Hilton DTD or Caribbean Beach??

[TheresaNY]

We are going to be adding a few days on to the front end of our "Grand Gathering" and was wondering which hotel everyone prefers - Hilton DTD (jr. suite) or CBR??? We will be going to YC and Dolphin afterwards. I can't decide between the space of a suite at the Hilton - or the convenience of CBR. HELP!!!!!!!!!! (I would be using points for either stay so cost is not the deciding factor.)

 

[TinkerbEllnor]

Will you have a car?

If yes, Hilton. If no, CBR. JMHO

I have not yet stayed at Hilton, so take this with a grain of salt. We are reserved there for Nov 2007. I know that you can utilize EMH from Hilton. The bus system, however, is Hilton owned, not Disney, so transportation is a big factor.

 

[HopperFan]

Would be Hilton for us, especially if you are going with a suite. If you are using points, am guessing you also qualify for the Executive lounge. That fed us breakfast each morning, snacks during the day, and there is evening food, but we never made it back for that. Loved the pool area and the two minute walk over to DTD.

 

[TheresaNY]

...transportation is a big factor.

Exactly my thoughts !
Yes, we will have a car, but then we have to pay to park and take all that time to park instead of just hopping on a bus. How much $$ is parking now??

We have stayed at CSR and POR so I am not in a rush to try CBR but wouldn't be opposed to trying it. I like the thought of the suite too.

 

[TinkerbEllnor]

How much $$ is parking now??.

$10/day, unless someone in your car has an AP, then its free

 

[powellrj]

you have to remember you are just hopping in your car without waiting for a bus, so subtract that time!

There would be no question, I would go with the extra room at the Hilton!!

 

[pirate girl]

i would also do the hilton. we have stayed there using points many time . we love the hilton.busses are not as convient as disney busses so having a car helps.....

 

[TheresaNY]

Thanks for all the advice. Think we will go with the Hilton. How is their bus service ? Is it worth trying or should we not bother and just drive? There are no buses to the parks from DTD, right?

 

[utahkennedys]

Sorry, have to be the dissenter....I have stayed at both and I love CBR. The one nice thing about Hilton is you can walk across to DTD. But, I like the convenience (OK, LOVE) of staying on-site, not paying parking, etc. But, the Hilton was very nice and in a good location considering it is off-site.

 

[NHLFAN]

We've stayed at both and would pick the Hilton .

 

[adrien32]

I have also stayed at both, and would pick the Hilton. On the downsides, however, you do have to pay the $10 parking for taking your own car. Also, I've heard the bus from the Hilton is very slow and takes about an hour to get to Magic Kingdom. I haven't tried it myself. Finally, most "suites" at the Hilton are really just extra large rooms with no separation between the bed and sitting area.

That said, I have stayed at both and would pick Hilton. I'm actually scheduled to stay there again next month for about the fifth time. It has extra magic hours, and I love being able to walk to the stores and restaurants at Downtown Disney. I really think the location is great. If you get concierge access, having breakfast there will save you money.

 

[f7prez]

You don't have to pay for parking. The Hilton has a great bus service it shares with the other DTD hotels. Hilton gets picked up and dropped off first.
You also have the convenience of walking across the street to DTD. You ARE on property at the Hilton, you're just not staying in a Disney hotel, much like the Dolphin. I would go with a suite at the Hilton.

 

[TheresaNY]

Thank you all so much ! Any Hilton photos to share ???? Where do the Hilton buses pick you up and drop you off at the parks ? Is it out in the middleof nowhere ?? I don't even remember seeing signs for them the 4000 times we have taken the buses . The bus service convenience from CBR is what keeps me wondering about if we should stay at Hilton or CBR.

 

[HopperFan]

Our room looked exactly like it did on the internet. I didn't take many pictures, mostly video but here are a couple of the pool. Pool are was very nice, two pools (other behind the gazebo in bottom photo), hot tub, padded chaises, umbrellas and shade, small tables by chaise... We did drive to the park from there, was a few minutes and worth the $10 to park for me. But each time we left we did see the bus there for pickup. PS. These are 8 am swims, so not very crowded

 

[TheresaNY]

Thanks for the photos ! Are there refrigerators in the junior suites? Microwave or anything extra?

 

[HopperFan]

Sorry, I had a regular room (just two of us), minibar but I didn't open it. But we just walked down to the Executive lounge for free drinks, ice etc. Here is a review of the hotel http://www.mousesavers.com/hiltonwdw.html from a Disney pro and this is a description from Hilton of the junior suite if the link will work http://www.hilton.com/en/hi/hotels/...ocn=ORLDWHH&roomtypeId=ORLDWHHD2J&avail=false