Couple of hotel questions ?

[jillrobinson]

I've been seriously pondering over the brochures, surfing the net etc. and I've kindof decided on a plan for our first Orlando holiday.
As I mentioned in another post I don't want to drive so our best option is a week onsite at WDW and then a week on I-Drive.
Looking at all the hotels available on I-Drive I'm thinking the Holiday Inn looks like it would perfectly suit our needs, it's near to Universal Studios, it's got free transport to there and to Seaworld and it's very near to WetnWild, or at least looks it to my untrained eye. I'm still trying to get my head around the size of this place.
The other hotel I've looked at is the Quality Inn Plaza which is about half way between WetnWild and Seaworld.
My big question is are there nice and not so nice areas of I-Drive ?

I'm airing towards the HI because I've read that it has a Dollar Car Rental Desk and I'm thinking that if I change my mind about the driving I could hire when we get there ? Is that a possibility ? and the fact the it's a Virgin Flagship hotel is making me think it must be good

The I-Drive hotel has got to be one of the cheaper ones as I made the mistake of showing my kids Animal Kingdom Lodge, I'm assuming that you have to book the Savannah rooms if you want to be able to see the animals from your window ? My oldest DH is absolutely taken with this, although I haven't quite worked out how I'm going to break the news of the cost of the AKL to his dad yet.

Just in case DH puts his foot down and says "No Way" to 7 nights at AKL realistically how easy/time-consuming is it to swap hotels - would 3 hotels in 2 weeks be too much ?
I'm thinking I might be able to persuade him into staying there for the last 2/3 nights but at one of the cheaper Disney hotels for the rest of that week.

Thanks in advance

 

[JohnnySharp2]

Have stayed at the Holiday Inn many years ago, it is a good quality hotel with decent facilities and an excellent pool.

However, it's not my favourite location personally, find it busy and to be blunt there are a few too many tacky discount stores around.
That's just my opinion, mainly based upon the fact we (for my son's benefit) need the privacy of a villa rather than staying in a hotel.
Guess what I am saying is I like the hotel but just do not like where it is.

I do agree that if you do not have a car then I-drive or onsite are your best options, having said that the South end of I-drive is for me much nicer and a bit less 'touristy'.
There are a couple of hotels that may be slighly more expensive, Rosen Center and Rosen Plaza but I am not sure whether they provide transport etc
In addition there is a world of difference between staying on-site and on I-drive.
Have also stayed at the QI Plaza, it's not as nice as the HI.

3 hotels in 2 weeks , I am sure we have done that before when travelling around Florida, I guess it depends on whether the hassle of checking in and out, packing/unpacking etc is what you want - bearing in mind you will have to check out at 11am but be unable to check in to your next hotel until 4pm

Sorry if I am being a bit negative - rest assured whatever you decide a fantastic holiday awaits

 

[Frances999]

I'm assuming that you have to book the Savannah rooms if you want to be able to see the animals from your window ? My oldest DH is absolutely taken with this, although I haven't quite worked out how I'm going to break the news of the cost of the AKL to his dad yet.

Just in case DH puts his foot down and says "No Way" to 7 nights at AKL realistically how easy/time-consuming is it to swap hotels - would 3 hotels in 2 weeks be too much ?
I'm thinking I might be able to persuade him into staying there for the last 2/3 nights but at one of the cheaper Disney hotels for the rest of that week.

Thanks in advance

AKL tends to offer (along with WL) the cheapest Deluxe Resort rates. If you are fortunate enough to be able to find a code, or use an AAA (AA members) discount, then the price can be reduced further. However, yes, you would need to reserve a more expensive savannah view room if you wanted a balcony overlooking the savannah. During off-peak times, it has been known for many people to receive complementary upgrades - but this obviously can't be guaranteed and if you really want a Savannah View it's best to play it safe and specifically reserve one.

3 hotels in two weeks, in my opinion, would be okay. That's the maximum we would do but I think it can be easily done with minimum fuss. Moving from a Disney resort to another Disney resort really couldn't be any simpler. They take care of the baggage transfers and it's extremely straightforward.

Good luck with your planning!

 

[Hilary]

would 3 hotels in 2 weeks be too much ?
I'm thinking I might be able to persuade him into staying there for the last 2/3 nights but at one of the cheaper Disney hotels for the rest of that week.

Thanks in advance

I'd happily do three hotels in two weeks. (Heck, I'd happily do three hotels in one week! ). BUT, it does depend on personal preferences and whether the packing up would be too much hassle for you and your family. We now wouldn't want to stay in one place for more than a few days as we feel it seems to make the holiday last a lot longer if we have more than one base. However, I know this kind of nomadic trip isn't everyone's idea of a holiday!

