Clarion Inn, Lake Beuna Vista

[me23xx]

Hi all,

I was just wondering, Clarion Inn is showing as 1.5 miles away from downtown Disney, is there access to walk there? i.e not along the highway.... or is that safe??

 

[Just People]

Great value hotel! We've stayed there many times. Definitely NOT walking distance though. You have to cross an insanely busy main drag and even once your in the main gate of WDW property your are looking at a long walk to downtown Disney to catch a bus anywhere else.

 

[PoohLover78]

We've stayed there before as well. Like Just People said, great value hotel!

The walk from/to DTD always took us about 30 minutes. So I guess that depends on whether you think it's walking distance or not? Me, being from Europe, I find that definitely within walking distance. I had about the same walk to and from school every day when I was a kid.

There are walkways along Palm Parkway and Hotel Plaza Blvd (not the highway). You can cut off a considerable amount of walking though (about 10 mins) if you cross from one shopping area (where Hooters is) over to the minature golf course and then just walk along the strip mall there until you reach Vineland Road. Vineland Road is a 6 lane street, however, we found that crossing at the intersection Vineland/Hotel Plaza Blvd was never a problem.

 

[me23xx]

We've stayed there before as well. Like Just People said, great value hotel!

The walk from/to DTD always took us about 30 minutes. So I guess that depends on whether you think it's walking distance or not? Me, being from Europe, I find that definitely within walking distance. I had about the same walk to and from school every day when I was a kid.

There are walkways along Palm Parkway and Hotel Plaza Blvd (not the highway). You can cut off a considerable amount of walking though (about 10 mins) if you cross from one shopping area (where Hooters is) over to the minature golf course and then just walk along the strip mall there until you reach Vineland Road. Vineland Road is a 6 lane street, however, we found that crossing at the intersection Vineland/Hotel Plaza Blvd was never a problem.

30 minutes that definitely walkable!! (I lived opposite school so definitely not the walk to school that makes it possible hehe) (although I would like to add I lived opposite yet still managed to be late every day how does that work?!!)

That's brilliant to hear its walking distance, I look forward to getting lost at least a couple of times before I get my bearings!!

thank you

 

[Adub]

We are staying at this hotel in mid October. (My first WDW trip). If we don't opt to walk, what are the other options if we don't have a car?

Thanks

 

[PoohLover78]

We are staying at this hotel in mid October. (My first WDW trip). If we don't opt to walk, what are the other options if we don't have a car?

Thanks

The hotel has a shuttle to/from WDW, SeaWorld and Universal. They just emailed me the schedule yesterday. If you want, I can PM it to you. I'll be staying there for a couple nights late October as well.

 

[me23xx]

The hotel has a shuttle to/from WDW, SeaWorld and Universal. They just emailed me the schedule yesterday. If you want, I can PM it to you. I'll be staying there for a couple nights late October as well.

Hiya that would be great thanks!

 

[chrystalc77]

Could you send me the information as well? Trying to crunch numbers to see if a late October trip is possible for us.

 

[PoohLover78]

Hiya that would be great thanks!

Could you send me the information as well? Trying to crunch numbers to see if a late October trip is possible for us.

Sent both of you a PM with the times. I've since emailed them back and asked if the schedule will change during off times and they said they are not planning to. They advised me though that if I plan to go to any of the hard ticket events, they won't provide transportation and consider the park closed when it closes to regular guests. So keep that in mind if you consider going to the Halloween or Christmas events.

 

[Adub]

There are 3 adults going - all siblings and I've booked for 2 x queen beds, will it be possible to obtain a roll away bed for one of us?

Thanks

 

[PoohLover78]

There are 3 adults going - all siblings and I've booked for 2 x queen beds, will it be possible to obtain a roll away bed for one of us?

Thanks

Don't know if they offer rollaways. I think it would be a very tight fit to put one into a room with 2 queen beds though. In a king room I'd say there's enough space to put one but a queen would be really right. Why not give them a call and ask?

 

[richmo]

I've stayed there a couple of times and plan to again next spring. As others mentioned, its a good value hotel.

- The walk to Downtown Disney is probably about 30 minutes, as a PP said. With the exception of when you have to cross Apopka Vineland Rd (SR-535), its well laid out with sidewalks.
- If your intention is to get to the parks, you could walk from the Clarion to the Doubletree (about half that distance) and probably pick up a Downtown Disney resort area bus to the parks. Those buses are far more regular than the shuttle offered by the hotel. As far as I know, you do not need to show any hotel credentials to pick up the bus...and I'm sure you don't returning from the parks.
- As with any off-site accommodation, I strongly recommend a car. I find the hotel shuttle pretty restrictive...but that's up to you. Cars can often be pretty inexpensive.
- If you do miss the "last" shuttle back to the hotel, take the Downtown Disney Resort Area bus that I mentioned to the Doubletree and walk from there.

 

[mchelle77]

Could someone send that info to me as well? We have two nights booked there before checking in at WDW and one of those nights we are headed to Universal for Blue Man Group and Margaritaville. Might be better to take the shuttle rather than drive and pay the parking, if it's more convenient?

 

[richmo]

Could someone send that info to me as well? We have two nights booked there before checking in at WDW and one of those nights we are headed to Universal for Blue Man Group and Margaritaville. Might be better to take the shuttle rather than drive and pay the parking, if it's more convenient?

I can't believe there would be any circumstance where taking a shuttle would be more convenient than driving...but that's all up to you.

A couple of other thoughts:
- If memory serves me correctly, and it may very well not, I recall that the Clarion had some kind of package with Blue Man Group. I have no idea what the details are or were, but you might want to give them a call or look on their website (probably not the general Choice Hotels site) and see what's up. I apologize in advance if I'm completely steering you wrong on that one.
- If you're going to Universal just for City Walk/nighttime stuff, parking drops after 6 or 6:30ish. It used to be free, but I think it was $5 the last time we went. I'd just hate to be reliant on a shuttle from Uni to the Clarion late night after a show.

 

[mchelle77]

I can't believe there would be any circumstance where taking a shuttle would be more convenient than driving...but that's all up to you.

A couple of other thoughts:
- If memory serves me correctly, and it may very well not, I recall that the Clarion had some kind of package with Blue Man Group. I have no idea what the details are or were, but you might want to give them a call or look on their website (probably not the general Choice Hotels site) and see what's up. I apologize in advance if I'm completely steering you wrong on that one.
- If you're going to Universal just for City Walk/nighttime stuff, parking drops after 6 or 6:30ish. It used to be free, but I think it was $5 the last time we went. I'd just hate to be reliant on a shuttle from Uni to the Clarion late night after a show.

Good point about timing.

We got a great deal on BMG ($115 for three tickets) but the show starts at 6pm, so hoping for the discounted parking wouldn't work. I just figured if my husband and I wanted to have a couple of drinks, would be better taking the shuttle rather than driving it.

 

[crc76]

We stayed here Feb 2013 and plan to stay here again in 2014. The lynx 50 bus has a stop right in front of the hotel. It comes through about every 1/2 hour. The bus has stops at DD and TTC. We found it very easy to use.