A Review of Holiday Inn Orlando-Disney Springs® Area

If you’re planning a Walt Disney World vacation and looking for a nice place to stay that’s close to the magic without the hefty price tag, this IHG hotel may be for you. Here’s my review of the Holiday Inn Orlando-Disney Springs® Area.

Booking and Check-in

A friend and I traveled to Walt Disney World to participate in a runDisney event. Our stay was four nights. We chose an IHG property because we each had an IHG Free Night Award and IHG® One Rewards earned from our IHG® Rewards Premier Credit Cards to cover the stay. We booked the Holiday Inn Orlando for the great location and amenities. 

We booked online. The IHG website is easy to navigate. You can reserve your stay with cash, points, or a combination of cash and points. Free Night Awards are booked separately. Since our stay was a combination of Free Night Awards and points, and two different accounts, we had several back-to-back reservations. I emailed the hotel prior to our trip to ask about combining the reservations so we would not have to move rooms during our stay. They assured me it wouldn’t be an issue, and this proved to be true.

At check-in, the friendly front desk clerk combined the reservations without issue. Although I’m not sure this is always the case, she applied the IHG® One Rewards Diamond Elite status I had at the time to our combined reservation. That meant free breakfast for both of us for our entire stay. This hotel offers two complimentary beverage coupons upon arrival. We received a pair for each of the original reservations. Again, I’m not sure if that’s their policy or if she was just being generous, but we were thankful for the extra drinks. 

Location

This hotel is on Hotel Plaza Boulevard in the Disney Springs area of Lake Buena Vista. The nearest airport is Orlando International Airport (MCO). If you don’t plan to drive to the hotel, you’ll need transportation from the airport. The shuttle service Mears Connect offers transportation to this hotel for a reasonable fee, or you can use a ride share service. We used Uber for our airport transfers.

Staying offsite and out of “the Disney bubble” can leave you longing for that famous Disney magic. However, the location of this hotel is key, since it’s close to Disney Springs. There’s even a convenient walking path that leads you to the entrance in about 10 minutes. There’s an elevated walkway along the path to cross the street to Disney Springs. You can use stairs or an elevator to get to it. I found the walk easy in the morning and tedious at night. However, it was no more tedious than walking from the bus stop to your room at some of the onsite resorts or walking from Epcot to the BoardWalk resort area.

This hotel offers complimentary shuttle transportation to the Disney parks. You reserve your spot in advance. We found the process to be easy and the bus comfortable. We didn’t use the shuttle at park opening or close, so I can’t comment on how busy it is at those times. When we used it, the bus wasn’t crowded. The shuttle stops at several hotels, so keep that in mind when you’re planning your day.

Amenities and Services

As an Official Disney Partner Hotel, this hotel participates in Early Theme Park Entry, which allows guests entry to the Disney parks 30 minutes early. You simply link your hotel reservation to your My Disney Experience account.

If you have a vehicle, parking is available onsite for a fee. It’s $20 for self parking or $28 for valet. The hotel has a fitness center, a heated outdoor pool, and a hot tub. After a long day of walking, I really appreciated the hot tub. 

Many hotels in this area charge a resort fee, and this hotel is no different. The $38 resort fee includes: 

  • Hourly shuttle transportation to all four Disney theme parks
  • 2 welcome drinks upon of arrival
  • Coffee in the lobby in the morning
  • Afternoon cookies and lemonade at the bar
  • 2 bottles of water per day
  • Local & 800 calls
  • Refrigerators and microwaves in every guest room
  • Computer and printing access
  • 24 hour access to the fitness center
  • 50% discount on rental equipment at the Walt Disney World® Golf Courses

Although you won’t get the same level of Disney decor in this hotel as you’d get at an onsite resort, you’ll find some Disney touches. There’s even a cute photo opportunity in the lobby. I especially liked the Storm Troopers in the elevator.

ihg orlando disney springs elevator
stormtroopers in elevator ihg disney springs

Room

We booked a two queen bed standard balcony room and were upgraded to a pool view. The room had a large HDTV, mini-fridge, Keurig coffee maker, microwave, desk, safe, air conditioning, and high-speed internet access. I found the room to be spacious and clean, and the bed was comfortable. The bathroom was clean and well-maintained, with plenty of Bath & Body Works® toiletries. Our balcony had two chairs and a small table, and I enjoyed sitting out there with my morning coffee. You can book a room with a fireworks view at this hotel. We saw some fireworks from our balcony, but I wouldn’t suggest paying extra for it. It’s nice to see, but too far away to really appreciate.

ihg orlando disney springs offsite hotel

Food and Dining

The onsite Palm Breezes Restaurant and Lounge serves breakfast, lunch, dinner, and bar service with indoor and outdoor seating. You can order breakfast to go before heading to the parks, or purchase something from the grab and go area. I didn’t try lunch or dinner, but enjoyed the breakfast options and found the food to be good and the staff to be attentive and friendly. If you’re traveling with children, this hotel participates in the IHG Kids Stay and Eat Free program. Up to 2 kids per adult, ages 11 and under, eat free when ordering from the main menu with up to 4 kids per dining party. If you don’t want to eat at the hotel, there are plenty of food options at Disney Springs.

Service and Staff

From the moment we arrived, I felt welcomed and valued. The staff were very friendly and always ready to help with questions. Check-in and check-out were efficient and hassle-free.

Value

This hotel has a lot to offer for the price. If you’re paying with cash, you’ll likely find rooms for around $150 plus the resort fee. Becoming a member of IHG® One Rewards will get you a discounted rate. You can join for free here. If you’re planning to book with points, the cost can vary depending on the date. Most nights range from 20k to 30k points. If you book with points, and you have an IHG rewards credit card, you can take advantage of the fourth night free benefit. Using your points this way can be a tremendous value.

Conclusion

If you’re considering this hotel for a runDisney event, and don’t want to stay onsite, this hotel is a good option. We walked to Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort for transportation to the Expo and used Uber on race morning. It’s not quite the same race day experience as staying onsite. There’s something extra special about riding on a bus at 3 a.m. with other runDisney enthusiasts. It builds excitement, and I missed that. However, these events are not cheap, and choosing less expensive accommodations, or booking with rewards, can help you cut costs.

If you’re looking for a conveniently located hotel with nice amenities at an affordable price for your Walt Disney World vacation, the Holiday Inn Orlando-Disney Springs® Area is a great choice. I thoroughly enjoyed my stay here and wouldn’t hesitate to stay here again. 

About the Author

Written by H. Kinney, author of How to Plan a Free Theme Park Vacation. She writes about using points, miles, and cash-back rewards to reduce the cost of theme park travel.
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