionsGate offers numerous amenities to enjoy. Rooms range from a deluxe 2 queen room that sleeps 4 to a 3-bedroom villa that sleeps 8. The villa offers a large living area with a sofa bed, dining table, washer and dryer, full kitchen, and private patio with pool and golf course views.
The amenities at this resort are extensive, particularly for golf lovers. There are 2 championship golf courses, a Toptracer range with hitting bays, and adventure miniature golf. The Mokara Spa offers facial and body treatments as well as salon services. Choose from numerous resort pools, whether you prefer family or kids’ pools with water slides, a wave pool, a cabana-lined adults pool, or an 850-foot lazy river with tunnels and rapids.
Numerous on-site dining options include an upscale sports bar and grill, fast food, and ice cream. On select dates — usually around holidays — the resort offers fireworks shows. Kids 5 to 10 can visit Camp Omni Kids Escape on Friday and Saturday evenings for dinner and entertainment. The resort also features the Omni Junior Chefs program, with a welcome tote featuring snacks and activities.
The resort offers complimentary transportation to Disney World parks, though you’ll need to give the concierge desk at least 24 hours of advance notice. There’s also a complimentary shuttle to any resort location, including the main resort, pools, and golf.
You can book a room at this resort starting at about $380 per night, which includes a $40 nightly resort services charge. Overnight self-parking costs $35 per night, and valet costs $45 per night.
2. Margaritaville Resort Orlando (Orlando)
An island-inspired resort, Margaritaville Resort Orlando offers major relaxation and convenience for Disney vacations. Accommodations range from deluxe rooms — which include 2 complimentary co*cktails — to 8-bedroom cottages that sleep up to 18 and have a private pool, 9 bathrooms, a balcony, a washer and dryer, a lounge, and your very own Margaritaville frozen concoction maker.
Margaritaville features a few dining options, including a poolside bar and grill, a market, and a Florida seafood kitchen. Live entertainment is available on select nights at the Euphoria Lounge and Salty Rim Bar & Grill. The Fins Up Beach Club offers 3 heated lagoon pools and private cabanas. Right next to the resort is the seasonal Island H2O Water Park. You can also rent bench bikes to ride around the resort. The St. Somewhere spa offers skin care, massage and body treatments, and salon services. Resort events and activities are provided daily, including music video bingo, beach club snow cones, and slime making.
Additional amenities include a 24-hour fitness center, complimentary Wi-Fi and towels, access to the business center, and in-room coffee and bottled water. This resort is pet-friendly with a $75 per night pet fee — a maximum charge of $300 per stay. A scheduled attractions shuttle offers multiple drop-off and pick-up times to Disney World parks, starting at 9 a.m. with the last pickup at 9:55 p.m. most days. You can also take the shuttle to SeaWorld and Universal.
Nightly rates start at $199, plus a $40 nightly resort fee that covers your parking fee.
3. The Grove Resort and Water Park (Orlando/Kissimmee)
The Grove Resort and Water Park offers exceptional pools, dining, and spacious suites. Starting with 2-bedroom suites that accommodate up to 6 people, these rooms have a full kitchen, washer and dryer, 2 bathrooms, and separate living and dining areas. In the 3-bedroom suites, rooms can accommodate up to 8 and have 2 to 3 bathrooms. Terraces at The Grove opens in June 2024 — an adult-centric hotel with studios, 1-bedroom, and 2-bedroom suites with private cabanas and a poolside bar.
The main attraction at this resort is the Surfari Water Park, exclusive to guests and annual members. This park has a FlowRider surf simulator, water slides, a kids’ activities pool, a zero-entry pool, and a 695-foot lazy river. Private cabanas and premium poolside seating rentals are available. In Flip Flop’s Family Fun Center, you’ll find an arcade and glow-in-the-dark mini golf. There’s also Lake Austin on Central Florida’s conservation grounds with a pier. Guests can access a 24-hour fitness center and children’s activity center. Dining options include Valencia Restaurant, a bar and grill, poolside dining, and a market.
Complimentary transportation to Disney World is available each day on scheduled shuttles starting at 9:30 a.m. and returning as late as 10:15 p.m. Reservations are required and can be made with the concierge up to 48 hours in advance but no less than 2 hours before departure time.
Nightly rates start around $240 plus a $45 resort fee and a $26.63 parking fee.
4. Courtyard Orlando Lake Buena Vista in the Marriott Village (Lake Buena Vista)
With a location in the Marriott Village, you can access on-site amenities and amenities at nearby Marriott properties, including indoor and outdoor pools and dining. Courtyard Orlando Lake Buena Vista in the Marriott Village is close to ESPN Wide World of Sports and House of Blues Orlando, so it’s a good choice if you’re visiting for sports events or concerts.
Room choices include a 2 queen room that accommodates up to 4 and has a minifridge, desk, and sitting area, or you can upgrade to a 2 queen room with a pool view and balcony.
Hotel amenities include a heated indoor/outdoor pool with a hot tub, free Wi-Fi, activities for kids, a gift shop, laundry facilities, and a fitness center. You can choose from 5 on-site dining options: reserve a table at The Bistro, find something for everyone in the Village Food Hall, or grab a drink and snack at the pool bar.
Complimentary Disney World shuttles from the Marriott Village will take you to and from the Magic Kingdom. You must reserve your shuttle service at the Expedia Local Expert Desk in the lobby at least an hour before departure.
Expect to pay about $170 per night, which includes a $5 daily destination fee, or from 21,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night. You’ll get a $10 food and beverage credit, and Marriott Bonvoy elites will get a daily premium coffee or tea at the Village Food Hall. There’s a $22 daily parking fee.
Final Thoughts
Walt Disney World Good Neighbor Hotels can offer an excellent alternative to Disney Resort hotels if you want to experience the magic of Disney but don’t necessarily need to stay on the property. With proximity to Disney World, transportation to the parks, and Disney-friendly amenities, these hotels can offer a memorable Disney experience.
