Need ideas for nice offsite hotel

[hunnypotmama]

Hi! I've just been reading this board like mad b/c it suddenly makes so much sense to me to stay offsite, since Disney had done away with EE...offsite hotels are more reasonably priced and are practically beggin for business. So I checked out HIFS, and the Marriott World Center...the HIFS wins out so far b/c it includes a free breakfast buffet. The Marriott, altho very cool, does not. The Marriott Grande Vista doesn't either. There's a Marriott, I believe it was the Residence Inn, that DOES serve a free breakfast buffet. I am interested in the Marriott b/c we belong to the Marriott Rewards club. The HIFS is only a mile away from DW, I'm not sure how far away Marriott Residence is. We are planning a trip for September or October of this year.

Any thoughts?

hunnypotmama

 

[Mickey's sunshine]

Well it is not on your list but I would recommend the Sheraton Safari - Pete just put up a thread for that hotel at the top of the board. I have stayed there quite a few times and it is a nice, clean place. It is real close to Downtown Disney and it is in a good location. There are a variety of restaurants and shops around there.

I have not stayed at the other hotels you mentioned so I can not help you out there, sorry.

Good luck

 

[mm42]

Breakfast included at the hotel is an important criterion to me also. It's important to distinguish between the various definitions of breakfast by hotel. You have everything from Embassy Suites (free breakfast includes a huge selection, hot and cold items, made-to-order omelettes, etc.) to Hampton Inn and Fairfield Inn (cereals, fruit, pastries, etc.) to nothing but free coffee and doughnuts (some Days Inn and Econolodge properties).

HIFS is close to the high end of the scale, with hot and cold items and a very large selection. However, it is also done on a massive scale and the cooked items may remind you of a school cafeteria. Residence Inn varies somewhat by location but is usually somewhere in the middle, with mostly cold items (cereal, breads, fruits) but good quality and selection. If you want to stick with Marriott properties, Fairfield Inn is quite reasonably priced and also includes a decent continental breakfast.

It's tough to recommend a property without some more idea of your preferences. Is a suite important? Fancy pool? Exact type of breakfast you expect? Etc.

 

[hunnypotmama]

Hey Mark and Christine, thanks for your replies...I will check out the Sheraton. The "breakfast included" option is important for us b/c of my 2 picky eater kids- DD is 6 and DS is 2. They're the same reason a suite would be really neat-i like the idea of the kidsuites at HIFS.

BUT, the pool at the Marriott World Center looked awesome! I couldn't find any pics of the HIFS pool. Does anyone know where I could find some?

hunnypotmama

 

[emmalgin]

Just back... Marriott has a property just off 4 and 535 it is called Moarriott Lake Bryan I think. Brand spanking new, looks gorgeuos and the Fairfield there includes breaksfast.

Nowadays the breakfasts are improving daily and as far as I'm concerned Hampton Inns have everything I want short of Bacon and eggs. There are waffles, french toast and lots of selection.......

 

[mm42]

The big pool at HIFS is great for small kids. It is huge, it has zero-depth entry and is full of water toys, fountains, etc. Also the floor of the pool is made from a rubber-like material which won't chafe little feet like concrete. There's also a large baby pool and playground in that courtyard. In the other courtyard is a standard pool for adults.

Pictures here:

http://www.hifamilysuites.com/easttrack.html

The Sheraton Safari has a nice pool, too, with a water slide, but no breakfast or suite-type room.

Embassy Suites LBV would be another option with everything you want, but it is generally more expensive than HIFS. Also the pools there are nice, but cannot compare to HIFS or MOWC.

 

[IowaGirl]

I was at Country Inn & Suites at Calypso Cay Way 5/3-5/10 and then again on 5/12 and I LOVED it! I paid 39.50 per night, just called 1-800-456-6000 with an entertainment rate. It was just a standard room with two double beds, but it was plenty of room for our park hopping family.
We had a small fridge and microwave and it had nice warm pool plus another pool that we shared with Ameri-Suites. It took only a few minutes to get to WDW, just took 535 one block North to Osceola Park Way, and boom, we were there.
I liked booking this way, so I could just cancel my reservation if I needed to without being out anything.
They honored my room request that I faxed to them a few days before--nice view of pool, near but not next to an ice machine(we brought wide mouth empty dinking bottles and filled them with ice before going to the parks). Ice machine are on 3, 5 and 7th floor.
Don't recommend the kid suite, it was exactly the same size as my room, they just put a little room with two bunk beds in it instead of the second double bed. It was no suite.
Breakfast was great, biscuits & gravy, french toast, waffles, (you heated in a conveyor toaster)doughnuts, muffins, bagels, FLAVORED creamers (love those) and 1/2 (hate the powdered stuff)
hope this helps

 

[kilarney]

There is nothing like the pool at the Marriott Orlando World Center. For an offsite, it is arguably the best pool out there. The hotel itself is very nice, although it does have a little bit of a "convention center" feel. We visited the MOWC on our last trip, and were very impressed.
As for me... I would go with the nicest hotel regardless of breakfast. Breakfast is the cheapest meal of the day. We usually eat in our room, and save $$ for the parks.

Of course I haven't heard any complaints about the HIFS either!

Have fun!