The Wyndham Lake Buena Vista is two great hotels in one that caters to families taking a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Walt Disney World and to families that just keep coming back for more.
I’ve been part of both of those families.
Back in 1987, my family booked our once-in-a-lifetime trip to the Magic Kingdom and Epcot (the only two parks around at the time) and we all piled into the Pickett Suite Resort on Hotel Plaza Boulevard.
Then in 2010, I took my own family on a spontaneous trip to Disney and stayed at the Animal Kingdom Lodge. We’ve since joined the Disney Vacation Club (DVC) and stay there pretty frequently. But not always…
Although we usually take one big Disney vacation per year, we often take smaller and shorter getaways to Disney throughout the rest of the year and we DON’T stay in the Animal Kingdom Lodge. Why? Because frankly, it’s very, very expensive.
The joy of DVC is that we can stay in deluxe accommodations with the points we’ve purchased over the years but when we’re paying out of pocket, we look for the best bargain we can find that still meets our needs and desires. That’s what the Wyndham Lake Buena Vista offers. (And it’s the closest official Disney hotel to Disney Springs!)
Where to Stay Near Disney Springs
Back in 1987, Hotel Plaza Boulevard offered a few hotels that were within driving distance of the Disney parks. And when you were back at the hotel, you had a bed and maybe a pool.
Today, the hotel corridor is a feeder into the bustling entertainment area of Disney Springs.
On the map above, you’ll see the location of the Wyndham Hotel Complex – the closest hotel to Disney Springs and completely walkable. There are a few pedestrian bridges and you’ll get to avoid the parking garages entirely!
But what makes this hotel even more appealing is that it is an Official Hotel of Walt Disney World®. The hotel provides Daily Theme Park Shuttles to the four main Disney parks (reservations required). And as a guest of an official Disney hotel, you can take advantage of Early Theme Park entry, which allows you to enter any Disney World theme park 30 minutes earlier than the official park opening time.
One Complex, Two Hotels
Although it’s officially called the Wyndham, this Disney Springs Resort Area property is actually two hotels in one.
The Wyndham Lake Buena Vista is a “tower” of 232 high-rise hotel rooms with views of the surrounding theme parks. The Wyndham Garden Lake Buena Vista offers courtyard style accommodations with 394 newly-renovated guest rooms.
Both hotels are offered at different price points but they all share the same affordable luxury amenities!
Wyndham Lake Buena Vista Hotel
If you’re looking for a luxury hotel feel or you’re used to staying on property at a Deluxe resort, you’ll love what this 19 story main tower building has to offer. There are 232 spacious Lake House themed guest rooms.
All rooms offer two queen beds or one king bed with a sleeper sofa, and include a mini fridge, coffee/tea maker, desk area, and, for some rooms, a view of Disney Springs and several nearby theme parks.
Wyndham Garden Lake Buena Vista Garden
If you’re looking for accommodations that are a little more budget-friendly, you can venture to the wings of the hotel for one of the 394 newly renovated rooms for the Wyndham Garden.
Accessible through the main lobby, the garden rooms have exterior entries into a room with two double beds or one king bed. These rooms also include a mini-fridge and coffee/tea maker as well as other standard amenities.
Amenities at Wyndham Lake Buena Vista
Here’s where the value really comes in. Whether you’re staying in the tower or the garden, you’ll have access to the same common areas and amenities, starting with the gorgeous lobby.
Lobby
In the lobby, you’ll find Joffrey’s Coffee shop for a quick breakfast and coffee drinks. And you can stop by the Sundial Café for drinks and snacks to take with you to the park. There’s also a lobby bar that’s currently closed but offers available seating for quick dining.
For the younger or more playful crowd, search for the owls located throughout the lobby or pose for pictures with one of the Disney displays.
Restaurant
Just upstairs is the LakeView Restaurant, offering, of course, a view of the lake. The restaurant offers a daily breakfast buffet including official Mickey Mouse waffles! By the way, do you have a specific way you eat your Mickey waffles? This was a hotly debated topic over breakfast!
Pool
If you’re not rushing off to the parks or Disney Springs, the pool is worthy of a day in. It offers two pools, a large hot tub, water features, and the new Oasis Aquatic Pool Playground. With a pool area this large, you can either surround yourself with kids or find a quiet corner.
While you’re poolside, enjoy food and drinks at the Oasis Restaurant & Bar (open for lunch and dinner). And if you plan to make a day of it at the pool, reserve a poolside cabana which is complimentary when you purchase $150 worth of food and drink.
Pick your cabana (there are multiple styles).
And then keep the food and drinks flowing!
Why Stay at Wyndham Lake Buena Vista?
LOCATION – You know what they say – location, location, location! You’ve got an official Disney hotel that’s close to things. You can walk to Disney Springs (it’s about a 5 minute walk) or you can take a quick shuttle to the parks (Epcot is the closest park).
CROWDS – I visited the hotel on a Thursday and Friday in September. The restaurant was wide open. The pool had tons of lounge chairs and we easily scored a cabana while indulging in the food and drinks poolside.
PRICE – When most of us are booking are vacations, we usually have to stay within a certain budget. The affordability of the Wyndham gives you all of the fun of staying at a Disney property without the on-property prices. And you won’t be compromising anything.
When we plan our next trip to Disney, we’ll be using our DVC points to stay somewhere on property. But on our next trip (because there will be a next trip) when we’re paying out of pocket, we’ll definitely be booking at the Wyndham Lake Buena Vista.
