HI-Main Gate?

[ruvidu]

I am booked here for next week. Never been there and don't know what to expect. Anyone out there stayed here before?
How is their shuttle service and food?

Thanks in advance for your help,

Russ

 

[from Canada]

I've stayed at HI maingate east...is this your hotel, or a different one?

 

[ruvidu]

Yep, that's the one. What was your opinion?
Thanks for the reply,
Russ

 

[from Canada]

We stayed there in Feb. 2000, for 1 week. That was our first family trip to WDW. It was OK, but we found it a little too cramped for our family of 5. However, for the price it was OK. We went again this year and stayed at HIFS. For our family, I'd go back to HIFS before HIME. I believe there is a free breakfast at HIME now, that wasn't there when we went. Also, we stayed in a kidsuite. Sounded like a good idea, and the kids loved it, but the rest of the space was basically a king sized bed. I think there are other suites there that may be a bit roomier. Dont get me wrong, Im sure that you'll enjoy yourself here, and maybe for a family smaller than ours it would be good, especially with a good rate, (a good rate at HIFS is probably double what you'll pay here). The pool at HIME was large and clean. There was a kiddie pool which my DD loved. There was also a hot tub. Be sure to check at the info desk for the "back way" to WDW so that you can AVOID I 192!! (Basically, instead of turning left out of the hotel and going down I192, you cross I192 and take that up to another road). I believe they have kids programs, (they were redoing the programming when we were there so there was no daytime programs for us). At night there were movies, magic shows, and clowns making animal baloons in the lobby.
We didn't use the shuttle service, as we rented a car.
We only ate breakfast here, the selection was good and I don't recall any problems with the food. There was a hot buffet, along with cold things including an assortment of cereal.
HTH
K.

 

[ruvidu]

It is just two old mid 50s people. We normally stay inside but with the cruise this time we opted outside. I think it was $50 a night for a queen room.
Thanks again,
Russ

 

[from Canada]

Well then, I think it will be just fine. Have Fun!!
Here is the website addy, (don't know if you've seen it yet)
http://www.orlando-family-fun-hotel.com/index.htm
HTH
K.

 

[sandalwood]

We went to Disney this past week and stayed at the Downtown Disney Courtyard for the great rates Sun-Thurs. On Friday, we checked out of the Courtyard and into the Holiday Maingate East since their weekend rate was so good. Ou room was very clean. The hotel is a older but it was clean and fine. One thing I liked is that they had 24 hr. security patroling in a golf cart type thing. It was fine for what we needed and not cramped at all. Our room was large and had plenty of room (2 adults, one child). We had 2 double beds, a table and chairs, a microwave, a small fridge and even a vcr next to the tv. We just booked a standard room and I thought for the money it was great. We did not use the pool since it was night but we did look at it and it did look clean. Hope this helps.

 

[crusin'minnie]

We stayed at this hotel for Thanksgiving last month and were very disappointed. I requested a refurbished room when I made the reservation.

#1 the directions from there website were wrong and we spent an extra 40 minutes in traffic and then called the hotel and had to turn around.

#2 the hotel has a sign out front about the special kids check in. I made my kids put on shoes and come in to check in with me only to find out that they don't have that service anymore. (the desk is still there and so is the sign) I do have to say that they did give my kids some tokens to the arcade since I grumbled.

#3 Our room was atrocious. It was all the way in the back left corner of the hotel and it looked like they had just thrown old furniture that was no longer being used into this one room. It had an awful smell (We never did figure out what that was.) Also from now on I will call a hotel directly to define "Kitchenette" To me a mini-frig on the floor beside the dresser with a microwave on top does not a kitchenette make. We slept in this room for one night and then I complained to mgmt and we were moved. It was a small improvement.

#4 Shuttle service? HA! I also learned that from now on I will get an exact schedule from the hotel before I book. Making the reservation I was assured that the busses ran every hour. Not so. The second day when we wanted to go to MGM the bus would have left 1.5 hours after the park opened. We ended up driving (thank goodness we had a car). I do have to say that the drive was very easy and only took @ 5 minutes from this property.

#5 We went to bed on night 3 and there were some teenagers running around screaming and dragging something metal on the concrete. I finally called the front desk after they came and beat on our window and asked them to send security.

#6 We had to request a baby crib- I will NEVER leave home without my own travelyard again. We had 2 different cribs both of them were disgusting.

I'm sorry to tell you all this- but I really wish I had known before I booked it. Maybe you will have better luck if you have a suite instead of a regular room with "kitchenette". I do have to say that the buffet breakfast was pretty good. It was not complimentary.

Good Luck!!!

 

[bigsis1970]

Hi Does anyone else have anything to say good or bad. I have stayed at HIFS ( as well as Allstars CBR AKL and OKW ) I am looking for a nice place w/ kitchenette type facilities for 8 night before hopefully going to the Boardwalk. Thanks for all input i know its a long time out but have to keep busy somehow till the time for booking comes.. thanks Michelle