Disney Springs Doubletree - a few more questions

[dizneefan13]

Our trip to DW begins at the end of June -- for 10 days.
I have reserved CBR but most likely will cancel soon. I also have a rez at the Doubletree Suites, a mousesaver special that is half the cost of CBR. We are a daughter, granddaughter and me. Three generations YAY! The extra room makes so much sense to me and the $$$ is a no brainer.

My questions - I saw a YT video showing a ground floor room with a sliding door and small patio. The guy walked out and down a path to the pool. The pool was very close but not noise provoking close.
He said it was room 111, I think. Are all the rooms in that section of the hotel the same layout?

I called to talk to a rep or somebody and was put on hold twice and then when I got a person, they really didn't know. By then I'd waited long enough and didn't feel like being put on hold again. I hope their in house customer service is better. I've heard it is.

Anyway I know I might be over--planning, but I enjoy it and want to put a few extra touches here and there to make my girls' trip extra special! So I think a room where we would have a short walk to the pool might be nice. The pool looks nice enough and there even seems to be a bit of shade around.
Is that the bar/snack lounge in that gazebo in the middle? Another plus!
This will be their first time at WDW having visited DLR many times. I have been to DW a few times and have learned SO MUCH from this forum. I'm grateful for everyone who shares their experience and gives great advice.

 

[HopperFan]

Our trip to DW begins at the end of June -- 10 days.
I have reserved CBR but most likely will cancel soon. I also have a rez at the Doubletree Suites, a mousesaver special that is half the cost of CBR. We are a daughter, granddaughter and me. Three generations YAY! The extra room makes so much sense to me and the $$$ is a no brainer.

My questions - I saw a YT video showing a ground floor room with a sliding door and small patio. The guy walked out and down a path to the pool. The pool was very close but not noise provoking close.
He said it was room 111, I think. Are all the rooms in that section of the hotel the same layout?

I called to talk to a rep or somebody and was put on hold twice and then when I got a person, they really didn't know. By then I'd waited long enough and didn't feel like being put on hold again. I hope their in house customer service is better. I've heard it is.

Anyway I know I might be over--planning, but I enjoy it and want to put a few extra touches here and there to make my girls' trip extra special! So I think a room where we would have a short walk to the pool might be nice. The pool looks nice enough and there even seems to be a bit of shade around.
Is that the bar/snack lounge in that gazebo in the middle? Another plus!
This will be their first time at WDW having visited DLR many times. I have been to DW a few times and have learned SO MUCH from this forum. I'm grateful for everyone who shares their experience and gives great advice.

To get one of these rooms you must book a "PATIO SUITE" or "EXECUTIVE PATIO SUITE". These rooms are more expensive than the other suites. I checked my dates in July and the rate is $41 a night more. I checked the Mousesaver rate for my date and the patio rate is still $41 more.

Look at your reservation details. If you didn't book PATIO then you will get a regular room facing the parking on the first floor or one of the next few floors up. Unless they changed it the top floors are Hilton Honors suites. Note Pool View rooms are also a bookable category.

 

[writerguyfl]

HopperFan is correct. If you want the patio, you have to book the patio. Whether $41 (or whatever the price is for your dates) is worth it is subjective.

That said, the DoubleTree Suites is a compact hotel. Using Bing Maps, I measured the distance from the furthest room to the pool area.

Link to Bing Maps: https://binged.it/2K2z7u8

That 536 feet (163 meters) is about a 2 minute walk. I stayed at the hotel over arguably the busiest time of the year (over New Year's). I never waited more than 1 minute to get on an elevator. So, even if you're on the top floor at the end of the hall, you can get to the pool in less than 5 minutes.

I called to talk to a rep or somebody and was put on hold twice and then when I got a person, they really didn't know. By then I'd waited long enough and didn't feel like being put on hold again. I hope their in house customer service is better. I've heard it is.

Nowadays, reservations for most chain hotels are handled by the chain's Central Reservations office. Even if you call the hotel direct, you'll get transferred to Central Reservations. If you ask a super-specific question (like "are there other rooms set up the same way as room 111?"), you'll get put on hold while the agent calls the hotel Front Desk. If the Front Desk is busy checking in/out guests, the agent may not be able to get an answer.

As someone who used to run a hotel-based Reservations Office (that no longer exists due to the above set-up), I dislike the current set-up. It's not good guest service...although it is much cheaper, which is why the vast majority of chain hotels use it.

It is what it is. You'd get the same experience at most chain hotels or if you call Disney.

Is that the bar/snack lounge in that gazebo in the middle? Another plus!

That location is "EverGreen Pool Side" and it's open from noon to 5pm every day. It's essentially an extension of the EverGreen Cafe restaurant located off the lobby.

I've never eaten pool side, but I have done Room Service a bunch of times. Room Service is handled by the EverGreen Cafe, too. Like most restaurants, some things are better than others. But, I've never had anything truly bad.

https://doubletree3.hilton.com/en/h...disney-springs-area-MCOFHDT/dining/index.html

This will be their first time at WDW having visited DLR many times. I have been to DW a few times and have learned SO MUCH from this forum. I'm grateful for everyone who shares their experience and gives great advice.

Thank you

 

[dizneefan13]

Again, thanks for the great information, guys. I was thinking this hotel is bigger than it actually is.
I will only ask for even numbered floor (with ice machine) odd number room.
I am so looking forward to this trip, having DD and GDD along for their first visit!

