How is the location of Hotel Plaza Blvd VS off I-4 to the Parks?

[fairytinkerbell]

Hampton Inn is off I-4 and not sure of location
VS
HOliday Inn WDW, "across the street from Disney Marketplace"

Does anyone has photos of these hotels or the areas?

Are they really close to the parks ?

Which is more convenient??

What about Coronado Springs Resort? Is it worth the money?

 

[PKK/MJK]

I don't know anything about the Hampton Inn off of I-4--but I do know that commuting on I-4 can be a miserable experience--LOTS of traffic much of the time. If you stay on Hotel Plaza Blvd or in a Disney Hotel, you avoid this hassle. There are many nice Hotels on Hotel Plaza Blvd. These are not technically Disney Hotels although they do have some of the Disney hotel perks. I stayed at Coronado Springs last year and it, too, is lovely--also HUGE. It IS a Disney Hotel so if you stay there you get lots of perks (like Early entry, E-night tickets etc). Coronado Springs is considered a 'moderate' priced Disney resort along with Caribbean Beach and Port Orleans/Riverside and French Quarter. Our favorite of these is Caribbean Beach--we prefer the theming there and it is more centrally located that Coronado Springs. If you can afford it, I'd definitely try to stay 'on property."

 

[Sammy]

You may want to hop on over to the Orlando Hotels and Attractions board. They have lots of info on the offsite hotels! Also, you can check out Mousesavers.com.

Good luck!

Sammy

 

[chyam]

The Holiday Inn would be much more convenient and you would avoid the I4 hassle, it used to be the Marriott Courtyard. You probably could check out one of the travel sites for photos of the hotels. But after checking out the rates compare them with the Disney Value or Moderate resorts. They are all very nice and have some great perks. Depending on the time of you that you are going sometimes you can get some great deals. The Holiday Inn (Marriott Courtyard) has been there almost from the beginning. Hotel Blvd. has a sidewalk that leads to downtown Disney and it always looks like a nice walk (shaded) to me. But I much perfer the Disney resorts.

 

[SnackyStacky]

http://courtyard-marriott-orlando.o...com/?affiliateId=&lastURL=&referUrl=&agentId=

There's their site. The URL says Courtyard, but it is indeed the Holiday Inn.

I've stayed at the Holiday Inn when it was a Courtyard and I wouldn't hesitate to stay there again. The rooms were clean, VERY large, and the staff was very friendly.

My only true complaint was the lack of food options in the hotel itself. There was a restaurant that had really stupid hours, and their quick service place was awful.

The pool was very nice, and I enjoyed using the hot tub.

The Holiday Inn, while neither Disney owned, nor operated, is in fact on property. You are within walking distance of Downtown Disney. I've heard many complaints about the transportation provided, but I've used it myself on three occasions, and would never hesitate to use it again. I actually wanted to resort hop, and I waited longer for a Disney bus to Port Orleans Riverside - it was about a 45 minute wait!!!

 

[fairytinkerbell]

thanks for the suggestions! i checked out that link to holiday inn
not sure what to do.

at hampton inn we get a free deluxe breakfast each morning-
coffee, eggs, sausage, etc. and the eating room looks nice and sunny
(glass walls/ceilings) to eat each morning.....


not sure how bad I-4 is.... I can't remember - all i remember is downtown disney area - is it SAFE to walk late at nite in October? (2 people) to that hotel??

also, we used to stay on International Drive and drive I-4, etc. to and from the disney parks at all hours - i think the hampton inn is much closer and more convenient than what we're used to ...

not sure!!!

 

[ncbyrne]

I have stayed onsite, in Hotel Plaza Blvd. hotels, and offsite and there are benefits to all. For us, whatever provided the best bargain for our vacation dollars is what we chose. Breakfasts included is a definite perk, and something we always seriously consider due to the savings. We have never had a problem driving to the parks no matter where we stayed in the Orlando area.

 

[SnackyStacky]

I'd have to agree with what ncbyrne said. If having the free breakfast is going to make it easier on your budget, then go with that. I've stayed at the Hampton Inn before. Is the free breakfast the continental breakfast? Cause I stayed at a Hampton Inn, and the continental breakfast was like a full blown buffet!!!!! It was so good!

It is definitely safe to walk from the Holiday Inn to Downtown Disney at night.

 

[JohnnyOldBoy]

There are 2 Hampton Inns off I-4 that I know of. One is just west of I-4 on Palm Parkway, just north of Hotel Plaza Blvd. The other is just east of I-4 on Parkway Blvd north of US192, just north of the Radisson Resort Parkway. From the latter, there is only one stoplight, at the intersection of Parkway Blvd and US192 where you make a right turn, go over I-4 and directly into WDW maingate. From the Hampton on Palm Parkway, using I-4 is actually a shortcut to avoid all the traffic signals on Hotel Plaza Blvd and at DTD.

I have found the Hotel Plaza and DTD area to be a slow trip in the morning with all the stoplights, buses, utility trucks, and of course tourists. I would suggest you make your decision on other factors, not driving time, since you can get to any of the parks just as quickly as from Hotel Plaza.

 

[fairytinkerbell]

thanks!! yes it's on parkway blvd (hampton inn)
it sounds easy to get to and from this hotel.
anyone eat there, stay there? what's YOUR experience?
i'd like to hear some reviews before we go!

 

[zaxmom]

I stayed at the courtyard last year for a deal of $20 a night. We were not disappointed for that price. It is an older hotel and the bathrooms will prove it. It was well kept, though. The pool was a pretty area, but we did not use it. The rooms are actually pretty big, but very standard. We had a balcony. We did not walk to downtown disney, but if it were just my DH and I we would have if we had a couple of drinks. It looked very safe. We never ate at the hotel, but there is a Perkins for breakfast right across the street from DD.