Hilton, DoubleTree or Hampton Inn...which would you choose?

[Timon-n-Pumbaa Fan]

My partner has a ton of Hilton Honors Rewards Points. This is good because I am going to be going solo to WDW in late April, 2009, and will be able to stay for free at either the Hilton or DoubleTreee on property or the Hampton Inn that is nearby. There are enough points to cover stays at any of these hotels. Just because there are available points doesn't mean that I want to use all of them up either. But, I do want a nice relaxing place to stay and would like to be near the parks.

I am hoping/planning to stay for 7 nights. I have plans to play in the parks for 3 days, hopping some. I will go to DQ, BB, and TL during my stay. If offered, I would also be going to the Pirates & Princesses Party. I will have a full schedule in the parks, which means being up early and out making merry until the late hours of the evening.

I know that in staying at the Hilton, I will have EMH access, but I am not sure that I will need and/or want it. It cost 40,000 points a night.

The DoubleTree is all suites, which is really awesome. It lacks the EMH perk though, but is only 35,000 points per night.

Both hotels charge $8 a night to park. They both run regular shuttles to the parks, but the walk is longer. I will have a car and will most likely be driving to the parks.

Corey suggested that since I am driving that I stay at the Hampton Inn, but I am not so sure that I want to drive completely off property at the end of the day. I haven't checked point values or parking charges for the Hampton Inn, yet.

If you could stay at any of these resorts for a solo trip, which would you choose and why? TIA

 

[swilshire]

I haven't stayed at any of these Orlando properties, but generally I choose the Hampton Inns for the decent breakfast. If your partner were going along and has Gold benefits or greater, you could probably get breakfast at the others also. If the Double Tree suites have fridges, I'd probably lean that way.

Sheila

 

[CarolA]

Pretty sure parking is free at the Hampton Inn.

I often stay at the Courtyard in LBV and the drive is very easy.

Now if you don't have an AP you have to pay to park at Disney which might be an issue. I don't think the shuttles are as good offsite. So if you want to shuttle to the park go with the DTD options!

 

[lunsusie]

I have stayed at both the Hilton and the Doubletree at DTD and both are very nice. As long as you are going to have a car, I would probably go with the Doubletree for a 7 night stay in order to have the suite. It is really nice to have the convenience of the fridge and microwave, along with the added bonus of the lower points cost.

 

[Timon-n-Pumbaa Fan]

If your partner were going along and has Gold benefits or greater, you could probably get breakfast at the others also.

Corey stays almost exclusively at Hilton hotels during her business trips. She was at Diamond level within her first year with this job. She does get the breakfast priviledges.

 

[Timon-n-Pumbaa Fan]

Pretty sure parking is free at the Hampton Inn.

I often stay at the Courtyard in LBV and the drive is very easy.

Now if you don't have an AP you have to pay to park at Disney which might be an issue. I don't think the shuttles are as good offsite. So if you want to shuttle to the park go with the DTD options!

The parking fees are not a huge issue, but I wanted to bring them up. For the entire length of stay, parking at the hotel and at the parks should only run me a little less than $130. This is not bad considering that the hotel and the park tickets are paid for already. I don't plan on using the hotel shuttle busses. I am a be there before rope drop type of person and I can't depend on a non-Disney shuttle bus to make that happen.

 

[Timon-n-Pumbaa Fan]

I have stayed at both the Hilton and the Doubletree at DTD and both are very nice. As long as you are going to have a car, I would probably go with the Doubletree for a 7 night stay in order to have the suite. It is really nice to have the convenience of the fridge and microwave, along with the added bonus of the lower points cost.

Yeah, I am thinking that the DoubleTree might be a better fit too after mulling this over a bit. One of my biggest beefs with hotel rooms is that, if it's not a suite, then you are stuck only being able to watch tv in bed and that usually keeps me up at night more so than my usual sleep issues. In general, I like DoubleTree hotels a bit better than the Hiltons, which makes little sense, but it just seems a bit more comfortable. Also, I just can't seem to resign myself to breaking my "pixie dust bubble" once I get on property. Once there, I don't want to leave until I have to leave, so I am pretty much ruling our Hampton Inn, unless something happens that necessitates the reallocation of points for some sort of emergency use by a family member, which is soooooo not allowed.

Depending on what the park hours look like when they come out and the plan that I come up with for an itinerary, I think the EMH factor may be the deal maker or breaker in the end. I do like the idea of having a microwave in my room. That would help to keep my food costs down. Plus, I am not big into dining at TS alone, so that would be a bit of a perk in that I could dine alone in the peace and quiet of my room too.

