Disney Springs Hotels Guide: Best Places to Stay from Newark

Disney Springs Resort Area Hotels are seven official Disney partner properties within walking distance (10-20 minutes) to Disney Springs. These hotels cost 30-50% less than Disney-owned resorts but include valuable perks: **Free theme park shuttles** (Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom), **Extra Magic Hours** (early/late park access), and **60-day FastPass+ booking window** (same as Disney guests). The seven official properties are: **B Resort & Spa** ($150-250/night) - Most upscale option with modern rooms, rooftop bar overlooking Disney Springs, full-service spa, and zero-entry pool. 10-minute walk to Disney Springs. Perfect for couples. **DoubleTree Suites by Hilton** ($120-200/night) - All suites with separate bedrooms, great for families. Free warm cookies at check-in. 15-minute walk or free shuttle to Disney Springs. **Hilton Orlando Buena Vista Palace** ($140-220/night) - Largest property with 1,000+ rooms, multiple pools, lazy river, and Sunday character breakfast. 12-minute walk to Disney Springs. **Holiday Inn Orlando** ($100-180/night) - Best value with kids eat free promotion, arcade, and character breakfast. Older property but well-maintained. 15-minute walk. **Wyndham Garden Lake Buena Vista** ($90-160/night) - Budget-friendly with basic amenities. Free breakfast included. Furthest walk at 20 minutes but frequent shuttles. **Wyndham Lake Buena Vista** ($100-180/night) - Not to be confused with Wyndham Garden, this is the nicer property with better pool and rooms. 12-minute walk. **Hilton Buena Vista Palace Tower** ($160-280/night) - Premium tower section of Hilton Palace with upgraded rooms and club lounge access. All Disney Springs Resort Area hotels offer FREE parking (vs $30/day at Disney resorts), making them ideal for Newark families driving or renting cars.

Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort is the ONLY Disney-owned resort with walking access to Disney Springs via a pedestrian bridge (5-10 minute walk). This Disney Vacation Club (DVC) property offers villa accommodations with full kitchens, making it popular with Essex County families who want to save on dining by cooking breakfast. **Room Types**: Studios ($300-450/night, sleeps 4), 1-Bedroom Villas ($450-650/night, sleeps 5), 2-Bedroom Villas ($650-950/night, sleeps 9), 3-Bedroom Grand Villas ($1,200-1,800/night, sleeps 12). All include kitchenette or full kitchen, washer/dryer, and separate living spaces. **Amenities**: Championship golf course, full-service spa, multiple pools including High Rock Spring Pool with water slide, fitness center, and quick-service dining at The Turf Club. **Why book Saratoga Springs**: Walking to Disney Springs means no bus waits or parking fees. You can easily pop over for dinner or shopping without planning. Full kitchens save $50-100/day on meals. Quiet resort with fewer crowds than Contemporary or Grand Floridian. **Downsides**: Spread-out property means long walks to pools/dining. Rooms are older DVC units (not as modern as newer resorts). Higher price point than Disney Springs Resort Area hotels. **Best for**: Large families needing multiple bedrooms, guests wanting walking access to Disney Springs, DVC members using points. Newark travelers can book through Next Trip Anywhere with flights + Saratoga Springs packages starting at $1,800/person (4 nights, airfare, resort, park tickets).

Disney's Port Orleans Resort consists of two separate properties—Port Orleans French Quarter and Port Orleans Riverside—both offering complimentary boat service to Disney Springs (10-15 minute scenic ride). These moderate Disney resorts provide authentic theming at lower prices than deluxe resorts. **Port Orleans French Quarter** ($230-380/night) features Mardi Gras theming with 1,000 rooms in a compact layout. Doubloon Lagoon pool has water slide and Mardi Gras characters. Beignets at Scat Cat's Club are legendary. Smaller property means shorter walks to rooms. **Port Orleans Riverside** ($230-380/night) offers Southern plantation and bayou theming with 2,000+ rooms spread across a larger property. Ol' Man Island pool features 5 water slides. Royal Guest Rooms have princess-themed decor for $40/night extra. Riverside has more dining options than French Quarter. **Why book Port Orleans**: Boat transportation to Disney Springs is relaxing and fun (kids love it). Moderate pricing vs deluxe resorts. Disney Dining Plan accepted. Authentic theming creates vacation atmosphere. **Downsides**: No walking access to Disney Springs (boat only, runs until ~11 PM). Buses to theme parks can be crowded during peak times. Rooms are standard Disney moderate quality (not luxurious). **Best for**: Families wanting Disney immersion without deluxe pricing, guests who enjoy boat transportation, first-time Disney visitors who want full Disney experience. Newark packages with Port Orleans start at $1,600/person (4 nights, airfare, moderate resort, park tickets).

