On our latest trip to Orlando and Disneyworld, we stayed at the Hawthorn Suites in Lake Buena Vista.  I’d love to be able to stay at a Disney resort, but honestly, they are not worth the cost to us.  It would have cost us much more to stay on Disney property, and we would have gotten a much smaller room.  And how was it?  Actually, not perfect but pretty good.  And within 20 minutes of the Disney parks.

The room

We ended up booking a one bedroom King suite with a sofa bed in the living room.  The room, #103, was clean, except for finding some millipedes on the floor during our stay.  Not sure how those got in.  The king bed was very comfortable, and there were plenty of pillows provided.  The sofa bed was less comfortable, but manageable.  We brought our own full size sheets for the sofa bed, but sheets were provided.  There was an extra blanket and pillows in the closet.  They clean the room every three days, but we decided we didn’t need cleaning at all in the five days we were there.

Kitchenette

The kitchenette was extremely handy, and included a full size refrigerator and dishwasher.  It also had two burners, but no oven, and a microwave.  There is a small coffeepot, but we brought our own Kuerig and K-cups.  We were glad we did because the coffeepot leaked.  It was a nice touch that pans, dinnerware, and silverware were included in the room.

Breakfast…no thank you

Really, unless you want a lot of extra sugar, don’t bother with the included breakfast.  We ended up running to the Walmart down the street (turn left and go a few miles to find it) and buying some breakfast items that we could heat up in the microwave.  Also, a lot of the fast food restaurants in the area are now open inside.  Also, I had to go looking for the desk clerk a few times to get my breakfast bag.  There is coffee in the lobby.

Honestly, I think that hotels are going too far with this “socially distanced” breakfast thing.  We’ve been to numerous hotels in the past year since the pandemic started.  Some are giving out junk for breakfast, like this Hawthorn, but some are actually including hot food for breakfast.  We’ve had breakfast sandwiches at other hotels that we can heat up in the microwave, and one hotel actually cooked a hot breakfast and gave them out in individual containers.  Too many hotels, like this one, are taking the lazy way out. 

Is it quiet?

I would recommend staying away from room 103.  It’s right by the elevator and outside door, so you have a lot of people returning from the parks walking by late.  Also, it’s poolside, and the pool restroom door is right outside the room.  Seems like no one knew how to close a door without slamming it. The pool area includes a hot tub and looked nice.  We didn’t use it. It’s also next to the fitness center, but I never saw anyone in there.  The lobby was nice but empty.

Vineland Outlet Mall is nearby

This hotel is very close to the Vineland Outlet Mall.  The only reason we ever go to the Outlet is for the Disney Character Warehouse.  It’s a Disney outlet with very good prices on goods that they didn’t sell at the parks.  You have to sign up outside with a Castmember and give them your phone number.  Then they text you when they are ready for you to return to the store.  We tried getting in late Sunday afternoon but it was already filled to capacity.  We went back on Tuesday before the store even opened, and still had to wait over an hour.  The mall opens at 11 am.  But I got some good deals…Mickey ears for $3.99, and a Magic Band for $7.99, plus some souvenirs. 

Would I recommend it?

Yes.  You get a large room for a cost much less than a tiny budget room on Disney Property, and it was clean.  Remember that if you stay on Disney property you still have to pay to park, so unless you really love Disney and have money to spare, this was a good substitute.  It was close enough to the parks that you don’t have to drive all that far, and it’s in a quiet area with less traffic.  I would stay there again.