HIFS - Any Tips For a Newbie?

[boltjames]

Well, after five consecutive years we've just outgrown the Carribean Beach Resort. Like many, we just don't want to fork over the cash for a second adjacent room and we'd love to get more space in the process.....

So it's off to the HIFS the first week in April......but unlike CBR where we know every nook, cranny, and piece of detail to make the trip effortless, we're brand-newcommers to HIFS, so.....

If anyone's been there and can offer tips, this father of 3 would greatly apprciate it!

Stuff like secret storage space, where the modem jacks are, what time to get to breakfast, which rooms/side of the hotel to request, best themed rooms, best ways to get there from the airport.....etc. etc.

TIA

 

[jultomzach]

I have a HIFS brochure, property map and a coupon for a free pizza party that I would be happy to mail to you..just send me a pm with your address or email me at joconnor@childrensaid.net. I was there is Jan. 04, and would be happy to answer any questions if I can. Best time for breakfast is before 9 am as it gets busier later. Lots of opinions on best place but I think second floor facing the children's pool area. The property map will give you more information.

 

[curlyjbs]

You made the right choice! HIFS is perfect for the family that can no longer "fit" on property. Have a great time~


DIRECTIONS TO HIFS FROM AIRPORT (MCO):
most direct route 16.1 miles

From Orlando Inter. Airport take the "South Exit" to highway 417 (the Greeneway toll rd.). Travel approx. 11 miles to Osceola Parkway West (Exit #3). Turn right and trave 1/4 mile to International Drive South, turn right and travel one mile to the HIFS.
(see entrance on left)


There is plenty storage space and the main BR bed is higher than usual offering space underneath to store suitcases etc.

curly

 

[mtdewhead]

We've stayed at HIFS twice now. We have 4 kids and both times we also had an extra adult, so 7 total! The kids room is great with a bunk and and a small cot (not big enough for an adult, but a preteen, or small teenager fits great.) The sofa pull out and the main bedroom bed has plenty of room if you have a little one who likes to sneak in bed with you like we do. We had the Manatee themed room once and the kids loved it. We also had the "WDW" theme with a cartoon of the kingdom on the wall, also cute. The kid's room also has a nintendo and tv that you can rent games for in the gameroom. The pool is great for down time and on the Saturday we were there, there was a DJ and lots of poolside games. I enjoyed the little kid area, contained behind a fence so no chance of escaping tots! Zero entry in the big pool was nice as well. Have fun!

 

[boltjames]

Thanks for the replies everyone!

 

[MrsMud]

Research restaurants for dinner ahead of time, and make plans to eat somewhere other than the Club Car. I have found that, when leaving the park, many employees can tell you the best way to get to the restaurant you want.
Otherwise, enjoy yourself. HIFS is great; we love it (except for the Club Car), and will be back there our next trip.

 

[pm914]

We just got back from HIFS and we'd definitely recommend it! As a matter of fact, we had stayed at the Caribbean Beach in 1999 and we definitely prefer the conveniences and perks of the HIFS. Little things like shelves in the bathroom, two blow dryers, make-up table, light up mirror, coffee-maker, fridge, micro, iron, free breakfasts, $3 refillable soda mugs, etc., etc..
While it was nice to stay on-site, we found the Caribbean exceedingly difficult to navigate and the room felt cramped (and we only had 2 kids at the time). It's a shame that Disney doesn't have any halfway affordable rooms that accomodate families.
If you have kids, I'd ask for a room in the East Court (the "kid's side of the resort") with either a pool view or a view of the little lagoon with the light-up display.
Enjoy your stay and let us know what you think!
-(BTW, thanks to julthomzach for the pizza party - we enjoyed it thoroughly!).

