Desparate for Opinions: Clarion Hotel Maingate

[luvdamouse]

Hi!

I'm in charge of planning a last-minute meeting for 30 people coming in from all over the US to go to Orlando. We've been given an excellent rate and service so far from the Clarion Hotel Maingate, but I can't find any down-and-dirty reviews of it to give me a comfort level on signing a contract.

Does anyone have information to share that will help us decide to go with (or avoid) this property?

Thank you!
Jo

 

[SB in KY]

I booked a room there for 1 night in 11/03 for my in laws (night before checking into WDW) via Priceline. I did not care for the neighborhood (Not a great stretch of 192). The hotel was clean. Their room was clean and adequate, but that was about it. Furnishings were in good shape but seemed cheap. The bathroom again was nice and clean, but showed its age. My in laws complained incessantly about the AC being too cold (but I have never seen them stay anyplace they liked...so take it with a grain of salt) The lobby was clean but sparse. All in all it was an OK basic place to stay if you just need a place to sleep. I am not sure I would want it for a meeting. Of course I did not see any of the conference facilities so they might be fine. There wasn't anything wrong with the place really, just nothing very special either.

 

[KLAIT]

We stayed here in Dec 2002. Recieved the room for about $30 through Priceline.

It was just a friend and I (we left the hubbies and kids home) and it was fine for us. The location was good. We had a rental car-about 5 minutes from the main road to Disney. It is on 192, but we went at a non-busy time and had absolutely no problems with traffic. I didn't think the location was bad. A word of warning--do not eat at the buffet across the street (I think a Golden Corral) YUCK!!!

The hotel was clean, the rooms were clean and the people were all friendly. The room itself was spacious. As soon as you walked in the door there was a full size couch with hide a bed. Then the wall was there with the bathroom...then there was 2 beds..the weird thing is the closet is in that area and is built out into the room.......there was a TV and coffee pot. The hide a bed-couch was sort of weird, but if we had kids, would be nice because it almost offers a second bedroom.

Every morning we received a news paper...don't remember which one.

The pool area is really nothing to write home about. Very small with a few lounge chairs...I would say that if it is a warm time of year, the pool is extremely small for the hotel.

We did not eat at the restaurant, but did try the little pool bar for a snack of chicken strips. They were delicious and very reasonable priced.


We used the laundry facilities when we were there. On our floor there were only 2 washers and dryers...which was fine when empty, but would be a problem if busy.

If you have any additional questions, please let me know..I will be happy to answer.

 

[arminnie]

I got a price of $25 on Priceline for December 2003 - and shared the room with a friend so it was ULTRA cheap for us.

We were very happy with the room. It was immaculate and quite roomy. I ended up having an emergency appendectomy <a href='http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb008' target='_blank'><img src='http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/15/15_4_100.gif' border=0></a> the first morning there so after surgery I spent the rest of the week in the room.

I guess it depends on what you are looking for in a hotel. I have stayed at deluxe and moderate hotels many times and of course this does not begin to compare. In fact I stayed at POR for 4 days before my friend came. We stayed there as she wanted to spend as little as possible on the room and I am flexible.

I honestly did not feel deprived when we moved in there. Now I did feel deprived at spending my WDW trip in the emergency room, hospital and a hotel room instead of the parks but the Clarion was not responsible for that.

I don't know about the conference facilities but the staff was always nice to work with. We did not have a problem at all with the location or the traffic. I don't like to stay on 192 unless I am on the Disney side of I4 but that is just my preference.