There are, what seems to be anyway, thousands of hotels in the Orlando area. And then to complicate matters, past hotels there are countless Air BnB, VRBO, and other condo rentals available. Deciding where to stay can be a tough decision because there are just so many options. But overall, your choices can be split into three categories: Disney hotels, often referred to as “on property” which are owed and run by Disney; all the other hotels in Orlando which are considered “off property” (including, confusingly, several that actually are located within Disney’s property in Orlando); and finally, individually owned condos all over the greater Orlando area that can be rented through AirBnB, VRBO, etc.
I like staying on property at Disney World. I like all the extras you get when you are not just a park guest, but a resort guest. I actually have a lifetime goal of staying at EVERY Disney hotel on property at least once. So far, I’ve been lucky enough to stay at Port Orleans Riverside, Port Orleans French Quarter, Art of Animation, Caribbean Beach, Pop Century, Animal Kingdom Lodge, Contemporary, and my dream resort, Polynesian (it was just as amazing as I had hoped and dreamed it would be!). (continue reading)