DXL- Riverside or HIFS Same Price!

[ellie&mattys mom]

Looking for help...can't decide we have only stayed onsite...and are debating betwen these 2...I can get AAA for both so they come out to about the same...

We are staying at Hard Rock for 2 nights then one of these 2 for 3 nights in November...
party of 9 with 5 kids..we will have 2 rooms..

Has anyone stayed at both!!

We hate to drive!

thanks

 

[Snoozan]

This is a no-brainer to me! Stay at PO-Riverside. If you've only stayed on-site, the HIFS will be a let-down. I once stayed off-site at another of the Holiday Inns after several trip on-site and I vowed never to stay off-site again!

The convenience of staying on-site far outweighs any of the benefits of having the 2nd "room" at the HIFS. Sure, you may not have as much room, but you'll be experiencing the Disney magic 24/7. The food court at PO-R is really quite good and the bussing there has always run fine. I love PO and the pool is really fun with the small slide and waterfall-nothing like the basic pools at the HIFS. There's even a hot tub if you're lucky enough to find time to use it!

Hands down-stay on-site if you hate to drive. There's nothing convenient staying off-site when it comes to having to take that mid-day break alot of families take.

 

[taylor1293]

You already know what my answer will be so I won't even say it . Ok...yes I will .

We prefer HIFS only because I'd rather do a 5 minute drive to the parks than wait 20 minutes for a bus. And you already know about the extra space provided at HIFS(not comparable to other Holiday Inns IMO). The only difference in the pools is that HIFS doens't have a slide, but they do have the zero entry, baby pool, and hot tubs. Plus a "kids eat free" program. Which can be a huge money saver.

However, if you don't mind being in one small room and really prefer not to drive than I sincerely think you should stay on-site.

So have you definitely decided on HRH then?

Good luck with your decision!

Teresa

 

[disneycuban]

If you hate to drive, then I recommend PORS.

You're immersed in the Disney magic, you get early entry, and you don't have to drive!

 

[FirstNo]

Originally posted by ellie&mattys mom
Looking for help...can't decide we have only stayed onsite...and are debating betwen these 2...I can get AAA for both so they come out to about the same...

We are staying at Hard Rock for 2 nights then one of these 2 for 3 nights in November...
party of 9 with 5 kids..we will have 2 rooms..

Has anyone stayed at both!!

We hate to drive!

thanks

Having seen both, I'd take HIFS over POR ANY DAY. Growing up, we used to stay on Disney property all the time (I did too, once I grew up and started vacationing there on my own). About 3 yrs ago, my parents stayed at the HIFS and absolutely loved it. They both said they would never stay on site again. They've stayed there twice now (last time being last fall). I've helped them 'move in' both times and stayed for dinner so, I am familiar with the hotel as well as the residential suite (the type of suite they had both stays).

I was impressed with how roomy the suite was. How much of a kitchen you had (think of all the savings on food!!). Free breakfast for all. Free dinner for kids (I believe it's free dinner...period...up until Sep). I was impressed with how much the hotel caters to children. They have free face painting. Free bingo and kareoke (sp). Free magic shows. A 'spa' for the kids. A large family pool and kick butt play area for smaller kids and then there is a 'quiet pool' more for the adults.

Yeah, you'll miss out on the Disney theming, but you know what? As much as Disney has deteriorated over the past 8 years or so, you won't be missing much. You're closer to some places (Downtown Disney and Typhoon Lagoon) than some people will be staying on site!

I would recommend taking/renting a vehicle. That way, you can still take a break in the afternoon or just plain leave when you want to. Disney is good with their signs and since HIFS is just across I4 from the Disney property, you should have no trouble finding it again. You can be at DD and TL in under 10 min. MGM just at 10 min. MK and Epcot between 10-15 min, BB 15-20 min and AK probably right at 20 min by the time you're getting out of your car in the parking lot.

Take the suite. You'll enjoy the atmosphere, the large room, the ability to save some money on food and still being a spit away from Disney.

 

[magicmouse2]

I vote for onsite!!! POR is beautiful!!!!

 

[disneydentist]

Easy answer: Riverside.

Two reasons. One, you don't have to drive. Two, five kids. You don't give the ages but we've found it much easier to wait for a Disney bus than to walk roughly the same distance to the tram (plus the monorail or boat ride at the MK), ride it to the car (probably hot, even in Nov), drive back off-site, park, and walk to the room. Using the Disney busses eliminates a couple of steps and is, to us at least, much more convenient with tired feet and kids at the end of the day.

JMHO.