Avanti Resort

[JC Butterfly]

Any recent reviews?

A DIS search taught me that this was formerly the Econolodge that was completely gutted. Trip advisor gives it decent reviews.

I can get a Last Minute Travel club rate of $45/night and would like to stay a couple of nights while we visit Universal Studios.

Not expecting anything fancy but wanted clean, safe, and reasonably comfortable.

 

[DOOM1001]

Stayed there several years ago when it was Econo Lodge,wasn't very good at all.Saw the hotel featured on Undercover Boss,they got the maintanance guy a golf cart and a vacation for his family but from what I saw on the show there's nothing they could have done that would have fixed the hotels issues.The hotel obviously changed owners and if it's true that they gutted the hotel and gave it a total makeover then I would be willing to stay there again.If it's anything close to how it was back then then I would stay away.

 

[SecondJon]

Hi - I'm new around here. (first post)

We're planning a trip to Disney World the last week of April as an addition to another trip on the east coast. So, we'll be renting a car and are trying to do DW affordably. I got tickets with the ebates/Orbitz deal, and am now looking into hotels.

Avanti has 77% recommendations on tripadvisor, and their own site contrasts the hotel from what it was when it was on Undercover Boss, after which it was foreclosed and is now renovated and run by a different company.

Has anyone stayed there since it's been Avanti Resort? The prices, even directly on the website for our stay are in the low $60s/night.

Here's from Avanti's site:

The property was foreclosed on shortly after appearing on the CBS television series Undercover Boss in 2010. It was then purchased by private owners in 2012 and closed down for renovations. The lobby and all of the guest rooms saw big structural changes highlighted by contemporary décor.

I wonder if this invalidates all reviews prior to the 2012 purchase. Any new info?

 

[SecondJon]

I've been reading a LOT of reviews of the hotel since it's been Avanti on hotels.com, tripadvisor, every link that turns up on Google's first page when you search for reviews. In summary, here's what I've found. Admittedly, I'm trying to talk myself into staying there because of the price/location/value:

1. I'm not sure when they re-opened, but last summer, they had problems with water heaters, noisy beds, and they've said in response to those reviews, they've replaced all the water heaters, have been fixing all the beds.
2. Every review says it's a good value for the money.
3. Most reviews say the photos are deceiving (but it's still a good value, see #2).
4. The floors in the rooms are laminate, not carpet. There's photos on trip advisor of someone's dirty feet, presumably to show how dirty the room floors can be. When complained about, the manager credited the person's resort fee.
5. Location is great for attractions. According to Google maps, it's about a 16 minute drive to Epcot parking. Many reviews cited nice places to shop & eat nearby.
6. Location is bad for highway noise, depending on where your room is.
7. Not sound proof, due to the non-carpeted floors and... thin walls?
8. They charge for computer and printer use in the business center, and may charge for a lot of other things. I don't plan on using the business center. I called this morning and they said they have both wifi and ethernet access in the rooms.
9. Customer service from most reviews is outstanding, despite complaints 4-7.

Would love to hear from anyone who has stayed there lately.