HIFS 6/19-6/26 Review - (long)

[curlyjbs]

Hey all! Just returned from HIFS! Once again we loved it!!!

We arrived Saturday around 4:15pm and check-in was a breeze. Entertainment rate of $103 was honored no problem! I had called the week before and requested either bldg. 7 or 8. They put us in bldg 8, 2nd floor, pool view (king kidsuite Room 820). Noise was NOT a problem. Kids rec'vd goody bags at the "kid check-in booth" - kinda babyish for my dd's 8,10 & 12: coloring book, crayons, lollipop & 2 gameroom tokens, But they were ok with it.
We used the stairs most of the time.........the elevators are slow!

CONSTRUCTION: Didn't even know it was going on. No noise. No inconvenience at all. Only noticed it (didn't hear it just saw it) when we passed the area where the new lobby will be.

We ate dinner in the club car one night and used our $25 restaurant.com certificate, again no problem. The food was ok. The kids could eat free (till 10pm) at the kids buffet OR the adult buffet. We also used our Pizza Hut coupon although they only gave us a medium pizza and not the soda and breadsticks....kinda forgot about them so didn't ask. We ate pizza hut 2 other times and A&W once. Kids eat free till 5pm. Both were good. Kids did get Edy's ice cream once and that was yummy also. Breakfast was plentiful, good & hot. We would get there between 7:30 & 8:30 and never had a problem getting a table. The buffet is open till 11am so late risers don't need to rush. We filled up on breakfast and made it till late afternoon before we even thought about food.

The room was clean, it is small but still roomy since the kids weren't on top of us. 3 tv's saved us at night! DD 12 decided to sleep on top of the couch....the pull out was terrible. The fridge & microwave definetly came in handy. Drove right down the street to Publix (I know, I know $$$$ but it was convenient and really not THAT expensive) grabbed some snacks & beer. We had brought a soft cooler with us so we stocked the fridge with mommy/daddy drinks and brought them down to the pool every day. Bought the kids the small refillable cups ($5.99 sm. & $10 lg.) These were well worth it!!! The kids could refill in the little store whenever they wanted. (lemonade, icetea, sodas)

Oh, if you enjoy flavored coffee they did have the flavored creamers in the little store by the coffee dispenser. They didn't have them at the buffet. I asked and was able to take some (no charge) for my am coffee in the room and for the breakfast buffet. Yum.

The pool was great. Only closed 2x (for a few HOURS!! )because of "accidents" SIDE NOTE: This really annoyed us! They tell you OVER & OVER children UNDER 4 MUST wear swim diapers! It's written everywhere, they announce it over and over at the pool! You cant turn on the TV without hearing it! I just don't understand why parents cant follow the rules!!! Just put the dang things on your kid!!!! Parents were annoyed when the staff would make announcements about wearing them and say things like "suzy is 3 and shes been trained since she was 2. I'm not putting one on her! WELL, I guess suzy or some other ignorant adult's child wasn't trained after all. SORRY! I just cant tolorate people like that. Ok....enuf ranting. Hope I didn't offend anyone......Didn't ruin our trip so whatever! It was also closed for a short while a few afternoons because of lightning - no big deal.

ANYWAY.........back to the pool. It's pretty big so although there were alot of people it was never really crowded. Tons of lounge chairs...........almost too many but only a few in the shade. You really need to come down early to snag one - and believe me you want one. The sun was brutal! Around noon the staff put on music and played games with the kids every day. Limbo, hula hoop contests, musical chairs etc. They gave tokens as prizes (winners & losers would get them!) DD's made off with at least 25-30 per day. Not bad. They also offered crafts for a fee (tye-dye t-shirts, sand art). The bar was always open.......didn't use it except for plastic cups. Staff were all super nice. We played shuffleboard, ping pong and mini golf. All supplies were readily available and in good shape. There were 2 hot tubs and let me tell you they were HOT. Kids made lots of friends there own ages. We saw families with toddlers and families with teens. Everyone seemed to be having a GREAT time.

The night activities were very corny but fun. The magic show was cute, bingo was lots of fun and karaoke was a blast! Again, tokens were given to all the participants! We never spent our own $$ in the arcade........except for $5 to rent a nintendo game for 24 hours. There's also a small sundries shop next to the arcade stocked with almost anything you may need. I forgot to pack our toothbrushes and toothpaste and went down there to buy them and the girl told me to let the front desk know and they would hook us up with complimentary t-brushes/paste. They did. Cool.

