Maingate East vs. Maingate West??

[Sher]

Can someone who is more familiar with the area give me some more information about how these two areas compare? I have always stayed onsite and therefore not paid any attention to anything but the signs pointing me towards WDW. Is one more centrally located? Is one area more recently developed? Which would be better as far as restaurants? Would the driving to and from the parks be easier from one than the other?

Thanks for the help!
Sher

 

[JohnnyOldBoy]

I've stayed on both sides. Not much different really. Both sides are highly developed, lined with hotels, restaurants and souvenir shops. Going west, you first encounter the older facilities, (HI Nikki Bird, Ramada, etc.), then newer resorts, then farmland as you approach Route 27. East is the bigger side of the two and it goes on and on. Pick your hotel based on its merits, don't worry about east or west. If you have a car, travel from side to side is easy but may be somewhat congested at times.

 

[Sher]

Thanks Johnny boy,

I'm not familiar with the offsite areas at all. I actually have reservations at both the Hampton Inn Maingate West and the Hampton Inn Maingate East. Just trying to figure out if one is better than the other. I wondered if traffic was better on one side than the other or if one side was more congested. Thanks for the reply.

Sherry

 

[Elle]

In the words of the famous song, GO WEST, it is much nicer.

 

[JohnnyOldBoy]

I can't comment on the specific Hampton Inns as I've not stayed at either one but both are in fairly congested areas. Last year during spring break Route 192 (Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway) West of Maingate was under construction causing some serious delays both in the morning and after the parks closed. I'm hoping that work will be completed by now. If not, Maingate East will probably allow quicker access to the parks. Last year we stayed at Holiday Inn Maingate West and, contrary to some other posts, we found it quite nice. We had a Priority Club room on the top floor and have ressies there again for the first week of April.

 

[Elle]

The construction is finished

 

[fairytinkerbell]

I think that West DOES NOT have any king or queen beds, only doubles.
It is also newer hotel, but it doesn't have as nice of an eating place for brkfst -the east hotel is nicer for bkfst, plus king beds!

 

[Straitlover]

One good thing for the West side (depending on how far down you're staying) is the shortcut Black Lake Rd/Sherbeth Rd that takes you to Osceola Parkway. If you're going at a busy time, this can cut some time off your travel to/from the parks.

 

[spiceycat]

I with go with West too.....

if you are coming down the Florida Turnpike - I would take US27 (the first exit off the Florida turnpike that is actually on the turnpike).

I don't remember exactly how long 15 miles? before you see the entrance for US192 (this is on the right side of the road -not left - you go under US27 to get to US192).

Unless you are staying after your WDW stay....

We are going again this weekend I can give you an exactly mile count from the Turnpike to Us 192 if you want....

get the free vacation planning kit
http://www.floridakiss.com/

it has some really nice maps - that are VERY, VERY HELPFUL.

 

[disneysteve]

I would agree that it doesn't make much difference. We've stayed at East and West accomodations. West is nice because you are closer to the supermarkets (Winn-Dixie, Publix). Also, the rental home communities are mainly West.

East is nice because you are close to Old Town and Celebration which are both nice places to visit. But even staying West, its only a couple of minutes drive to get to those locations.

Either way, the drive to Disney is about the same (with the exception of the Sherbeth Rd. route). All construction is finished - that was a pain for quite a while.

So pick based on the merits of the individual hotel, not on the location of East or West.