Independent Orlando hotel guides
Compare hotels near Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando and SeaWorld, family resorts with water parks and budget stays in Kissimmee and on International Drive — then check live prices for your dates.
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Hotels near Universal Orlando
Wyndham I-Drive Avanti Resort is the former Avanti Palms Resort on International Drive. Our review covers the $18 resort fee that includes parking, the Universal and Disney shuttle times, tower and garden rooms, the pool and real road distances.
Sonesta ES Suites Orlando Lake Buena Vista review: renovated one- and two-bedroom suites with full kitchens for up to 8, no resort fee and $17 parking, about 2 miles from Disney Springs, plus why you should plan on a car.
Sheraton Lake Buena Vista Resort review: renovated rooms, bunk-bed family suites for up to 8 and two heated pools about 2 miles from Disney Springs, with the resort fee, parking and the current shuttle timetable.
Rosen Centre and Rosen Plaza compared side by side: the skywalks to the convention center, self-parking at $40 or $29 plus tax, rooms, pools, the spa, dining and the free Universal shuttle times.
Six hotels near Disney World with one-bedroom suites that sleep five or six, checked for beds, kitchens, breakfast, shuttles and resort fees.
All 11 Universal hotels include Early Park Admission and free park transportation, and three include Universal Express Unlimited. Here is what a Booking.com booking keeps, what parking costs and when an off-site hotel is the better deal.
International Drive vs Lake Buena Vista compared: road miles to every park, Early Theme Park Entry, trolley and shuttle options, resort fees, and three verified hotel picks in each area.
Nine hotels with shuttle to Disney Springs, checked against their operators’ real timetables: departures, last rides back, fees and parking, plus the hotels you can walk from.
Nine hotels near Universal Orlando where self-parking is free and Booking.com added only tax, with free breakfast, free Universal shuttles and walks to CityWalk.
It depends on your plans. Lake Buena Vista and the Disney Springs area are the most convenient base for Walt Disney World. International Drive puts you close to Universal Orlando, SeaWorld, restaurants and the Convention Center. Kissimmee usually has the lowest rates and the most vacation homes, while Downtown Orlando and Winter Park suit city breaks and business trips.
Disney Resort hotels include Disney transportation and Early Theme Park Entry, which saves time on park days. Off-site hotels in Lake Buena Vista and Kissimmee often cost less for the same space and many include breakfast, suites with kitchens or a scheduled shuttle. Compare the total price, including parking at the parks, before deciding.
Only three hotels include Universal Express Unlimited: Hard Rock Hotel, Loews Portofino Bay Hotel and Loews Royal Pacific Resort, part of Universal's Signature Collection (formerly called Premier). Registered guests can use it at participating rides in Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure; it is not valid at Epic Universe or Volcano Bay. Check Universal's current terms before booking.
Rates are usually lowest from late August to early October, in January after the holidays and in parts of May, when schools are in session. Prices peak around Christmas and New Year, spring break, Easter and early summer. Big conventions and events can raise rates on International Drive at any time of year.
Many do. Resort or destination fees, overnight parking and taxes can add a significant amount per night, so a low room rate is not always the cheaper stay. Before booking, compare the final price for your dates and check whether breakfast, Wi-Fi and theme park shuttles are included.
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