Red Lion Hotel Orlando Lake Buena Vista South Budget Disney Stay

For budget-conscious travelers targeting the Walt Disney World area, the former Red Lion Hotel Orlando Lake Buena Vista South—now operating as the Radisson Hotel Orlando Lake Buena Vista South—offers a compelling mix of basic rooms, a surprisingly robust pool complex, and nightly rates that often dip below $100. But the property carries clear trade-offs in shuttle access, building age, and on-site dining costs that matter for families planning a theme park vacation. This review draws on verified data from Travel Weekly, OTA listings, and multi-year guest reviews to help you decide if the price is right for your trip.

Last checked: 2026-06-09

Location: Kissimmee, Florida (3 miles east of Walt Disney World main entrance) · Distance to Disney: 8-minute drive · Former brand: Red Lion (now Radisson Hotel Orlando Lake Buena Vista South) · Nearby attraction: Walt Disney World Resort, SeaWorld Orlando (4 miles)

How Far Is Red Lion Hotel from Disney?

The former Red Lion property sits at 5150 West US Highway 192 in Kissimmee, roughly three miles east of the Walt Disney World main entrance, according to Travel Weekly. Guestreservations.com lists the drive time to the Walt Disney World Resort at about eight minutes. Wandering in Disney notes that all four Disney parks fall within a 6-to-9-mile radius, typically under 15 minutes by car depending on traffic.

Alternate transportation options

The hotel offers a complimentary shuttle to Walt Disney World, but with limits. According to a detailed review on Wandering in Disney, the shuttle runs once daily to Magic Kingdom and Disney’s Hollywood Studios, with hours that do not cover full park operating days. Travelers who plan to stay for fireworks or late-evening Extra Magic Hours should confirm the return schedule directly with the front desk. No booking-aggregator or official hotel site confirmed the shuttle’s current operating schedule in our research.

What Amenities Does Red Lion Orlando Offer?

The property’s standout feature is its outdoor pool complex. Wandering in Disney describes a large pool with a lazy river, water slide, hot tub, and plentiful seating. A hotel tour video on Dailymotion confirms the pool is open from 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m., while the lazy river operates seasonally—opening at noon and closing around 7:00 p.m. in summer, with shorter hours in shoulder seasons. The same video notes outdoor basketball and tennis courts, typically available from about 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Dining options include an on-site Mexican restaurant attached to the lobby. Multiple reviewers cited by Wandering in Disney highlight it as a convenient sit-down option with homemade tortillas. A buffet breakfast is available in the restaurant daily from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. According to Travelocity, adult buffet pricing runs about $14.99 per person, with children at $11.99; the hotel tour video cites a rack price around $15 per person, and notes that some packages include two buffet breakfasts.

The property also operates a 24-hour fitness center and a 24-hour business center, both keycard-accessible. Wandering in Disney mentions an unusually large gift shop selling snacks, drinks, Disney souvenirs, and basic travel supplies. A ticket and attractions desk in the lobby helps guests purchase park tickets and get local advice.

Business and family amenities

Travelocity lists the meeting space at roughly 1,200 square feet (about 111 square meters), with Travel Weekly confirming a single meeting room. For families, the pool complex is the clear draw, but the lack of a kids’ club or organized children’s programming beyond the slide and lazy river means parents should plan their own entertainment.

What Are the Room Types at Red Lion Orlando?

The property’s 410 rooms span a range of configurations typical of a midscale highway hotel. According to Travel Weekly, rooms include standard units with either one king or two queen beds, along with suites that feature separate living areas. Some rooms offer balconies or terraces overlooking the pool or parking lot.

Standard rooms vs suites

Booking.com and guestreservations.com listings show standard rooms equipped with air conditioning, flat-screen TVs, free Wi-Fi, coffeemakers (in some units), irons and ironing boards, and daily maid service. Agoda highlights spacious room dimensions compared to many budget competitors. Suites typically add a sofa bed and a mini-fridge, which can be useful for families needing snack storage.

Multiple TripAdvisor reviews praise room cleanliness and bed comfort, with several reviewers stating they would return based on value and staff friendliness. Booking.com guests similarly emphasize very clean rooms, very comfortable beds, and the appeal of the pool area.

Which Lake Buena Vista Hotels Offer Free Shuttle to Disney?

Many visitors to the Lake Buena Vista corridor prioritize a free shuttle to the Disney parks—but shuttle policies vary widely, even among neighbor hotels. In the case of the former Red Lion, the evidence for a free shuttle is mixed.

According to Wandering in Disney, the hotel does offer a complimentary shuttle but only to Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios, on a limited schedule that does not cover full park hours. Neither Travel Weekly, Travelocity, Booking.com, nor the hotel’s own Sonesta location page explicitly mention a shuttle service, which suggests guests should verify availability and timing directly before booking.

Alternative hotels with confirmed shuttles

Properties with consistently documented free shuttle service in the immediate area include the Wyndham Orlando Resort and the Holiday Inn Orlando – Lake Buena Vista, both of which run shuttles to the Disney theme parks on a more frequent schedule. The Rosen Inn on International Drive, while farther from Disney, also operates a shuttle and typically runs at lower base rates ($65-$75 per night).

Pros and Cons of the Former Red Lion Hotel

Pros

• Consistently low rates: Summer nightly rates often between $85 and $105, per Wandering in Disney (April 2024), with Travel Weekly listing historical base rates from $45-$59.
• Lazy river and water slide pool complex, rare at this price point near Disney.
• On-site Mexican restaurant and large gift shop reduce the need to leave the property for meals and supplies.
• Five-minute drive to Disney main entrance; under 15 minutes to all four parks.
• Positive guest consensus on room cleanliness and bed comfort across TripAdvisor, Booking.com, and Hotels.com.

Cons

• Property built in 1982, last renovated in 2005—visible wear expected.
• $17.03 nightly resort fee (Travelocity) not always included in quoted rates.
• Limited daily shuttle only to Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios; schedule does not cover full park operating hours.
• Buffet breakfast costs extra ($14.99 adult / $11.99 child per Travelocity); not included in base rate.
• Pet fee of $35 per pet per night (per Travelocity) applies; pool is not heated per TripAdvisor reviewer notes.

Our Pick: When This Hotel Makes Sense

Related reading: Hollywood Beach Hotel Fort Lauderdale · YVE Hotel Miami Reviews

Frequently Asked Questions

Sources Cited

• Travel Weekly – Red Lion Orlando Lake Buena Vista South listing
• Wandering in Disney – Full hotel review (April 2024)
• Travelocity – Property amenities and fees
• Booking.com – Guest reviews
• TripAdvisor – Radisson Hotel Orlando Lake Buena Vista South reviews
• Hotels.com – Guest review excerpt
• Agoda – Room and amenity details
• Kayak – Meta-review summary
• Guestreservations.com – Distance claim
• Dailymotion – Hotel tour video