Just Back from HIFS!

[GJM]

Just got back yesterday from HIFS. I was a little worried about this hotel after reading some negative things. I have to say everything was great. The employees were very nice, the room clean, great pool (couldn't get my son out). We went in the pool about everyday and we never got a rash or sick, as some people have. The food was good, I got tired of the breakfast after a couple of days, we were there for 8 days. Considering the breakfast is free it really isn't that bad. Ate at Pizza Hut, A&W these 2 places kids eat free before 5:00 PM, in the restaurant my DS ate free from the buffet & I ordered him a grilled cheese from the menu. This is a great hotel if you have kids. We didn't use the shuttle we had our car, you are really close to the parks. If anyone has any questions I'll answer them for you.

 

[HARP]

Hi. We are going from Oct 2-11. We will have two other families with us . I was wondering is there any one building that is better to stay in and can you ask for that. We will have 8 kids between the three families. If you ask for a poolside room do the charge you more. I got the Ent. rate along time ago for $73 night. If you can think of any other information that I might need give it to me.

Thanks Harp

 

[GJM]

I believe we were in building 7, we were facing the parking lot. I also had the $73 a night, they told me it was $20 more for a poolside room. Our room location was fine, the pool is open to 12:00, I don't think my DS would ever go to sleep hearing all the kids in the pool. I did request the room theme and they did honor the request. I wish we had a room on the first floor, we were on the 3rd. floor, the elevators were slow at times.

 

[disneyaddictwannabe]

I just posted a few days ago that we were considering this hotel. I am so glad to hear you just got back from there. It sounds like it was great. My kids are 8, 5, 3 and 1. How were the childrens activities by the pool, the games room, and anything else pertaining to the kids? Was the breakfast not very varied, considering you got tired of it? My husband and I love to eat so I'm hoping the food is really great. How big is the fridge? Do they offer any babysitting services if you wanted to go out for dinner on your own with hubby? Was it convenient heading back and forth to the parks with your own car? Oh so many questions, what a pain, I'm sorry. I'm just so excited planning this first trip away for us. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[taylor1293]

Originally posted by GJM
Just got back yesterday from HIFS. I was a little worried about this hotel after reading some negative things. I have to say everything was great. The employees were very nice, the room clean, great pool (couldn't get my son out). We went in the pool about everyday and we never got a rash or sick, as some people have. The food was good, I got tired of the breakfast after a couple of days, we were there for 8 days. Considering the breakfast is free it really isn't that bad. Ate at Pizza Hut, A&W these 2 places kids eat free before 5:00 PM, in the restaurant my DS ate free from the buffet & I ordered him a grilled cheese from the menu. This is a great hotel if you have kids. We didn't use the shuttle we had our car, you are really close to the parks. If anyone has any questions I'll answer them for you.

Glad to hear you had a great time!

We've been to HIFS twice and had an awesome time both trips!

IMO, no one has ever gotten sick from the pool. It's just a myth that is passed along on the internet. Unless someone tests the levels in the pool, there is no way to know what has made them sick or not. Most likely illness is passed along from person to person (not in the pool) by not washing hands!

Anyway, glad to hear you had a good time!

Teresa

 

[GJM]

disneyaddistwannabe:

I'm not sure of the kids activities in the day, we pretty much went to the pool area late in the day or night. I know they have a magic show every night, my DH & DS watched that one night. They have Kareoke at night and there is a game room. There is also Nintendo in the room and you can rent games, they do have a game room downstairs. The breakfast buffet had scrambled eggs, pancakes or french toast, sausage, bacon or ham, tater tots or small potatoes, fruit, oatmeal, bagels. My DH ate plenty of it everyday. We only ate in the restaurant one night. They have a buffet or you can order from the menu. If you order from the menu you also get the salad and soup from the buffet. I had pot roast from the menu and it was really good. My DS got to eat from the buffet, chicken, fries, mac & cheese, but I was also able to order a grilled cheese for him from the menu and it was free for him. The frig if the room was a bar size, it was bigger then the ones you rent at some hotels. I'm not sure if they have babysitting available. I was really worried about this hotel after I read some negative things, but I have to say it was good, my son loved it. They have a little train ride that goes around the hotel in the mornings and my DS loved it. He will be 4 in Dec. and he loved the pool, couldn't get him out. It was really great having the extra space in the room. And driving to the parks was so easy and quick, it took no time at all. If there is anything else let me know.

 

[KIRSTIN'S MOMMY]

We just got back yesterday from HIFS and I have to agree, it's a great place to stay! My 3 yr. old dd loved the pool also, and we rode the train with her! It was a little cramped, lol, but the "conductor" is wonderful! He is so great with the kids and even took pictures for everyone who had their camera with them. We were in building 11 and had a pool view room. We didn't have any trouble with noise at all. Also, at check in I asked if I could pick the theme of my kidsuite, which they did happily, and it put us within about 20 feet of the stairs to the pool. We were on the second floor in room 1126, which is a rain forest theme. Really cute, with parrots and lepards and stuff on the wall. We did eat at the Pizza Hut one night, since we got a free pizza party coupon from someone on this board (I now have lots of them if anybody wants me to send them one!) which had a med. pizza, bread sticks and a 2 liter Coke. We ate the breakfast everyday, and it's good, although if we had been there for 8 days (we were only there 4) I think I would have grown tired of it also. Glad everyone had a great time, and we will probably stay here again. We have PAP's to Universal, so we'll be going down more....Also, the fridge is like a dorm fridge, we had plenty of room. Also, there is a coffee maker in the room with reg. and decaf. available.

 

[heart4dis]

Weren't there stairs nearby? I'd rather take the stairs, but sometimes the stairs are hard to find in hotels depending on when they were built...

And why would there be elevators? I thought they were outside entry rooms? Am I wrong?

 

[SHSFire]

Heart4dis,

Yes, there are stairs but getting luggage and kids up several floors, (HIFS has six floors) can be difficult. All the rooms are outside entry but each building has elevators. The floors are designed with the walkways on the outside and the rooms in the center, if that makes any sense. You can walk from building to building on the walkways and never get wet if it is raining.


Julie