Homewood Suites vs. Holiday Inn Family Suites- HELP!!!!!!

[lmmmdtmlem]

I'm getting very apprehensive about our booking at the Homewood Suites. We are not going until November so I still have lots of time. I keep hearing how wonderful the Holiday Inn kid suites are and wonder if we should be staying there. The only thing is that we have four adults and three children(one child is only three and they didn't include her in the count at Homewood). Do you know if they have any rooms to accommodate that amount of people at the Holiday Inn? We have a rate ot $88 per night at the Homewood Suites right now for a one bedroom suite. Also, am concerned about the shuttle services because we are not renting a car. Any advice would be GREATLY appreciated. Thanks!

Julie K. Morrison

 

[jud]

While I have not stayed at the HIFS I have stayed at the Homewood suites, on Hwy 192, a few times. We stayed 1 night and then moved to the onsite hotel. My husband complained about the small room size at the DxL after staying at the Homewood. I must admit that the price is right for the Homewood. I can't comment on the shuttle service to WDW, we had a car and checked into the DxL and ASSp on our last two trips to the parks. We just used the hotel for our late arrival nights. The breakfast is very nice, no eggs, pancakes or meats, but there is a large variety of other foods. The room size is adequate, and very clean. The pool seems kinda small, but there is a hot tub and grills available if you want to cook. The kitchen area is almost part of the living room, but seems to have everything you would need to cook simple meals. I too am looking at compairing the two properties, wondering if spending the extra money is worth it. I will watch your post, so hopefully others will share their impressions.

 

[xxSpecialTxx]

I WAS ALSO TRYING TO DECIDE BETWEEN THESE HOTELS. AND THE HOMEWOOD SUITES WON. WE ARE GOING AUGUST 22-28 FOR A AAA RATE OF 71.00, A NITE. WOW. I CALLED THE HIFS. THEY WANTED 139.00 A NITE. THAT SETTLED THAT. THERE ARE 3 ADULTS AND 2 CHILDREN AGES 7 AND 9, BOTH BOYS. NOW I KNOW THEY WOULD HAVE LOVED THE THEMING (TRAINS) OF THE HOTEL. BUT AT THE RATE WE GOT FOR THE HOMEWOOD SUITES, FOR A 1 BEDROOM SUITE, JUST CAN'T BE BEAT. I FIGURED WE ARE GOING TO BE IN THE PARKS ALL DAY. WHY WASTE MONEY LIKE THAT. WE CAN SPLURGE A LITTLE MORE IN THE PARK WITH THE MONEY I'M SAVING. WE ARE ONLY GOING TO BE AT OUR HOTEL TO SLEEP. WE WILL BE IN THE POOL A LOT IN THE EVENING, IT WON'T BE A THEMED POOL, BUT SO WHAT. IT SERVES ITS PURPOSE FOR RELAXING AFTER A LONG DAY IN THE PARKS. WE HAVE A KITCHEN. WHICH IS VERY HANDY. I THINK YOU'RE PAYING FOR THE THEME OF THE HIFS HOTEL.

 

[pstepka]

HIFS has TWO bedroom suites...for the family of seven, you could have two adults in the master bedroom, two adults on the pull out couch in the living room and the three kids in the kids' room (they have bunk beds, plus a trundle bed). IMHO, with a group that large, I would not stay in a one bedroom unless the square footage of the whole place is more than what's at HIFS. We are a family of five (3 kids, 2 adults) and stayed at HIFS in September and loved it. I would NOT have been happy with only a one bedroom. The pool there is great, especially for younger kids because it's zero depth entry, which means the little ones can play in the water without having to worry they are going to fall under (like in a 2 foot deep kiddie pool), or without having to hold them. The free breakfast buffet they have is absolutely great, also. That alone would probably save you the difference between the rates at HIFS and Homewood. Plus, kids eat free for dinner and lunch, also (another savings).

We felt the suite was worth way more than the $139.00 a night we paid on site at Port Orleans two years ago.

In case you haven't seen this yet, here is a link to my pics of HIFS from our September 2000 trip:

http://www.snapfish.com/share/p=71223972313552575/l=1679277/e=pstepka@faysharpe.com/cobrandOid=100

 

[glo]

We stayed at the Homewood suites by Crossroads and thought it was great. I have never stayed at the HIF. We are a family of 5 and we were very comfortable with the place. We weren't stepping all over eachother. We used the fridge to keep cold drinks and that saved us a bundle.
On breakfast, when we were there last Aug. We got scambled eggs and bacon on their breakfast buffet. My daughter had seconds on the eggs so I remember.
Never used the pool, and it did seem small, but it would serve its purpose.
I would stay there again in a heart beat!

