lake Buena Vista Area

[calyuk]

I am planning my next trip to WDW for summer 2006. Myself DH and DS7 will be going. We are looking at hotels in the Lake Buena Vista Area and have thought about the Comfort Inn. The Doubletree Club Hotel or the Sheraton Safari. Has anyone stayed at any of these and could offer me some advice? thanks.

 

[alisonbestford]

We stayed at the Sheraton Safari in Jan / Feb this year.
Personally I thought it was great
We were upgrded from a room to a suite for free (well, it was low season )
You could walk to Winn dixie (a supermarket which isn't too badly priced) and Walgreens pharmacy and the entrance to WDW is just across the road a little
Only complaint was from DD (6) who thought the ornaments were scarey (African tribal masks )

 

[Mrs Dazzle]

We've stayed at the Sheraton Safari for two-three days over the last couple of years and it's a great base. The location is brilliant - there's loads of different restaurants and a few shops right next door, Crossroads with more shops, restaurants and a fantastic mini-golf is a few minutes down the road.

The hotel itself is fine. The rooms are a standard size, two queen beds, safe, tea making gear. We've always opted for a pool view room and you get just that with a balcony! The pool is really great, with a nice slide. The laundry facilities are alongside the pool so you can wash and swim at the same time

There is a little gifty shop where you can pick up postcards, Disney stuff, English newspapers

When we were there last, Oct 03, lots of renovations were going on in the rooms. The rooms themselves in in about 4 blocks, all of which surround the pool. BIG TIP: don't get a ground floor, non-pool side room, since parking is facing these rooms.

The restaurant does a nice buffet breakfast (kids under 12 eat free), but we were happy walking across to IHOP, Shoney's or Sizzler right next door to stuff ourselves before hitting the parks

Join the SPG club (www.sheraton.com) if you think you'll spend money in a Sheraton group hotel again.

 

[wicket2005]

I stayed in the Comfort Inn, LBV in February 2000 in one of their family suites.

Basically a family suite has a part of the room partitioned off, with themed walls, inside there are three beds (one set of bunk beds), a tv and a games console. The room also had a fridge and I think a microwave. There was a normal double bed for us which faced on to a cabinet that housed the tv. An air conditioning unit was in the room, which was a bit noisy, we had to switch it off. Furthest from the door was a hanging area and a sink area adjacent to the bathroom.

The room felt a touch dark but this could have been because of the large partition for the kids' area. The room was clean and had daily maid service. Rooms are accessed by an outside corridor and we were on one of the top floors which was accessible via a lift.

When you see a picture of the hotel in a brochure it look lovely but what they don't tell you is the view from the rooms. Half the hotel faces on to the I4 and the road is quite close.

When we first arrived we were hit by the road traffic noise straightaway and, unfortunately, I had great difficulty sleeping during the holiday because of the constant noise. As well as the general noise of traffic, horns were regularly blasted too. The pool is also on this side of the hotel, so if you ask for a pool view you would be looking and hearing the I4.

Staying on the other side of the hotel facing the car park could be quieter, I have no idea. I think there was a security gate when entering the car park.

The hotel's location was ideal very close to Disney, and just around the corner from some shops. It is just up the road from the Sheraton Safari Hotel. The Safari Hotel looked lovely from the outside and had pretty grounds round it. However, it is situated right on a set of crossroads so I don't know whether the traffic could cause a problem here. It is well away from the I4 though.

The hotel is pleasant enough. We did have a problem with the toilet due to youngest son's over enthusiastic use of toilet paper and it was sorted out straightaway. We didn't use the hotel for eating, so I cannot comment on that, though kids under 12 ate free for breakfast. We had already discovered the Ponderosa so headed there every morning.

I cannot fault the hotel itself just the location.

This year staying at the Rosen Centre which is at the quieter end of I Drive. It has indoor corridors to rooms which I feel are more secure and is a tall building, hopefully diluting any traffic noise.

 

[natalielongstaff]

hi
we stayed at the comfort inn in nov 2004 we had a ground floor room on the parking lot side . i could not fault the hotel in any way, it was a basic but clean bed for the night. the meals in the restaurant were good and the staff very helpful
hth

 

[GREGisMAD4WDW]

Hi,

The hotel we've used in that area and had no problems with is the Country Inn & Suites. Its right next to the Sheraton Safari. We've had rooms there for as low as 36 quid for a night including tax. That includes a continental brekky too. They've got a website www.countryinns.com

Might be worth a look

Greg

 

[ossie46]

Hi

Comfort Inn - basic, no frills, but clean. An older property, exterior corridors.

Sheraton Safari - nice hotel, great pool area - especially liked by kids.

Doubletree Club - don't be put off by its appearance, this hotel is great, with a great suntrap pool area - and yards from WDW!

 

[heatherbelle]

oh, I'm pleased to hear the Country Inn and Suites is okay. We're staying there in May, paid £400.00 for the room. It was cheaper to book with agent than direct with the hotel though for some reason.

 

[mkingdon]

Might be worth checking out Cypress Pointe too.

We stayed there last year, and got a great rate through Hotel Kingdom for a 2 bed suite. I think we paid $69 a night.

Tons of space and a great location for WDW, not to mention close to some great restaurants. We loved Olive Garden and Romanos.

Craig

 

[GREGisMAD4WDW]

oh, I'm pleased to hear the Country Inn and Suites is okay. We're staying there in May, paid £400.00 for the room. It was cheaper to book with agent than direct with the hotel though for some reason.

Hi,

Yes it's not bad at all, We've used it about 10 times now for odd nights before and after a DVC stay at OKW. Some of the eateries near by are good too. We've had good meals at Macaroni Grill, Geodana pizza(sp), Chevys, Orlando Ale House and Olive Garden. All walking distance.

Greg

 

[vernon]

There are some great options available for you in that area, much depends on what type of accommodation you're looking for.
For a longer stay I would give some consideration to the Holiday Inn kids suites, you get a kitchenette with your room ( fridge, microwave and I think toaster) it also has a kids area for the children that has bunk beds for two kids and most have a smaller bed that is suitable for kids up to ( I'd guess) age 6/7. There isn't a door on the kids area and the partition doesn't go all the way to the ceiling, but it does give mum/dad and the kids a little privacy from each other and we certainly felt this room set up was better than a regular hotel/motel.
Other options for a larger accommodation would be one of the timeshare units in that area, Vistana is one I've seen the rooms of and these are a huge step up from a regular hotel room.