Doubletree DTD or Caribe Royale Orlando

[minerva78]

For anyone who has stayed at these hotels, what did you like or dislike about them? I want to spend three days of our trip offsite, and really wanted to try out Wyndham Bonnet Creek, but when DH realized we'd have to use time to shop for groceries and then cook breakfast in the mornings, he wasn't interested. I'm still thinking about WBC though, because I told him I would cook breakfast, but then again I don't know if I want to do that on vacation either!

So he really wants to stay at a hotel where we would have maid service and a breakfast buffet, and we both want a place with queen beds and a separate bedroom and living room, that is really close to Disney. I'm kinds leaning towards the Doubletree at DTD because it's newly renovated with queen beds, has a kids splash pool and playground and because of the continuous Disney transportation. We will have a car, but because of the parking fees the Doubletree charges ($15 a day) we'd just use their transportation for 2 days. Then the Caribe Royale looks like a nice place with a more resort feel to it, it's cheaper, but for some reason the rooms look a little smaller. We would drive rather than depend on hotel transportation, but from what I read it sounds like a pretty straight shot to Disney. They also have a kiddie pool and playground - we'll have 5 and 6 year old girls. No parking fees and cheaper. But there is still a part of me that wonders if the Doubletree would be worth it, since I tend to like Hilton brand hotels. Any thoughts?

 

[ssei7802]

You may want to look at mousesavers.com, she has a special for Caribe Royale quite often.

 

[minerva78]

You know, I think I still need to seriously consider WBC. I just did a mock Garden Grocer order to order some of the perishable items I would need to make a good full breakfast each morning, and when I estimated my other OOP food costs, I was still well within my budget. I realized it wouldn't be that much cooking, since some of the stuff is microwaveable. We'd only eat breakfast in the condo, eat lunch in the parks and eat offsite for dinner, so it would just be 3 meals to make. And ordering from Garden Grocer means we wouldn't have to use park time to go grocery shopping. Cooking 3 meals may be worth it to stay at a 2 BR at Bonnet Creek. I swear, no wonder DH says I'm so indecisive!

 

[HopperFan]

First choice would be Bonnet Creek:
- Great location practically on property
- Space
- Kitchen for breakfast, big fridge for drinks etc
- Balcony for relaxing
- Numerous great pools with slides, lazy river etc
- Kids activities
- Free Parking
- Free internet
- Spent a week there and no maid service was no big deal.

Doubletree:
- On property
- Close to DTD
- Newly renovated
- Large living rooms with regular table/chairs
- Bedrooms smaller for a suite but totally functional
- Some rooms have fireworks views
- Pool pretty basic but fine and now kiddie play area
- Parking fee
- Book via Mousesaver and get free cold breakfast buffet which is very good or you can upgrade to hot (can still get HH points)

Caribe:
- Good location, easy straight shot in to the parks
- Free parking
- Living room is the standard suite living and bedroom, long narrow rectangle
- Pool is nice, waterfall and slide, big area (winter hours hit or miss with slide/life guards)
- Bigger resort so you might not be near main building restaurants
- No breakfast included
- Internet not included
- Mousesavers also offers specials here and can check their specials and Wednesday One Day Sales

 

[minerva78]

First choice would be Bonnet Creek:
- Great location practically on property
- Space
- Kitchen for breakfast, big fridge for drinks etc
- Balcony for relaxing
- Numerous great pools with slides, lazy river etc
- Kids activities
- Free Parking
- Free internet
- Spent a week there and no maid service was no big deal.

Doubletree:
- On property
- Close to DTD
- Newly renovated
- Large living rooms with regular table/chairs
- Bedrooms smaller for a suite but totally functional
- Some rooms have fireworks views
- Pool pretty basic but fine and now kiddie play area
- Parking fee
- Book via Mousesaver and get free cold breakfast buffet which is very good or you can upgrade to hot (can still get HH points)

Caribe:
- Good location, easy straight shot in to the parks
- Free parking
- Living room is the standard suite living and bedroom, long narrow rectangle
- Pool is nice, waterfall and slide, big area (winter hours hit or miss with slide/life guards)
- Bigger resort so you might not be near main building restaurants
- No breakfast included
- Internet not included
- Mousesavers also offers specials here and can check their specials and Wednesday One Day Sales

Thanks for that - you always have such good information. I think I will probably do either WBC or the Doubletree, though I'm leaning to WBC since it's so spacious and has so much to do. I want to see how we like offsite vs. onsite, and WBC is the kind of place we'd be likely to stay in for a week offsite.

 

[HopperFan]

When we booked BC it was because I got a GREAT rate via SkyAuction. We didn't even have plans to go to Disney. And it was week before Christmas so we could enjoy all the decorations. Def on a whim. I went with a "we'll see" attitude. We loved it, my DH was thrilled (he doesn't enjoy us hotels since he travels all the time). I truly expected it to be a one time thing but I would go back in a heartbeat. We are constantly trying new off-site options, we enjoyed all three of these and would go back to any (we are repeats at Doubletree, HH points get us more visits ) so any would work based on what your needs/rates are at the time.

PS. Another plus for BC was the washer and dryer in unit. Yes we had to wash our own towels but being able to haul less clothes for a week was great.

 

[2girlsmom]

Not sure when you are going, I recently got an email from Caribe offering their 2 bedroom villa (suite) for $139 a night, and do highly recommend to folks looking for a 2 bedroom with housekeeping service, etc. The 2 bedroom has full living/dining/kitchen, plus king bed and 2 person jacuzzi tub in the master (bath with walk in shower) and 2nd bedroom with 2 queens (full second bath with tub/shower combo). If you sign up for their membership rewards, you get the free wifi, and parking is free. We love the pool area here as well, and they do have a coffee shop as well as a couple full restaurants and a quick service dining area.

 

[HeatherC]

This may solve your problem. If you stay at WBC, request building Six. There is an interior walkwaythat connects you to the hotel next door. You can pop over there for breakfast. They have a couple restaurants.

In reality, you can walk from any of the Bonnet Creek buildings. Hope this helps!