Clarion Hotel Maingate?

[angiepangie8]

I just reserved the Clarion Hotel Maingate through Priceline at $42 for our family of 4.

We were wanting a day of rest B4 we check in at the Pop and head to MK.

I would love some feedback on this place (especially positive since now I need to validate my purchase)



I was wondering if their Buffet is worth it or if we should just go to Denny's or the Pop the next morning for breakfast. (since the Clarion doesn't offer free breakfast!!! )

 

[angiepangie8]

Bumping?

 

[TheMorgans]

I would like to know too. We used Priceline also and got a fantastic price. Can anyone tell me what to expect? We will just be there for one night too.

 

[dougsmom98]

I have never stayed here, but tripadvisor reviews say that it is adequate and most people give it three stars. I wouldn't worry about it at all especially for a short stay.

 

[angiepangie8]

thanks dougsmom
I just increased my to two nights stay. I got a great price on a flight that leaves late the night before I was going. I'm glad Priceline has the add on another night option!

Room Types
The Clarion Hotel Maingate is a 100% SMOKE-FREE Environment.

TRADITIONAL ROOM WITH 2 DOUBLE BEDS - Nonsmoking
Enjoy the convenience of our spacious traditional room which can comfortably fit up to 4 people in each room. Room Amenities include:

2 Double Beds
Iron & ironing board
Hair dryer
Coffee maker with complimentary coffee
2 data port phone with voicemail
color cable TV with HBO
Includes FREE HI SPEED/ WIRELESS Internet Service.
Also, includes Free Scheduled Shuttle to the theme Parks
Electronic In-room safes available (fee applies)

It appears all room have two beds so that's good since we are a family of four. Priceline says that you aren't guaranteed two beds but looks like I am safe here.

here is one review:

We stayed here for 5 nights, Feb. 3 - 9 as part of a vacation deal we had purchased if we attended a time share offer. We had a king size room on the 4th floor. We didn't spend much time in the room, since there are so many things to do around there.
The pros - The room was nice and clean. The bed was comfortable. A free safe in the closet. The staff was very friendly and helpful. They let us know what other customers liked and disliked about different restaurants. There were clean towels everyday, even if they were never the same size. The pool was clean. They cleaned it everyday.
The cons - The air conditioner was really noisy, the drains were slow. There was only one chair to sit on in the room with no table besides the desk. There was a microwave and refrig. In the room, but no where to sit. The safe was only bolted to the closet shelf and not the wall. Don't eat at Crabby Bills. The food had no taste and was expensive.
Don't ask the information desk about tickets. They will try to sell you discount tickets if you do a timeshare/ vacation deal. You can get a better discount at the gate of the attractions with a AAA or AARP card. They will tell you there is no discount at the gate.
IHOP down the street is the best place for breakfast.

I might have to check out IHOP!

Here is the link to trip advisor
Most seem to say it's ok and a great location to WDW

here are some good reviews:

5 out of 5 stars

My family & I just returned from a 4 day trip to Disney World and stayed at the Clarion. Our room was good,clean & quite big enough for the 5 of us,we had 2 double beds and there was a pull out sofa bed in a seprate alcove. The staff was VERY VERY Friendly & nice. The hotel itself & grounds were clean & inviting.
We heard no noises, even tho there were quite a large number of children & teens there. It was close to restaraunts & gift stores.A Dennys is right across the parking lot. The one thing I would tell people is about the complimentry shuttles to the theme parks, the hotel schedule is NOT the only schedule to the parks. Be sure if you use it to ask the driver specifically about which parks at what times for pickup from the parks in the evening, Its not run by the hotel, so they can't help much in the shuttle dept. Overall everything was great.

4 out of 5 stars:

I was expecting not a lot from this hotel as I paid about $55 on my stay per night. I found out that I made a great deal. Staff, when you check in, they are all friendly and accommodating. They are all wearing their smiles. When I went into the room, I was very pleased. The room has updated furniture, very clean and neat and smells clean. I was so happy I didn't make a mistake. In the morning, I brought my kids to the restaurant and they had a lot of choices. I paid for 1 adult and my kids are free (they are under 12). I will definitely stay here again. They are interior corridor hotel, which is a plus because it's quiet, safe and no bugs.

then again we may try the breakfast there however we are getting up ultra early on the day we transfer over to the Pop Century plus I want to make to rope drop at MK The restaurant opens at 7am and closes at 11am for breakfast. (I was really hoping for a place that offered a free continental breakfast! ~oh well)

 

[angiepangie8]

I'm searching for the plusses!!!

you know I just have to justify my purchase/ win from priceline
here we go:


I'm just passing up all of those negative reviews

la la la la ... i don't hear you la la la la..

4 out of 5 stars:

My husband and I have just returned from a week at the Clarion Maingate. The hotel staff was very friendly and went out of their way to help. The hotel grounds were landscaped and kept looking very nice and clean. We had a room on the 1st floor, king bed, microwave, and frig., it was very clean and smelled so fresh. The lobby was spotless. The pool area and tiki bar was great. The bar didn't open until 5:00 pm , but this wasn't a problem with us. They played music at the pool, starting around 11:00 am until closing 11:00pm. We never did eat at the breakfast bar, but comments from other guests it was very good. There was someone going around all the time, checking to make sure that everything was in working order, this was done
several times throughout the day.
Overall I would have to say this hotel is family friendly, and just a great place to stay. Would stay here again.

