Resort Review: Wyndham Garden Lake Buena Vista Disney Springs

Choosing the right hotel for your Disney vacation can feel overwhelming, but one of the great things about traveling to Disney is the wide variety of hotel and resort options. There is something for every family, no matter what you are looking for during your vacation. This review is an in-depth review of the Wyndham Garden Lake Buena Vista Disney Springs based on several stays at the hotel, in both the Inn and the main building, and is meant to help families decide if it’s the right hotel for their vacation. 

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The Wyndham Garden Inn Disney Springs offers a combination of comfort, convenience, and value that makes it a strong contender for families. Whether you’re planning a magical day at the parks or exploring Orlando, this hotel provides excellent amenities and perks that enhance your vacation experience. Let’s dive into what makes this property special and help you decide if it’s the right fit for your trip.

This post should provide helpful information about the ins and outs of the Wyndham Lake Buena Vista Disney Springs as well as my personal review and comparison to Disney resorts at the end. 

Wyndham Garden Inn Disney Springs vs. Wyndham Lake Buena Vista Disney Springs

Before diving into the details, it’s important to point out that booking a stay at the Wyndham Disney Springs could be in either the main building, which is a hotel with interior rooms, or the Wyndham Garden Inn, which are motel-style rooms with an exterior entrance. I have stayed in both buildings and depending on the cost, either could be a good option to consider. 

Both the Wyndham Garden Inn and the Wyndham Lake Buena Vista are located on the same property, but they offer distinct experiences:

• Wyndham Garden Inn: Known for its affordability, this section features standard, no-frills rooms perfect for budget-conscious travelers. These are two buildings with five-story courtyard-style buildings with rooms on either side of the main building. 
• Wyndham Lake Buena Vista: This is the main tower and offers upgraded rooms with more modern finishes. Guests in this section may also have access to additional perks or views of the Disney Springs area. 

Both options share the same amenities, including pools, restaurants, and Disney Springs proximity.

Distance from Disney Parks and Disney Springs

It is located within the Disney Springs Resort area. The distance to the Disney parks is a main point of research when planning your Disney vacation. The amount of traffic within the Orlando area is crazy, and it’s essential to avoid it at all costs if possible. Thankfully, being in the Disney Springs area allows direct access to Disney parks instead of going on the interstate or main highways. 

One of the bigger perks to the Wyndham properties is that they are conveniently located just across the pedestrian bridge from Disney Springs, making it easy to enjoy shopping, dining, and entertainment. Here’s a breakdown of the approximate travel times to each of the Disney properties and Disney theme parks:

• Magic Kingdom: 15 minutes by car or direct shuttle
• EPCOT: 10 minutes
• Disney’s Hollywood Studios: 15 minutes
• Disney’s Animal Kingdom: 20 minutes
• Disney Springs: Less than a 10-minute walk across the 

Perks to Staying At Wyndham Lake Buena Vista Disney Springs & the Wyndham Garden Inn

Exclusive Disney Benefits

As an official Walt Disney World selected resort, guests staying at this Wyndham property enjoy several benefits directly connected to Disney.

• Early Theme Park Entry: As an official Disney Springs area hotel, you can access the parks 30 minutes early each day.
• Proximity to Disney Springs: Being within walking distance makes it easy to enjoy nightlife and dining without the hassle of parking. This is the closest hotel to Disney Springs within the resort area. 
• Packages: You have the option to book this hotel within a package price for a Walt Disney World vacation, which is helpful if you want to place a deposit and work towards paying off your vacation. You also get to skip having to make theme park reservations by following this method and you get perks to book experiences like character breakfast or ride reservations in advance. 

Resort Benefits

The resort offers great amenities to make your stay a true vacation on your rest days between parks. 

• On-Site Dining: Options include the Eclipse bar/restaurant with cocktails and beer (look out for the happy hour signs!), a breakfast buffet at the Lakeview Restaurant, the Sundial grab-and-go market, and the Oasis restaurant/pool bar for quick snacks or drinks. There is also a full-service Joffrey’s Coffee in the lobby (my favorite!)
• Recreational Amenities: Families will appreciate the two outdoor pools (one with a beautiful, large grotto), hot tub, and splash pad style play area within one of the pools, a basketball court, tennis courts and a sand volleyball court. There is also a nice fitness center. 
• Fun & Games: There is a large arcade and game room within the lobby as well as a kid’s area by the entrance to the Sunset building. 
• Additional Amenities: If you need a few more not-as-fun vacation amenities, there is onsite laundry and dry-cleaning, meeting and business rooms, a CVS clinic convenience machine in the lobby for quick medical needs, and even an onsite emergency doctor if you need it. And of course, free wifi. 

