1 night -Celebration Hotel or Buena Vista Suites

[graceesmom]

We are looking for a nice comfortable place to stay on Friday before our 7 night package begins on site at WDW.

I found Buena Vista Suites with a Mousesavers rate of $119 which includes breakfast buffet.

Then on Travel Zoo, I found Celebration Hotel for $109 +$12 resort fee, they are waiving charges for valet parking and including breakfast buffet for 2.

We are driving to Orlando and expect to arrive around 7:00 p.m. or so. We will make it an early night -- no DTD or anything. Just a quick bite to eat then relax in the room and hopefully get to bed early.

Anyone have opinion on which of these would be the better place? It's DH, DD (2 1/2) and myself.

 

[spiceycat]

Buena Vista Suites is closer to WDW

but that is a pretty nice rate of Celebration - you could actually walk around the town.

 

[graceesmom]

I'm confident the Celebration Hotel is the better "deal" in terms of amount saved off regular room rates. Do you think there may be somewhere close to the Celebration Hotel where we could walk to grab dinner. No fast food, but somewhere appropriate for children and adults.

Of course, if we stay somewhere too nice, my husband will wonder why we're checking out of there and into the Contemporary. (My response would be for the convenience of being able to walk daughter to MK)

 

[spiceycat]

It has a nice restuarant on site.

plus the town of celebration (I think) is close by - pretty sure walking distance with its shops and restuarants.

found some links for you
http://celebrationtowncenter.com/ee/index.php/dining/

 

[tegdig]

celebration hotel is right on the lakeside downtown Celebration. It is a downtown area of only a few blocks, which you can pretty much see it all from the hotel. There are several restaurants, all children friendly, all steps away. There are also a few little shops there too....the rocking chairs on the lakeside are wonderful and they have a dancing waterfountain...lots of walking paths around the lake. A perfect place to spend an evening with kids, and that is a wonderful rate you are getting for that hotel.....I would definately go that route!

 

[graceesmom]

Thanks for all the great info. I booked Celebration Hotel. The reviews of it are fantastic and I think we'll really enjoy a peaceful stroll through the small downtown area for our early night.

 

[spiceycat]

you got a great deal.

looked for it this morning and it GONE.

so you did just fine!

 

[SusanDK]

That is an exceptional rate for the Celebration Hotel, especially with valet parking and the breakfast buffet. My husband and I stayed at the hotel one vacation and loved it.

You are right in the center of town, steps from several restaurants, including D'Antonio's Italian, Market Street Cafe (diner-type), Town Tavern (casual seafood dining, burgers, etc.), Seito Japanese restaurant, Colombian Cuban restaurant. There is also a Imperium Wine Room with light food and wine, Upper Crust pizza (grab a slice and sit by the lake). After dinner, grab an ice cream from Kilwin's or a coffee from Starbucks, then take a stroll around the lake. It's all steps from the Celebration Hotel. An Irish pub is opening soon - not sure if it has opened yet or will be open for your trip.

I think you'll really enjoy it and not want to leave!

Susan

 

[glassslipper2004]

Anyone know what kind of pool/swimming they have at the Celebration hotel? We are in a similar situation and want a pleasant one-night stay, but my kids will be excited about being in Florida and will want to swim!

 

[spiceycat]

it has an excellent one - but the deal she got is gone.

this is an expensive hotel with out her discount.

http://www.celebrationhotel.com/?gclid=CPSywNXL6ZgCFQudnAodKnl70g

well might be taking that back - the pool doesn't look to good in those pictures

 

[graceesmom]

Anyone know what kind of pool/swimming they have at the Celebration hotel? We are in a similar situation and want a pleasant one-night stay, but my kids will be excited about being in Florida and will want to swim!

For better pools, check out Caribe Royale. Their pool looked pretty nice. We've stayed at the Gaylord Palms before as well for a couple of nights and it had a nice pool with a water play area and a slide. They are having a pretty good sale as well for $119/night -but they do charge a resort fee and parking fee.

 

[AllyBri]

Anyone know what kind of pool/swimming they have at the Celebration hotel? We are in a similar situation and want a pleasant one-night stay, but my kids will be excited about being in Florida and will want to swim!

The pool is small but very nice.

I'm having a senior moment and can't think of what they are called, but check out the water sprinklers that shoot up from the street, they are directly accross from the movie house.
My Grandchildren love these things.

 

[inkkognito]

The pool at the Celebration Hotel over looks the lake, so that's kind of cool even though it's not fancy. Yes, that fountain across from the movie house is great for kids and within easy walking distance from the hotel (just follow the lake). I live in Celebration so of course I think it's a great place, but I think you will really enjoy it. For homestyle Italian like you'd get at a neighborhood restaurant, check out Angelina's. You'd have to drive but it's worth it and a VERY short drive. It's in the Water Tower shopping area at 192 and Celebration Avenue, near the Mobile Gas Station. You would take Celebration Ave. towards 192, then make a right into Water Tower at the light before 192. Then just drive down the storefronts...Angelina's is on your right, not too far before the Mobile. It's very much a "locals" kind of place.

 

[DVC~OKW~96]

We recently spent a weekend at Celebration Hotel on that very Travel Zoo special.

The room was quite nice, the staff incredibly helpful and friendly and the breakfast buffet extensive. There are servers to take your order for breakfast items that require cooking (everything from fried eggs to eggs benedict, waffles, pancakes, french toast...you name it) and your drinks. The buffet itself is laden with lox, several nice cheeses (brie, goat cheese, mild cheddar...) beautiful fresh berries (raspberries, strawberries, blackberries) and other fruits. Breakfast breads such as bagels (assorted types) muffins, pastries, and toast (white, wheat, rye) that you make yourself.

There are several restaurants within an easy walk of the hotel. I would not recommend the cafe. We tried to have lunch there and it was quite a disappointment. Columbia (Cuban food) is a good choice.

The pool is heated and we found it quite nice to swim in, and the hot tub (located on the opposite end of the outdoor area) was indeed hot! The exercise room is very nice with good quality working equipment.

We liked the level of security (you need your room key to operate the elevator).

There is a shuttle to the parks, too. :yes: If you ask, they may remove the resort fee. We didn't ask, but do know of some who have had it removed (particularly if they don't use the shuttle). Parking is by valet or on the street, but it's not a real challenge. We found close parking each time. If you are there for the weekend, Sunday morning sees a small farmer's market. It's fun to look at the booths, but nothing you'd go out of your way to visit.

All in all, for the rate, an excellent value and very nice place to stay.