4 out of 5 stars

We stayed at the Clarion Maingate as part of a timeshare package. We also booked an extra night ourselves on the internet. When we arrived I had requested an upgrade to a room with a sofabed, microwave and frig. The staff was very helpful and upgraded our room. Though they did not have nonsmoking for the entire 4 day stay, they gave me the room I wanted anyway and told me that they would figure something out. This way we did not have to change our room to another. The housekeeping staff was very helpful and did a great job cleaning the room each day. This is an older motel but I have no complaints about it. I would recommend this motel to anyone. It is close to all the attractions. They did have a shuttle but we did not use it as it left early in the morning than we wanted to go to the parks.

4 out of 5 stars

“Loved it.”
Clarion Hotel Maingate

A TripAdvisor Member
London, UKMay 16, 2006
5/5 found this review helpful
I was impressed by the hotel. The lobby is so clean and welcoming. The room is clean. We'll definitely stay here again and recommend this hotel to our friends and family. If you are on a budget and want to stay at a decent hotel, the Clarion Hotel maingate is the perfect hotel for you.

5 out of 5 stars

I have stayed in ALOT of hotels in Orlando / Kissimmee Area, and for the price and quality I received from Clarion Hotel Maingate, I would say its BY FAR the BEST VALUE for your money!! I received a rate of 52 dollars a night, with AAA discount. 2 weeks before I stayed at the maingate location, I stayed at the Universal location and it was much worse quality and was 15 dollars more experience. The only problem was the breakfast, it cost 7 dollars, and offered a very limited selection. Also the middle elevator almost killed me, it didn’t realize I was in between the elevator and the lobby, it just kept closing, I had to jump out of the way before it closed all the way on me.

So if you want to be REALLY close to Disney and spend less than 60 dollars a night then stay at this Clarion Hotel. You will have a great experience!! I have stayed in over 15 hotels in Orlando and this one is a GREAT VALUE!!!!!!!!!!

Some of these are dated
i think the buffet is more than $7

 

[angiepangie8]

Link to a Video on the Clarion Maingate



Also here is a restaurant that trip advisor shows is close by and has recieved some good reviews:

Golden Corral Family Steak HSE

This place sounds good too: Romano's Macaroni Grill -- Kissimmee

and even better
Carrabba's Italian Grill:

here is a review of Carrabba's

Each time my husband and I visit Florida we always make a visit to Carrrabbas in Kissimmee. This time around we ate there 3 times.

Each time we were seated immediately, but that could have been because we at early so we could take advantage of the 2 for 1 happy hour. Without exception, the service was excellent. You're also never rushed, unlike some restaurants that are virtually throwing you out the door as soon as you've finished eating. The waiters are very knowledgable about the menu and sometimes even suggest something that isn't on the menu. The kitchen is open and it's fascinating to watch them cook the food.

I always try to order different meals and have never been disappointed. The specials, in my opinion, are the best. It's also so cheap, but we do have a good exchange rate at the moment. The bread with dipping oil is gorgeous and addictive. Be aware it's easy to fill up on the before any of your food has arrived.

If you're staying in the Kissimmee area I would highly recommend at least one visit to this restaurant. It's a welcome change from the likes of Ponderosa and Sizzler!

Ok now I have gotten off topic

 

[julezdisney]

I need to revive this thread as I was on the verge of tears tonight when this popped up while trying to score a deal through Priceline.

I'm heartbroken. All the places I could've chosen and I get this one. Sigh.

Anyone have any recent reviews?

 

[julezdisney]

no one?

 

[Misty89]

I need to revive this thread as I was on the verge of tears tonight when this popped up while trying to score a deal through Priceline.

I'm heartbroken. All the places I could've chosen and I get this one. Sigh.

Anyone have any recent reviews?

HI

I have stayed there twice, ( 2003 & 2004) and we LOVE it
it's close to fast food ( walking distance), a steak house, and there is a gas station close by.
I landed it through Priceline in 2004 for $30,
the BEST aprt about it there is a back way/ easier way to get to WDW entrance, if you would like to know i can try to explain it over the computer. ( saved ALOT of hassle on irlo-bronson drive)
we would stay there again this time, but i got a cheaper rate, and it's closer to our "area" ( we are staying at a timeshare this time) then the Clarion Maingate.
the breakfast was not free, BUT it was good and filling.....i see on thier website, they have a crab leg dinner now, it sounds good.

So give it a shot, it's not bad at all

Tina

 

[KLAIT]

We too have won this hotel through Priceline a couple of years ago. First, it is not the Ritz, however, it is a decent clean place to stay. The rooms were quite large..we had a double queen room and when you walk in the door to the room, there is a sofa sleep there where it is sort of private..then the bathroom is in the next space which gave us walls for the sofa room and the room where the beds were... a LARGE closet and 2 decent beds...I would not be too upset to stay here again at all.

It is located in a place that has a lot of restaurants, both fast food and sit down and if I remember correctly, there is a minio golf place in walking distance. This hotel is really close to the Sherberth Road shortcut to Disney.

The pool area is pretty small, but they had a small pool bar that had decent prices and good fast food...

Have Fun!

 

[julezdisney]

We too have won this hotel through Priceline a couple of years ago. First, it is not the Ritz, however, it is a decent clean place to stay. The rooms were quite large..we had a double queen room and when you walk in the door to the room, there is a sofa sleep there where it is sort of private..then the bathroom is in the next space which gave us walls for the sofa room and the room where the beds were... a LARGE closet and 2 decent beds...I would not be too upset to stay here again at all.

It is located in a place that has a lot of restaurants, both fast food and sit down and if I remember correctly, there is a minio golf place in walking distance. This hotel is really close to the Sherberth Road shortcut to Disney.

The pool area is pretty small, but they had a small pool bar that had decent prices and good fast food...

Have Fun!

Hey thanks!