Buena Vista Palace

[ChrisnKim913]

We are staying at the Buena Vista Palace next month and I'm starting to get a little concerned. I keep hearing bad reviews about this place. Is it really that bad? We got a Disney view and really booked it bc it's close to DTD, was a good price, and has park transportation bc we r drinking around the world at EPCOT and don't want to have to drive. Should we be worried?

 

[neechofish]

Sorry for hijacking but I'm also staying here in June and have similar concerns... anyone???

 

[ChrisnKim913]

No problem at all. Hoping some ppl have some info

 

[Kiwifan]

My daughter & I stayed there for 2 weeks last May & we had no complaints at all.
We were given a free upgrade to a fireworks view room - which was a lovely start to our vacation.
We had booked through a TA so our rate included the resort fee & internet. My DD loved the wireless internet in the room. She was able to keep all her friends back home updated every night.

We loved, loved, loved the location!! Rather than eat in the hotel we would walk across the road to DTD. If you exit the hotel via the pool area rather than the front entrance it is only a 5 min walk to DTD. (If that). It was also walking distance to the WDW entrance (great photo op)

Our room was spotless & the staff were great. The concierge gave us a menu for a local pizza company that delivers to the hotel. The bread sticks were really yummy!

Generally the park transport was reliable. I think there was only once over the 2 weeks that we waited a longer time for the bus than we should have.

I think the pool area had a lot of negative reviews but we found it was fine. Maybe the pool buildings could do with a lick of paint (they were a bit faded) but the pools were kept spotlessly clean which is the important thing.

We are planning another trip next year & will stay there again.

 

[ChrisnKim913]

Great to hear you had a positive review. I love the fact it's so close to DTD. Thanks for the positive reinforcement.

 

[danny25]

Hi We have stayed for a couple of nigths and it´s really nice, not Disney Resort but no problem at all, the room was very clean and modern, the views are nice, and the location it´s like the Saratoga springs perfect to enjoy Downtown Disney We din´t use the transportation so I can talk about that, but in the case that you want to rent a car you have a office inside the hotel, you will like it go with confidence

 

[kat3668]

Stayed here one night and booked DTD view with a request for low floor... When I arrived they put me on floor 24..... Could'nt imagine staying in that room for the night as I have a fear of heights Asked for a lower floor and was told only the 12th floor was available. When I arrived in the room it smelled so musty and was damp feeling. I could barely stand the smell it was sooo bad! The halls and common areas were fine but man did that room stink. I tried airing it out with the patio door open (which had a handle that was snapped in half) I decided to just suck it up as it was for one night but felt that they could have done much better by me if they wanted. That hotel was not even at half capacity while I was there.

 

[Pipkin]

We just completed four nights at the Palace, 4 nights for $300, no fees, tax included On checkout we were offered three nights for some point in the future up to 18 months for $167 resort fees and parking included. If you don't mind being off of Disney property, then it isn't a bad hotel. It was clean, fairly updated however our balcony was not useable due to a hatching of mayflies. They were everywhere outside and we were on the ninety floor. The vanity area was very small. Accommodating two of us was tight. Limited space for cosmetics. This hotel is the closest to DTD and we crossed the street often to take the buses to Disney resorts. There is no crosswalk at the end of the property's sidewalk however. The bus to the theme parks ran every 30 minutes and it was time consuming. Epcot and Animal Kingdom shared the same bus as did two other hotels. Food options were limited but then you are across the street from DTD. Bar drinks are pricey. The pool was okay, not heated, nothing themed or interesting. If I were staying off property I might consider this hotel again but I have no plans to stay off property in the near future so we declined the offer.

 

[ChrisnKim913]

Thanks for the heads up. Will be arriving tomorrow.

 

[Echo queen]

Thanks for the heads up. Will be arriving tomorrow.

Have a great vacationI hope you come back with a review of the place.

 

[aleksandr]

We stayed there for one night a week ago. We decided to extend our trip by one day and couldn't stay at Bonnet Creek. I got what I thought was a decent deal on expedia, but unfortunately, the rate at the front desk was better (and they couldn't do anything since it was pre-paid through expedia).

The front desk staff were great, although they somehow neglected to actually program my room keys.

We were in the "island resort" portion of the hotel, on the 1st floor. The rooms were modern and decent. The place was extremely busy though as they seemed to be hosting a prom party at their conference center. Although the teens here seem to be better behaved than those that roam the grounds of Westgate Lakes during prom season

Only a couple of complaints about the entire experience--1st, you have to use their Bell service--they won't let you wheel your own luggage cart around the hotel/resort. Guess I'm not too high class because I'd rather keep my luggage within my eyesight at all times (carrying several computers and electronic devices) than trust it to a bellhop and at least not have to wait for someone else to do what I could have done myself instantly.