 

[3BoysRDisneyFreaks]

My partner has a ton of Hilton Honors Rewards Points. This is good because I am going to be going solo to WDW in late April, 2009, and will be able to stay for free at either the Hilton or DoubleTreee on property or the Hampton Inn that is nearby. There are enough points to cover stays at any of these hotels. Just because there are available points doesn't mean that I want to use all of them up either. But, I do want a nice relaxing place to stay and would like to be near the parks.

I am hoping/planning to stay for 7 nights. I have plans to play in the parks for 3 days, hopping some. I will go to DQ, BB, and TL during my stay. If offered, I would also be going to the Pirates & Princesses Party. I will have a full schedule in the parks, which means being up early and out making merry until the late hours of the evening.

I know that in staying at the Hilton, I will have EMH access, but I am not sure that I will need and/or want it. It cost 40,000 points a night.

The DoubleTree is all suites, which is really awesome. It lacks the EMH perk though, but is only 35,000 points per night.

Both hotels charge $8 a night to park. They both run regular shuttles to the parks, but the walk is longer. I will have a car and will most likely be driving to the parks.

Corey suggested that since I am driving that I stay at the Hampton Inn, but I am not so sure that I want to drive completely off property at the end of the day. I haven't checked point values or parking charges for the Hampton Inn, yet.

If you could stay at any of these resorts for a solo trip, which would you choose and why? TIA

I don't know which Hampton you are looking at, but we stayed at one in 2005. It was nice and clean. But I would not stay there again because it was a drive. We however didn't have a car. Used a towncar to get to the hotel and then used the park shuttle. I will NEVER to that again.

I would vote for the Hilton to use the EMH.

When we went in 2005 we ended up at the Hampton because I was a moron and didn't realize the Hilton had EMH or that there was a DT by DTD...I was pretty much a Disney virgin then.


Sarah

 

[Timon-n-Pumbaa Fan]

Thanks for the input on the Hampton Inn. Yeah, that's off the list for sure.

 

[MomBoyd]

Here's another vote for the Doubletree. We loved it and are looking forward to staying there again.

 

[CarolA]

Corey stays almost exclusively at Hilton hotels during her business trips. She was at Diamond level within her first year with this job. She does get the breakfast priviledges.

Yes, but if she is not there then you don't generally get the benefits even when staying on her points!

 

[Lisamcd]

Hi, I just wanted to point out that there is a special reward when you stay 6 or more nights. If you are staying 6 nights it would be a GLON2. It would cost you 150K points for category 5 and below and 175K for category 6. Let me know if you need more information.

 

[Timon-n-Pumbaa Fan]

Here's another vote for the Doubletree. We loved it and are looking forward to staying there again.

Duely noted!

Yes, but if she is not there then you don't generally get the benefits even when staying on her points!

Her mom, dad, sisters, and I have never had that problem. But, in this case, I won't be using their restaurants anyway, so it's not a big deal.

Hi, I just wanted to point out that there is a special reward when you stay 6 or more nights. If you are staying 6 nights it would be a GLON2. It would cost you 150K points for category 5 and below and 175K for category 6. Let me know if you need more information.

Please do tell! I don't think that we have ever booked a stay with her points for us or her family for over 4 nights.

 

[Timon-n-Pumbaa Fan]

Ok, I did a little research and found the info on the Hilton code. Thanks so much for the heads up!

I swear, I had no idea that there were so many cool trips that you can book with those points. Maybe in 2010, we can swing by Vegas for free as part of our vacation to DL. That would be pretty awesome!

 

[kristinlynn]

For those 4 night trips you take, if you have a Hilton AMEX you get 4 nights in a cat. 6 for 125k points.

 

[donaldduck352]

I have heard high remarks about the DoubleTree!!!!

 

[PrincessBetsy]

I would stay at the Hilton, it is a very nice resort and you get the extra magic hours benefit.

 

[Timon-n-Pumbaa Fan]

For those 4 night trips you take, if you have a Hilton AMEX you get 4 nights in a cat. 6 for 125k points.

She has a Corporate AMEX and a Blue AMEX.

 

[Timon-n-Pumbaa Fan]

I have heard high remarks about the DoubleTree!!!!

I would stay at the Hilton, it is a very nice resort and you get the extra magic hours benefit.

I am leaning toward the Hilton, but until I see the April park hours, I am holding off on a decision. I think that I would be very happy at either property. I think this is going to come down to the EMH factor. If I need it, I will go Hilton and if I don't I will go DoubleTree.

Thanks for your input though.

 

[kristinlynn]

She has a Corporate AMEX and a Blue AMEX.

I believe you need to have the hilton branded AMEX to get the 4 nights for 125k reward benefit. The reward code is AXON. If you take these trips often it might be worth getting. I think you get 10k points for making your furst purchase and 2.5k bonus for your first four hilton stays using the card.