howard johnson main gate east

[stahshee]

Has any one ever stay at the HO JO main gate east? Do they have 2 pools. How is the area and places to eat ? How is the free shuttle to disney?

 

[spiceycat]

if you stay off-site - you really need a rental car - otherwise you are going to be on a bus and then at the parks alot....

the problem is you won't be at the parks during a good time - the buses will get you there after the parks opens - and they don't generally come back until the late afternoon, early evening.

I haven't heard that this hojo is horrible - but it is probably average for a hojo - so not great - but not too bad.

if you don't want a car - then stay on site at one of the values - otherwise you might end up hating WDW. the values are priced about the same as the DD resorts - (another choice).

 

[pigget74]

If this is the ine next to water mania it is about 2 miles from disney. We have stayed here when we were getting to disney late and just needed a place to lay our heads. We are staying here in March the night before our cruise. We have never needed to use the pool so I cannot answer that question. I believe that there are some food place near by,again you are not far from disney.

 

[ladysoleil]

if you stay off-site - you really need a rental car - otherwise you are going to be on a bus and then at the parks alot....

if you don't want a car - then stay on site at one of the values - otherwise you might end up hating WDW. the values are priced about the same as the DD resorts - (another choice).

No offense, but this seems to be the most common response to people posting about staying offsite. I appreciate the opinion. In my case, at least, this particular hotel is not priced comparably to the value resorts for our dates, but it was close to the parks and reviewed well enough, so we chose it. Also, I did think about upgrading since we came into a windfall (won a superbowl pool!), but the values are, according to the WDW site, sold out for our dates. So, we'll be making the best of it offsite.

I'd really like to hear some feedback on staying offsite than, "you need to rent a car". Not everyone can or wants to. Personally, I'm visually impaired and cannot drive, and my DH is not licensed right now- even if he were, I wouldn't want him to drive because he hates to do it and doesn't like driving in unfamiliar areas. Not surprising, he's from the Bronx and we live right outside Manhattan now and we don't need a car at all at home. I'd really rather not subject Orlando to someone who drives a car maybe once or twice a year on vacation. Trust me, it's safer for everyone! LOL.

In any case, I'll be down there in March and will post a trip report, which might be good for other folks considering this hotel. We did call to ask about the shuttle schedule, and they haven't done theirs yet for March but they indicated that there are at least two trips in the AM plus two returns in the evening. I've also gleaned from other reports and reviews online that there is a Publix in the neighborhood and a Lynx bus stop, which isn't the greatest option, but I'd suspect that in a pinch, you can probably use it to get around and get to some shopping. What I've heard seems to indicate that it's neither the best nor worse, rumor has it the pool is nice but it's certainly not a luxury resort. I'm sure it'll be fine for our short stay.

 

[spiceycat]

Lady - no offense - the reason that many of us say that a rental car is necessary if you are staying off site - is because it is true.

there is one bus at one time - there are generally too many people for this one bus - guess what - that is it - either you fit on this bus - or forget about going to the parks then....they will not send another bus to get the people who can't fit on this one. this bus will probably stop at other hotels also - so don't expect to go directly to the parks.

the same coming back

yes there are 2 in the morning and generally 3 in the afternoon - evening - but they leave before or when the parks is closed - so forget (generally) seeing the closing fireworks.

I am sorry for you. but when on my vacation I don't want to have to watch the clock to catch the bus back to my hotel. - also make sure your watch agrees with the driver - you don't want to be coming up to the stop to see the bus pulling away.

done it!!!! will not do it again!!!

you also need to watch when you are let off the bus - this is where the bus will come back too -

since I drive to Orlando - I have my car.

but the few times we stayed off site and flew - I learned quickly to get a rental car...

You will waste lots of time using off site buses - now if that doesn't matter to you fine - you will be pleased. if wasting time does matter to you - then get a rental car.

 

[vfb2girls]

My husband and I are also planning our second trip to Orlando and we will not be staying on site nor will we be renting a car. We are looking into staying at the comfortsuites eastgates. From what I understand there are shuttles to the major parks so we are just going with the flow of things, if worse comes to worse we will just catch a cab, yes it will be expensive but neither one of us want the hassle of driving anywhere on vacation. And even though we loved our stay on site last year at disney we both decided that once was enough, the price was just way to expensive for us to be able to afford. I think the main thing here is just to remember you are on vacation, everyone has different opinions on what makes there vacation great so just go and have fun, that is the most important thing.

