Anyone Stayed At The Doubletree At Entrance To Universal Lately?

[HolliePoppins]

If anyone has can you tell me about it. Was it nice? How were the restaraunts? Etc. Thanks.

 

[jlbower79]

bumping up because i wanna know.. i might be staying here and would love to know..

when it's said to be walking distance... how long of a walk?

thanks
jai

 

[RedAlfalfa]

I want to know too since we got it on Priceline for Easter Break week.
I guess worse case scenerio I can let everyone know in a few weeks.

 

[jlbower79]

please do because i dont think anyone has stayed there lately!

Jai

 

[RedAlfalfa]

OK I got back last night from 3 nights at the Doubletree. In general the hotel was fine. The beds were comfortable & clean- and that's the biggest thing to me. The shower had great pressure but didn't get hot enough (but I like HOT HOT showers, still hot enough to steam the mirror though.) All the employees that we spoke with were nice- but they were a little slow in getting things done. We requested a refrigerator & different pillows/blankets (allergies to feather pillows & down comfortors) and it took awhile (we asked for the fridge at check-in then the front desk called us to make sure everything was ok w/ the room so I mentioned it again. We then went to the park for a few hrs...came back & didn't have it. We called and let them know and asked for the blankets/pillows- finally 2 hrs later they brought us 2 refrigerators & 3 blankets no pillows.)
Um- the carpet had a pretty big stain on it.
I loved having Starbucks in the lobby. =)
The hot tub wasn't heated & the pool tasted salty (not sure if it's from all the sweaty park go'ers or if they use something other than chlorine?)

I think that's everything- If I missed something just ask.
Emily

 

[RedAlfalfa]

It is walking distance- but w/ the kids we drove (I also am a passholder for Universal so get free parking anyway).
It is right accross the street- and I think it would actually be a faster walk then drive (when you factor in time to pay for parking). Plus you already have a hike from the garages to the parks anyway.

Emily

 

[jlbower79]

hey thanks so much for posting!

im still on the fence about where to go... i was thinking the best western plaza cause they have a king room with a jazz. tub in it and it's the same price as the double tree... we'll probably drive to the parks either way (i dont like the idea of crossing that LONG highway there to walk to the parks from the double tree hotel)... so i'll be driving either way. Double tree just looks really really nice.

Im leaving in less then 2 months and I still haven't booked a room yet. I'm going crazy!

Jaime

 

[rcraw45425]

hey thanks so much for posting!

im still on the fence about where to go... i was thinking the best western plaza cause they have a king room with a jazz. tub in it and it's the same price as the double tree... we'll probably drive to the parks either way (i dont like the idea of crossing that LONG highway there to walk to the parks from the double tree hotel)... so i'll be driving either way. Double tree just looks really really nice.

Im leaving in less then 2 months and I still haven't booked a room yet. I'm going crazy!

Jaime

I'd check out trip advisor before booking the Best Western Plaza. Personally the BW's I've seen haven't been too nice.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Search?returnTo=&where=body&geo=1&q=best+western+plaza+orlando&ssrc=r

We stayed at the Doubletree a few years back when it was a Hyatt and found it to be much nicer than any BW I've seen lately

 

[jlbower79]

my problem with that trip advisor site is some of the postings are too old to matter to me... i was wanting someone who has stayed there in the last couple of months.

Do you know how many washers and dryers DoubleTree has? I like that they have a starbucks in the lobby.

Jaime

 

[tarheelmjfan]

I've never stayed at either resort, but just wanted to add that I love the TripAdvisor site. I usually find the hotel reviews pretty accurate. The restaurant ratings & reviews are suspect though, IMHO. For curiousity, I checked the link, & it looks like there's several fairly recent reviews for that BW. Good luck finding the perfect place for you.

 

[rcraw45425]

These were the reviews I meant to post, they're more recent:
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Re...za_International_Orlando-Orlando_Florida.html

Yikes! look at the candid traveller photos!

As for the Doubletree, I can attest that it has inside corridors, which already moves it above the BW in my book, plus, it is right across the main highway from US/IOA, another plus. We dined at the TGIFridays whe nwe stayed there and found it good also. Sorry, can't help you with the washer/dryers, we never stay away from home long enough for me to do laundry (except the beach).

