Hilton Home2 Suites Anyone?

[robinb]

I am in the process of planning a last minute quickie long weekend trip (3-4 days) to see the last Wishes and the first day for AP previews of Pandora. We are currently flying in/out of Tampa so we'll already have a car.

I'm mulling over my options. Studios at DVC resorts are sold out. I can get onsite at Pop for about $105 per night. The deposit is non-refundable so I have not made a reservation yet. I have a reservation at the Holiday Inn Waterpark (old Nickelodeon hotel) for about $85 per night (with free resort fees and parking). I also have a reservation at Home2 Suites on points (so, FREE ) with free breakfast and no resort or parking fees.

I am leaning toward FREE at the Home2 Suites with breakfast since this is an unplanned trip. My DD is 17 so the pool is not super important and we have APs so parking at the parks is covered. It looks like a very nice place but I am concerned about traffic around the outlet mall. I have been caught in that traffic more than once going to the mall and I always think how much of a PITB it would be to stay near the mall. Has anyone staying at the Home2 Suites? Was traffic as bad as I think it might be? I know that Vineland Ave (in front of the mall) is a complete mess for most of the day. Would it be better to cross I-4 on Daryl Carter Parkway and then take Palm Parkway to 535 or to go down International Drive South to 536? I'm all for saving money, but if it's a complete PITB every time I drive to/from my hotel I'm going to be annoyed.

 

[writerguyfl]

All of the major mapping software websites now let you enter times/dates in the future. The results are based on distance and historical traffic information. I'm partial to Bing Maps, so I looked up the Home2 Suites address and got directions for both Magic Kingdom and Disney's Animal Kingdom. Even when factoring in traffic, each of the different routes provided all use Vineland Ave.

You can force different routes by adding a waypoint. When I did this for both the Palm Parkway and International Drive options, the difference in times was literally 2-3 minutes. Honestly, unless there's an accident, I don't think any one option is significantly quicker than any other one.

If I were driving, I'd opt for International Drive to 536. It's probably slightly further but those roads are dual carriageway (aka with a median) with fewer traffic lights.

 

[robinb]

All of the major mapping software websites now let you enter times/dates in the future. The results are based on distance and historical traffic information. I'm partial to Bing Maps, so I looked up the Home2 Suites address and got directions for both Magic Kingdom and Disney's Animal Kingdom. Even when factoring in traffic, each of the different routes provided all use Vineland Ave.

I noticed that. But I have also sat in horrible traffic on Vineland between the basilica and 535, inching along. Ugh.

 

[HopperFan]

I noticed that. But I have also sat in horrible traffic on Vineland between the basilica and 535, inching along. Ugh.

No you don't take Vineland past the outlets and church .... you turn left on Vineland, then right on International Dr South. That dead ends into World Drive, turn right and go straight to Disney property. We go this way all the time, even from the outlet mall.

 

[robinb]

No you don't take Vineland past the outlets and church .... you turn left on Vineland, then right on International Dr South. That dead ends into World Drive, turn right and go straight to Disney property. We go this way all the time, even from the outlet mall.

That's the way we started to go from the outlet mall. Have you stayed in that area before?

 

[HopperFan]

That's the way we started to go from the outlet mall. Have you stayed in that area before?

Closest we stayed is Caribe and Buena Vista but we go to Outlet Mall every trip, and we go to Freddy's over there to eat or that Publix. Also my DD lived in the DCP housing which is right there. I absolutely would book Home2Suites if the rate were right (they are nice) as that location doesn't bother me, and very easy to get to Universal and nicer Walmart too.

 

[robinb]

Closest we stayed is Caribe and Buena Vista but we go to Outlet Mall every trip, and we go to Freddy's over there to eat or that Publix. Also my DD lived in the DCP housing which is right there. I absolutely would book Home2Suites if the rate were right (they are nice) as that location doesn't bother me, and very easy to get to Universal and nicer Walmart too.

Thanks! It does look like a nice central location for people doing multiple attractions.

I think I'm going for FREE and saving the $300-$500 I would spend on a hotel. Free park passes (APs burning a hole in my pocket), free airfare on miles, and a free hotel on points makes a 3-4 day trip from Wisconsin less painful.

 

[got4boys]

I just stayed there this past January. It is very easy to take Daryl Carter Parkway and then take Palm Parkway to 535. You can always cut through Disney Springs if traffic is slow there.