If you do decide to split the stay, I think you're wise to plan the hotels in the order you've suggested, and to finish with AKL

Good luck with the 'persuasion'!

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

WDW
Value I recommend All Star Movies on site good bus service
Deluxe Polynsesian or Contemporary for access to MK and character meals.
All no problem without a car.

OUTSIDE

Royal Paific Resort at Uniserval for its location , style and the frist in the line access at Universal Boat service around the resort and connections to Seaworld and Wet n wild

 

[Amyrlin]

If you want a low cost hotel Best Western Movieland is also not too bad, and also near Wet and Wild.

 

[wilma-bride]

We stayed at the Holiday Inn last year for a week. Yes, it's a Virgin Flagship hotel but, in my opinion, that doesn't really mean anything. In our opinion it was no better than the Quality Inn (in fact, we actually preferred the QI as we had some noise issues at the HI).

I think it really depends on the location at the HI - the tower rooms are a lot bigger and quieter than the 'resort' rooms.

In response to the not-so-nice area of I-Drive questions, I would say you're fairly safe with any area as long as it's along the main drag of I-Drive. We stayed 1 night at the Howard Johnson Plaza the first year, which is just off Kirkman Road and it was really not an area we would have felt safe wandering around late at night (not very well lit, not much around). The Southern end of I-Drive is a bit quieter but you may feel a bit shut-off from the action. For example, the Sheraton World hotel is nice but there is not much around that area within walking distance so you would probably need to catch the trolley to get out at night to eat etc.

 

[UKDEB]

Jill, reading your signature, I'm assuming you are planning for your first WDW trip in 2008. If so, I'd implore you to reconsider doing a 'cheap' I-Drive hotel alongside an onsite WDW one.

Although I'm not a huge advocate of staying onsite, I think as a first-timer you'd be disappointed with the I-Drive element compared with the onsite part of your stay, even if you went for one of the more upmarket I-Drive options. If you really must do it that way, at least make sure you do I-Drive before WDW.

You've got plenty of time to plan (and save), so my advice would be to do a completely DIY trip and either split your stay between AKL and one of the cheaper WDW resorts (but, again, make sure you do the cheaper one first), or stay one week at AKL and a week at one of the Universal resorts. We've managed to get some really good rates at Royal Pacific Resort in the past (around $139 a night - and that's per room not per person) and it is a whole world apart from staying on I-Drive.

Post loads of questions on these boards to work out how you can do it.

 

[jonkatony]

We stayed at ak lodge last year. It was fantastic. We stayed in savanah view for 7 days and 7 days pool view. I never drive and would rather stay in ASMO than I Drive and split my stay that way.

 

[UKDEB]

My big question is are there nice and not so nice areas of I-Drive ?

Yes! And most of it is 'not so nice'!

 

[jns]

we tried this one year and stayed at the Beach club first then moved to I Drive which no one liked
so instead of ruining our holiday we left I Drive forgot about the money we had spent on this hotel
and got a deal on the americsuites in LB which was lovely

but looking back maybe if we had stayed on ID first it might not have seemed so bad

this was the first and will be the last time we will stay off site

like someone has already said leave the nicest hotel to the end

Enjoy the planning

 

[kkymmy]

First (and only) time I went so far we stayed offsite because my aunty and uncle have timeshare at The Fountains on I-Drive. I really loved our apartment but when we went to Contemp for Chef Mickey's Breakfast there was jsut something magical about the hotel....before we even got to character dining. I wanted to stay, and just going round over Poly and GF on the resort monorail made me wish I was staying there...but like the fireworks narrative says "do as dreamers do....hope all my wishes will come true"....next year going back again and staying in ASMo....can't wait!

 

[alisonbestford]

If you're staying on ID I'd recommend the lower end, down by SeaWorld

You have the convenience of the Trolley system, and the Lynx buses,but avoid most of the other noisy ID bits

We stayed in a pretty basic Travelodge type hotel the first time we visited Orlando, several years ago. It was arranged through Virgin and has changed names (I think it's the Wynfield Inn) since we were there but it worked for us and had several free shuttle transfers to the parks every day.
You could walk over to SeaWorld, catch the Trolley up ID and walk to Universal (about a 15 min walk over the bridge) or jump on a bus

Absolutely no need for a car if you didn't want to drive

Have fun

 

[Deedee]

I can't comment on the HI but we always stay at the quality inn plaza (7 times) and there is nothing wrong with this hotel it is in a prettier area of i drive than the HI. Lets face it if you do Orlando properly you are not in the hotel long anyway. in my opinion it is pointless spending extra money on something you don't get much use out of, you can spend the extra money on doing things.

