Hi all! I've always had luck here before, so I'm hoping some of the rockstars here can help me. I know that what I am looking for is VERY specific, but it's what would work best for our family. We don't want to rent a car, because we would need a van or 2 cars, and that will get expensive. I have done some reading on the LYNX bus route, and we want to stay along that. So here's my wish list for a hotel...
We are planning a trip in September for a total of 8 people. We are two families, and we would like to have two spearate two bedroom suites. We would love one with a free breakfast, continental or regular, on the LYNX bus line with a not horrible travel time. And a pool of course.
Any suggestions?
So LYNX bus they now have an app which makes it really easy to buy tickets.
I would recommend the 7 day unlimited ($16)
Day Pass unlimited ($4.50),
Per Ride ($2)
If you go to the google map and zoom in on the streets you will see a blue square bus icon with every single LYNX bus stop. Now the time tables only list the main stops like Disney TTC, Disney Springs, Sea World. So for an individual hotel stop you have to figure out a guesstimate between the main published stop or note when the bus comes to your hotel stop. (For example the stop in front of the LBV Homewood Suites/Hilton Garden Inn I could see out of my hotel room would come promptly every 30 minutes at 1:17/1:49/2:19/2:49/3:21 pm) heading south to Disney.
There are 4 main areas you can stay:
1. IDrive
2. Sea World Area
3. Lake Buena Vista Area
4. Disney Springs Area
1. IDrive area
You take the 42 from the airport to Idrive. This takes maybe an hour and 20 minutes.
This area has a ton of restaurants and Walgreens/CVS and is close to Universal.
Disadvantage is that you have to take LYNX 8 down to the Sea World area and then transfer to LYNX 50.
So you have to wait about 15 minutes for the LYNX 50 at Sea World.
2. Sea World Area
This area is kind of ideal for both parks in the sense that if going up to IDrive or Universal you just take the LYNX 8. And if going to Disney you just take the LYNX 50 down to Disney.
The LYNX 111 Express will go from the airport to the Sea World area in about 50 minutes.
(Be aware that the LYNX 111 goes one way in a sort of one way hotel loop, so if it drops you off on the right side of the street from the airport, the stop to go back to the airport is not across the street. It's counterintuitive).
In this area the Homewood Suites at the Theme Parks and Stay Bridge Suites are close to the LYNX 50 bus stop.
Also Renaissance Sea World (never been there) and the Double Tree Sea World (This place is okay and cheap but the walls are paper thin)
There is also a Hilton Grand Vacations that has multiple bedrooms right across from Staybridge.
The only drawback to this area is that there are almost no fast food or restaurants in the area. Only a CVS, 7 eleven and Bonefish Grill. That's it.
3. Lake Buena Vista North
This area is along the LYNX 50. On the upper half of Palm Park way you have the Homewood Suites LBV, Hilton Garden Inn, Residence Inn, Springhill Suites cluster. There is a bus stop right at the entrance to the Homewood Suites/Hilton Garden Inn. There is also an Embassy Suites (but for some reason there is a $20 resort fee for the LBV Embassy suites). Most have the free breakfast.
This area has no food options although a new Poritllo's should be opening up about a 10 minute walk away soon.
On the lower half of Palm Park way you have Rosen Inn Lake Buena Vista, Courtyard Marriott, Sheraton. Multiple bus stops dotted in front of the hotels. This area is in walking distance to 100s of restaurants and stores.
4. Disney Springs area
This area all the hotels have the dumb resort fees. The Double Tree is really nice and has a huge living room (with sofa that could serve as another bed) with two bedrooms. but no free breakfast.
Bus stop right in front of the Double Tree and the B resort.
*The West Irlo Bronson/192 Area. (Western area)
I do not recommend this area if you don't have a car. There is no direct LYNX bus here.
You have to take the LYNX 56 from Disney TTC which takes you east across I-4 and then you have to get out and transfer to the LYNX 55 that take you back west across I-4 to all the good hotels.
*The West Irlo Bronson/192 Area. (Eastern area)
This area you would just be taking LYNX 56. However I'm not a fan of this area because it's a little run down and the road is huge, always busy, with cars going really fast.
