Holiday Inn DTD is no more

[megpol]

I have tried both those E mails as well. I did not even get the response you did - though I tried a couple of weeks ago!. Oh yes please, I would be so greatful if someone who lives close by could make a local call. I shall still keep this thread posted if I hear anything at all.

 

[4theloveofdisney]

I know this is an old thread but I just came across it. There is a website: www.downtowndisneyhotels.com that still lists the HI as a DD hotel. I clicked on the link for the hotel website and this is the statement that is given:

"Our hotel is currently closed for renovation and restoration following hurricane damage sustained during the fall of 2004. Please contact our hotel reservations office at 1 (800) 223 - 9930 for information regarding our reopening plans."

Also, to add, we were in this area a few weeks after on the major hurricanes hit. We did see the HI and there were many, many broken windows.

 

[safetymom]

The hotel is still under construction. Many of the balconies are missing railings, they are working on the restaurant. It still says Holiday Inn on the sign out front. Went by there today.

 

[CarolA]

This hotel was never owned by either Marriott or Holiday Inn. It's owned by a local franchise company. It is possible that they have sold it or that they have decided to either change affilations again or go it alone...

 

[wdr152]

I'm not sure who owns the property, but it is managed by Interstate Hotels and Resorts (IHR) out of Arlington, Virginia. IHR also has the Sheraton Safari nearby, along Apopka Vineland Road. IHR's telephone number is 703.387.3100 and its web site can be found by Googling the company's name (sorry, the board won't let me post the direct URL).

When I last spoke with a representative about this hotel I was told the property was still under construction, still affiliated with the Holiday Inn brand and was tentatively scheduled to open in April 2006, but tentative was emphasized so it sounds like the opening date could be pushed back...again.

Back in August when I was in the area I walked by and there was a lot of construction equipment and workers. The outside had been re-painted, the roof tiles were in the process of being replaced, the restaurants were gutted and the balcony railings were also being replaced. I couldn't get closer to the hotel than the sidewalk because there was a guard booth in front of the hotel which had an attendant present 24/7. Many days there was also a police car on the property.

There was an article in the Orlando Business Times after the property converted to a Holiday Inn and, at that time, the plan was to renovate all of the rooms, reconfigure the outdoor pool area and install a new food outlet called "Pronto." Not sure if the pool and "Pronto" ideas are still on the drawing board, but I thought I'd mention it since I haven't seen it on here yet.

 

[GailT]

I stayed there in 1984, it wa sthe Howard Johnson hotel, right after that it became Holiday Inn, I wonder what it is going to be now, looking back it was a nice hotel, great location, I am wondering what chain will buy it now

 

[abbie13_15]

Does anyone have anything new on this hotel? Maybe a possible opening date? Many of us have reservations there this summer!

 

[boswellnakia]

Do you have a specific date reserved this summer? When my December dates were postponed, they told me that I would have a year after they reopened to reschedule my trip, but they wouldn't let me pick specific dates.

 

[MamaKate]

Do you have a specific date reserved this summer? When my December dates were postponed, they told me that I would have a year after they reopened to reschedule my trip, but they wouldn't let me pick specific dates.

When my September dates were postponed, I had the option to which to Sheraton Safari or book any date the next year. I orginally booked Sheraton, but then the Free Dining at WDW came out, so I cancelled my Sheraton reservation and switched back to Holiday Inn for the beginning of December 2006.

She did let me pick my dates and gave me a new reservation #. I don't know if this is because I orginally booked with Sheraton and then cancelled, but I was able to pick my dates.

I'm wanting to move my dates up by a week so I'm hoping this won't be a problem. As of now, I haven't been able to get ahold of anyone to see if I can change my dates.

 

[wonderlandaddict]

I spoke with the 1-800 Holiday Inn Reservation number today to confirm my reservation for end of Dec. I just wanted to make sure they still have it !!!

 

[PhotobearSam]

Any news?

