Lake Buena Vista

[whenyouwish....]

Has anyone stayed in any hotels in this area?

We stayed there when I was a child 18 years ago and it was still very new and literally had the hotel and that was it - we had to use transport to eat out etc.

Now I know in 18 years it's bound to be different so wondered if there is now places to eat, shops & general stuff to do in Lake Buena Vista?

How far is it to the parks and International Drive & the Malls etc?

Just trying to work out if it's better to stay or not.

Many Thanks

 

[Netty]

Wayneg has and he will give you loads of info!! -when he sees your thread!

 

[wayneg]

We have stayed everywhere from North Idrive to East 129 to West 192, onsite and offsite. Our fave location is LBV, central to everywhere. loads of places to eat, 2 mins drive into Downtown Disney.
You can see below where we have stayed, Courtyard, Fairfield. Just got back last week from Country Inn and Suites great value hotel.
All the main parks can be driven to in about 20 mins from up at Uni down to AK.
What other loaction were you considering? Nowhere better in my opinion.

 

[wayneg]

Wayneg has and he will give you loads of info!! -when he sees your thread!

You beat me to post

 

[Netty]

You beat me to post

 

[whenyouwish....]

We have stayed everywhere from North Idrive to East 129 to West 192, onsite and offsite. Our fave location is LBV, central to everywhere. loads of places to eat, 2 mins drive into Downtown Disney.
You can see below where we have stayed, Courtyard, Fairfield. Just got back last week from Country Inn and Suites great value hotel.
All the main parks can be driven to in about 20 mins from up at Uni down to AK.
What other loaction were you considering? Nowhere better in my opinion.

We have narrowed it down the staying at the Vista Cay Resort (which I believe is just off I Drive) and is fairly new resort. (great reviews on trip advisor) or Sheraton’s Vistana resort In LBV - I also believe they have a sister resort on I Drive.

We are also open to look at others that come recommended.

Thanks for posting

 

[Paulieuk1969]

We have stopped at the Fairfield Inn LBV a couple of times, found it to be a great location. It's easy to get to WDW either via Downtown Disney (lots of traffic lights) or just hop onto I4 and go in via Epcot Centre Drive.

Seaworld, Universal and I-Drive are all easily accessible via I4 and with LBV being centrally located all can be reached in about 10-15mins. As far as the malls, Premium Outlets and LBV Outlet malls are very close as is Walmart, there are also loads of restaurants in the area.

Having stopped on 192, I-Drive and LBV, in my opinion LBV is the best location.

 

[wayneg]

We have narrowed it down the staying at the Vista Cay Resort (which I believe is just off I Drive) and is fairly new resort. (great reviews on trip advisor) or Sheraton’s Vistana resort In LBV - I also believe they have a sister resort on I Drive.

We are also open to look at others that come recommended.

Thanks for posting

Don't know anything about either really. Idrive is the last area I would stay but others like it.
Sheraton’s Vistana resort In LBV, I looked at for Xmas, its on Virgins books but they did a great rate at Fairfield inn, not in same league as Vistana but we only sleep there, wasn't worth another £1,000 for 8 nights, no idea how they get so much difference.
Vistana is a mile or so further away than we like but whats a mile in Florida? if you have a car it makes no difference.
What dates you looking for?

 

[whenyouwish....]

Don't know anything about either really. Idrive is the last area I would stay but others like it.
Sheraton’s Vistana resort In LBV, I looked at for Xmas, its on Virgins books but they did a great rate at Fairfield inn, not in same league as Vistana but we only sleep there, wasn't worth another £1,000 for 8 nights, no idea how they get so much difference.
Vistana is a mile or so further away than we like but whats a mile in Florida? if you have a car it makes no difference.
What dates you looking for?

We're looking at 14th (ish) September 09 for 14 nights (we are flexable on dates to go later/early October) I know it's aggggggges away LOL but we want to save to do the lot, discovery cove etc.

I've been getting quotes from Virgin which includes the 14 nights stay, flights & transfers for around £2000 (give or take £50 on each) which I thin is good (but then i'm not used to this so it might be expensive - it's for 2 ad 1 child aged 6.

Reason for looking at these places is due to the extra space - they are more appartments than just a hotel room, we had looked into Villas but quite like the idea of still being very near Disney & having a communal pool for out little girl to be round other children maybe.

 

[wayneg]

I agree, we prefer hotel environment to Villas. Stayed at Windsor hills in a 2 bed condo for Easter as we took DS's school friend, although a great place wasn't the same feel for us, prefer the hotels.

Another consideration is putting it together yourself. Just looked Virgin flights this Sept for all 3 of you from £1.091. You can get a 2 bed apt here http://www.cypresspointe2.com/ for £510. Total £1601, would cost you about £30 each way in a taxi to and from airport if you were not having a car.
Vistana probably works out no cheaper doing it yourself, £2,000 is a reasonable price.
If you use Virgin hols make sure you buy it thru Quidco, you will get 3% cashback. £60 just for clicking a button

I prefer usually to do it myself rather than package, makes it a bit more flexible but package is easier and price won't go up, you fix in when you book.

