need suite hotel recommendations (offsite)

[disneyholic family]

Hi All,

a good friend is planning a short trip to orlando (only 3 days ).

She asked my advice on where to stay off property.

But since we haven't stayed off property for years, I'm the last person who should be giving advice on that subject.

So i thought people on this board certainly must have some good ideas on where she might stay.

This is what she's interested in:

-- convenient to Sea World, Universal and WDW (yes i know, nothing is truly convenient to all 3 - they'll spend one day at each)

-- in room kitchen/kichenette

-- spacious enough for 2 adults and 3 teenagers

-- reasonable rate

-- they'll rent a car, so transportation isn't an issue

any recommendations/tips you have would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Freaky]

She may be better looking at a private rental townhome or condo rather than a hotel with suites as this would give more room especially with 3 teenagers.

As you say nothing is really convenient to both but perhaps something in the Kissimmee area may suit - around 10 mins to WDW, 15 to Seaworld & 20/25 to Universal (depending which rental resort). Other than that I think there are some suite type places on International Drive.

3 days is a very very short time to go for and a lot to fit in if it is a day at each of the parks - this will really only mean 1 or possibly 2 of the Disney parks in one day! Good luck to them

 

[disneyholic family]

She may be better looking at a private rental townhome or condo rather than a hotel with suites as this would give more room especially with 3 teenagers.

As you say nothing is really convenient to both but perhaps something in the Kissimmee area may suit - around 10 mins to WDW, 15 to Seaworld & 20/25 to Universal (depending which rental resort). Other than that I think there are some suite type places on International Drive.

3 days is a very very short time to go for and a lot to fit in if it is a day at each of the parks - this will really only mean 1 or possibly 2 of the Disney parks in one day! Good luck to them

yes, when i saw her email saying that they're only going for 3 days and will only spend one of them at WDW, i almost thought of not responding...
but i can't impose my disneyholism on them....and the fact that i hate universal and sea world....i know they love sea world (they've been to the one in ohio a few times)..
and she's my very best friend in all the world - though she and i now live half a world away from each other....
so i thought i'd see what people on this board have to say..

i looked at tripadvisor.com for reviews there..
the Residence Inn looks nice...and the suites seem to have a kitchenette...and it's near sea world, so maybe i'll just suggest she take a look at that..
it's only for 3 days, so how bad could it be??

if you think 3 days is a short time, my mom is flying to orlando this week just to rack up some last minute frequent flyer mileage ...
she's a few hundred miles short of platinum for this year....so she's going to fly round trip Detroit-Orlando to push herself over the top...
now THAT's a short time in orlando....just enough to land and then fly back again....no disney, no sea world, no univeral.....just orlando airport

 

[Freaky]

the Residence Inn looks nice...and the suites seem to have a kitchenette...and it's near sea world, so maybe i'll just suggest she take a look at that..
it's only for 3 days, so how bad could it be??

Sounds like it will only be somewhere to put their heads down and grab a bit of breakfast - clean & comfortable is all they need!

Obivously the benefits of 'platinum' frequent flyer must be good - not many would take a flight just for the sake of it Hope your Mum has a great flight

Merry Christmas

 

[disneyholic family]

Obivously the benefits of 'platinum' frequent flyer must be good - not many would take a flight just for the sake of it Hope your Mum has a great flight

Merry Christmas

she did this at least once before, also to orlando - to make gold, not platinum (she's a frequent flyer on NWA)...
she'd forgotten about it, but i reminded her...

she already has enough mileage for gold this year, but this trip will make platinum....i haven't a clue what platinum has that gold doesn't....i hope it's worth it...
you wouldn't get me on a plane just for the ff mileage...
and my mom is 80 years old!!..but she LOVES to fly....she's always off flying to some corner of the world.. (that's how she racks up all that mileage)..

Merry Christmas!!

 

[Dead-metal]

She could try here http://www.homewoodsuitesorlando.com/accommodations.htm#onebr

5 mins from SeaWorld

 

[Daysleeper40]

Have not stayed there but I also hear Homewood Suites is a good choice - It would be a good location for both US and SeaWorld and it sounds like your friend will spend the majority of time at these two parks.

We stayed at Sheraton Studio City which is not far from Homewood suites and found the location to be ideal - we prefer SeaWorld and US / IOA to Disney so it was better for us than Kissimee would have been.

 

[disneyholic family]

thanks - the homewood suites hotel is also ranked pretty high on trip advisor...

i'll mention that one to her too (i suggested the residence inn by sea world)..

i agree that being near sea world is probably the best choice for them...

the truth is, when you rent a car, nothing is all that far away...
although i'm not sure if when they're going is busy or not (some time in february - winter break for suburban detroit schools i guess)...

 

[Graeme]

I've stayed regularly at the Marriott ones, the Grande Vista and Cypress Harbour. Both are big enough, very clean and I would recommend them to anyone. They are both just off I drive, but set back in their own golf course grounds. Near the crossroads where Seaworld is.

 

[disneyholic family]

I've stayed regularly at the Marriott ones, the Grande Vista and Cypress Harbour. Both are big enough, very clean and I would recommend them to anyone. They are both just off I drive, but set back in their own golf course grounds. Near the crossroads where Seaworld is.

thanks for the recommendations! I'll pass them on to her.