 

[mickeyfan2]

Very interesting. I phoned my Holiday Co as they had removed this hotel from brochure - after pressing them they confirmed that the Hotel Contract had not been renewed but I was assured that my booking would be honoured!! Now I am not yet too concerned because I am not due to go until late 2006 - but would rather know sooner than later if I have to change hotels. My last communication with Holiday Inn WDW confirmed that they were carrying out a 6 mill $$ renovation (which was one of the reasons I chose that hotel)! HI only took the hotel from Marriott just before the Hurricanne in 2004 which closed the hotel - I wonder if it is true that they have sold it again?. Wyndham just acrross the Rd changed hands last year as well!! I shall watch this thread with great interest.

I would not turst them. This happened to me with a Holiday Inn in Williamsburg, VA. I checked the ones that they had and picked the one I liked the best. I booked it with my points, got my confirmation and all was well... or was it....Less than a month before I get a call or email (don't remember which) to tell me it is no longer a HI and I need to switch to a different HI. I call and argued the point that this is the one the I reserved and it was a HI when I did it. They finally relented and send me a letter that they would reimberse me the money for the hotel at the new Ramada and then use my points. I got a letter in writing for this and documented it all. I went on vacation and then submitted the bill. They did pay me back 100% of the bill. So all was fine in the end. They did there best to force me to another HI but I would not budge.

 

[jcanary]

According to the 800 number they are suppose to open in April. If anyone has time, try calling the 800 number and see if they still say April. I hope so, I am suppose to go down in May.

 

[anna1111]

I've called this week and still says April. I doubt they would be open in April.
We are going in June and would like to know if they will offer to put us up at another hotel. I can't find anyone speak to, and have had no response to email. I'm going to be looking for another option very soon, unless HI responds.

 

[CPM]

Interesting. I have a freind that works at Nick Hotel. I'll call him & see if he knows anything.

 

[Phrank40]

I drove by Holiday Inn DTD last weekend (2/25). I guess some work is going on but it looks about the same every time I've gone by it. I don't know what the construction rules are for weekend work (or if there are any) for Downtown Disney area but the 5-6 times I've driven by this hotel over past several months, usually on a weekend, I've never seen a person working on the site.
Plan to be that area in a couple of weeks, will try to get a better idea of what's going on construction wise.

Phrank

 

[megpol]

My holiday Company have finally sent me a letter - moving my hotel as they say they cannot guarantee my booking (for November 06). I shall be pretty mad if they have re-opened as I feel that the hotel should be really good with the total refurbishment, but, cannot take the risk and wait until the last minute and then get booked into a hotel that I do not want!

 

[jcanary]

what is 'your holiday company' ? I have reservations in May and they have not notified me of any change or anything. I would think that they would start notifing us if they do not think it is going to be open for my stay. It is only about 67 days from now.

 

[megpol]

what is 'your holiday company' ? I have reservations in May and they have not notified me of any change or anything. I would think that they would start notifing us if they do not think it is going to be open for my stay. It is only about 67 days from now.

Virgin Holidays - It may be because they have removed the hotel from their brochure and whilst I was assured they would honour my booking they may be just using the renovation as an excuse to change my hotel. However,in February Virgin wrote to advise me that "following a major renovation project The Holiday Inn have taken the decision to remain closed until further notice" and they offered me a move to Sheraton Safari "which is a sister hotel". I would press your Company for an answer then at least if you have to change hotels you have time to change to one you want to rather than one they want you to go to!!. I turned down their offer of the Sheraton & they have now placed me in the B Palace where I have been before. Let me know how you get on.

 

[jcanary]

Spoke to Glenn Aycock yesterday about july 4th weekend reservations and they have to be changed. The latest opening date is January 2007, yea that is almost 3 years of rehab. When I asked what was going on he just said that one change leads to 5 or 6 others so it delays it even more. I can't really understand this but so be it. I was given the choice to move to Sheraton Serfari or cancel, he didn't say anything about rescheduling. He is suppose to call my daughter who had later July reservations and I will have her check about rescheduling if you can. That is the latest.