All in all the Holiday Inn Family Suites is TERRIFIC!! I hope the whole "Nick" thing doesnt change it too much - It really is just fine the way it is.

We booked one night at the Royal Pacific Resort for the FOTL at UO/IOA (overlapped HIFS) - Absolutely beautiful hotel and grounds!!! BUT the room was small. Tower 1, room 1113 - 2 queen beds. Not impressed. I cant imagine staying more than one night there. The pool sucked! It was only 4' deep........3' in some spots and WARM. Piss warm. (pardon my french) Not refreshing at all after a HOT HOT HOT, did I mention HOT day in the parks. The kids hated it so we tried the HRH pool. The slide was neat........for about 1/2 an hour. Then the kids got bored. again the pool was only 3'-4' deep and warm. You just cant swim in that! Mommy/daddy drinks by the pool were great but at $10 bucks each (margarhitas and strawberry daqs.) I wish I brought our cooler LOL. We didn't even spend the night. believe it or not we ALL voted to go back to HIFS!!!! RPR was beautiful but as a family of 5 we preferred the space and pool at HIFS.

Front of the line however was AWESOME!

Boy this is long..................sorry. Any questions just ask! Oh and if you want them I do have pizza party coupons. Let me know.


curly

 

[hercamore]

Yes, and wait till your girls get to be teenagers!

You'll want a house to vacation in for all the extra space, LOL.

Thanks for the review.


herc.

 

[Disneymomma]

Great review! Sounds like you had a excellent time!

 

[DisneyDude61]

Is this the holiday Inn that is walking distance(across the street) from universal studios? I have 3 nights booked there just for doing universal and have never stayed off disney property before( except HRH) and was just wondering if this is the same hotel.

 

[hercamore]

Disneydue, the OP's hotel review is for HIFS in Lake Buena Vista, near dt Disney.

The Universal HI you're styaing is about l0 miles away. and the HI is not exactly easy waling distance. I'd say maybe l5 min walking to Universal, but I suspect they have a shuttle.

There are quite a few HI's i nthe Orlando area.


herc.

 

[curlyjbs]

HIFS is in Lake Buena Vista. It took us 8 minutes to get to DTD West Side, 12 minutes to Seaworld and 16 minutes to Universal. VERY convenient to ALL the parks.


curly

 

[taylor1293]

Welcome back and thanks for the fantastic trip report . It sounds like you had a terrific time!

I agree that FOTL access can't be beat and that the rooms at The Royal Pacific are small!

Teresa

 

[curlyjbs]

Just wanted to add that the closest laundry facility to us (bldg.8) was on the 6th floor between bldgs. 9 & 10. There were 6 washers at $1.50 and 6 dryers at $1.00. Little boxes of detergent or dryer sheets available in a machine for $1.00. There was also a change machine there if you need quarters.

I washed 2 decent size loads at once and dried them both together in one dryer. Cost me $3.50.........not too bad.

Tip: I used pillow cases to carry the loads. Just threw them in the washer & dryer with my stuff. very convenient.


curly

 

[LittleMermaid04]

I am really considering HIFS, but everytime I hear something about that problem with the pool and diapers..I get somewhat concerned. I mean, I know that can be aproblem anywhere you go..but for some reason I have heard it MORE at HIFS than anywhere else!!!
I am leaning towards this resort..its a toss up between this and Pop Century...
ITs just the pool thing? I mean, what if they don't clean it properly? YUCK!!! Makes me nervous about swimming in it if it sounds like a recurring thing!!!
But the resort sounds wonderful!! Can you expand a little more about the sofa bed? Is it acceptable?

Thanks again for telling about your visit!!

 

[taylor1293]

We've been to HIFS 4 times and never encountered the potty accident problem with the pool.

However, one of the pools at Pop Century was closed because of an accident the one time we stayed there. So, it really can (and does) happen everywhere.

Having stayed at both. My vote is for HIFS unless there is only 2 people in your party. The rooms at PC are SMALL. Really really small. We only stayed there 3 nights, and while I very much enjoyed our stay at PC, I felt very cramped and I wouldn't have been happy if I would have had to stay there longer.

