Help! Holiday Inn Family Suites VS. Sunspree Resort

[wish*upon*a*star]

Hi,

It's been awhile since I've visited these boards. It's good to be back!

I need your help.

We are currently booked at the Holiday Inn Sunspree Resort in March for 7 nights. We are staying in a kidsuite for $109 per night.

However, after surfing through these boards I've read a lot about the Holiday Inn Family Suites. I went to their website and I was impressed with what I saw. I called and was quoted a rate of $139 per night.

My question is: Is the extra $20 per night worth it to stay at the Holiday Inn Family Suites?

Can you help me decide??????????

Thank you!
wish*upon*a*star

 

[lejaf]

Did you ask for the Entertainment rate at HIFS? I got the entertainment rate of $99 March 16-24. If you don't have an entertainment card, you can buy one online for around $20 which would still save you money. I've never been to the Sunspree but I know one major difference is that the kidsuites at HIFS have two separate bedrooms and a living area whereas the Sunspree has a walled off area that is for the kids, but the walls don't go up to the ceiling. At HIFS, there are 3 t'v's...one for each room. The master bedroom has a kingsized bed and the door locks and the living area has a pull out couch and a kitchen area. I may be wrong, but I don't think the Sunspree has a separate master bedroom.

 

[vellamint]

My family has stayed at the Sunspree and are currently booked into the HIFS.....my opinion (and at this point it is just that since I havent actually stayed at HIFS yet) is that there is no comparison.

Sunspree was a room that they built 2 walls in to make a corner - kind of cubicle-like - to put the kids beds in .... no door....walls did not reach the ceiling. We had bad experiences there with the ice machines pouring water down the stairs for days on end...the elevators not working a lot of the time....room service not picking up the phone (I was really sick and couldnt get out of the room!)

I booked my BIL into the HIFS last summer and he said it was great....they have a FREE breakfast buffet that allows you to take food back to your room and the rooms are SEPARATE rooms....3 separate rooms. THe master bedroom has a DOOR, with a LOCK.

Anyway-I dont think $109 a night is a good rate for Sunspree at all either....I usually see it for around $89 per night....I remember because as I do research for my upcoming trip I keep telling myself MAN I cant believe I paid $119 a night for that place!!!! (2 years ago) and I am paying $115 a night for HIFS (government rate).

Check into the rate through hotel discounters-at least get a better rate!

 

[wish*upon*a*star]

*THANK YOU* Lejaf!

When I called the Holiday Inn Family Suites earlier I did mention that we had the Entertainment discount and the reservationist skirted around the issue and said that what she was offering was a better deal. Not knowing any better, I believed her and I dropped it.

Well, I just called back, thanks to your advice, and requested the Entertainment rate from a different receptionist and she gave it to me! $99 per night!

Wow - that makes my decision so easy! We'll definitely be staying at the Holiday Inn Family Suites. I can't thank you enough! I'm not sure I would have pursued that entertainment rate again if you hadn't posted.

 

[wish*upon*a*star]

Thank you for your input, Vellamint.

I had read similiar trip reports from the Sunspree. It seems like people either loved it or hated it. But I just had the feeling that it was going to be run down and a bit of a disappointment. That's why I came back to these boards to do a little more research.

This will be our first year staying off Disney property. We stayed at the Caribbean Beach in 1999 and Port Orleans in 2001. Our 3 kids are growing and we just really need more room space which is why I'm looking into staying in an off-site suite.

Thanks for making me feel better about my decision to
switch!

 

[orlandogoer]

where online can I get the entertainment card ?

 

[wish*upon*a*star]

You can purchase one for your particular city/state
online at:

www.entertainment.com

They're also sold directly at some major stores like Meijer
or in some shopping malls.

 

[orlandogoer]

Thanks
how does it work they sell coupon books do you get some kind of membership or what ?

 

[wish*upon*a*star]

The Entertainment book is a big fat book of coupons - most of them are good locally in your state of choice. (restaurant coupons make up the bulk of the book)

However, in the back of the book, there are several coupons for national services/recreation. There are coupons for car rentals, Universal Studios, airlines, stores on-line, etc. There is also a listing of MANY hotels nationwide where you can request half off rack room rates. Participating hotels set aside only a set number of rooms at the Entertainment rate. Hard Rock Hotel in Orlando is listed in the book, but when I called, all of their Entertainment rates for the week I was going were filled.

If you were interested in trying to get the Entertainment rate for HIFS, you could call reservations and request it. If they give you the discount you could go ahead and reserve a room- *then* purchase the Entertainment book. You don't need to provide your membership number or Entertainment card until you check in. (each book comes with it's own card)

I hope that helps. Good luck. It saved us a bundle.

 

[NYdisneyFan]

thanks ill get it