First timer going to WDW after a cruise...

[hydster]

can anyone help me with off site properties to stay at??? I have gotten some rates that I think are good but having never been there I dont know if the hotels are good or in a good location. I dont want a scummy gross hotel so if you can tell me if you have stayed in any of these and your impressions of them I would greatly appreciate it!

I can get rates at:

Orlando Hyatt for 89.50 a night for 2 nights a total of 179.00 for both nights. They say they are 1.5 miles from WDW and that they have a shuttle. That 179 includes room tax and if we decided to rent a car would include parking as well.


Radisson Resort Parkway for $ 89.50 a night as well for 2 nights so 179.00 for both nights and includes parking and tax. They say they are also 1.5 miles from WDW and they have a free scheduled shuttle to the park and kids eat free in their family Court Restaurant.

Howard Johnsons Inn Maingate for $ 64.50 a night and kids eat free at the IHOP with a paying adult. They also include the room tax in that price and free parking as well as a free scheduled shuttle to WDW.

Holiday Inn Maingate East for $79.50 a night including tax and parking, free scheduled shuttle to the parks, kids eat free at the Vineyard Cafe located in the hotel and it has Refrigerator, microwave, coffee/tea maker, VCR in every room.


New! Country Inn & Suites (standard room)
Brand New Hotel Just 3 Miles from Walt Disney World® Resort!
2 adults and up to 3 children using existing beds
Suites available for $10 more per night

10% Savings off advanced tickets to Universal Studios®, Universal's Islands of Adventure, SeaWorld Adventure Park, and Busch Gardens Tampa Bay.

Free deluxe continental breakfast
Mini fridge and microwave in every suite
On site recreation area featuring two outdoor heated pools and an 18-hole miniature golf course
Game room and state-of-the-art fitness center
FREE scheduled shuttle to Walt Disney World® Theme Parks
Room tax and self-parking included
I can get this room for $74.50 a night with tax included!

CAN ANYONE HELP ME with staying at ANY of these hotels???? I have never been there, have no idea if any of these are ok to stay in or if they are gross hotels (like you might find at DL...you know typical motel 6 type hotels) or if we should just eat it and stay somewhere on property (although we really dont want to spend that much money).

ANY advice you fine smart people can give me would be greatly appreciated!

Heidi

 

[SimonV]

Heidi, I don't know the HoJo Maingate, but none of the others would qualify in your Motel 6 hate list, LOL! The Hyatt is a very decent property and the HIME is great value family territory. I have stayed at the Country Inn recently and was impressed by them, too. Excellent rooms, nice free breakfast and good location. Any of those would be a good choice, IMHO.

 

[hydster]

Your reply has been very helpful!

Thanks again!
Heidi

 

[Tluvs2talk]

Hydster,
Not sure of when you are cruising , but the new codes are out and you can stay at Caribbean Beach or Port Orlean's for a very reasonable price.I have stayed at both many times and Love them both. If you are traveling with children I would highly reccommend HIFS. We stayed there twice this Summer and Loved it!!! Free breakfast buffett and kids eat free with 1 paying adult. The kids have a seperate room with bunkbed and Mom and Dad have a kingsize private bed room Any ?? just ask. We are cruising October 10th.





Teri

 

[hydster]

Thanks for the idea but I have 3 kids and 2 adults and none of the Disney properties are within what I really want to spend! They are all over 150 a night PER ROOM some as high as 300 a night! I just cant justify that much money for a room to sleep in since I doubt we will be there more than that!
Thanks for the idea though!
We are doing Land / Sea starting Nov 14th and the cruise is the 4 day Wonder on Nov 17th. We are staying after the cruise on Nov 21st and 22nd and going home on the 23rd. Just trying to find rooms for those 2 nights and the Disney properties are much more than I want to spend so I am looking for another alternative that wont kill my pocketbook and also makes it so I dont have to rent a car but can use their shuttle even if it has set times!
Thanks for the info though! I had thought about HIFS but the price was more than what I could get elsewhere and since we just sleep I hate to spend more (Call me cheap!)

Heidi

 

[bumcat]

hydster - with the new codes all star music and all star sports is 55.00 per night plus tax,


also I tried priceline.com after reading another post.
I was able to get the marriott renaissance for 40.00 per night but others got it for 35.00 per night. It's real close to world drive and looks real nice (i've never stayed there) you might want to try that.

 

[singitalto]

FYI- If you go through valuetrips. com OR if you have the entertainment card you can get the Country Inn and Suites for a lot less(I don't know when you are going) A lot of us have gotten the Country Inn for $39.50 with the entertainment card. You need to call the hotel directly for this. . If you need a bigger room there is an Amerisuites on the same property for I think $69 valuetrips rate. Maybe entertainment rate is cheaper.

We deceided to stay at the Country Inn to save money so we could stay longer(2 weeks) Sounds like a nice place. Good Luck!

 

[hydster]

Thank you to all of you who responded! I think we have finally finalized our plans (although it is still early so it still COULD change) but for now we are going to stay at the Radisson Parkway and use their free scheduled shuttle to the parks since our kids will be old enough to tough it out. Our youngest will be almost 4 and can ride in a stroller if he gets too tired! I dont want to rent a car and dont want to spend a fortune to stay at a hotel that might be a little closer and these people have given me a pretty good deal because that rate included tax!
Thank you again for all of your help!
Heidi

 

[BibbidiBobbidiBOO]

Not to confuse you but please check out: http://www.mousesavers.com/disneyresorts.html. There are almost always specials going on for the WDW resorts ! I would really recommend this, especially for your first trip. The MODERATES( I would recommend Port Orleans Riverside, Alligator Bayou-they have a trundle and sleep 5) are as low as $85 with the new codes. Depending on ages, All-Stars might work. Transportation is so much better and every 20 mins or so. Some of the offsite hotels only offer shuttles a couple times a day.
You can also take the boat from PO/R to Downtown Disney.
Enjoy your cruise and WDW trip !

 

[hydster]

Bibbidi...I took your advice and that of the others on here suggesting we stay ON site and booked the Port Orleans Riverside and thank you for being persistent! LOL I have finally finalized ALL of my trip and still have 111 days to go but I am the ultimate control freak and have to have it all planned BEFORE (long before) we leave! Having never been to WDW or Orlando before I am the ultimate stressor!
I booked it and have decided to not look back! I cancelled my Radisson booking and jumped in feet first!
Thanks again!
Heidi

 

[BibbidiBobbidiBOO]

Congratulations ! I hope you got the low rate! We love that place. Have not stayed in the bayou, only the mansions, but you should love it. Hop over to the resort page and learn some more about it if you like. Perfect for the planner and control freak! It does have the best food court of the moderates! See ya on the resort page !

 

[hydster]

was $85.00 a night. I dont know if that includes the trundle type bed but I requested it as well. I am excited though SO intimidated at this whole thing! I have cruised before (many times) but never Disney. I have done Disneyland every year for the last 8 years but never WDW so I am stressing big time! I read something every day that I wonder if I should book, do, plan to see, or something and I fear this trip is going to send me down the insane path before we leave and then I will be going further down the insanity path on the trip! Since I have NO idea what to do, how to do it,or how to even begin to ask the multitude of questions I have about it all...it is all overwhelming BUT at least I got an On-Disney hotel for 2 days before we come home AND I dont have to add the stress of renting a car for 2 days!
Thanks again and I am already looking into the resorts board!
Heidi

 

[BibbidiBobbidiBOO]

I know that people that don't request it but get Alligator Bayou, get one in the room, and can use it for free. I think if you ask for it you pay. ?? Not sure and sounds strange.