Friends & Family Discount for Orange Lake Resort, Holiday Inn, Crowne Plaza, and More

[Rupert B Puppenstein]

Hi Shelby,
I am a regular "lurker" and occasional poster on the disboards. We have a disney cruise booked for next April (yeah!!!) and are still deciding on our land portion of the trip after the cruise. I noticed this thread and your link to your friends and family discount. I would love to use this for a family trip to Albany (NY) in November. Would that be ok? Maybe I should've sent you this in a private message. I think it's great that you are putting this out there but just wanted to make sure you wouldn't mind me using it since you may not recognize my name and since it would be for use in Albany, NY and not Florida. It would be for 2 rooms for 2 nights. Please let me know your thoughts.
Thanks!
Kristi

Anyone can use it. If you love Disney, you are my friend. You can use it anywhere in the World. So, Albany is included. Like I have posted before, please only stay at hotels with the new Holiday Inn logo if you are staying under that or the Express brands. If you have any questions about a specific hotel or hotels, please PM me and I can see how they are doing. The great hotels usually post their quality scores.

Please let me know how the hotels are, as I am always curious and it helps anyone on this thread decide regardless of if they stay in Orlando, Anaheim or Fiji. We can't improve if we don't hear the good, the bad, and the ugly! Feel free to share this discount with anyone you know who is planning a trip. I don't mind at all - as long as they love Disney. If they don't, then no discount for them!

 

[richmo]

Like I have posted before, please only stay at hotels with the new Holiday Inn logo if you are staying under that or the Express brands.

Does that mean I should not have used your code at Staybridge Suites? (Just as an aside, I had the voucher with me, but they never asked for it.)

 

[Rupert B Puppenstein]

Does that mean I should not have used your code at Staybridge Suites? (Just as an aside, I had the voucher with me, but they never asked for it.)

You were absolutely okay with using it at Staybridge or any of the other brands in the system. Yes, a lot of hotels don't seem to care about the voucher. Just have one on hand just in case. It was great that you stayed at a Staybridge (one of my favorite brands in the group) and it is okay to use the discount for all IHG brands. The point I was making is that this year, we have been updating the Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express brands. There are several hotels that will not stay in the system because they did not meet the criteria. At this point, all hotels should meet the criteria and have the updated signage. If they do not, they have not met the Quality requirements, etc. and will have the old signage until early next year. So, I avoid those hotels because I know that hoops that the ones with the new logo went through and the change has been amazing.

I had too many bad experiences with Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express in the past that I honestly stayed at my first one last August and only because it had been relaunched. Before then, I didn't know what I was going to get so I stayed with our newer brands, like Staybridge Suites or our upscale brands like Crowne Plaza and Intercontinental.

Regardless, I check the quality scores of a hotel before I ever book it. If they aren't doing good quality-wise, something is going on and I don't want to stay there. I am not much different from all of you...I have the same expectations of a stay (if not a bit higher since I know the requirements of each hotel) and want to enjoy my vacations just as much as all of you. I have a direct line to our Quality team and believe me, they will hear about any defects or compliments from each and every one of my stays, along with the General Manager. Same goes if I get input from those of you who used the discount. Your words definitely don't fall on deaf ears...

 

[mickeyluv]

Anyone can use it. If you love Disney, you are my friend. You can use it anywhere in the World. So, Albany is included. Like I have posted before, please only stay at hotels with the new Holiday Inn logo if you are staying under that or the Express brands. If you have any questions about a specific hotel or hotels, please PM me and I can see how they are doing. The great hotels usually post their quality scores.

Please let me know how the hotels are, as I am always curious and it helps anyone on this thread decide regardless of if they stay in Orlando, Anaheim or Fiji. We can't improve if we don't hear the good, the bad, and the ugly! Feel free to share this discount with anyone you know who is planning a trip. I don't mind at all - as long as they love Disney. If they don't, then no discount for them!

Hi Shelby! Just wondering if you've heard or could possibly check on how the renovations are going over at the Holiday Inn Main Gate Universal Orlando? I have seen one or two reviews since the renovations began and they were positive ones but wanted an insiders opinion . Do they have the new logo that you're speaking of? I think this is so great of you to do for people...allow them to use your discount voucher! Wish the world had more people like you in it! Again, thanks so much!!

