Has anyone statyed at The Clarion. Experiences wanted.

[Shrek & Donkey]

Hi there,

I am planning my first trip to Florida in October of this year. There will my partner and I, two friends and their 2 year old daughter. We are looking to stay on International Drive and have being looking at the Clarion hotel, for our 2 week accomodation.

Has anyone had any experience of this hotel and what do people think to it. It seems to get good reviews on tripadvisor, but was hoping that some disney experts could provide me with their own thoughts/experiences if possible.

Are there any other hotels that people would recommend. We ideally want some where that is centrally located, that we do not need the car for at night time and somewhere that is moderately priced.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance

 

[granmaz]

We had an excellent stay there last February. Worth asking for a higher floor and you can pay a small amount to have a room with a fridge and microwave. We walked to Universal every day and Wet n Wild is accross the road if you want it. We found the staff friendly and the housekeeping excellent. However, I wouldn't consider it a 'central' hotel - you would need to be further down I Drive/Convention Centre for that.

 

[Miffy2003]

I can't help with your question but I wanted to say Welcome to the Dis Shrek & Donkey


I love your user name

 

[kevin harrison]

Its a good hotel for the price. The rooms are a good size, we had problems with a lack of hot water, but the staff sorted it pretty quickly. As well as the option of a fridge and microwave, the rooms have HBO movies as well as internet access(for a price) and a playstation. The hotel has internal corridors and we always felt safe.Its just along the road from Wet N Wild. There is a TGI Fridays near also. I-Drive is a short walk, Universal is near but a bit of a longer walk.It has a deli and a small shop there, as well as a resturant that serves overpriced food.

The only thing is that the pool faces the "wrong way" and late in the afternoon the sun goes down behind the front of the hotel.

 

[JohnnySharp2]

We stayed at the Clarion Plaza at the south end of I-drive many years ago - it is an excellent hotel.

However, it was re-named (I think) to the Rosen Plaza, being a sister hotel to the Rosen Center nearby - so I am not sure if it is the same one.

If it is then I would highly recommend it , if it isn't then..erm, sorry

 

[TinkTatoo]

We stayed at the Clarion twice - once when it was called the Floridian probably in the late 80's or early 90's and once again in 2000. From what I can remember it was a clean hotel conveniently placed for I-Drive and just round the corner from Wet n Wild. We often walked to the restaurants in the evening.

The pool was basic but OK for our needs and there was a poolside snack bar

 

[kevin harrison]

We stayed at the Clarion Plaza at the south end of I-drive many years ago - it is an excellent hotel.

However, it was re-named (I think) to the Rosen Plaza, being a sister hotel to the Rosen Center nearby - so I am not sure if it is the same one.

If it is then I would highly recommend it , if it isn't then..erm, sorry

It's not that one Johnny, the OP means the one on Universal Blvd. You are right though, the Rosen Plaza is a great hotel.

 

[JohnnySharp2]

It's not that one Johnny, the OP means the one on Universal Blvd. You are right though, the Rosen Plaza is a great hotel.

Ok thanks Kevin - better to be sure

 

[ERICS MUM]

We stayed at the Clarion Plaza at the south end of I-drive many years ago - it is an excellent hotel.

However, it was re-named (I think) to the Rosen Plaza, being a sister hotel to the Rosen Center nearby - so I am not sure if it is the same one.

If it is then I would highly recommend it , if it isn't then..erm, sorry

no, its not the same one. Rosen Plaza is an excellent hotel but probably much dearer than Clarion.

Have never stayed at the Clarion but its location puts me off, as it is situated behind Internatrional drive and it could be a bit "creepy" at night!

I prefer to stay further down International Drive, and somewhere like the Quality Inn Plaza is more central and probably reasonably priced. Its certainly easy walking distance form there to loads of restuarants and bars.

Linda

 

[arieliwish]

Hi,
We stayed at the Clarion on our first Florida trip in sept 2004 and found it clean and efficient. The staff were great even through hurricane Frances - they kept us informed and opened the conference rooms with board games for us to gather in.

We only had breakfast there once and it wasn't a patch on sizzlers and other places on I drive and it was more expensive. We had dinner there one night which was good if pricey. The deli was great - excellent pizzas and wraps and fresh fruit tubs which were excellent value, also snacks and drinks available.

It was at the top end of I drive but as said before, handy for Universal and wet and wild and also Belz and the other outlets out that way. With it being acutally on Universal Boulevard, this is a much quieter road to drive along than I drive, so we used this many times, it brings you out at Pointe orlando (or where it used to be if its gone now!).

All in all a very good hotel for the money, but on our second trip we opted to stay in disney and explored that end of orlando.

 

[kevin harrison]

Have never stayed at the Clarion but its location puts me off, as it is situated behind Internatrional drive and it could be a bit "creepy" at night!

Linda

Clarions location shouldn't be a reason to be put off staying there. When we stayed their we walked back and forth at night with no problems.

 

[Shrek & Donkey]

Thank you for all your replies. Sorry haven't responded sooner, I've not been able to get online as the internet connection has been playing up.

So generally, the hotel is a fairly decent hotel, for the price, but is maybe not in a great location for what we require.

As I said, we ideally want somewhere that is close to bars and restaurants so that we can walk at night, allowing all the adults to have a drink and not have to take the car with us.

Can anyone recommend a hotel, situated more centrally at a reasonable price?

Thanks for all your help - this board is so helpful and just reading all the posts and looking at the pictures, makes me want to go to Florida tomorrow.

 

[Miffy2003]

Shrek & Donkey - I can't help with your question unfortunately, but you might find you get a better response if you start a new thread with a title for the new question you want answered - people who have not stayed at the Clarion might not open the thread and see your new post otherwise

Though I can't help with a specific hotel, it sounds to me like an I Drive location might be just the thing for your requirements

I don't blame you for being excited I think we can all empathize with that

 

[ERICS MUM]

no, its not the same one. Rosen Plaza is an excellent hotel but probably much dearer than Clarion.

Have never stayed at the Clarion but its location puts me off, as it is situated behind Internatrional drive and it could be a bit "creepy" at night!

I prefer to stay further down International Drive, and somewhere like the Quality Inn Plaza is more central and probably reasonably priced. Its certainly easy walking distance form there to loads of restuarants and bars.

Linda

I still think my suggestion of Quality Inn Plaza is worth considering. I have not stayed there myself but it looks OK from the outside and its in a really good location on Int Drive, easy walking distance to loads of restaurants and bars. Also there is a bus stop outside for anyone without a car.

Its worth looking it up on Trip Advisor or a brochure, just to see if it appeals.

There is also a Best Western along there somewhere, probably in the same price bracket.

LInda