Holiday Inn Int. or Rosen centre ?

[kevin harrison]

We have booked the Holiday Inn International drive for our holiday in September. Having read a few things about the Rosen Centre I'm now starting to wonder about thatmoving to that hotel instead.

So I've a simple question - which would you book ? the Holiday Inn International Drive Resort or the Rosen Centre and why ?

Thanks for you help in advance.

 

[allie5]

I can only offer an opinion on Holiday Inn International.

We spent the third week of our honeymoon there and were impressed. It is bright, clean, has large rooms and in an excellent location. The staff were extremely friendly and helpful (some of the best we have encountered) The freeform pool complex and Jacuzzi are wonderful after a long day at the parks. It is very close to Universal Studios and Wet & Wild. The Rosen centre is closer to Sea World and nearer to Disney by about 10 minutes.

I wouldnt hesitate to stay there again and can definately reccomend it.

Hope that helps.
Allie.

 

[JohnnySharp]

We have stayed at both and prefer the Rosen Centre.

Reasons, it is a better hotel, the restaurants are excellent, the service very good, the pool area brilliant, the facilities are 1st rate- there is a gym , a 24 hour deli, 2 good bar's for winding down after a hectic day and most of all the location is much better.

It is away from the busier end of I-drive. Just drive past the 2 of them and you will see the difference...the Rosen is one of the most striking in Orlando.

I guess it comes down to preference, the Holiday Inn is great I am not knocking it, either would be a sound choice.

The Rosen is more classy, marble floors in the reception lobby for eg and probably appears more to the business type, they do hold allsorts of 'conventions' there, the HI is just a hotel for tourists I guess, if you want to stay in a hotel full of 'brits' this is the one for you!!

 

[TracyK]

Although I haven't stayed in The Holiday Inn, I can echo what Johnny said about The Rosen Centre. It's a lovely hotel with great facilities including a fantastic pool and great restaurants.
Tracy

 

[Wednesday till I die]

Hi Kev.

We have stayed in both these hotels.

There is nothing wrong with the Holiday Inn, infact it is an excellent choice. However, the Rosen is a better hotel.

As others have said, it is situated at the classier end of I-Drive and has two great restaurants, plus top class deli. The pool area is excellent, but so is the one at the Holiday Inn.

The standard rooms at the Rosen are much smaller than at the Holiday Inn.
We managed to get an upgrade, so this wasn't a problem, but it is worth remembering. Also, rooms at the Rosen don't have a fridge - Holiday Inn's do.

The Holiday Inn has a Ponderosa and Sizzler within walking distance, at the Rosen you have to drive a little. However, the Rosen has a 7/11 store in the grounds (but not a 69 Chevy to be seen!)

Either way you can't go far wrong, but in answer to your question - book the Rosen.

Regards
Barry.

 

[kevin harrison]

Hi Barry

Although the Rosen hasn't got fridges or microwaves in the room, can you hire them ?

Presume you are going to the gigs in 3 weeks time ?

Kev.

 

[JohnnySharp]

Hi again

We have stayed at both hotels and liked both, but the Rosen Centre is nicer/classy. We rang the Rosen Centre direct and booked a fridge for 2 weeks. It was at an extra cost (cannot remember how much now) but we had our baby son with us so it came in very handy. Once we checked in the fridge came within 10 minutes. Not sure about microwaves. Parking is in a multi-story car-park at the rear of the hotel with security etc.

www.rosencentre.com/main_orh.html

 

[kevin harrison]

So this is what I've done....

After all your good advice I've gone for the Rosen Centre. The only problem is Virgin have only got 9 of the 10 nights we'd originally booked at the Holiday Inn.

Virgin are putting in a request to the Rosen for another night, and we have to wait for 3 working days for the Rosen to get back to Virgin.

My only concern is the rooms are smaller than Holiday Inn's, and we have a 23 month old when we go, we're just worried it may be cramped.

Fingers crossed.

 

[UKDEB]

How much smaller is the room at the Rosen Center? We stayed there back in 1996 when it was very new. I don't remember the room being any smaller than any hotel room.

What gigs? Don't like to miss anything!

 

[Beth__WDW23/6/02]

Hope you get sorted and virgin,get back to you soon

I've heard many good comments on both hotels but many prefer the Rosen center!!
Hope you get sorted.

Beth

 

[Wednesday till I die]

Hi Kev.

Yes I am on for the shows.

Hope Virgin manage to sort out your request. I am sure they will as the Rosen is a huge hotel with loads of rooms.

The standard rooms here are definately smaller than most. Deb, you probably managed to get an upgrade without knowing!

Stayed for a night in a Super 8 in November, which is about as basic as you can get, but the rooms were bigger than at the Rosen.

The small rooms are still very nice Kev but I would advise you to ask for an upgrade on arrival. I read a thread on the U.S boards once where somebody had scored a suite at no extra cost.


Barry.

 

[kevin harrison]

Barry

I've never tried for an upgrade, is it just a case of asking ? How successful is this ?

The gigs - I can't go to the first because I left Bank Holiday Monday free on account of hoping that my Team Forest reach the play-off finals. Judging by your user name, I am certain in the knowledge that you'll be rooting for Forest !!

Kev.

 

[matty624]

We stayed at the Rosen centre (it was called the Omni Rosen back then wasn't it?) back in 1998. We really liked it because it had internal corridors and you didn't have people walking past your window all day long. I don't remember the rooms being that small, but back then there was just the two of us (although dw was 31 weeks pregnant at the time! LOL)
Ian