Holiday Inn Sunspree resort

[mcorby3]

We are planning a trip to Disney for April 2009. Our children will be ages 5,5, and 9 when we go. I have read many different reviews of the hotel on Tripadvisor.com. Just wondering if anyone has stayed there recently and what they thought of it. I can deal with the paint needing updating, but I want to make sure it is clean. Thanks.

 

[littlelaura]

bump. we're also there in April (this yr though). has anyone used the shuttle service, or had any problems with availability of it. i want to get to the parks around opening time, and will be if its constantly 'booked up'. Emailed hotel today and they said 24hrs is the earliest you can book shuttle in advance (how does this work if your waiting for say the 8.15, and want to book the 8.15 for the following day)

 

[snickerboo]

We stayed there 2 years ago.

What I liked about it:
-bunk beds
-mini fridge/micro
-kids have own tv in own area (kidsuites are not full suites but have a kids area that is partitioned off)
-it is accross the street from Walgreens, Wendy's, Chik Fil-A, and two doors down from 7-11, however that area is not so overly populated with hotels that you feel like you're on a 'strip' and the hotel is set back a bit from the road. Plus, the other hotels in the area are fairly nice (ie: Sheraton Safari is accross the street)
-It is very, very close to Disney!
-It has a big pool
-It has lots of parking

What I didn't like about it:
-it is an older hotel given a paint job and you can still tell
-because it is a hotel that is busy all the time, the rooms have a 'used' feel
-it has outdoor corridors and rooms face outdoor concrete hallways (no patio or anything).
-the 'playground' is some basic playground equipment stuck in a back corner where a dumpster probably used to be
-the kids ammenities (ie: movie theatre) are no big deal (they show dated Disney movies like The Lion King so your kids will probably be happier in their suite watching the Disney Channel). "Dive Inn Movies" was once in the week we were there with no warning so we missed it.
-food in the little store is not cheap, (but you can walk to Walgreens or 7-11).

Basically, I'd say this: if you like to stay in a newer hotel usually, this is not for you. If you don't mind that it's a bit dated and used because it's not expensive and close to Disney, you might like it. It's Holiday Inn so it's still clean enough (at least, our room was cleaned well every day) My kids liked it. And I liked the LBV area. I would definitely rent a car if you're staying there. There is no airport shuttle to and from the hotel and, with so many good deals on rental cars in Orlando (see the Budget Board), it's well-worth it to have your own car so you can get up and get there when you want in the moring and go back to the hotel if and when you want. We are 'get to Disney way before it opens' people and having the car eliminated any stress of being dependant on the shuttle service. Plus, there's a Walmart on Apopka-Vineland Rd where you cna pick up groceries to stock your mini-fridge and pick up cheap souvenirs (got my dd a Princess dress there for $30 instead of the $65 they were in the parks). Sunspree is about one block from the main highway to Disney and one exit on the highway after that to Disney.