 

[RedAlfalfa]

can't help w/ the washer/dryers since we only stayed the 3 nights. =(
The Starbucks really was a plus. I had packed Taster's Choice instant coffee (single serve pouch things I got from the Freebie Thread of the budget board) but w/ the Starbucks there I never touched them. =)

We got carry out from the Fridays & it was good- nothing better than most Fridays but certainly better than some. I might still have the # if anyone would want it- I'll have to check my cell phone.

Like Rcraw saod the Doubletree does have inside corridors- also a plus in my book.

The only roads you have to cross from the Doubletree to Universal are Kirkman (fairly busy- but the light was really long so you'd have no problem making it accross) and the main circle with-in Universal (Could have been Universal Blvd? Not sure.) It also has a light. But like I said I drove it anyway.

One thing about the Doubletree- they usually charge $10 for parking. I didn't have to pay it this trip- I think the lady said b/c they ran out of the parking permits or something??? So that might be bonus points for the BW- esspecially if you plan to pay the $11 for parking at the theme parks on top of it ($21 a day to park is kinda high IMO).

 

[rcraw45425]

Red Alfalfa, the parking fee must be a Doubletree thing, when it was a Hyatt we never had to pay. THat's a bit steep for self parking IMO. Maybe it's to keep people from parking there and walking to US?

 

[jlbower79]

ok im going crazy! I think im going to do the doubletree because it's 96 dollars a night if i book it on their site (i even called and can't get this deal) with nonrefundable US view!

The TGIF rest in walking distance is a BIG plus. The washer/drying thing, oh well I'll just have to do a little extra shopping so I won't have to worry about using them!

I don't like the parking chargers though! That would ruin the whole trip to have to pay stupid parking fees! I understand why they would do this (to keep people from parking and walking to the parks) but then they should give you vouchers to put in your window and just have you park up front till you get your voucher at check in then you park! I'm going to have to call and double check! Anyone else stay their recently and have to pay? i've found most people have not had to pay even though their site says their is a fee.

I really think this is it! I'm going to book it guys! I figured we can always drive somewhere on the way back from teh park, get us something to eat and bring it back to our hotel, right across from the parks!

I do have a question! Do you pay extra for the refrig? My husband is a diabetic so we have to have a frig in the room.

ok still waiting to make sure! But i think this is the one! It's scarey to book nonrefundable but it's such a nice looking hotel.

ok!
Jai

 

[rcraw45425]

don't know about hte fridge but I know tht at Disney if it's a medical necessity they don't charge. Enjoy!

 

[jlbower79]

ok so i called! and i guess the number is not for the direct hotel but rather a booking agent... he said parking does show a 5 dollars a day there, but he seemed kind on the fence about that... but that's not that much because im only going to be there monday-friday... so we're talking 20 dollars a week if they even charge. I'm going June 4-8 and even though that's peak season I dont think it's going to be as bad as the next week on because people are just getting out of schools and stuff... so here's to hopeing!

Second, the refrig thing, he said it's showing a 20 dollar extra charge but he said it's up to the hotel rather they really charge that or not and I'm hopeing if I mention it's for medical reasons they won't charge.

Someone tell me to just book it and shut up! I'm crazy.

Jai

 

[jlbower79]

I think it's going to Doubletree but wanted some more feeback.. I looked at yahoo's trip feeback and it didn't have good reviews.. ppl said the rooms had odors and looked rundown?

anyone?

 

[rcraw45425]

These are the most recent trip advisor reviews:
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Re...nce_to_Universal_Orlando-Orlando_Florida.html

If you look at the candid traveler photos the only thing I see that could be better is what they refer to as moldy peeling wallpaper under the sink, it looks as if the paper is peeling, I see no mold, but that 's possible due to the distance the photo was taken from.

 

[jlbower79]

thanks!

i really think im going ot book it... it's cheaper to do a nonrefundable room, almost 30 dollars cheaper a night! so i might do that, i did wish someone who had stayed there recently would had commended on the hotel.

oh wells.
jai

 

[rcraw45425]

Good luck!