Doubletree Villas Maingate - anyone???

[RamseyTrio]

Hi - I asked this once a while ago and got a few responses but I was just wondering if anyone has been to Doubletree Villas Maingate lately We'll be there in less than 2 weeks.

Thanks!

 

[brooks13]

Hi,

We'll be staying there on our trip also, but not before you....give a post on how it is when you return!

Have a fun and safe trip.

 

[we*luv*orlando!!]

We stayed at the Doubletrees Maingate twice, once in May 1998 and again in November 1999. Both times were excellent. we had a three bedroom villa, these are very spacious. the setting is lovely and the staff were all very helpful. we only changed to renting private villas as we can do that cheaper coming from England. we would go back anytime we could. we especially liked the Shuttle driver who took us to the TTC on the curtesy bus. He liked to do his paperwork while drinking a giant coke while driving along the 192!!

 

[flyert]

I have never personally stayed there, but had booked a reservation there for this next week, but decided to post on a different travel website for opinions of this property (It is a frequent traveler website, I posted on their Hilton board). Since I don't have permission to quote them, I will take their names off of their posts. Needless to say, after these posts, I canceled and switched over to the Doubletree Suites in DTD (paid $99/night for a one bedroom through mousesavers). Hope this helps you.


posted 04-10-2003 07:24 PM
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Just finished stay there (4/4-4/8). Manager told me that they have addressed 80% of problems since bad reviews. I would agree. The suites are large and in pretty good shape ... about par for Doubletree properties in my experience. The staff was friendly and helpful. Location is good for Disney propeties and outlet malls. The outside is not in great shape. The small lakes on the property really look (and smell) like swamps. And the running water in the rooms strongly smells like rotten eggs. Nicely equiped kitchen and large, but not very comfortable living/dining room in my 2 bedroom suite. All in all ... a good value with some plusses, but not a premier property.

posted 04-12-2003 10:16 AM
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I have 5 kids and stay there every year. Every year I swear I will never do it again. Then it costs like $3 and I do...
Old tired condos.
ANY hawthorn suites is much nicer and newer. Dittto for embassey suites. IF you MUST have 3 bedrooms... okay. If you don't, go elsewhere.

posted 04-17-2003 08:24 PM
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I second the review from ****. Have stayed there once or twice a year for the past few years. The place was built with not a penny spent over what building codes absolutely require and is now slowly falling apart. Don't look too closely at the details in any direction, interior or exterior. The repairs are done by lowest bidders or baraly skilled handyman. I remember from last time, they hadn't spent any money on landscape maintenance either and it was getting rather overgrown.
But, if you want to have breakfast in your own 3 BR suite, a small townhouse actually, and chat with your extended family before heading off to see Mickeymouse, it works until the place collapses.

 

[mcnuss]

We stayed there in 2001 and thought it was great. It is true that the furnishings were a little worn, but otherwise the unit was in a tip-top condition. We paid $75 per night and were delighted. Make sure to get your chocolate chip cookies!!

We had a 2 br/2 ba all the way in the back, our view was of a lake with a fountain, and there were no units across from us, so it was very private. There was a little playground about 100 yards away. We had a little patio and could request a BBQ grill (which we never did), and we had ducks who came right up to the patio to talk to us.

Frankly, I think the folks over at FlyerTalk are very critical and I only take about 50% of what they say... For the cost of the DT villas, you get a ton of value for your money, imho. It is not a luxury property, but it is very, very adequate.

 

[RamseyTrio]

Thanks guys!

I'll be sure to post once I'm back. We just need a clean, not luxurious, villa

Mcnuss - thanks for the extra info - I was a bit worried after reading FkyerT's post

 

[flyert]

Have fun! I hope that it is as nice as people here have said. I agree that FlyerTalkers tend to be a more critical bunch, which I think is why I posted there (not to mention I only just recently found these boards). It's just going to be Mrs. Flyert's first time to Orlando, and my first time there on vacation. She's a huge Disney fan (my wedding president to her was the original 2-sided Little Mermaid theater poster), so I didn't want to take a chance, while still staying on a budget (the price I had for the DT Villas was about $60/night, so the cost differential over the 3 nights wasn't huge and the DTD Doubletree definitely seemed to get the better reviews)

Again, I hope it goes well. Sorry that my first post was so negative, it certainly wasn't meant to be a buzzkill, but I wanted to share with you the information that I had, since I had just made the same decision as you. The data from tripadvisor.com was similarly bad, so I had sought some reassurance because I loved the setup of the property, unfortunately, I didn't find any.

 

[RamseyTrio]

flyert - don't worry - you're post wasn't perceived as being negative - you were just relaying the info others had posted . Naturally I wanted to hear only wonderful reviews of the property (LOL)! I'm going to hope for a clean room away from any smelly water. I'll let you know how it goes! For a first trip to WDW I can certainly see how you wouldn't risk it! DH and I went for our honeymoon back in '96 (his first time there) and stayed at Carribean Beach - The room was awful and everyplace was booked so we couldn't switch. We decided it was much better to stay off property from now on and save a few bucks.

Have a great trip

 

[mcnuss]

RamseyTrio --

If you are not a member of Hilton Honors, sign up before you go. And when you get there, ask to be in one of the quiet units, that should get you to the more private areas.

Pls. let me know how you like it, as I have recommended it to friends based on our experience which is now 2 years old.

flyert - I didn't think you were negative either! I think FT'ers tend to be very particular about hotels (I check there a lot, too, I'm a HH diamond and Starwood Platinum), and mostly the reviews help a bunch. But then I'll read where someone is complaining about a free 7 nt. stay at the Hilton Village on Kona, and I just have to giggle!

allison