 

[maggs]

I am staying in the Homewood Suites on I Drive for the 3rd time in August. I cant recommend these suites enough. They are extremely clean with good facilities, a large buffet breakfast, evening food and great staff. The shuttles to Disney and Universal are free and they are in a great position on the southern part of I Drive - right beside the I Ride and two minutes walk from Bahama Breeze. They are a short drive to Seaworld too.

Maggs

 

[Mrs Dazzle]

thanks - the homewood suites hotel is also ranked pretty high on trip advisor...

i'll mention that one to her too (i suggested the residence inn by sea world)..

i agree that being near sea world is probably the best choice for them...

the truth is, when you rent a car, nothing is all that far away...
although i'm not sure if when they're going is busy or not (some time in february - winter break for suburban detroit schools i guess)...

We stayed at the Marriott Residence Inn next to Sea World in October. Can't recommend it highly enough. We wouldn't think of stopping anywhere else offsite now, unless in a villa. It was a lovely place, huge rooms, nice pool, very friendly staff and good location.

 

[JohnnySharp2]

We stayed at the Marriott Residence Inn next to Sea World in October. Can't recommend it highly enough. We wouldn't think of stopping anywhere else offsite now, unless in a villa. It was a lovely place, huge rooms, nice pool, very friendly staff and good location.

We are staying at the Residence Inn for our last night next March, it's a split stay with Disney's SSR resort/Omni Champion's Gate villas and a private villa at Indian Creek.
Unfortunatley the villa was already booked for our last night so we chose the Residence - got a good rate off Travelsupermarket website.

 

[disneyholic family]

We stayed at the Marriott Residence Inn next to Sea World in October. Can't recommend it highly enough. We wouldn't think of stopping anywhere else offsite now, unless in a villa. It was a lovely place, huge rooms, nice pool, very friendly staff and good location.

thanks! that's good to hear that a place I've recommended to her is actually ok...(since i've never stayed there myself)...

We are staying at the Residence Inn for our last night next March, it's a split stay with Disney's SSR resort/Omni Champion's Gate villas and a private villa at Indian Creek.
Unfortunatley the villa was already booked for our last night so we chose the Residence - got a good rate off Travelsupermarket website.

thanks, i'll pass that on to her...

we used to stay offsite years and years ago (when the kids were toddlers - they're now 23 and 20)....there was an incredibly inexpensive suite hotel - the days suite hotel - that no longer exists...it was torn down years ago...but it was great when we stayed there ....
but since then my knowledge of anything offsite is pretty minimal...

 

[GarryK]

Another vote for the Residence Inn Seaworld. We stayed there in 2005 and would stay there again without hesitation.

We had a 1-bedroom suite but you can also get a 2-bedroom suite. Spacious, clean and a buffet breakfast in the price.

Under 5 mins to SW and easy access to I4 for WDW and US.

Garry

 

[disneyholic family]

Another vote for the Residence Inn Seaworld. We stayed there in 2005 and would stay there again without hesitation.

We had a 1-bedroom suite but you can also get a 2-bedroom suite. Spacious, clean and a buffet breakfast in the price.

Under 5 mins to SW and easy access to I4 for WDW and US.

Garry

thanks!

 

[Mrs Dazzle]

Johnny/Beth - I get really worried when I highly recommend places, because we're all different and one man's opinion of a good hotel might not necessarily be another's!

However, it ranked highly in my family's list of the many hotels we've stayed in whilst visiting different parts of the States.

It was our first 'real' suite - and we were not disappointed. The kitchen was fully equipped - cutlery, crockery, glassware, fridge/freezer, dishwasher and soap, cooking pots and pans and cooking implements - fantastic Even the hot buffet breakfast was included in the price we paid (£40 per night thru Travelrepublic.co.uk). There's also a small burger/nacho/chicken/pizza restaurant near the pool if you need to grab a quick bite. DH was pleased because they were doing a promo on beer because the college football season had just kicked off in October when we were there

Enjoy your stay Johnny.

Beth - hope your friend comes to a decision

 

[JohnnySharp2]

Johnny/Beth - I get really worried when I highly recommend places, because we're all different and one man's opinion of a good hotel might not necessarily be another's!

However, it ranked highly in my family's list of the many hotels we've stayed in whilst visiting different parts of the States.

It was our first 'real' suite - and we were not disappointed. The kitchen was fully equipped - cutlery, crockery, glassware, fridge/freezer, dishwasher and soap, cooking pots and pans and cooking implements - fantastic Even the hot buffet breakfast was included in the price we paid (£40 per night thru Travelrepublic.co.uk). There's also a small burger/nacho/chicken/pizza restaurant near the pool if you need to grab a quick bite. DH was pleased because they were doing a promo on beer because the college football season had just kicked off in October when we were there

Enjoy your stay Johnny.

Beth - hope your friend comes to a decision

To be honest we just wanted somewhere with cooking facilities for our last night that also had a nice pool for Joshua.
It was just unfortunate that our villa is booked for our final night's stay.

It does look nice though and seems good value for money.