One of the big changes that happened when the IHG Rewards Club Premier card was launched was the introduction of a cap on the free night certificate earned every year on your card anniversary. While the certificate was previously good at any IHG property, it’s now only good at IHG hotels with a redemption point level of 40,000 points or less. While that may take away your ability to use the certificate at many luxury hotels in big cities, there’s still many hotels where you can get a free night. Several of those hotels are right outside of Walt Disney World (WDW) property.
One IHG hotel you can use your free night certificate at is actually on Walt Disney World property. The Holiday Inn: Orlando-Disney Springs Area is a 323 room hotel located on Hotel Plaza Boulevard in what is currently called the Disney Springs Resort Area. It was renovated in 2010 after a prolonged closure following damages suffered from Hurricanes Charley, Frances and Jeanne in 2004.
The hotels adjacent to Disney Springs (formerly the Disney Marketplace and Downtown Disney) are on the edge of Disney property and are not Disney run hotels. However through the end of 2018, you’re able to get some of the same advantages of staying on property, such as Extra Magic Hours and 60 day Fastpass+ eligibility. An award night at this Holiday Inn hotel will cost you 35,000 IHG points per night. It’s worth it to look at the cash price as I can find nights starting at $85, so it wouldn’t be a great use of your points or a free night certificate to use them for a stay here.
Another nearby hotel available would be the Staybridge Suites Lake Buena Vista. This 150 room all suite hotel is located just minutes from Disney Springs and costs 40,000 IHG points a night for a reward stay, The hotel was recently renovated in 2013 and all rooms feature a fully equipped kitchen and daily hot breakfast.
One hotel often mentioned by families visiting Disney World is the Holiday Inn Club Vacations at Orange Lake Resort. This resort located off of Hwy 192 in Kissimmee is located near Disney’s Animal Kingdom and all rooms have fully equipped kitchens, dining/living room and full sized washer/dryer. The property also has a lazy river style pool and water slides and a nearby golf course. The massive resort has 2412 guest rooms and was recently renovated in 2013.
Reward nights here start at 35,000 points but gets you a 2 bedroom, 2 bath 1200 sq. feet villa that sleeps 8. If you’re coming with a large family, I don’t think it’s possible to get a better deal on a room.
If you’re looking for a hotel with a waterpark and bunk beds, the Holiday Inn Resort, Orlando Suites Waterpark may be more of your style.
Located less than 1 mile from Disney World, this 777 room hotel (formerly the Nickelodeon Suites) was just renovated in 2016. A free night here will cost you 35,000 points per night so you’d be able to redeem your free night certificate here.
Since the IHG Rewards Club Premier card is currently offering 80,000 points as a sign up bonus, you’d be able to book two nights at any of these hotels after reaching the spending requirement for the first year and then get an additional night after paying the $89 annual fee for your first renewal.
Staying on Disney property is nice, but staying just outside Disney property for free might be even better.
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This post first appeared on Your Mileage May Vary
