Of all the DTD hotels...

[SRRN]

...which is your favorite and why?What's the best room rate you were given?

 

[maggiew]

While I can't say it is a "favorite" because it is the only DTD hotel I have stayed in, I can say that our stay at the Courtyard Marriott was very nice. I had a 2-weekend free nights voucher from a Marriott Rewards program and we used it there. They treated us like royalty ("I will have the pleasure of serving you today. Are you checking in??") They had a managers reception in the afternoon that included popcorn, nachos, sodas. I think it may have included drinks a.k.a. alcohol too but we didn't order that. The pool was nice. It wasn't themed as say a Disney hotel's pool might have been, but it was very nice and my kids thought they were in paradise. Our room was very large. We had a balcony and a pool view room. We enjoyed that very much. I would personally stay here over the all-stars if I got a decent deal. It would be comparable to the moderates at Disney, but with a bigger room. So it would be a toss up. If I could stay at Courtyard for less than $70 or so, I would stay there again.

Maggie

 

[Del]

...is right near Cross Keys shopping center. We got a 2bed, 2bath suite for $104 a night the week before Thanksgiving. The rooms were nice, the pool nice and about 15 min. from the park (we hit traffic all the time!). Keep it in mind.

Del

 

[SnackyStacky]

I actually want to try them all!

I've stayed at the Courtyard, and the Royal Plaza. Best rate I got was $25/night at the Courtyard.

My preference of those two is the Courtyard.

 

[fmelchor88]

Del, could ypu please give me some more info on Staybridge LBV? I have ressies for 02/20/04-02/29/04. We have a 2 bedroom suite. How was the hotel? How far is Downtown Disney from the Hotel? Did you use the transportation to Dinsey?

 

[Del]

Are you the gentleman that I wrote to before??

We liked the Staybridge. It was 2 bed 2 bath. King and 2 double beds with the kitchen, dining and living area in the middle of the 2 bedrooms. It was clean. They had soap for the dishes, nice fridge. During the week they provided "light housekeeping" which is making the beds and changing the towels. That is all I really require---on the weekends you need to request that--though they did it for me anyway without asking. If you are there for 7 or more days, they will do a full cleaning.

Though close to Cross Keys Shopping Center (1/4 mile), it still took 15 or 20 min. to get to MK. We tried the direct but more lights route and the highway route. It still took time ---the only negative.

The pool was adequate. They said it was heated but still a bit chilly for me (NOv.) but not for the kids. Laundry room very nice--soap and tokens for sale!

Our room was on the corner bottom level (great location) close to the parking lot but away from the pool (only noisy at night once during our stay)

Breakfast was nothing to brag about. The coffee was always empty for us. Bagels cereal and eggs/waffles extra if you wanted. Fruit was lousy. I don't consider that a perk or a bonus at all.

We rented a car. The transportation schedule which I reviewed did not lend itself to our schedule. The times were just not good--8am drop off and no pickup until like 2 or so. I bet you could call the hotel directly and review the schedule so you could make the decision as to whether to rent or not. Didn't you say you had a large party? Maybe you could rent a van or something? If you are adults--i'm sure you can adjust. I have 2 small ones. We needed the ability to leave not wait around for another hour for a bus.

I'm ready to go back--dh isn't quite yet. As much as I liked it there, the extra 20 minutes did get annonying. But then again, it was nice being near DTD for shopping/stuff. (1-1 1/2 mi).

Any more questions, I'll be happy to answer.

Del

 

[fmelchor88]

Yes, Dell I am the one. Thank you so much for all the info. I could not decide on either The Double Tree Guest suites or Staybridge. We are a group of 5 adults. What was near the hotel? How far is downtown Disney?

 

[Del]

were near the hotel. Tony Roma's, drug store, McD, grocery store, Olive Garden, Chili, Dennys, --IHOP and Walgreens across the street. The "street" is a 2 lane highway both directions. In nov., it was all under construction and the road and pavement uneven. It was fine for us since we were driving and it wasn't noisy but it would have been hard to walk it with the little ones. There really is no Dis Shopping unless you go to DTD (vets: correct me if I'm wrong!). DTD is so nice---the Christmas lights were up in Nov. and it was a nice evening... but we drove...maybe 2 miles at the most!!!!! To walk it would have been 30 min.---we walked enough during the day at the parks!!!!!We just didn't have the luxury of that added time. We did not have a problem with parking there either.

Is the doubletree part of the DTD resorts? If so, they are closer to DTD--if that is important to you. The cost is more, I'm sure. We never spend more than one block of time at DTD, so Staybridge worked for us. 2 bed, 2 bath, 3 tv and kitchen/living area was wonderful and lots of room! 1 king and 2 dble beds---like 2 sep. sleeping areas.

I've also read that the resorts hotel at DTD buses sometimes are very full---they pick up at all those hotels in that area. If full, they go to the parks and come back for the rest. If that is true, i don't like that. I don't like waiting around--in those 15 min of waiting --you could be parking at the park.

What else can I answer for you?

Del

 

[TiffanyK]

We've only been to WDW two times. The first time we stayed at Dixie Landings and in Nov. we stayed at the Doubletree in DTD. We really liked the Doubletree. We are a family of 6 so the space was nice and the location was great. We walked to DTD and drove to the parks. We stayed for $99 per night.