we stayed at the doubletree in fort lauderdale, so i am not sure if the hotel programs are the same, BUT at the fortlauderdale one- NOone told us other wise, so our first morning my daughters and i went to the very BEAUTIFUL and immpressive buffet and asked a waiter of the buffet was for all the guests OR just part of the restuarnt( there were 2 section, one area by the buffet and one buy the dining looking outside) and he told us FOR ALL THE GUESTs. so we went ahead and filled up out plates......!!!! we turn around and there was the restaurant manager, and 2 waiters.- turned out that you had to PAY afterall - i just about died. so..we asked the front desk and they saidthat IF we signed up for hilton honors club we could eat from the fruit buffet....not the hot items- they costed$$ (i forget how much) so- i would ask your front desk person and not the restaurant people.
i am sorry to sound biter, but our stay at that hotel was jsut horrible even the concienare was a dufuss
and we were there for 5 days pre-paid so we had no where else to go.
Tina