Downtown Courtyard now a Holiday Inn

[WDWguru]

This may be old news to you all, but I just returned from a NYE trip and spent one night at the Courtyard at Downtown Disney. The Marriott Rewards rep who checked us in informed us that as of January 1, the hotel would become a Holiday Inn! She said they are retaining much of the staff and will be sinking $6 million into renovating the hotel, lobby and restaurant. She was quite excited and said "it's about time"!

Anyway, just thought I'd pass it along over here in case it hadn't been posted.

 

[Cris]

thank goodness that place was really starting to look drab. But I wonder why they are changing to a holiday inn. I think Marriott has a much better image.

 

[CaliforniaDreaming]

I think it was in the Orlando paper last month, or it was somewhere else (can't remember). I'm anxious to see what they do with the place.

 

[Connears]

We stayed there on 12/27 before checking into Swan on 12/28-1/02/04. They took my marriott rewards card and did not say anything to us. We noticed the new HI sign during the week.
Connears

 

[mal0808]

Do you know if they offer the kids eat free program? I was quoted a price of $55/nite today, but forgot to ask that question.

 

[WDWguru]

Sorry, don't know about the program as we are childfree. The lady we spoke to did say Holiday Inn has been trying to get on WDW property for years, so they will likely offer lots of deals and incentives to stay there... I would think they would offer that if they do so at other properties.

Connears.... we were there the night of the 29th before moving over to VWL and just happened to get there at a slow time, so the Rewards member lady spent extra time chit-chatting with us at check in. I hadn't heard the news anywhere online and there was no indication of it by any other staff (although I noticed the little logo on the phone in our room had been changed to Holiday Inn already). We were quite surprised as we stay there a lot for the little one nighters when we get in late.