Sometimes when you go on vacation, the last thing you want to worry about is finding your way around a new city or piling the kids back into a hot car after a long day at the theme parks. Many resorts near Walt Disney World in Florida offer free shuttles to and from the theme parks for their guests, letting you sit back and relax while someone else does the driving.
At Disney's All Star Movies Resort, you can stay in rooms with themes like Toy Story, 101 Dalmations and Fantasia, where larger-than-life icons tower over the buildings and statues of favorite characters make great photo opportunities just outside your room. It's hard to get closer to Disney World than staying right on Disney property, and perks of staying at a Disney-owned resort include extra hours in the park and complimentary transportation to the theme parks and airport. The resort has two swimming pools and a children's pool, a food court and pizza delivery, a poolside bar, an arcade, a gift shop, coin laundry facilities and a concierge desk. Each of the resort's 1,920 rooms has two double beds or one king bed, a small table with chairs, free local calls and a hairdryer.
Disney's All Star Movies Resort
1801 W. Buena Vista Dr.
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830
407-934-7639
disneyworld.com
It is easy to spot the Nickelodeon Suites Resort, with its bright orange and green exterior and portraits of favorite Nickelodeon show characters decorating the building. The resort is made up of 777 one-, two- and three-bedroom brightly colored suites, each with a refrigerator, microwave, high-speed Internet and unlimited local calls. The resort has its own water park pool area, mini golf course, movie theater and kid's spa where they can get manicures and hair braiding. The Nicktoons Cafe serves breakfast with characters in the morning and a different dinner menu each night, or you can dine at the resort's food court or poolside bar and grill. The resort provides free transportation to Walt Disney World, Sea World, Universal Studios and Wet n' Wild.
Nickelodeon Suites Resort
14500 Continental Gateway
Orlando, FL 32821
877-642-5111
nickhotel.com
Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge is located just five minutes from Disney's Animal Kingdom theme park, but you may feel like you're being transported thousands of miles away to Africa as you step outside your room to the balcony and look down to see giraffes and zebras gathered around the water hole. This African-themed resort has three savannas filled with free-roaming African wildlife and expert guides to tell you about the animals, or help find them with night vision goggles at night. The resort has daily kid-friendly activities such as cookie decorating, African arts and crafts, hunting for hidden Mickeys, a flamingo feeding and nightly storytelling around the fire pit. The resort's zero-entry pool lets even the smallest children safely enjoy splashing around, while older children and adults can enjoy zipping down the 67-foot long water slide. The resort has a separate bus stop for each Disney theme park with buses running approximately every 20 minutes, and your stay includes free transportation to and from the airport.
Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge
2901 Osceola Pkwy.
Bay Lake, FL 32830
407-934-7634
disneyworld.com
