goofiesgirlies
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Mar 14, 2002
- Messages
- 89
I've been a lurker on this board for about a year and I'm finally going to write my first post! I'm totally a newbie at this so here it goes. First, let me say that this board helped my family (DH, DD (4) and myself) have a terrific first trip to Orlando! Thanks everyone!
As for HIFS we had a great time and I have no qualms about referring anyone to this resort! Especially families with younger children. You will have a wonderful time! So here we go - we were a little nervous about checking in early but decided it couldn't hurt to try. We left Minneapolis at 6:00AM so we were a little tired. Check in was smooth - wait time maybe 10 minutes. The check in person was very nice and helpful.
The hotel itself is huge. As the check in person said, DRIVE to your room - which happened to be opposite of check in. (Room 1447.) She wasn't kidding. Our room faced Intl. Drive but I really can't say we heard much traffic and I'm a light sleeper. We were on the 4th floor which is kind of a pain with the slower elevators but nothing too terrible. The first level I'm guessing would have a lot of foot traffic with the pool next to it.
The room was clean and tidy. We had the "circus" theme and my daughter thought it was fun. The only exception to cleanliness --which was minor-- was in the kids room someone had obviously spilled/splashed pop on a couple of walls. It was never cleaned during the 4 nights we were there. Sheets, extra blankets and pillows were available. I noticed the kids bed did not have a blanket on it? Not sure why? (My daughter slept with us every night so it wasn't a factor!) Plenty of towels and I loved the separate storage area with plenty of room for bathroom supplies.
Food - we went to the breakfast buffet twice and it was adequate. Plenty of food - it can get quite busy but we always managed to find somewhere to sit. My DD and I had one lunch from the A&W (kids eat free with an adult) and it was fine. We also ordered a pizza one night through room service from the Pizza Hut - it was hot and tasty and very welcome at 10:00 p.m. We went to the dinner buffet one evening and I actually thought it was pretty good contrary what I've read on most reports. Granted it is buffet food so you aren't getting top quality but it was decent for the price. They even had PLAIN noodles! (Hopefully some parents out there will understand what I mean - I have a picky eater - no sauce.)
The pool is WONDERFUL! Definitely the highlight for my daughter and I. It has a zero-depth bottom so you don't have to hold your little one the entire time. The bottom of the pool is kind of like a soft corky stuff which is so nice. You don't have to worry about skinned knees or stubbed toes or sand all over the place. Plenty of towels too. A nice little kiddie area with a climbing tunnel, some plastic play houses and small pool. My daughter is a little too young for the putt putt golf but that looked like fun too.
To the main building there is a pathway with a little pond which has a couple of resident swans/ducks that the kids can feed for a quarter. My daughter LOVED that part. At night they also have a cute set of lights out beyond the pond of a train, jumping fish, etc.
Ok, I'm getting kind of long winded. (Sorry) Just wanted to reassure anyone for future travelers to relax you will enjoy this hotel!
Any questions I'll try to make my answers a little shorter! LOL
--JN
As for HIFS we had a great time and I have no qualms about referring anyone to this resort! Especially families with younger children. You will have a wonderful time! So here we go - we were a little nervous about checking in early but decided it couldn't hurt to try. We left Minneapolis at 6:00AM so we were a little tired. Check in was smooth - wait time maybe 10 minutes. The check in person was very nice and helpful.
The hotel itself is huge. As the check in person said, DRIVE to your room - which happened to be opposite of check in. (Room 1447.) She wasn't kidding. Our room faced Intl. Drive but I really can't say we heard much traffic and I'm a light sleeper. We were on the 4th floor which is kind of a pain with the slower elevators but nothing too terrible. The first level I'm guessing would have a lot of foot traffic with the pool next to it.
The room was clean and tidy. We had the "circus" theme and my daughter thought it was fun. The only exception to cleanliness --which was minor-- was in the kids room someone had obviously spilled/splashed pop on a couple of walls. It was never cleaned during the 4 nights we were there. Sheets, extra blankets and pillows were available. I noticed the kids bed did not have a blanket on it? Not sure why? (My daughter slept with us every night so it wasn't a factor!) Plenty of towels and I loved the separate storage area with plenty of room for bathroom supplies.
Food - we went to the breakfast buffet twice and it was adequate. Plenty of food - it can get quite busy but we always managed to find somewhere to sit. My DD and I had one lunch from the A&W (kids eat free with an adult) and it was fine. We also ordered a pizza one night through room service from the Pizza Hut - it was hot and tasty and very welcome at 10:00 p.m. We went to the dinner buffet one evening and I actually thought it was pretty good contrary what I've read on most reports. Granted it is buffet food so you aren't getting top quality but it was decent for the price. They even had PLAIN noodles! (Hopefully some parents out there will understand what I mean - I have a picky eater - no sauce.)
The pool is WONDERFUL! Definitely the highlight for my daughter and I. It has a zero-depth bottom so you don't have to hold your little one the entire time. The bottom of the pool is kind of like a soft corky stuff which is so nice. You don't have to worry about skinned knees or stubbed toes or sand all over the place. Plenty of towels too. A nice little kiddie area with a climbing tunnel, some plastic play houses and small pool. My daughter is a little too young for the putt putt golf but that looked like fun too.
To the main building there is a pathway with a little pond which has a couple of resident swans/ducks that the kids can feed for a quarter. My daughter LOVED that part. At night they also have a cute set of lights out beyond the pond of a train, jumping fish, etc.
Ok, I'm getting kind of long winded. (Sorry) Just wanted to reassure anyone for future travelers to relax you will enjoy this hotel!
Any questions I'll try to make my answers a little shorter! LOL
--JN
