Help with Doubletree choice....

[Mickey4Me]

We're trying to plan three nights at WDW prior to our cruise and want to use my Hilton points. Looks like we have two choices based on time/pts. One is the Doubletree Club on Apoka-Vineland in LBV and the other is the Double Tree Castle on I'nal Drive. We'll have a vehicle so transportation isn't an issue. Anyone have experience at either of these? Which would you choose? There will be 4 of us - 2 adults and 2 17yr olds. TIA

 

[sue Z]

for the past 2 years (2001 and this yr) My parents and I have stayed at the Double tree Castle on I-drive! We really enjoyed it!! The staff at check in and else where were fantastic! There is a small breafast area in the morning! Get there early if you want a seat! lol We always were there by 7am after 730 it usually got real busy!
The entrance to the hotel is actually behind I-drive on Universal BLVD. We find a quick way into as you are going along I drive instead of going straight by where the FAO Swartz toy store is at the Pointe Orlando stay to the right and that is Universal Dr the castle is on your left. When ever we came from WDW we usually got off near Sea World

Back to the hotel!

The hotel has a Renissance theme and has a selection of 5 stations (music) in each room one which is being played in the lobby! There is an outdoor pool, Jacuzzi and small gym! They took out the store and game room to add more meeting rooms and this was the only change in 1 yr! 99% of the staff was the same as in 2001!!
check out the its web site at www.doubletreecastle.com for any more questions!!


Also there are 2 terraces on the 9th floor the moon and star, which you can see quite clearly the fireworks from MK and some of the fireworks from Epcot! In the day time you can also make out the following buildings st WDW: TOT-spaceshipearth-Contemporary-Space Mountain and Cinderella's Castle and also either the swan or Dolphin hotel. You can also watch the firweworks from sea world not sure about Universal studios as I was usually in bed when their night show started!

Alot of restaurants within walking distance, also the is a minature golf right next door and the Pointe Orlando and the Mercardo are also within Walking Distance!! Both of these are shopping areas!

 

[hallie]

Just stayed at Doubletree castle for 2 nights and we really liked it. It was very clean and really cute. Our room had music channels in it. there were 5 different choices(commercial free) and a dial for volume it was pretty cool. The hotels within walking distance to a variety of attractions and restaurants too. The only probelm I can see is the traffic on route 4 to get to the Disney parks. I'm not sure if there's a way around this though, probably. We didn't go to the parks on the days we there because we were staying on-site after our 2 nights at the DC so we didn't bother to ask for a short cut.

We saw the Doubletree Club it's within walking distance of the Cross roads(restaurants and shops) and not far at all from Downtown Disney, although you couldn't walk there. It's really bright and colorful on the outside, never saw the inside. There's also another little mall across the street with a few restaurants.

My opinion is I would stay where you'll be spending more time. If it's Universal and I-drive things stay at the castle. if you'll be spending more time at Disney, stay at the Club. I say this because traffic in and around Orlando is pretty bad on route 4 so you'll want to avoid it as much as possible.

Have a great trip!


Hallie

 

[Mickey4Me]

Thanks Hallie and Sue Z for all the info Unfortunately when I call HH for reservations, neither the castle or the club had any rooms left to reserve using HH points Only thing available was the Hilton Garden at Sea World. Not my first choice, but since it's only for a few nights it'll do just fine. We'll have to try one of the others next time..... Thanks!