2nd complaint if you don't use their valet service, the self parking is FAR, FAR away from the rooms. It is a hike. Like parking in the furthest lot in a Disney park and not taking the tram. Well, maybe a bit of an exaggeration, but don't expect an instant in-and-out from your room to your car or vice-versa.

Finally, the pools don't appear to be heated. Maybe not a big deal depending on what time of year you are there. I think the one day we stayed was the coldest day of our trip and it was noticeable.

Aside from these really minor complaints the hotel is nice, clean, and you really can't beat the 5 minute walk to DTD. From the prices I saw it seems like a pretty decent value, but I would still take a 2BR condo over a standard room any day. I'd book it again for a one or two day holdover room if necessary until my primary resort was available.

 

[Tink2Day]

We stayed there a couple years ago (on a business trip) it was quite nice.

The room had just been renovated recently. We took our own luggage to our room, my travel partner dropped it and me off at the front door and the bellboys smiled and said have a great day when we said we'd take it ourselves. We were just up the escalator from the conference center and it was very quiet.
The parking isn't that far, probably like walking in from a close spot at your local mall I think parking was free but not sure since the company paid for the hotel but we didn't need a parking pass or anything to park there.

I really liked the bus service. It picked me up in a very convenient spot and the travel time was quick, the driver super nice and the bus was never crowded. They do park a slight distance away from the entrance but that was the only thing different.

I found the concierge to be very nice and helpful. Went down to ask where the gift shop was so I could buy a toothbrush (couldn't find mine until the day we left, buried in the bottom of my suitcase) not only did they give me complimentary one, they gave me a little travel set with toothbrush and toothpaste.

By the way, my travel partner had stayed at most of the hotels in the area around the area, as well as a couple of resorts on property and thought the hotel was as nice or nicer than most of them....including the on property hotels.

 

[tjlamphere]

Pipken, how did you get such a super rate? And they offered you a return stay for a great rate? How so lucky?

I stayed there 2 times, once in '96 and again in '99, so it has been MANY years since we have been there, but we loved it both times.

How do you get a rate here for less than $ 100 a nite and no resort fees???

 

[aleksandr]

Check directly with the hotel. My FIL and I both booked via Expedia at $109/night (plus resort fees). When we got there he inquired via the front desk about extending his stay. They got him at $89/night (plus resort fees).

 

[Pipkin]

Pipken, how did you get such a super rate? And they offered you a return stay for a great rate? How so lucky?

I stayed there 2 times, once in '96 and again in '99, so it has been MANY years since we have been there, but we loved it both times.

How do you get a rate here for less than $ 100 a nite and no resort fees???

We are Hilton Honors members, which anyone can be. We were contacted with this offer with the stipulation that we would attend a 2 hour time share presentation at the Hilton Parc Soleil, which we did. They did not sell us their product but apparently wanted a second chance. They left a message with the Concierge desk to extend the second offer, which I told you about, and we declined. For our 2 hours we got a certificate for $100 off on a future stay at any Hilton and 15K Hilton points.
With regard to the timeshare presentation. The sales person was friendly and nice. I made it clear to him and his manager that if we were to buy a time share it would not be Hilton; that Westin has a superior product. It is based on points, etc which I am sure most of you are familiar with. The "closer" was obnoxious; telling me that Hilton will get my money one way or the other. The sales person cringed. Parc Soleil is a huge towered complex, not far from WDW, but in the middle of no where. The units are nice but I wouldn't stay there if it were free, and I told the sales person exactly that. Its not worth it to me to trade off on inconvenience. One entire floor is dedicated to timeshare sales. I asked how many guests they see per day. The day we were there was "slow", and there were 109 presentations scheduled. They can handle up to 150. I am sure you can get an "invitation" and a good rate if you call and express an interest in learning about the product. They are sure anxious to sell Parc Soleil.
The pool is not heated at the Palace. The Palace is actually not a Hilton. It is owned by the Blackstone group that owns some Hiltons.

 

[ChrisnKim913]

Just to let everyone know, we had a great stay. The AC wasn't the greatest. It was very damp. But it felt better than 85 degrees with 100% humidity. We also received a 50 dollar resort credit and was able to use it at the bar for alcoholic drinks. We had the Disney View and was very nice. Great view of DTD with tower of terror, the dolphin, and everest in the distance. I would totally stay here again with a Disney View

 

[Sadie22]

We had a great stay while attending a convention. It was close enough to Downtown Disney to easily walk over there for dinners.

We had read that you have to hike up a hill after using the self-parking, but found that all we had to do was to use the convention center entrance and take the escalator or elevator up. No need to hike uphill or climb stairs to the lobby entrance. We were very comfortable at BVP.