 

[eeyoresnr]

The Holiday Inn Express & Suites Lake Buena Vista East has a free shuttle to the parks, free breakfast and has rooms with two beds (they take four people) and the employee rate is usually under $40 a night so taking breakfast out of the equation saves some money, having the shuttle is convenient. I didn't know about the Holiday Inn Express Lake Buena Vista but it doesn't seem as nice as the Holiday Inn Express & Suites and that hotel has gone through the relaunch. It was very nice. I don't think any of the deals that Disney has out there are better than the employee rate. Even when they did have the Dining Plan free.

can you tell me which one this is? what street is it on, and do you know if they charge for parking? thanks

 

[Rupert B Puppenstein]

Hi Shelby! Just wondering if you've heard or could possibly check on how the renovations are going over at the Holiday Inn Main Gate Universal Orlando? I have seen one or two reviews since the renovations began and they were positive ones but wanted an insiders opinion . Do they have the new logo that you're speaking of? I think this is so great of you to do for people...allow them to use your discount voucher! Wish the world had more people like you in it! Again, thanks so much!!

They aren't done yet and it doesn't look like they will be for some time but I have no idea as to when they will complete everything - it looks like it will be more than a year. It appears to be a huge project so I am not sure when they will be relaunched officially. It appears that the hotel will be 100% improved when they are done though. That isn't a bad thing.

can you tell me which one this is? what street is it on, and do you know if they charge for parking? thanks

This one is in Lake Buena Vista close to the Sunspree. I believe it is Polynesian Isle Boulevard. I can't remember if they had a resort fee, but if I remember correctly, they don't. But, the parking was free from what I remember.

 

[crazy4cloth]

Thanks so much for posting this! Hopefully, you will still be around in Feb. when I book for our May trip to Fort Walton beach.

 

[Rupert B Puppenstein]

Thanks so much for posting this! Hopefully, you will still be around in Feb. when I book for our May trip to Fort Walton beach.

I think I will be - if not (and the job offer would have to be really, really, really good to leave IHG), I will be sure to post another IHG employees code, and keep updating the info. Regardless, it will always be a link in my signature.

 

[eeyoresnr]

thank you for the use of this offer... I was able to book the HI DTD for $51. even with tax and the $10. parking fee it is an awesome deal! thank you so much!

 

[laura428]

I can't believe the deals through this link - thanks so much! We're booking a surprise trip for my kiddos for their birthday (happen to share the same one), and this just made it so much easier. Yay!!!!!!

 

[Rupert B Puppenstein]

The deals do seem to be getting better! I bet the kids will be so excited for their surprise trip!!

 

[earthyfamily]

I'm not seeing a link at all...what am I missing? It says deleted or broken link.

 

[horseshowmom]

I'm not seeing a link at all...what am I missing? It says deleted or broken link.

I just checked something a few minutes ago, and it worked fine. Try this:

http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/6c...Uk70%3D&cm_mmc=DCE-_-FF-_-20090821-_-AM159051

 

[Tracyee]

A very Special thank you to Shelby for this offer. I was just able to book a hotel in Birmingham Al for my daughter's cheer competition in October.

Thanks so much!!

 

[Rupert B Puppenstein]

A very Special thank you to Shelby for this offer. I was just able to book a hotel in Birmingham Al for my daughter's cheer competition in October.

Thanks so much!!

You are very welcome!

 

[mtblujeans]

You've saved us money to visit our kids, across the state, in college.

 

[Rupert B Puppenstein]

I am glad that so many of you are finding a benefit with this discount. I hope this allows more people to visit their families during the holidays or other special events. Enjoy your visit with your kids in college!

 

[sdd1841]

Which of the "close to disney" properties would you say is the nicest?

Thanks so much for sharing.

 

[Rupert B Puppenstein]

Which of the "close to disney" properties would you say is the nicest?

Thanks so much for sharing.

Depends on what you consider the criteria for the nicest would be. All the hotels I have personally stayed at WDW in have been nice. The key is making sure if you stay at a Holiday Inn or Express that you are choosing hotels with the new logo. Anyone who doesn't relaunch will be out of the system soon so that will make things easier. There are different things that make properties nice. I liked the Holiday Inn DTD for how close it was to DTD, and buses. The decor is very cool and the rooms are comfortable and it is more full-service but you have to pay for all your food. I liked the Holiday Inn Express and Suites Lake Buena Vista mentioned earlier in the thread because the rooms were comfortable, the staff was friendly and free breakfast was a plus. I haven't had a bad experience yet at any of the hotels I have decided to stay at regardless of if at WDW or Disneyland. I haven't had a chance to check out all the properties yet but I liked both of my choices.

 

[sdd1841]

Thank you - I will check out the DTD ones...LOVE free breakfast!

any chance you have stayed at the Orange Lake Resort?