According to my MIL the sofa bed was just fine .

Teresa

Originally posted by LittleMermaid04
I am really considering HIFS, but everytime I hear something about that problem with the pool and diapers..I get somewhat concerned. I mean, I know that can be aproblem anywhere you go..but for some reason I have heard it MORE at HIFS than anywhere else!!!
I am leaning towards this resort..its a toss up between this and Pop Century...
ITs just the pool thing? I mean, what if they don't clean it properly? YUCK!!! Makes me nervous about swimming in it if it sounds like a recurring thing!!!
But the resort sounds wonderful!! Can you expand a little more about the sofa bed? Is it acceptable?

Thanks again for telling about your visit!!

 

[curlyjbs]

I agree with Taylor1293! Accidents in the pool can and do happen at ANY resort. I think you hear about it at HIFS so much because they are right on top of it. If there is an accident it doesnt go unnoticed by the staff - they handle it right away. I feel very comfortable with there disinfection procedures. I did see maintenance testing the water at least 2x a day so they're definetely are on top of it.

The sofa bed in our room (#820) was terrible. I think the frame was bent so it didn't sit straight. DD found it very uncomfortable and chose to sleep on top of the couch. I doubt all the sofabeds are in as bad a shape. We didn't bother asking to switch rooms (which I am sure would not have been a problem) DD was ok with it.

Littlemermaid, Go with HIFS you wont regret it!!

curly

 

[ttichenor]

Next question on the place guys.....

Any recommendations on location in the hotel? Which building/room etc?

Thanks in advance!

 

[curlyjbs]

I would request bldg. 7 or 8, 2nd floor (either pool or pond view). The elevators really are slow so unless you'll be using a stroller every day the stairs are quick and easy. Beware, they will try to charge $20 extra for pool view. (I didn't ask for it they just gave it to us and no charge) Last time we were in bldg. 7 with a pond view, also very nice.

We were in bldg. 8 (#820) and were just steps from the elevator, stairs and ice & vending machines. great location. Easy to get to the pool & restaurant for breakfast. the time before that we were in bldg. 7 right around the corner from the same elevator etc. kids thought it was pretty cool.


curly

 

[lenshanem]

Does this pool have a slide for the kids?

Thanks!

 

[curlyjbs]

Nope, no slide..........yet. They are scheduled to have the Oasis pool open some time this fall. Water slides etc. Looks like it will be alot of fun!!!

curly

 

[ttichenor]

Thanks curly! Will fax request week before for Building 8 - 2nd floor (no strollers - yeah!). Need 4 rooms, hope they can accomodate. I'm indifferent on pool vs. pond view. BTW, I did read somewhere (I think Southwest website of all places) that new pool area is scheduled for opening first week of October. Not definite on that.

Thanks again!

 

[curlyjbs]

No prob! I think the new pool will be ready by then too!

Enjoy!

curly

 

[kathyclownfish]

Hi Curly!
Is the room that you stayed in by the East or West track of the resort? We are going in late October and I've heard that only one of the pools will be operational. Was your room by the pool currently being renovated or by the opened pool? (Did this make any sense)
Thanks

 

[curlyjbs]

Hi Cathy!

Yikes~ You bring up a great point~

We were in the East Track, overlooking the "family pool". I guess by the time some of you are going that wouldn't be an ideal location since that pool is scheduled for "refurbishing" once the other pool(west track) is completed.

I would call the hotel and check to see which pool will be open at the time of your stay and then request a bldg/room accordingly.


Hope everyone enjoys their trips!!!

curly

 

[ttichenor]

This is from a schedule I found of their work from a Southwest site.

Transformation of West pool - Mid April through mid October
The West pool will be closed but guests will still be able to enjoy the East pool during this time period. The West pool will be closed off by a locked gate and inaccessible to guests. Work will consist of adding new amenities to the pool: new play structure with slides that lead to the pool, new basketball hoops within the pool, new sand playground area, and new wet/dry play area where water spouts randomly go off. The pool itself will not be changed. The decor of the pool area will mainly consist of painting the exterior of the buildings that surround the pool and transforming the look of the deck. There will be some jackhammering involved. The guests that occupy the suites that surround the pool will be able to see and hear the progress of the work. Some heavy equipment will be used.