I know you don't want hotel but just seen they are still doing good prices on http://www.regalsunresort.com/ right oposite Downtown Disney. £440 for 2 weeks. They have spent Millions on doing it up

 

[Red-Snapper]

Of the 2 Vistana Resorts I think the one at the lower end of I Drive is usually considered better because its newer and not as large (but has fewer facilities).

Although technically on I Drive it is nearer LBV and not in the middle of the restaurants and other hotels on I Drive. The I Ride shuttle stops outside but otherwise you would need a car to go anywhere. It is nearly opposite the premium outlets - which do have a few restaurants near them now that you could walk to.

If you want to stay in LBV then the other places mentioned above are better bets as they are closer to all the restaurants and shops in LBV.

We always stay LBV for all the reasons mentioned above.

 

[whenyouwish....]

The place that we are really considering now say's it's on the I Drive location but opposite Seaworld.

Now am I right in thinking that Seaworld is just off I Drive so we won'e be in the hustle & bustle so to speak.

 

[wayneg]

The place that we are really considering now say's it's on the I Drive location but opposite Seaworld.

Now am I right in thinking that Seaworld is just off I Drive so we won'e be in the hustle & bustle so to speak.

http://www.starwoodhotels.com/sheraton/property/area/map.html?propertyID=5607

This one?
Are you having a car or not? don't think there is anything around here, very quiet. Would mean taxi's and buses everywhere without a car.
Very difficult for me to advise because we wouldn't even goto Florida without a car, If I had to go without I would want to be within walking distance of lots of places to eat even if it mean't staying in a lesser grade property.
Other people prefer better quality, don't mind being a little out of the way and use other transport.
Hope someones stayed here that will comment whats around it.

 

[whenyouwish....]

http://www.starwoodhotels.com/sheraton/property/area/map.html?propertyID=5607

This one?
Are you having a car or not? don't think there is anything around here, very quiet. Would mean taxi's and buses everywhere without a car.
Very difficult for me to advise because we wouldn't even goto Florida without a car, If I had to go without I would want to be within walking distance of lots of places to eat even if it mean't staying in a lesser grade property.
Other people prefer better quality, don't mind being a little out of the way and use other transport.
Hope someones stayed here that will comment whats around it.

It's the Vista Cay Resort we are seriously considering - I just wish it was on LBV after getting such good reviews on that area.

The reviews on trip advisor are pretty fab for the resort.

 

[wicket2005]

Just make sure your hotel doesn't face on to the I4. We stayed at the Comfort Inn, LBV in 2000 and the noise from the I4 was horrendous. It didn't stop, day or night, with horns going. I ended up having to resort to having a large glass of wine each night to make me sleepy. It was a nightmare.

Some people have stayed in the same hotel facing the car park and said the noise wasn't a problem. The trouble is a lot of these hotels show lovely photos of the hotel and neglect to say it is only a 100 metres away from an 8 lane motorway.

 

[whenyouwish....]

Just make sure your hotel doesn't face on to the I4. We stayed at the Comfort Inn, LBV in 2000 and the noise from the I4 was horrendous. It didn't stop, day or night, with horns going. I ended up having to resort to having a large glass of wine each night to make me sleepy. It was a nightmare.

Some people have stayed in the same hotel facing the car park and said the noise wasn't a problem. The trouble is a lot of these hotels show lovely photos of the hotel and neglect to say it is only a 100 metres away from an 8 lane motorway.

Oh wow really - thats something i'm really going to find out - I'd hate that for 14 nights .

Thanks

 

[wicket2005]

Yeah, we were not impressed. We had booked a kiddie suite so didn't think they would have a lot of them available if we asked for a change of room. The hotel itself was fine, it was just the location.

If you go on Google Earth you should be able to see exactly where hotels are and their proximity to I4. This is the same for a lot of hotels not just for the LBV ones as a lot back onto this major motorway. Its never mentioned in the brochures though.

 

[Red-Snapper]

We drove past Vista Cay last week while looking for the Rosen at Shingle Creek.

There is nothing else there that we could see.

The road is just off I Drive but it is the bottom end of I Drive (near the turning for Sea Worlda nd is a very long, wide road through a mostly finished building area. The only things on it were a few other hotels and some part completed shells of buildings.

Dont let this put you off Vista Cay as it looked nice from what we could see - but you will need a car to go and do anything else. It is a long way from the built up area of I Drive where all the restaurants and shops are. |Even Sea World itself i would say is a good walk from there which you probably wouldnt want to do in the heat.

 

[Mrs Doubtfire]

I have stayed at Sheraton on the lower end of I4 - not far from Seaworld or Premium Outlets - also an easy drive to WDW.

I really liked it here - you also got daily housekeeping with VH -so had all the benefits of a 2 bed condo and no work!

 

[bob6sims]

We have stayed at the Courtyard by Marriot at LBV .

It was a nice hotel and within walking distance to plenty of eating places and close to the Crossroads shopping area. It also provided buses to the Disney parks too - OK they were only a few buses per day per park but if you don't have a car (we didn't) they were fine for getting to the parks and back.

We walked to DTD from the hotel which did take about 30 minutes and then grabbed a taxi on the way back .

Decisions decisions... I am also looking into that area for next year - using www.tripadvisor.com as well as Disboards to help me decide....then again I also like staying in WDW it just costs more !!!