Review Howard Johnson Maingate East

[Christine9125]

We recently stayed at the HJME for 1 night prior to checking into POP. We weren't expecting much, after all it was only $32 a night. We had 2 rooms, we opened the first one and it smelled like someone had used a whole can of flower carpet fresh on the floor and mold in the bathroom. It was hard to breath at first so we went out and opened the door to the second room. It smelled really bad of mold/mildew. We left the windows and doors open for awhile and was able to breath enough to stay for the 1 night. I had booked thru AAA, so I called to let them know.

 

[Doe2005]

We just returned from 1 week staying there (April 2009). I booked through my credit card points reward program for some nights and paid for others. So even though the room was cheap, it still wasn't worth it. We were expecting an older motel, which this is. We just weren't expecting the indifference of the front desk staff or the safety problems.

They moved us the last weekend unexpectedly. So we missed getting to Disney till about 3pm that day, due to having to trek a weeks worth of stuff across the parking lot to another room. (Not an easy task, when one of the adults is in a wheelchair.) Due to their moving us around, we got to check out 3 rooms--2 handicapped and 1 regular "upgraded" room. The 1st "non-smoking" room they moved us to stunk of cigarettes. The 2nd "non-smoking" room had ashtrays in it and there were no non-smoking signs, and you could faintly smell cigarettes. The hot water was set to scalding when the faucet handle was in the middle position (which is normally warm), so my child got burned 2x the first day. The water temperature problem was in all 3 rooms. The sink faucet wiggled around and was not locked down on the sink. The coffee cups in the room had not been changed out and were dirty. Then handicapped rooms were not very handicap friendly. The guest checking out ahead of us had his hubcaps stolen the night before and had made a sheriff's report. And there were several more safety problems in the room besides these.

And the resort fee of $2.50 posted on the Howard Johnson corporate site is wrong--they charge more and won't honor the posted or booked price.

Evidently this Howard Johnson also owns the Rodeway Inn Maingate next door, as the staff told us so and because we saw Rodeway Inn uniforms on the staff when they were working the Howard Johnson front desk. So, having seen the maintenance problems at the Howard Johnson Maingate East, I'd also suggest avoiding the Rodeway Inn on Irlo Bronson Hwy.

The hotel is located on highway 192, with the official address being
6051 W Irlo Bronson Hwy
Kissimmee, FL 34747 US

 

[mikewdw]

THANKS FOR THE INFO!!!!! i was thinking about staying there the one night before our vacation at WDW. you really saved us since we would be arriving about 11-12 pm and wouldnt want to look for a place that late.
mikewdw

 

[wmah]

All I can say is to each their own opinion.

I stayed at this place last year beginning of January. (12/30/07 - 1/11/08) Was in the last building top floor with view towards Disney Parks from accessible room. I will agree that the water temperature was hard to keep at a comfortable level. As for the overall room, we go to a hotel looking for a cheap price and we don't expect it to be perfect. Yes the carpet was a little dirty but are socks didn't get dirty. We look at these cheaper hotel as the way they should be looked at they are pretty much just a place to sleep. We also bring our own pillows and blankets and use them even though (yes) the sheets were changed. We didn't have a problem with any kind of vandalism while we were there could be that way since the hotel wasn't crowded at all when we were there. (2001 F250 XLT)

I also brought along a cooler and filled it with hotel ice which I could do since there wasn't many people there during our stay. And my own micro. We had a room without those in it. I also had my propane skillet in the truck which I used a few mornings to make up pancakes as there was no continental breakfast in the morning there.

They also have wireless internet but unless you have a room near the office you can't pick it up unless you go into the lobby. I didn't use their internet as I have a sprint aircard that I used.

I'm actually planning on using the same hotel on the next trip as it worked for us and was close to the parks. What I do notice on review sites is those that write bad reviews are often the ones that go to these places expecting more for their money and go when there are more people there. I stay at these cheap places and I expect little.

What I am getting at is some of these place work for some but for others they don't.

 

[loveysbydesign]

Anyoen stayed here recently? The reivew on tripadvisor don't seem too bad!

 

[willowsnn3]

Anyoen stayed here recently? The reivew on tripadvisor don't seem too bad!

We stayed there 1 night last November ('09). We were checking into POR next morning but decided to spend 1 night close by. We knew we'd only be there from maybe 9pm til 7am. Room was really big. There was 5 of us and there was way plenty room. On second floor towards the back, was kinda leery of leaving all our stuff in the van so we brought most of it in, lol. Room kinda old looking but clean, I think there was a fridge, but not sure. Elevator was very creepy tho so after the first ride in it we took the stairs. They gave us coupons for the kids eat free at the Ihop next door. We were all hungry but that Ihop was a big mistake. So for just the one night HoJo served its purpose, but wouldn't want to stay there for whole vacation.