Link toSwan and Dolphin FAQ!
<font size=3><font color=green><marquee>Co-Captain & Charter Member of the Swan/Dolphin Cheerleading Team!!</marquee></font></font>
<font color=green>16 times to WDW 13 off 3 on!
Next visits
Dolphin July 2001
Swan Dec. 2001!

 

[degiulio]

I have to agree with a few of the previous posts in that we were very comfortable at the Homewood Suites. It's not fancy but it's clean and very close to the parks. Your not going to save anything at HIFS with their breakfast because HS also has a free breakfast which had waffles, cereal, fruit, bagels, etc. We were in the parks all day so I couldn't justify the extra expense for a themed room. The pool is not large or fancy, but it was great in the evenings for relaxing. There were 4 of us, 2 adults and 2 children and we had more than enough room in a 1br suite. The location is great, any farther east on 192 and you are in for a traffic headache. It's only about 5 - 10 minutes from HS to the parking lots at WDW. Any other questions feel free to ask.

 

[BigDave]

We just got back from the Homewood in LBV. I would stay there again and again. The breakfast is great-- eggs, bacon, sausage, toast your own waffles, bagels, donuts fruit, yogurt, etc. Having a fridge is great. It is clean, friendly not fancy. Pool is adequate, but if you plan to spend most of your time at the parks it is sufficient.

That said, 4 adults and 3 children might be cramped. There are 2 queen beds and a sleeper. Our family of 4 was fine last year and this year it was roomier with only 3 of us. I would definitely look into a 2 bedroom at either place or 2 separate suites.

BigDave

 

[lmmmdtmlem]

Thanks everyone for all of your input! After a lot of consideration and reading ALOT of posts on this board, we have decided on the HIFS. Because we are a group of seven we felt we would do better in a two bedroom. Also, we are going in November and might be spending some extra time at the hotel on the days that the parks close a little early. We are not renting a car either so that me give us extra time at the hotel and it is extremely kid-oriented. Also, my parents are part of that group of seven and they will be splitting the cost of the room with us so it is really a great deal for us! We booked with an aarp discount for $116 per night. Does that sound like a good rate? Anyway, thanks again everyone!

Julie

 

[yoopermom]

If either of your parents who are going with you are over 50, call back *now* and ask for the senior rate. It's on a sliding scale, based on the senior's age, and up to two suites can be gotten at that price. We're going with my SF in Oct who's 70, and only paying $79/night! Never hurts to try, but rooms at this rate are limited, so call now! (No, I don't work for HIFS, but wish I were there now...)

 

[mjohnson512]

We are going in May and got a "Classic Suite" at HIFS for $89. My husband and I are both just over 50 so we thought that was a great price. It is worth a try!

 

[lmmmdtmlem]

Yoopermom and mjohnson512, thank you SO much for telling me about the senior rates! I called back through the 1800Holiday Number where I had made our $ 116 per night reserv. and they didn't know anything about the senior rates. So, I called the hotel directly and because my father is 61, we got a kidsuite for $89 per night! I am so excited! This board is just wonderful! Thanks again for all of the information!

Julie

 

[mtchbx]

I just reserved for Thanksgiving week and got a rate of 124 a night. They said that there are no discounts available. Was this rate okay? These are the themed rooms.

 

[confal2829]

Check out hotelkingdom.com. I got a great room rate there for a kidsuite. They have the classic suite for 119.00 and the kidsuite for 114.00 the week of Thanksgiving. You email your request and they get back to you within 48 hours.

 

[idnyc]

Does anyone have info on the Holiday Inn Main Gate or the Buena Vista? I'm stressed about our lodging for April.

 

[baileybrad]

You should do a search on these boards using Homewood Suites...some folks have had less than great stays at an Orlando area HS and I believe that it was the one off of 192.

Also, the HIFS has a really great pool area which depending on the make-up of your group, may or may not make a difference. The pools at HS tend to be very basic.

Lastly, I know you are not renting a car but I would encourage to do so. I would never depend on the shuttle services of any off-site hotel to be more than adequate.

 

[wmackleit]

I found the HIFS at www.floridaherewecome.com for $86.00 per night the first 2 weeks in Dec.

[This message was edited by wmackleit on 03-16-01 at 02:03 AM.]