Need info on Holiday Inn at North Kirkman

[TravelMom]

My two children and I (DD10 and DS12) are going on a Disney Cruise in December and plan to come 2 days early to check out USF and IOA. Since the crowds should be fairly small that week (early Dec) and because we are trying to save $ because we're blowing most of it on the cruise, we plan to stay off site, most probably at this Holiday Inn. I see it offers free dining for kids (which we have used and liked at other Holiday Inns) and a shuttle. Has anyone stayed there and used the shuttle to USF or IOA? Does it run fairly frequently? Would this be a difficult walk to the entrance of the parks? Which park entrance is it closest to?

We like to shuttle instead of rent cars - in this case we'll use Mears to the hotel, use the hotel shuttle to the parks for the 2 days, Mears shuttle back to airport, then Disney bus to and from Port. I like to "leave the driving to someone else" and when we've stayed onsite (and offsite) at Disney we've used the shuttles and buses with no problem. Hope it's the same here!

Also, is the hotel fairly nice? A guidebook said the price should be about $45 in off season but it's actually closer to $85. Still waaaay less than on-site, and I don't believe we'll need FOTL at that time of year, if we go early and at odd times. Thanks!

 

[Robinrs]

My co-worker stayed there in February and was VERY pleased with it.

Also, I'd sign up for their Priority Club card at www.basshotels.com. It offers little extras that I have found priceless at the Holiday Inns I've stayed at and it's FREE!

 

[DQfan]

We stayed there last year but with a car. I'm sorry to tell you the shuttle isn't a good option and we didn't use it. It seemed to go at times different than we wanted.

The good news is that it is as close as close can get. You are right accross the street from the entrance to the parking garage. We walked back and forth two days (but the last we took our car and left from there). There are sidewalks along the driveway that lead to the valet parking area and from there you follow the signs just like anybody else who parker there. A very short walk for being off site.

The hotel is just the same as any other Holiday Inn, good or bad depending on your expectations. We were happy with what we expected.

You are totally right in my opinion on the need not to stay on site that time of year. Get there early and you may never stand in line for first few hours. We didn't wait in ANY kind of line untill 11:00 or so. We actually slowed down to take in some of the queues of the rides. I would recommend doing the same.

 

[robvia]

Stayed at the Delta Resort down the street last year, the shuttle never showed up in the morning. We ended up taking our car instead. Shuttles at hotels are not like Disney, they just don't seem to run as efficient, and now you have more proof.

But the Holiday Inn Kirkman Road is directly across the street from the main parking garage. This takes you to either park, none is closer than the other. You enter City Walk and make a left for IOA or a right for US. You'll just have to be carefull crossing Kirkman road, it has many lanes. After crossing, you will enter a parking garage just like those found at airports, it's huge. But don't worry, you walk to the elevators at the park side, go to the 3rd floor, and there are moving walkways that will take you to City Walk. By the time the kids start complaining about the trek, you'll be on the moving sidewalk looking at the park and going wow, that's soooo cool.

Your idea of the shuttle, the Holiday Inn, and walking to the park will work.

 

[TravelMom]

Thanks all of you for your advice!