**Budget Options Near Disney Springs** ($60-120/night): Quality Inn ($60-90), Fairfield Inn Orlando ($70-110), Courtyard Marriott ($80-120), Hampton Inn ($75-115). These properties are 2-5 miles from Disney Springs (5-10 minute drive, Uber $8-15). No Disney perks but significant savings. Best for Newark travelers on tight budgets who have rental cars. **Mid-Range Chain Hotels** ($100-180/night): Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress ($140-220) offers golf course and luxury amenities 5 minutes from Disney Springs. SpringHill Suites Orlando ($120-180) provides all-suite accommodations. Drury Plaza Hotel ($110-170) includes free breakfast and evening drinks. **Luxury Options**: Four Seasons Orlando at Walt Disney World ($600-1,200/night) is the ultimate splurge with Forbes 5-star rating, championship golf, and Disney privileges. 10-minute drive to Disney Springs. Waldorf Astoria Orlando ($300-600/night) offers Italian luxury with golf and spa. **Vacation Rentals**: Airbnb/VRBO properties near Disney Springs run $150-400/night for entire homes sleeping 6-12. Great for large Essex County families or multi-family trips. Check distance to Disney Springs carefully—some listings exaggerate proximity. **Hotel Chains Essex County Residents Trust**: Hilton Honors, Marriott Bonvoy, and Hyatt points work at multiple Disney Springs area properties. Leverage your existing loyalty programs for free nights or upgrades.

**When to Book**: Disney hotel prices vary dramatically by season. **Value Season** (late August-September, early December, late January-early February): Save 30-40% vs peak. **Regular Season** (most of year): Standard pricing. **Peak Season** (holidays, spring break, summer): Prices jump 50-100%. Book 6-12 months ahead for best selection. **Package vs A La Carte**: Bundling flights from Newark + hotel + park tickets saves $200-500 per person vs booking separately. Next Trip Anywhere specializes in Newark→Orlando packages with Disney Springs area hotels. Call 833-874-1019 for custom quotes. **Disney Springs Resort Area Hotels** offer best value—you get Disney perks (Extra Magic Hours, free park shuttles, 60-day FastPass+) at 30-50% savings. **Free Breakfast Considerations**: Holiday Inn, Wyndham Garden, and some mid-range chains include free breakfast saving $15-25/person daily. A family of 4 saves $60-100/day. **Cancellation Policies**: Disney hotels allow free cancellation 5 days before arrival. Most Disney Springs Resort Area hotels allow 24-48 hour cancellation. Book refundable rates for flexibility. **Hidden Costs to Compare**: Disney resorts charge $30/day parking ($0 if you fly and use Disney transport). Most Disney Springs Resort Area hotels offer FREE parking. Resort fees ($25-40/day) at some non-Disney hotels add up—always ask about total cost including fees. **AAA/AARP Discounts**: 10-20% off Disney Springs Resort Area hotels for members. **Credit Card Benefits**: Chase Sapphire Preferred earns 2X points on travel. Amex Platinum offers hotel elite status and credits.

**Best for Families with Young Kids**: Port Orleans French Quarter (boat to Disney Springs, compact layout), Holiday Inn Orlando (kids eat free, character breakfast), DoubleTree Suites (separate bedrooms). **Best for Couples/Adults**: B Resort & Spa (rooftop bar, modern, walkable), Wine Bar George Private Dining at Four Seasons (luxury), Saratoga Springs Studios (quiet, walking access). **Best Value Overall**: Wyndham Garden Lake Buena Vista (free breakfast, Disney perks, budget pricing), Holiday Inn Orlando (kids eat free promotion saves $100+/day). **Best Walking Distance**: Saratoga Springs (pedestrian bridge), B Resort & Spa (10 minutes), Hilton Buena Vista Palace (12 minutes). **Best for Large Groups**: Saratoga Springs 2-3 Bedroom Villas (sleeps 9-12), VRBO vacation homes (full houses). **Best Pools**: Hilton Buena Vista Palace (lazy river), Port Orleans Riverside (5 water slides), Saratoga Springs (multiple themed pools). **Best for Pre-Cruise Stays**: B Resort (modern, quick checkout), Disney Springs Resort Area hotels (easy highway access to Port Canaveral), budget chains (save money since you're only there one night). **Best Disney Immersion**: Port Orleans (Disney theming, boats, dining plan), Saratoga Springs (Disney-owned, walking to Disney Springs). **Best Loyalty Program Value**: Hilton properties (3 options accept Hilton Honors points), Marriott SpringHill Suites (Bonvoy points).

**To Disney Springs**: Disney Springs Resort Area hotels offer **free shuttle buses** (every 30 minutes, 10 AM-11:30 PM) or **10-20 minute walks** depending on property. Port Orleans offers **free boat service** (scenic 15-minute ride). Saratoga Springs has **pedestrian bridge** (5-10 minute walk). Budget hotels require Uber/rental car ($8-15 ride). **To Theme Parks**: Disney-owned resorts (Saratoga Springs, Port Orleans) include **free bus service** to all 4 parks + water parks. Disney Springs Resort Area hotels also provide **free shuttle buses** to all parks (limited stops, plan 45-60 minute transit time). Budget hotels require Uber ($15-25 per ride per direction = expensive) or rental car ($40-60/day + $30 Disney parking). **From Orlando Airport (MCO)**: Rental car (25 minutes, $40-60/day), Uber/Lyft ($35-50 one way), Mears Connect Shuttle ($16/person one way, $32 roundtrip), Disney Springs Resort Area hotel shuttles (some offer free airport pickup—ask when booking). **Newark travelers should consider**: Renting a car if staying 4+ days (flexibility to visit Kennedy Space Center, beaches, Universal). Using Uber if staying 2-3 days (cheaper than rental + parking). Free Disney transport if staying at Disney resort and never leaving property. **Tip**: Download Uber app before arrival. Orlando pricing is reasonable and ride availability is excellent. Having car unlocks flexibility for groceries, off-property dining, and exploring beyond Disney.