Courtyard by Marriott DTD now a Holiday Inn?

[vhoffman]

I understand the Courtyard by Marriott DTD has changed and is now a Holiday Inn. Has anyone stayed there since the change took place? How was the hotel? Did you feel there was any "transition" problems? Did they offer free breakfast buffet and kids eat free, like HIFS? Were the rooms redone? Would you stay there again?

 

[safetymom]

http://www.holidayinnwdw.com/

They will be redoing the rooms in the spring. They will be installing 27 inch TV's.

Also kids 12 and younger now eat for free.

 

[JaxnBanditFan]

Wish I could answer for you but i did get winning bid from hotwire for 35.00 a night for a May trip . As a Marriot is was rated a 2.5 * by priceline. Hotwire is offering it as 3.5*. Im not expecting 3.5* but the location is where I want to be and the price is right.
Sorry I cant be more helpful if you havent already looked expedia has quite a few pictures I wouldnt think it has changed much in months time.

 

[rmb]

When you got this room of Hotwire do you remember was amentities were listed? I just tried for July and it shows a room for $35 listing restaurant, pool, and internet - I was wondering if it might me the old courtyard location

 

[ncbyrne]

I am also seeing a 3.5* Hotwire property with those same amenities for $35 in May. I've checked the list on betterbidding.com and those amenities are listed for the Courtyard. I've posted a question there and now I'm waiting for confirmation before I bid. I'd love to get the DD location for that price!

 

[vhoffman]

Geeez!

I thought I was doing good for $55 a night! Oh, well, next time maybe I'll try Hotwire.

 

[TTFN]

I was there 2 days after the changeover and stayed for 5 nights. (We were there Jan.1-6) The rooms are in need of refurbishing (older carpet, evidence of an old leak from the shower above), but was very clean and housekeeping service was good. The restaurant did have a breakfast buffet...8.95 for adults...that was good, but we were 2 adults so I don't know if kids eat free. We only ate at the hotel that one time. I was a little concerned about transition issues, but there were none that I could see. Bus service to WDW was great, and the buses to the parks were almost always on time, arriving at the hotel on the half hour and leaving the parks on the quarter hours. We only had 2 times when buses ran slightly late. If you can get a room away from the interstate, I would reccommend it as the traffic noise is kind of loud. The biggest drawback to the bus service is going to the Magic Kingdom, where the buses drop off at the Ticket and Transportation Center instead of at the front of the park. The walk to DTD took less than 10 minutes, and you can get Disney buses there to the Disney resorts if you plan to visit any of them. I would stay there again and am curious about the how and when of the renovations.

Beth

 

[ncbyrne]

I got up the nerve and bid on Hotwire. WDW - 3.5* - $35. Amenities: Restaurant, pool, hi-speed internet. It turned out to be the Holiday Inn on Hotel Plaza Blvd! For the price I couldn't be happier!

 

[rmb]

I have never bidded on hotwire or priceline before. Do you get to pick a room with 2 bed and non smoking or do you just take a chance and get what they give you?

 

[JaxnBanditFan]

RMB - Ive used pricleine many times and I have never had any trouble getting 2 beds although they only guarantee one . If I were bidding for something in New York or San Francisco I would be worried because they are more lilely to have rooms with just one bed. Disney world hotels were really meant for families. The rooms are reserved for non smoking through priceline or hotwire. So you shouldnt have problem with that. If you want smoking you could call to se if they will change that for you.


NCBYRNE - Be sure to let us know how the hotel is you will be there 2 weeks before we go.

 

[maggiew]

I just called and asked about Renovations and the front desk lady told me they wouldn't be starting until November????

Maggie

 

[CarolA]

I would imagine it takes a while to do any major changes.
First you would not start until you change names, then their is financing (I believe this is a franchise) and you would not want to be closed during the busy season in the summer.

I have stayed there as it is now and for the good rates would stay there again in a heartbeat!

 

[maggiew]

I only mentioned they were beginning renovations in November because in an earlier reply it said they were beginning in Spring. I wasn't questioning their decision about when to begin renovations.

I thought people may be interested in what the hotel said. I was thinking about booking the room on Hotwire, but I didn't want to be in the middle of a construction zone when we go in August.

I have stayed at the Courtyard in the past and enjoyed it very much.

Maggie

 

[vhoffman]

I got it, too! I bid on Hotwire and got the Holiday Inn DTD for $35 a night! You can't beat that! I did have a good rate for HIFS ($78 a night), and its a suite instead of a hotel, but the difference is just too much. I've never used Hotwire before but I guess now I'm a convert. Thanks to other posters who told me how this hotel comes up on Hotwire. Of course, I know I'm taking a chance to get that hotel, but it was a good bet that paid off. If anyone else is interested in trying to get this hotel on Hotwire, be aware that it isn't always listed. I tried at 7 am this morning and it was there but I didn't have the nerve to "go for it". Then I tried later around noon, and it wasn't there! I kept trying, but to no avail. I thought it was all gone. Then I tried again about 5 pm and there it was! I grabbed it and it was the hotel I was hoping for. I did notice as I checked Hotwire throughout the day that their listings change often. Just because something was there and then isn't doesn't mean that its no longer available. Just keep trying like I did and it might appear again.

 

[Daisimae]

Congrats hoffman! What are your dates? I'm looking for Sept.

 

[vhoffman]

We're going the last week of Jan. Hope to see some DISer's there--I'll try to wear something lime green. I'll be the one with the big smile about how much money I've saved. Actually, this trip is as close to "free" as one can get without winning a contest. We're using our FF miles for free airfare, the hotel total is costing us $247, we're using AMEX Membership Rewards for a coupon for $100 off a rental car and the car is $115, so our cost is $15, we have Connections vouchers for most of our meals plus Kids eat free at our hotel, and we're using our annual passes. The total for a week should come to $500-$600. Enough to put a smile on my face!

 

[ncbyrne]

The best time to look at hotwire.com is early morning and then again in the evening. I have no idea why, but oftentimes during the day the list shrinks to just a couple properties and then returns with even more in the evening.

 

[Hygiene99]

we also just decided to go to the world at the end of the month
and i also just tryed hotwire for the first time since we r getting in at midnight we thought we would just try for one of these DD
hotels and we got the holiday inn for 38 bucks hey to have a place to sleep for the night good enough...

What is HIFS ????

That was for the night on jan 29th
the other 2 night r still up in the air dont have a clue yet..

We did get a rental suv, Alamo for 105.00 for the trip

oh yea what is the 71 dollar 4 star on hotwire

 

[JaxnBanditFan]

oh yea what is the 71 dollar 4 star on hotwire?
to figure out which hotel try to list it with the amenities.


Orlando (Walt Disney World)
4* Celebration Hotel
Amenities: Restaurant, Pool, Fitness, Hi-Speed Internet, Golf, Tennis, Spa
(note: Vacation Package shows Boutique icon, but as of now Hotel Product does not)

4* Dolphin
Amenities: Restaurant, Pool, Fitness, Business, Golf, Tennis, Laundry
(NOTE: thru Hotel Product, these amenities are the same as those for the Swan, so you could get either one)

4* Walt Disney World Hilton
Customer Favorite
Amenities: Restaurant, Pool, Fitness, Business Center

4* Wyndham Palace Resort and Spa
Amenities: Resturaunt, Pools, Fitness center, Buisness center, Golf nearby, Tennis nearby, Spa services

 

[ncbyrne]

HIFS is Holiday Inn Family Suites. It's very popular with DISers. There are several Holiday Inns in the greater Orlando area.