Room Types at the Hotel

The Wyndham Garden Inn features standard guest rooms equipped with:

• Two Queen Beds or One King Bed: Comfortable options for families up to four. 
• Views: Of either Disney Springs and other Disney properties or a Lake View. 
• In-Room Perks: A mini refrigerator and coffee maker, great for storing snacks or prepping your morning caffeine. USB charging near each bed and on the entertainment center (perfect for charging MagicBand+) and even a sofa area in some rooms. 
• Complimentary Wi-Fi: Perfect for planning your Disney day or streaming entertainment.

Upgraded rooms at the Wyndham Lake Buena Vista may also offer larger layouts, better views, or additional amenities.

Transportation Options

Getting around from Wyndham Garden Lake Buena Vista Disney Springs is a breeze:

• Shuttle Service: Complimentary shuttles run to all Disney parks, making it easy to avoid parking fees and traffic. Be sure to make your reservations in advance, though, which can be done by scanning the information paper in the welcome packet from checking in. The shuttles run at specific times, be sure to check the schedule upon arrival. It’s also helpful to note that the Magic Kingdom shuttle does not take you to the Magic Kingdom entrance gate but to the Transportation & Ticket Center; from there, you will hop on either the ferry boat or the monorail to get to the Magic Kingdom gates. 
• Walking to Disney Springs: A short stroll across a pedestrian bridge brings you to endless dining and entertainment. This is really a great perk- especially for a bit of Disney magic on your arrival day! 
• Car Rentals: On-site car rental options are available if you’re planning day trips to nearby attractions.
• Rideshares and Taxis: Convenient for those who prefer flexible, on-demand transportation. It’s nice to be able to book it through the concierge when you need it. 

Is the Wyndham Garden Inn Disney Springs Right for Your Family?

Before diving into my review of the resort, these details are factors to consider when deciding if this hotel fits the needs of your family:

• It Can Be Budget-Friendly: Ideal for families looking for affordable accommodations near Disney. It’s important to note that additional charges, which will be added on upon arrival, including a daily resort fee (whether you are using the pool and other amenities or not) as well as a parking fee (either valet or self parking). 
• Convenience: Close proximity to Disney Springs and shuttle service to parks simplifies your itinerary.
• Amenities for All Ages: Pools, play areas, and dining options keep everyone entertained.
• Official Disney Partner Perks: Early park entry is a valuable time-saver.

Resort Review

After staying in both the Wyndham Garden Inn and the Wyndham Lake Buena Vista, using the amenities on some trips and not on others, trying the transportation and ordering food from the restaurants, I have a well-rounded idea of what you get while staying at this property. 

The Wyndham Lake Beuna Vista resort is beautiful. With a pretty hotel lobby, well-designed public areas, a nice pool area for a warm day, spacious guest rooms and shuttle transportation, it could be an easy choice to stay here for your family vacation, however, there are a few things to keep in mind. 

It’s no secret that I love staying in a Walt Disney World Resort. The extra perks and being baked into the WDW ecosystem are convenient and easy, but there could very well be a reason to stay elsewhere—which could be for various reasons. 

I am a big fan of the convenient location- we enjoy Disney Springs, especially for dinner on our arrival day, and appreciate being able to take a quick walk to get through security and into the springs. I also love the Joffrey’s Coffee Shop being in the lobby and the great restaurants on property, plus the modern guest rooms are well done in the main building and it’s always seemed well maintained within the main building as well. 

The rooms in the Wyndham Garden Inn are more of your standard room feeling, and the additional noise outside of the door cam be a bit much at times, but you are paying slightly less for the exterior entrances room rather than being in the main building. 

The transportation option is a nice added perk however, we found it to be difficult to arrive in time to make reservations for the following day at times. We also struggled to get back after a long park day as the buses were usually very full around the time of park closing. 

Overall, if you are local guests looking for a nice place to stay for a Disney weekend with easy access to Disney parks, the Wyndham could be a great option. Both buildings have comfortable and plush bedding, full access to the beautiful pool deck and restaurants, and give you the great location, but I would say there are definitely pros and cons to a stay in either section, maybe just a few more within the Inn building. 

I suggest looking into the cost of the Walt Disney World hotels and then looking into the Wyndham to compare costs (including the resort fee and parking fee) to determine if it’s a good deal to stay in the Disney Springs area. 

No matter which you choose, your family will enjoy a relaxing retreat close to the heart of the magic.