Maybe it’s just me, but planning my family’s theme park vacation gives me almost as much fun as the vacation itself. I don’t go overboard planning a structured itinerary for every minute of our trip, but choosing which parks we’ll visit each day and where we’ll stay adds excitement to our theme park visits.
When it comes to deciding on a hotel, my first decision is always whether to stay on or off park property. The benefits of staying at an on-site resort at places like Disney World or Universal Orlando are obvious—proximity to the parks, immersive theming, and amenities like complimentary transportation and early theme park entry make your vacation even better.
However, theme park hotels can be expensive. And, aside from a few crafty tricks, it’s hard to earn or redeem points and miles to cover the cost of your stay. However, there are a few point properties adjacent to most major theme parks that combine the best of both worlds.
In my extensive experience visiting theme parks (almost too extensive, some would say), I’ve found that when choosing an off-site hotel, I most often turn to Marriott properties. Here are my top reasons why, along with some of my favorite Marriotts near Disney and Universal theme parks.
convenient locations
You may be surprised to learn that some off-property hotels are actually closer to the park than their on-property counterparts. Because of its massive size, this is especially true at Walt Disney World.
As an added bonus, some rooms at the Swan and Dolphin Hotel also have views of Disney’s nightly fireworks show.
Disneyland has a much smaller footprint than Disney World. All of Disneyland’s on-site hotels are within easy walking distance of the parks – but due to its small size, there are many properties close to the parks.
Westin Anaheim Resort; Courtyard Anaheim Theme Park Admission; JW Marriott, Anaheim Resort; And the Fairfield Anaheim Resort is 10 to 15 minutes from Disneyland’s front door.
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Sheraton Universal Hotel. Tarah Chief/The Points Guy
Universal Studios Hollywood has no on-site hotels (yet), but the Sheraton Universal Hotel is just across the street from the walkway leading to the parks. You can get to the main security entrance in 10 minutes or less and you won’t have to deal with finding (or paying for) a parking spot.
Preferred price
When I say that theme park hotels can charge exorbitant prices, I’m not telling you anything you don’t already know. Sure, you can snag the occasional one Disney World hotel discounts, but prices at some Marriott properties near the park are consistently lower than what you’ll find on site.
Take Renaissance Orlando Resort and Spa, for example. Rooms at this recently renovated Disney Springs hotel range from $149 to $189 per night (plus a daily $45 resort fee). The hotel regularly runs special offers that can bring the nightly rate down to $130. When redeeming points, you can expect to pay around 30,000 to 40,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night.
Related: Best Disney Springs hotels with rates as low as $98
The resort’s cash value is comparable to value Disney resorts such as Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort or Disney’s Pop Century Resort, where prices average between $125 and $200 per night. But the amenities and decor are closer to the average Disney resort, for which you’ll pay at least $100 more.
Theme park benefits
You can expect certain perks when you stay on-site at a theme park like Disney World. You can enter the parks before other guests, use free bus transportation to the parks (or park your car for free if you drive) and enjoy fun theming.
Related: Reasons to Stay at a Walt Disney World Resort Property
But you don’t have to live on the property to reap these same rewards.
Theme park transportation
Even major hotels that aren’t within walking distance of theme parks usually offer complimentary transportation for their guests, just like you would if you were staying on site.
In addition to being able to walk to Epcot and Hollywood Studios, you can also use the Swan and Dolphin water taxis to get to both parks, or take a complimentary shuttle to Disney’s other theme parks and Disney Springs.
Likewise, despite its walkability, the Sheraton Universal Hotel offers free shuttle transportation to Universal Studios Hollywood. The shuttle leaves the hotel’s front door every 15 minutes, which is more convenient than some off-site hotels that require you to make a reservation to use the shuttle.
Fun decor and theming
At a theme park like Disneyland, you can choose from hotels with classic Disney characters, like the Disneyland Hotel, or hotels with more modern nods to the movies, like the Pixar Place Hotel. The same goes for hotels in the surrounding area.
At Fairfield Anaheim, guest rooms feature large wall murals depicting iconic pieces of Disney history, such as Sleeping Beauty Castle and the Walt Disney Studios Water Tower.