 

[pm914]

Forgot to mention: We had a room in bldg. 13 (fairly far removed from the main building) and didn't discover till the end of our stay that it's a short walk to the lobby/restaurant by cutting across the pool area and entering the restaurant from the automatic doors near the little lagoon.
Also, we had requested a Disney themed room - unfortunately, the murals really missed the mark. The other themes I spotted while walking past seemed much better executed (I saw jungle and Coca-cola - both really cute).
If you have a daughter that might be interested in hair-braids or a manicure at the sugar & spice kid's spa, you can make an appt. for as late as 9:30 pm so as not to interfere with park time.
We really enjoyed having our (free!) breakfasts at the tables in the back by the windows where we could watch the pair of swans swim by. While we didn't have any other meals at the restaurant, we did enjoy the pizza from the food court late at night while watching the kid's karaoke.
Also, every guest is entitled to a free family portrait. We forgot to schedule this - maybe next time.

 

[pamlet]

It's so encouraging that you were happy with your choice.

I keep second guessing myself regarding staying onsite - but somehow I can't seem to stand to pay the prices when I know all I'll be able to afford is a room w/2 double beds... Not a good option for my family.. even tho' there are only 4 of us - it's a BIG 4 so the option of the room with the 2 twin beds works for us. We don't need a themed kids room - as both our "boys" are older (15 and 20)

Did you all stay at the parks all day - or did you go back to the resort in the middle? I don't know that we'll want go back - but you never know...

Also any tips for getting to/from/around the parks?

Thanks!!!

 

[lejaf]

This will be our fourth trip to HIFS. It's a great family hotel and although I would love to try out other places, my kids are hooked on it...

We never leave the parks in the middle of the day, but even if I were to stay on Disney property, I highly doubt we would leave the parks. We go in March and the parks often close earlier than they do at other times of the year, but still, we get there early and have a blast all day and are shocked when it gets dark and then it's time for the fireworks...I mean, the days just go by so quickly, I can't imagine leaving and coming back.

But HIFS is so close to the parks, I think you could easily take an afternoon break if you really want to.

 

[pm914]

I forget what they call them, but they have suites more appropriate for families without really little ones. One type in particular that sounds interesting is a "cinema suite" which I think has a big-screen TV.
While we definitely prefer the HIFS to the Caribbean (and the Pop Century (where we were originally going to reserve 2 connecting rooms)) I must say that we did come down with a serious case of "Deluxe Resort Envy" upon touring the Polynesian and the Grand Floridian. The HIFS is not a luxury resort. It's relatively clean, with very practically and conveniently laid-out rooms that offer a nice amount of space for a great price. Plus, the staff aims to please in every way. A single room at the Poly would cost 3x as much as the suites at the HIFS - and the cost of an equivalent amount of space would be astronomical! I'd rather go to WDW more often than blow the whole budget on lodging.
We've always gone in early spring when heat wasn't an issue. Therefore we just stayed at the parks all day - from about 9am to 9pm.
As far as getting around, we always get a rental car - even when we've stayed on-site.

 

[Mojomanny]

If you have kids I would recommend the East side rooms since they have the feature packed pool in their courtyard.

You can check my trip report on HIFS at: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=516822

You can see pics at: http://community.webshots.com/user/mojomanny

You will have a great time!

 

[from Canada]

We just returned from a 2 week stay (our second time there). We liked our room 637. Overlooking the pond. (You can be charged $20/night more for pool view. Building 6 is nice, I would have preferred a ground floor, but 3rd floor was just fine. (actually 2 flights of stairs up, if you don't want to wait for the elevator.) I would stay away from ground floor of building 7...a lot of traffic here with people walking to to the main building.
If you haven't already, join Priority Club...its free. You collect points for future stays. You can have a early check in/ late check out, and a paper each day. There is a separate check in counter as well.
The hotel recommends going to breakfast before 9am to avoid lines. We usually ate before 9, but found it not much busier after 9. It is noisy and congested in and around the food serving areas. We found quieter places to eat were on the enclosed patio, and near the bar.
HTH
Karen