Credit: DisneyGuests know that if they are looking to save money on a Disney World or Disneyland vacation, the easiest way to do it is to stay off-property. Booking a hotel just outside of Disney World or Disneyland can save guests hundreds off the price of staying on property.
However, there are some advantages to staying on Disney World’s property, like bus transportation and early entry to the parks, but are those worth the hundreds that you could save a night by staying just outside of Disney’s property?
Those traveling with large groups can also consider short-term rental properties on a site like Airbnb. However, that recently turned into a nightmare for some Disney World and Disneyland guests who thought the Marriott brand backed their short-term rentals.
Last week, Sonder, a short-term rental company, declared bankruptcy. The announcement came just one day after Marriott terminated its agreement with Sonder, claiming that the company had defrauded Marriott. Before this dispute, there were over 9,000 Sonder properties available to users on Marriott’s website, including dozens in the Orlando and Anaheim areas.
Shortly after Sonder’s announcement, guests staying at its properties were informed that they had to vacate their rentals, and some were given 24 hours to find new accommodations. This left guests scrambling to find new accommodations during their vacations, with Marriott only offering them rooms in one of their local hotels, rather than a different short-term rental.
Some of Sonder’s properties do not have front desks and staff to answer guests’ questions. Guests often use a code to enter the short-term rental. However, some guests complained that their codes no longer worked and they were unable to retrieve their belongings.
At Sonder Hotels and properties, employees were informed that the company no longer employed them, while they attempted to assist guests in finding alternative accommodations.
Those travelers who booked for the upcoming Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays now have to scramble to find alternative accommodations at one of the busiest times at Disney World. Guests seeking larger accommodations or short-term rentals may find it challenging to rebook their stay for the holidays.
For now, guests will just have to hope to get their money back from Marriott and find an alternative place to stay, so their vacations aren’t ruined.
Did Sonder’s bankruptcy disrupt your vacation? Let us know in the comments.