Hi all. What is the best Disney Marriott property in terms of proximity to the park and transportation?

Trying to decide between Orlando Marriott World Center and the Springhill Suites in the Marriott Village. Two completely different properties, but each has its own advantages. We'll have a 3.5 year old with us, so a separate sleeping area may be key, and free breakfast, but Marriott pool is nicer.

Thanks in advance!

We go up to Disney all the time and have stayed at both these hotels. Personally, we like going to the Springhill Suites because we have 2 young kids. We request the corner room in the front of the building to get extra space for the kids to run around in. Truthfully, the room is gigantic. We like that breakfast is included and parking is free. At the World Center you will pay for parking and they dont have free breakfast for Platinum or Gold.

At Marriott Village, the CY has the nicest pool. I'm not all that big a fan of World Center. To be clear, it's a nice enough property with extensive facilities....including an impressive pool area. But to me, the facilities are expensive and in need of some updating.

You might want to check out the JW Marriott Grande Lakes. Nicer hotel than World Center with fantastic pool area and tubing stream. It's about 10-15 minutes from Downtown Disney area.

The Courtyard Lake Buena Vista has a really good special going on right now. I believe its a one bedroom suite, breakfast, shuttle to park for $89 per night. Its not a bad property and as close to the park as "the Village."

By the way, about the time Michael Eisner assumed Disney's top spot, a deal was on the table for Marriott to own and operate all Disney Hotel properties ('cept, of course, the Dolphin and Swan which Starwood has.) Its unclear till this day whether Disney ultimately withdrew the offer or whether Marriott simply refused (premise being that they preferred to franchise properties instead of run them.)

Either way, kinda sad. I, too, visit Orlando a lot. And while the Marriott selections aren't bad (the Bohemians are really interesting) I would have liked the opportunity to stay at, say, the Animal Kingdom Lodge owned and operated by Marriott.

I've always stayed at the Grand Vista (an MVCI property - there are loads of others.)

There's no particular platinum benefits, but the extra convenience of a villa versus a hotel room is important to us, and the facilities on site for families are excellent.

The location of the GV is great - convenient for both Disney and I-Drive attractions, and Universal too.

If proximity to the parks is your biggest concern, then the World Center property will win out. It is about as close to the Disney parks as one can get without being "on property". Though the Marriott Village properties aren't all that far away, but they are farther than the World Center.

But as you (and others here) have mentioned, there may be other influences as well.

When I travel down with my parents, siblings and their families, they like the Springhill Suites due to the extra space and free breakfast. I'm probably just weird, but I like the World Center property better myself. I usually get upgraded to a park view room. We usually get a very nice view of the evening fireworks show from the room. Or I will stay in one of the 3 World Center MVCI properties on the World Center campus.

I've also stayed at the Grand Vista property and it might be a good choice as well. It is newer than the MVCI "Palm" properties in the World Center and it has some very nice on-site pools and other amenties for kids and families. But to me, the older "Palm" units just feel more spacious and open (note they don't have the "lock-out room design" of the Grand Vista.)

Flyer2-
We have a 2yo almost 3 and I know what you mean about separate sleeping. I highly recommend the sabal palms there at Marriott world center. It's on the same property and you have full access to everything at world center. The rooms (more like apartments) at sabal palms have a good size bedroom for your 3yo, a great master suite with a huge bath room, a full kitchen (not res inn kitchenettes) a family room and a screened porch overlooking the golf course.
Hope this helps.

I'm a big fan of Sabal Palms also. It is still a short walk to the pool at the resort, but like mentioned above, you have 2 bedrooms and a nice kitchen. You also have a much quieter pool if you want to be at the pool but have a little peace and quiet - which of course at Disney is almost impossible to find!

With a child I would say Springhill Suites. The Marriott property is better for adults