Courtyard by Marriott Shanghai International Tourism and Resorts Zone | The prime choice for a cost-effective hotel experience near Disney

I believe that everyone who retains a sense of childlike wonder has, to some extent, dreamt of the Disney magic. Coinciding with my child's birthday, we revisited Disney, reawakening the innocence I had lost amidst my busy work life. Given the tight schedule of a day trip to Disney, choosing the right hotel was essential. As a working individual, I found the Disney hotels to be overly expensive, so I opted for the Courtyard by Marriott. The hotel is very close to Disney, with a shuttle bus running every half hour, and it's only about a 5-minute drive to Disney. The hotel offers convenient parking, and its exterior resembles a classic American car dealership or a large warehouse. My Titanium card got us an upgrade to a cute bear-themed room with a terrace, which was very family-friendly. The terrace had a slide and a mini-house, and there was a tent inside the room, though the space was somewhat cramped. The hotel has a strict 'pick one of three' policy; we chose the meal voucher which conveniently covered breakfast. We still received the welcome fruit, and while upgrading to a suite required advance notice, which was no longer available upon my arrival, it was only an additional 20 yuan. Despite the hotel's strict rules, their generosity was evident. The dining at the hotel is quite good for its level, with fresh juice in the morning and even curry, plus a dedicated baby food station and seating area. The restaurant's prices are very reasonable for Shanghai, where every inch of land is precious. Dinner for two adults and one child, after the Titanium discount, was just over 200 yuan, and we even earned points. The gym is small but well-equipped and usually empty, which is a plus. The hotel also has a children's playground, a godsend for parents looking to free up their hands; in addition to the gym and playground, there's a business area equipped with Apple computers and sofas. It's quite nice to leave the kids in the playground and spend some time on the computer. We checked out the newly opened Zootopia at Disney, which isn't very friendly to the average visitor, with queues everywhere. I guess we'll have to visit again; my second child is almost one year old, and I hope by the next visit I'll have made it big. Lastly, I recommend the Courtyard by Marriott in the resort area to anyone on a budget. After all, how can you not love such a generous hotel? Charging for upgrades is the rule, but only asking for 20 is a gesture of goodwill.