 

[spiceycat]

sorry - but since either of you have stayed off sites and I have.

All I can say is you will find out.

the off site transportation is not great and cabs are expensive!

I can't convince you and you certainly can't convince me - I have done it - it was bad FOR ME.

I wanted to be at the parks THEN - not later - and as I say I don't like to have to kept up with the time to know when I needed to get back.

We waited once for over an hour for an off site bus and he finally came.

Sorry as I stated NEVER AGAIN.

of course I should know better than to say never again - who knows how I will feel in 30 years.... then time might not be so important to me.

as far as the Lynx bus system - this is one thing I will try!!! they have a pretty good on time record of being on time. however there is a couple of places where they stop in Kissimmee before going to the TTC.

Kissimmee is a big area - if you are far from this -
http://www.golynx.com/schedule.cfm?route=56


all of lynxs routes
http://www.golynx.com/routes.cfm

 

[ladysoleil]

Actually, I have stayed offsite without a rental car before and it was fine, but it was quite a few years ago, so I'm not going to imagine that my experience is representative of what it's like now. I'll put it this way, last time I stayed offsite, AK didn't exist yet, and the time before that, MGM had just opened. (wow, that's going way back!) Now that the parks are larger and offer more attractions and get more visitors, it's probably harder than it used to be to stay offsite.

I'll definitely agree with you, it's not the best way to experience Disney, but if the choice is between staying offsite, or no Disney at all, I'll definitely stay offsite rather than go without! We did Universal twice last year without a car, and had no problems with the hotel shuttles. We had to get up early and get our butts on line to make sure we got on the shuttle, but it wasn't a big deal as we're early risers anyway. To save our sanity, we put some money aside in the budget to take a cab back from the parks, and we'll do the same for Disney.

If we could rent a car, we would, because I agree about the convenience, but, it's just not in the cards. I have driven before but I decided to take myself off the road before something else, like a car accident, did it for me, and it's been long enough that I don't think I'd pass the vision check now even if I wanted to. DH is just learning to drive (he's one of those diehard New Yorkers) and I'd feel very uneasy on unfamiliar roads in Orlando where the roads are crowded with people, many with children in their cars. We probably could push it and get his license before the trip, but the stress isn't worth it.

It sounds weird that we're adults and don't drive, but in Manhattan you rarely have to, and many people we know our own age don't have licenses or ever really plan to get them.

The Lynx sounds like it'll be a good backup plan in case the shuttles are too packed or don't work with our schedule, and we can definitely hop in a cab if we need to. It's a splurge, but we can swing it, especially since we're not big eaters and don't plan on doing a lot of shopping in the parks, either.

I figure, between the shuttles, the Lynx, and taxi service as a backup, we'll get to the parks okay. Yeah, we just have to be willing to be flexible and patient because it will take up a bit more time, but ya know, I'm one of those people that is just plain happy to be wherever they are, and sitting on a bus watching the palms and billboards roll by beats sitting in New York being cold and wishing I were at Disney.

Thanks for the bus info- that's a big help- I had seen that site before and totally forgot to bookmark it.

 

[nemmie]

we stayed here for 2 weeks in 2002 it's really nice. We didn't go to Disney EVERY SINGLE DAY but we went to all 4 parks and MGM x2. When we were there there was a bus every hour on the hour from 8am-12pm then bus' back every hour on the hour from 5pm-10pm. I cannot say whether it will still be the same as it was 3 years ago but we found the shuttles more than satisfactory and always on time. The hotel itself is lovely we never went to the small pool (has a bar there too) except for drinks. We went to the larger pool every day and it's very clean as are the rooms/reception/etc etc. There's a great little shop onsite where you can get your snacks and drinks. I loved it here i hope you'll enjoy your stay.

 

[spiceycat]

WOW!!!

that is definitely impressive - an every hour off site hotel!!!

I take back everything I say - if this is indeed an every hour shuttle system.
then you won't need a rental car!