 

[StarCruiser]

Since it's a Hilton property, you can check-in and select your room using the Hilton Honors App or website. I believe check-in starts around 6 am the day before your stay. That should give you the best selection for you room and hopefully allow you to pick what will work best for you. Good luck.

 

[123ltp]

Just curious why the even floor odd room?

 

[HopperFan]

Just curious why the even floor odd room?

She said even because hotel info says ice machines only on even floors. I don't remember that.

And my guess is odd because the video she watched was room 111 so that would face the pool. It might work but since pool view rooms are a bookable category if that is what is booked. If not unless they had extra open rooms and they were willing to upgrade her for free ... that might not happen.

 

[dizneefan13]

Yes, I watched a youtube video and he gave a nice tour of the hotel and also his room. He said the ice machines are on even number floors and pool views are the odd number rooms. I called Hilton and asked about this. She said if I booked a pool view room, I will get that side. I did.
This place is quite a bit smaller than I was thinking. So no matter what, we will be fine. I can't wait to have a room with so much space, separate bedroom, couch, kitchenette etc. We don't spend a LOT of time in our room, but there will be three of us and it will be nice to spread out a little.
BTW I read a review, can't remember where, and she was complaining about the door that separates the two areas. I couldn't really understand what she meant. Anything wrong with this door?

 

[HopperFan]

Yes, I watched a youtube video and he gave a nice tour of the hotel and also his room. He said the ice machines are on even number floors and pool views are the odd number rooms. I called Hilton and asked about this. She said if I booked a pool view room, I will get that side. I did.
This place is quite a bit smaller than I was thinking. So no matter what, we will be fine. I can't wait to have a room with so much space, separate bedroom, couch, kitchenette etc. We don't spend a LOT of time in our room, but there will be three of us and it will be nice to spread out a little.
BTW I read a review, can't remember where, and she was complaining about the door that separates the two areas. I couldn't really understand what she meant. Anything wrong with this door?

It is a very large sliding door, kinda looks like you'd see in Asian home. Maybe hers was getting stuck sliding it, I could see that could happen with as large as it is. And my memory is it wasn't a sealed fit ... but barn or pocket doors don't always. No big for us.

I love these suites, the living space is very big compared to some other suites and I like both rooms have the wall of windows. It just makes is seem big and def is brighter.

 

[dizneefan13]

Oh I see. She didn't like that light could come through. No big for us.

 

[dizneefan13]

I was looking at the map and see what looks to be a convenience store, gas station and a pizza place right next to the Doubletree, Would this be a good place to get water and snacks for the room? I'm sure its fenced off from the hotel, so you would have to walk up a ways and then turn right. but still looks close, right around the corner.

 

[missnic]

I was looking at the map and see what looks to be a convenience store, gas station and a pizza place right next to the Doubletree, Would this be a good place to get water and snacks for the room? I'm sure its fenced off from the hotel, so you would have to walk up a ways and then turn right. but still looks close, right around the corner.

I'm pretty sure you cannot get to that gas station without following Hotel Plaza to Apopka Vineland - and after you get to the intersection I don't believe there are sidewalks on that side. If you'll need to walk, I would suggest the Goodings across the road at the Crossroads. If you have a car you would probably be better off going to the Wawa up the road.

 

[dizneefan13]

Yes, we will need to walk. So that Gooding's is still open? I thought it closed but maybe I have it confused with another store.
Someone suggested that the store in the hotel might have packs of water. That would be great! I know they will have snacks etc, a bit higher price but maybe not.

 

[writerguyfl]

There are no sidewalks on the west side of State Road 535 (Apopka Vineland Rd). And, there aren't any sidewalks from the DoubleTree Suites to SR 535. (You have to cross Hotel Plaza Blvd and walk along the other side of the road.) Finally, there's no walk signal to cross back over Hotel Plaza Blvd to walk to the gas station.

Even if you could easily get there, I wouldn't expect to find good prices at that Mobil station. It's always been a place that tries to gouge unknowing tourists by charging far more than the going rate for gas.

Gas Buddy currently shows the "normal" price for gas in the area to be $2.43 or $2.44 at most stations. That Mobil is charging $3.39/gallon. They've been doing that for years.
Source: https://www.gasbuddy.com/home?search=12748 S Apopka Vineland Rd, Orlando, FL 32860&fuel=1

Goodings was open as of a few months ago. Honestly, it's not a great grocery store. It's going to have higher prices than "normal" stores, but probably not as high as the hotel store.

I don't own a car at home. I walk everywhere, including the grocery store. I'd never buy water because it's so heavy to carry. My walk to the grocery store is shorter than this walk to Goodings. Paying the extra money at the hotel store to get a heavy item like water might be worth the cost.

Another option would be to have groceries delivered. Publix is a Florida-based grocery store that delivers to certain geographical areas, including Orlando. They give you a one-hour delivery window. The first delivery is free, I believe. I'd recommend hanging out in the hotel lobby and meeting the delivery person yourself.
https://delivery.publix.com/

 

[dizneefan13]

As usual, writerguyfl, you are a veritable source of information! I appreciate it, a lot.
We will most likely get grocery delivery if the hotel store doesn't have packs of water.
I spend way too much time over-thinking all of this, but for me, it is fun!

 

[writerguyfl]

You're welcome. I do enjoy helping people navigate the complexities of a Disney World vacation.