Just back from 6 days at the Country Inn & Suites Calypso Cay

[ncbyrne]

We just got back from 6 days at the Country Inn & Suites Calypso Cay resort. We had two, 2-room suites - #308 and #408. There were 6 of us. Grandma, 2 DDs and 3 DGDs (ages 8,8,4). We had a wonderful time at this resort. After watching the posts on this board for many months before our trip, I think that most people who have negative things to say were simply over expecting. We paid $64 per night per suite and it was a very good price for what we got. We didn't spend a whole lot of time in the room, but did use the pool on arrival and departure days. The breakfast bar was GREAT, and of course was included in the price! We knew enough from other offsite trips to rent a car, so we did not rely on the hotel bus transportation. Getting to the parks was a peice of cake!

 

[busy mom]

ncbyrne: I was not aware that Country Inn & Suites had 2 room suites? How were they set up? Were they spacious?

 

[ncbyrne]

The door opens into the living room area, with a bedroom in the back. The bathroom is in between, with a counter area across with a small refigerator and microwave underneath. There is a double size pull out couch in the living room and a king size bed in the bedroom. A tv in each room (did not have a sleep timer). The living room had a couch with two end tables, a chair, plus a small table and chairs. They were NOT big spacious rooms, but they were certainly adequate for us....2 adults, 2 girls (ages 4 +8). We spent very little time in the room. We were either in the parks or the pool.

 

[littleducksmom]

welcome back.........glad your trip went so well and that you were happy with ci&s. do you know if gerri was still working in the breakfast area? glad you started a new thread......the other one you started months ago is so long now........

debbie

 

[ncbyrne]

Hi littleducksmom.....I don't know the names of the people who were working during breakfast. There was always a lot of people in line and usually one middle aged lady who was keeping things clean and restocked. (I spoke with her just once - she had an accent that I believe was Spanish). Unlike your trip when it was first opened, the hotel is now bustling with lots of business. In fact, I just got an email today from Faye Goldberg and Calypso Cay is just getting ready to build their last property which will be located about 1/4 mile north on Rt 535.

 

[DisOrBust]

did you have to suffer thru a timeshare spiel? Did the pool seem crowded? Did it have a pool slide?

 

[ohbothernc]

ncbyrne - Thanks so much for your positive post on CIS at Calypso Cay. We are booked in a Kidsuite the week of June 11 and several posts here had gotten me worried. How small were the rooms in your suite? (one post mentioned only 350 sq ft total) We have stayed in Homewood Suites and HIFS many times and are familiar with their setup. You also mentioned the breakfast bar. What items were offered to guests during your stay? My three sons LOVE this part of staying in an offsite suite and again, some recent posts have mentioned a poor selection at breakfast. That and the pool are their main concerns!

Glad you had a great trip. Thanks for sharing the info!

 

[JWP]

Do you know if the sink area in the bathroom is separate from the toilet and shower area? This makes a big difference for us because we will have 4 people getting ready in the morning. We like to be able to dry our hair and brush our teeth while someone else is showering. Thanks for the help.

 

[ncbyrne]

ohbothernc - It's hard for me to guess the actual size of the rooms. They were not big rooms, but for the amount of time we were in there, it really was ok for us. It had all the amenities we needed. We really enjoyed the breakfast bar. They offered: coffee, tea (several varieties), hot chocolate, orange juice, kiwi strawberry juice, 2% + skim milk. Fresh fruit (apples, bananas, oranges), hard boiled eggs, three kinds of cold cereal, oatmeal and grits (instant pkgs), three types of danish, a variety of muffins, English muffins, donuts, a few different varieties of bread, waffles + french toast (frozen with continuous grill toasters on hand), buscuits and gravy. They also have a microwave. There are plenty of table and chairs in two rooms and also several outside too.
There are a couple of smaller standard rectangular pools, and then the main pool in the middle. The kids just loved this pool. It was a free form style with two sprays (made to look like giant crabs) at the zero entrance. There is also a double loop slide that they really liked. The pool was never crowded while we were there and we always were able to find chairs too. If you want to lay outside by the pool and avoid the sun, there is a gazebo area that provides shade. The website touts this pool as a "waterpark style". That's a stretch, but as long as you are only expecting a nice pool and not a waterpark, you won't be disappointed.

 

[Kevenswife2]

Jwp, the sink area IS IN with the shower and toilet. There is another area with a large mirror and plug in (over fridge and microwave) if you have your own blowdryer...but no other sink or water source.

 

[cottontail]

JWP:

In the other hotel the amerisuites calypso cay the sink/vanity/mirror large is outside the toilet and bathtub/shower. The two hotels are opposide one another.
We stayed one night the last week of april before the akl/poly and loved the hotel. We would go back if we are planning on staying offsite. Two doubles and a pull out. I am not sure if they have kids suites or two room suites. Breakfast great.

Deb.

 

[JWP]

Deb - Thanks for the info on Amerisuites. I will check into staying there.

 

[ncbyrne]

We were never approached about a time share spiel. The pool was never crowded and it has a wonderful slide in the main pool.

 

[tkd lisa]

We stayed here for one night this last weekend. We had gotten off the Inaugural Western Disney cruise, drove over to the Magic Kingdom for a day, then came to the Country Inn & Suites. The person who answered the phone gave me some misleading directions, but it wasn't too bad. It seemed worse than it was because it was after 10 when we were really tired and just wanted to go to bed!

The breakfast was very nice. It's on a par with any breakfast that I've had except an Embassy Suites, and I certainly didn't expect it to match that. I fully agree with the available selections and would like to point out that there was plenty of everything! It was all quite fresh.

As we were checking out, our son got pretty sick to his stomach (it appear he got the 24 hour bug that was going around the cruise ship), and the staff was really helpful, providing plastic bags and washclothes for us to take with us.

I'd certainly recommend staying there. It was a very good value for the money.

 

[IowaGirl]

Ditto, loved this place. Paid 39.50 per night with the entertainment rate. Would go back again. Might look into Ameri-suites for a little more room, or book two adjoining rooms. It was plenty of space for us this last trip in May, but when we go back again my DD will be a teenager--ouch--she may need her own room!

 

[C.Ann]

When you say "entertainment rate" are you referring to a coupon form the Entertainment Book? I'd LOVE to be able to get a rate like that for December!!!

 

[singitalto]

Entertainment rate means: you have to show your entertainment card when you check in.