One of my favorite features of the Sheraton Universal Hotel was the vintage photographs of Universal Studios Hollywood and Backlot Film Studios.
Even though these properties don’t have extensive theming, the subtle touches help keep you immersed in the experience. In addition to artwork, these properties typically have gift shops with licensed Disney or Universal merchandise and ticket desks with associates who can assist with theme park questions and ticket purchases.
Get a head start on the parks
Early entry is usually a perk reserved for on-site hotel guests, but the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Hotels and Disney Springs Hotels are in the unique position of being considered official Disney World hotels when it comes to that perk.
RELATED: The Magical Guide to How to Plan a Trip to Disney World
That means guests staying at Walt Disney World Swan, Dolphin or Swan Reserve or Renaissance Orlando at any of Disney World’s four theme parks 30 minutes before posted opening times. can enter. This benefit can give you a huge advantage over guests who have to wait until the official start time to start their day.
Family-friendly amenities
If you’re planning more than two days on a theme park vacation, I usually recommend taking a half day or a full day away from the park to rest and recharge. If you prefer to squeeze in as many rides as possible, you may still have some extra time on your arrival or departure days to enjoy the resort’s amenities.
This is one area where Marriott properties really shine… sometimes even brighter than official theme park hotels. The Courtyard Anaheim theme park entrance has a kid-friendly water park that rivals any official Disneyland hotel with waterslides, pools, and splash playgrounds.
Cypress Springs Water Park at Gaylord Palms is practically a theme park. The 3-acre water park features seven waterslides, a fast-moving “action river,” a large splash playground, a surf simulator, and two swimming pools.
Gaylord Palms offers a whole host of other family-friendly activities, including the brand’s signature holiday event, “Ice!,” a self-guided augmented reality scavenger hunt, and weekly fish and alligator feedings.
Just down the road from the Orlando World Center Marriott, you can enjoy three multirider waterslides and a lazy river at River Falls Water Park, relax during the day at the Falls Pool Oasis lagoon-style pool and splash pad, and attend poolside movies, real Pool parties with mermaids or watch laser light shows from the pool or relax on your balcony in the evening.
And the JW Marriott Orlando Bonnet Creek Resort & Spa (also near Disney World) has two heated pools, a whirlpool, an “activity garden” with pool cabanas and minigolf, a rock wall, lawn games, fitness classes and an indoor kids’ club. .
Reward loyalty benefits
The best way to earn the rewards of staying at a Marriott property near a theme park is by joining for free Marriott Bonvoy Loyalty Program. This allows you to earn and redeem Marriott Bonvoy points when you stay at participating properties and take advantage of discounted rates, the ability to share points between family members, use mobile check-in and mobile keys, and your fifth on award stays. Get the night free. .
While signing up for a Marriott Bonvoy membership is free, you get even better benefits as you move up through the higher elite levels.
As a Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite member, you can earn bonus points, designated check-in lanes, 2pm late checkout (so you can squeeze in a little more park time), room upgrades, welcome gifts and more. These are things I’ve never gotten from staying at an official theme park hotel.
Room upgrades are subject to availability, but I have been upgraded from a standard view room at the Gaylord to an atrium view and from a standard room with a balcony overlooking the resort at the Walt Disney World Swan Hotel.
Related: Best Marriott Credit Cards
You can fast-track your way to higher status with one of several credit cards that come with automatic Marriott Silver, Gold or Platinum Elite status as a cardholder benefit:
The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless comes with an annual 35,000-point certificate that can help significantly reduce the cost of your hotel stay and potentially even cover a night at a hotel like the Walt Disney World Swan.
Information for the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful Credit Card has been independently collected by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Marriott Bonvoy Bevy and Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful offer a 50,000-point certificate after you spend $15,000 in a card member year, which you can use to cover a night at a location like the JW Marriott Bonnet Creek Resort & Spa.
The bottom line
You have many options when deciding on a hotel for your next theme park vacation. Marriott is far from the only brand with hotels near theme parks or with some of the perks mentioned here.
But Marriott impressed me the most with its properties near Disney and Universal Parks. Marriott continues to deliver with its locations, amenities and benefits that make theme park trips more exciting.
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