 

[Goofyish]

We did a split stay a few years ago - 7 days on-site at POR and then 7 days on I-Drive at the Quality Inn Plaza.
We found the southern end of I-Drive (below the Sandlake Road junction) a bit calmer than the north. The green central verge also masks the road a little making it seem quiter. You can use the I-Ride trolley bus to get down to Seaworld etc. and a cab to Universal is about $11 each way if you don't drive. We found the move between hotels very painless.
We don't have a car and used a Towncar transfer to and from the airport and a cab to transfer between hotels. We have always got where we want to go using cabs and the I-Ride trolley and have never spent as much as we would have paid for car rental insurance.

FLTours Towncars

Mears Taxis (including fare estimator)

I-Ride Trolley

Lynx Buses

On thing we would have done different is to stay on I-Drive the first week and then WDW the second. We found doing it the other way round was a real downer after staying a week on-site

We have also done a split stay on-site. 11 days at POR then 3 days at AKL Savannah View. Disney bell services are great and transport your luggage between resorts while you spend the day in the parks

It may be worth a look at getting one Disney Annual Pass to try and get an AP discount on on-site accommodation, you may be able to extend you time at AKL.

I would also look at going for a flydrive and then booking the accommodation yourself. For Disney accommodation and packages try getting a quote from DreamsUnlimited (DIS associated travel agents). They provide a great service and will apply any discount codes that become available and book all your dining reservations for you.

DreamsUnlimited

 

[daveyoghurt]

For example, the Sheraton World hotel is nice but there is not much around that area within walking distance

Hi Jill, I agree with Wilma in so much as the Sheraton World is a good choice as it's pretty much halfway between Disney and Universal and you can walk through the back of the resort and find yourself at Seaworld as well so it's ideal for the the theme parks. The i-ride trolley stops right outside so getting up the i-drive is nice and easy. Over the road there is a Bennigans, a chinese restaurant, a Steak 'n' Ale restaurant, an Italian restaurant, along with a bar and a Flippers pizza restaurant as well, so you don't have to travel too far to get something to eat.

Be sure to upgrade to a Tower room if you're considering here though as the smaller, motel rooms have their critics - we did and we had a great view up International Drive. As for the i-drive, some people aren't big fans of it as it has a few 'discount' shops selling 'tacky' souvenirs (they don't offend me that much though!), but they are at the northern end, towards Wet 'n' Wild.

Good luck planning your holiday and don't be shy to ask for suggestions!

 

[Gonz Of Lancashire]

The tacky shops aren't that tacky (nowhere near as bad as Blackpool), and tend to be near Wet n Wild. I-Drive south of Sand Lake Road is good all the way down. We are returning to the Marriott Village at Lake Buena Vista in January and we would recommend that. It's next to I-4, although you can't hear it, and is easy for a commute to US or WDW. It's especially close to Downtown Disney. I know you aren't thinking of a car, but I would recommend one, although the shuttles are OK, you have more flexibility with car, and the Orlando area is quite sprawled out.

 

[jillrobinson]

I have to admit to not being completely sure about the HI especially being able to see the huge road (or is that a "freeway" - note to self 'must brush up on American terms') in the background of the brochure pic, it did put me off a bit.

We'd be happy to spend 2 weeks onsite at WDW, but the family will definately want to visit the Universal Parks and it's just the logisitics of getting there without a car from WDW that's bothering me.
Like some of you have suggested I think we'll start on I-Drive for a couple of days and then move onsite, finishing off at the AKL sounds like a really good idea.

Thanks for all your input folks - much appreciated. You've given me lots to think about.

 

[scojos]

can i just add something please?
i have never stayed on site because of budget, so i cant comment on that, i can say we stayed at the radisson barcello on i drive in 04 and were very impressed by the hotel and its facilites (room service however was very expensive ) The area was nice, with a ponderossa, mini mart and tony romas (the place for ribs ) all within walking distance. yes there was some tackiness in the area, but i most be the only person who loves tacky gift shops. We loved our stay, partciularly people watching off the balcony )

tracy

ps from rereading my own post i realise i sould like a very strange person

 

[ARE WE THERE YET]

I have stayed in Holiday Inn and Quality inn Plaza. Holiday inn was many years ago and it was very nice. Qaulity Inn Plaza was in 2004. I think both locations are great. You can walk to shops and restuarants from either and the I-ride trolley as mentioned is very cheap and a great way to get around. The only thing with QIP was we found it very very noisy at night. It is a very large hotel so it may have just been where we were. If you decide on this one request a quiet room!! To be honest, for the amount of time you actually spend in your hotel room it doesn't really matter too much.