just back from HIFS

[JENR]

We just returned from 5 nights at HIFS. I would highly recommend this hotel. It was wonderful. I was very nervous about staying there. I have never stayed anywhere other than a Disney resort. But I am so glad we tried it. We will definately go back. It was very kid oriented. My kids are 3 and 11 and they both did not want to leave the hotel. The pool was wonderful, the rooms were very clean and had so much space. It was so nice that the kids had their own room. The free breakfast and kids meals saved us so much money. Every night they had Bingo, Karoke and shows for the kids. My kids loved it. It was so close to Disney World and SeaWorld. It was great.

 

[AZKathy]

That is so good to hear. We are staying three nights there during our trip at the end of this month. Glad you had a great trip!

 

[lizmc]

what is HIFS?

 

[maninthebox]

Originally posted by lizmc
what is HIFS?

Holiday Inn Family Suites

JENR - We are going in August and will be staying at HIFS. One of the final deciding factors was the free breakfast and that the kids eat free as well. I guess that I am just curious as to what you thought of the food - was it any good?

 

[kessieann]

I am glad that you had such a wonderful time We are going in January and I am so excited. I had read some older reviews and only a handful of people were not happy with HIFS. Back in 00/01 it looked like they may have had some cleaning issues but all recent ones say that it is very clean. One question I have not been able to get answered that maybe you can help me with: Is the kids pool heated? Going in Jan. the weather will be iffy but if given a chance I know my dd would want to swim. I get so excited when I see great reviews of HIFS-thanks much!

 

[soccermom22]

The HIFS is the best place for families.

In January my girls 13, 10 and 4 asked to leave the Disney parks to return to the hotel to swim, play bingo and do karaoke.

 

[kessieann]

soccermom-I am so glad to see that you were able to swim in Jan. I was not really counting on it but my dd wants LOVES to swim. Do you remember if the kids pool was heated?

 

[professorandmom]

I have been wondering if it is doable to get laundry done at HIFS?

 

[JENR]

Yes the pool was heated. It was a great pool. My kids wanted to leave Magic Kingdom and SeaWorld to go back to the pool.

You can do laundry. I did a couple of loads while I was there. There are two laundry facilities in the East Track around the kid pool.

The breakfast was good. Everyday they had eggs, ham and cheese omlete, hashbrowns or potatoes, pancakes or french toast, some type of meat bacon, sausage or ham, cereals and mini bagels, bread, english muffins and donuts. My kids only eat cereal so it was great no spending a fortune on breakfast when that is all they eat. It was nice because you just sat down and went through the line. You could bring the stuff back to your room or eat right there in the dining area. They had two buffet stations one in each dining area. We did go to Chef Mickey's one morning and spent $60.00, which really made you appreciate the free breakfast.

The kids also eat free lunch and dinner. They had a kids menu which even had peanut butter and jelly on it.

We were very happy with this hotel. Especially since we paid $80.00 a night. They just give you so much more than just a room and everything is free.

They had games at the pool. My daughter won $10.00 in tokens just playing. My kids loved it and did not want to leave. The five days we were there we only did two half days at the park because they just wanted to swim and play at the hotel.

 

[ellie&mattys mom]

Can I ask how far it was to Disney and Universal...

What was your price if you don't mind me asking...

do you know their website...

kids pool how deep and did they have a playground...

thanks...

 

[AZKathy]

Originally posted by ellie&mattys mom
Can I ask how far it was to Disney and Universal...

What was your price if you don't mind me asking...

do you know their website...

kids pool how deep and did they have a playground...

thanks...

I can answer a few. The website is www.hifamilysuites.com

We got Entertainment Book rate for our trip this month for $86/night for a kids suite.

Looking at the map, it does not look like a long drive to WDW.

 

[ellie&mattys mom]

I didn't know that they took the entertainment rate
thanks I will look into it!!

 

[ellie&mattys mom]

Did breakfast come with the entertainment rate??

thanks!

 

[AZKathy]

We get the free breakfast and kids eat free, but we were not allowed that free pizza they offered.

I am not really sure how long the entertainment rate last until, but it really won't hurt giving them a call! I was very surprised when I got that quote and jumped on it while I could. Hope you have the same luck.

I got an email from this web site recently about a kids suite $149 but you get $50 in bucks back to spend for food at HIFS. I am not sure how long that lasts, but you could check it out on this site or email a webmaster for the info.

Good luck!

 

[maninthebox]

Originally posted by ellie&mattys mom
Did breakfast come with the entertainment rate??

thanks!

I was told that the Entertainment rate that they quoted me included the free breakfast and the "kids eat free" lunch and dinner.

 

[dthogue]

The pool is zero entry - it remains me of the beach, you walk into it and the further you go the deeper it gets up to about 5 feet. This pool is great for little ones - they have things to play with in the shallow end. The pool was heated, but didn't feel very warm to me, but my kids didn't mind. Getting out was tough, since it was cold when we were there in January. We had the kids that sweatpants and sweatshirts along for when they got out.

Yes they have a large playground with all kinds of tubes to climb through and a smaller baby pool (water seemed warmed then the big pool).

Also at the pool they have ping pong, shuttle board and mini golf. There is also 2 hot tubs.

The drive to WDW is closer than some of the on-site hotels. We drove everyday and never had any problems. WE left after Illuminations at EPCOT and made it back to our hotel in less than 15 minutes. Past experiences w/ Disney busses took at least an hour.

As for the food - the breakfast is great, just about anything you could want. The free kids meals for lunch are also a good deal. They had hot dogs, hamburgers, pizza and chicken nuggets. 5 of us ate for about $11.00 for lunch (beats the $30.00 we'd spend at Disney). The lunch and dinner buffets were just ok, nothing special, but for the price (kids eating free) we'd likely eat there at least once.

 

[taylor1293]

Maninthebox - all rates and specials include the free breakfast and kids eat free for lunch/dinner.

ellie/mattysmom - yes, it includes the breakfast, any rate you get will include the free breakfast

You are practically on site to WDW, you are really that close! It will only take minutes to get to most of the WDW Theme Parks! I'm not sure how far it is from Universal?

Teresa

 

[TEK224]

from HIFS to Downtown Disney/Pleasure Island? I'll be there with my niece and her family. I figured I'd keep the kids to play and swim at the hotel a couple nights while they went to PI. But I don't want to have to get the kids up at midnight to go pick them up. They don't like to drive in unfamiliar areas - especially at night.

I was also considering Courtyard by Marriott or the Hilton at DD. Do either of these have the suites that can sleep 6?

Thanks!
Terri

 

[coachv]

Leave parking lot and turn left---drive less 1/4 mile and go under highway and enter WDW propery. It is really close!!! It is by the far the best and easiest drive from any off-site property.

 

[tink2dw]

I have read that you need to schedule a day before for the shuttle and it only runs twice a day??