Holiday Inn Lake Buena Vista

[bd2]

Hello. I've looked unsuccessfully for information about the shuttles to Disney Parks and the comfort of the bunk beds from this Holiday Inn Lake Buena Vista. First for the shuttles. Do they go directly to the parks? Or just to Disney Springs and use Disney busses from there? Does that work relatively smoothly? Second the bunk beds. My daughters don't want to share a bed and this seems to be the only hotel to offer separate sleeping options for the kids. Are the bunk beds comfortable? Full length twin?

Any other hotel recommendations are welcome as well as pros and cons to this one.

First time not staying on property so I'm sure there will be some bumps in the transportation aspect.

Thanks for any help and input.

 

[hardcorestitch]

DON'T USE THE SHUTTLES at this hotel! The bus contractor that this Holiday Inn uses is terrible. It was over an hour late... I had to wait in the heat longer than they claimed (they said the buses ran every 30 minutes), even though the bus that was already there clearly had space for us Holiday Inn guests. Even Disney Transport handles such a service like this better than those "Fabulous Buses" that they run here at this hotel. If I had an ADR anywhere, I would use the Disney buses from any theme park and connect through Disney Springs.

 

[Tom_E_D]

Hello. I've looked unsuccessfully for information about the shuttles to Disney Parks and the comfort of the bunk beds from this Holiday Inn Lake Buena Vista. First for the shuttles. Do they go directly to the parks? Or just to Disney Springs and use Disney busses from there? Does that work relatively smoothly? Second the bunk beds. My daughters don't want to share a bed and this seems to be the only hotel to offer separate sleeping options for the kids. Are the bunk beds comfortable? Full length twin?

Any other hotel recommendations are welcome as well as pros and cons to this one.

First time not staying on property so I'm sure there will be some bumps in the transportation aspect.

Thanks for any help and input.

I found the shuttle schedule on their website: https://www.hiresortlbv.com/free-shuttle-service

I don't know if it is accurate or not. (They certainly don't say they run every 30 minutes.)

 

[Lewisc]

DON'T USE THE SHUTTLES at this hotel! The bus contractor that this Holiday Inn uses is terrible. It was over an hour late... I had to wait in the heat longer than they claimed (they said the buses ran every 30 minutes), even though the bus that was already there clearly had space for us Holiday Inn guests. Even Disney Transport handles such a service like this better than those "Fabulous Buses" that they run here at this hotel. If I had an ADR anywhere, I would use the Disney buses from any theme park and connect through Disney Springs.

WRONG.
Bus service is scheduled, not every 30 minutes. Service is contracted with Platinum, not Fabulous. The resort the OP is interested in is NOT on Hotel Plaza Blvd. It's over 2 miles to DS. Going from a theme park to a Disney hotel, Disney transportation TO DS, walking to the Westside then waiting for a scheduled hotel bus is a TERRIBLE SUGGESTION.

That said driving to the parks is a good idea. Supplementing the hotel shuttles with ride share is a good idea.

 

[Lewisc]

even though the bus that was already there clearly had space for us

Bus service at the HI on Hotel Plaza Blvd requires a reservation. The available space on the bus was probably NOT FOR YOU but for guests who had a reservation at the next pick up location. Or they decided to enforce the advance reservation rule to ensure consistent enforcement.

SUGGESTION TO THE OP I suggest renting a room large enough to fit an inflatable air mattress.

 

[hardcorestitch]

WRONG.
Bus service is scheduled, not every 30 minutes. Service is contracted with Platinum, not Fabulous. The resort the OP is interested in is NOT on Hotel Plaza Blvd. It's over 2 miles to DS. Going from a theme park to a Disney hotel, Disney transportation TO DS, walking to the Westside then waiting for a scheduled hotel bus is a TERRIBLE SUGGESTION.

That said driving to the parks is a good idea. Supplementing the hotel shuttles with ride share is a good idea.

Now that you mention it… I did see it was a different HI resort… my bad.

 

[Lewisc]

Now that you mention it… I did see it was a different HI resort… my bad.

Fabulous contracts shuttle bus service to most of the DS hotels. The bus with seats was probably making one or more stops.

 

[bd2]

Thanks for all the insight. Will look into rooms big enough for an inflatable mattress or they will just be tired enough to not care. Lol. The shuttle from off-site does seem to be problematic. May just go back to Swan and Dolphin. Just wish there were more sleep options without needing a 2 bedroom suite.

 

[Mle8308]

Thanks for all the insight. Will look into rooms big enough for an inflatable mattress or they will just be tired enough to not care. Lol. The shuttle from off-site does seem to be problematic. May just go back to Swan and Dolphin. Just wish there were more sleep options without needing a 2 bedroom suite.

I vote tired enough not to care. It's a trip to Disney! We fit an air mattress into an Pop Century room, had to switch flights last minute and needed a place to stay on property for a late night arrival before our Poly stay. Was it a little crowded? Yes, but it worked. You could deflate it during the day or leave it leaning up against a wall.

 

[SwanVT2]

Hello. I've looked unsuccessfully for information about the shuttles to Disney Parks and the comfort of the bunk beds from this Holiday Inn Lake Buena Vista. First for the shuttles. Do they go directly to the parks? Or just to Disney Springs and use Disney busses from there? Does that work relatively smoothly? Second the bunk beds. My daughters don't want to share a bed and this seems to be the only hotel to offer separate sleeping options for the kids. Are the bunk beds comfortable? Full length twin?

Any other hotel recommendations are welcome as well as pros and cons to this one.

First time not staying on property so I'm sure there will be some bumps in the transportation aspect.

Thanks for any help and input.

You might want to look at the suites at Drury DS. They are pretty affordable, you can get a room with two beds and an attached living room space with a sofa bed. And it includes breakfast, evening "kick back" light meal, and 3 alcoholic beverages a day.