Onsite hotels vs. Nickelodeon Family Suites

[wwessing]

I have read some great reviews about the on-site hotels, but has anyone stayed at Nick hotel? We will be traveling with 3 kids (8, 11, 14 years). We have stayed at the Holiday Inn Sunspree Resort before and they loved it!! I've read both good and bad reviews regarding Nick hotel, but my kids really, really want to stay there. The more recent reviews I have found have been positive. Has anyone stayed recently? Is there anything comparable to Nick hotel in the area? We will be touring USO, IoA, SWO & Busch Gardens.

 

[damo]

The difference with the onsite hotels is not only the quality but the fact that you get unlimited express access with all of the rides. If it isn't a price issue that is keeping you from staying onsite, it is well worth your while to convince those kids to stay at the Universal hotels.

 

[Dixie Luvr 98]

My youngest wanted to stay at the Nick Hotel, but I took one look at the prices and ran back to the Universal resorts. Plus Nick Hotel recently added a $20/night resort fee.

I am also totally spoiled by Universal Express. I can't imagine doing without it or paying for it.

 

[smnornes]

We stayed at the Nick hotel in November of 2005. You can see pics and my trip report at http://www.shellistravel.com/Travelogues.aspx

My opinion for kids the age of yours....stay onsite at Universal. They will appreciate the close proximity. Nick was very much geared towards younger kids, I think. Just my humble, very humble opinion. Its been awhile since we stayed there, and I'm glad to hear that the reviews have gotten better.

 

[preb]

We're actually going next week and splitting our stay between the Nick hotel and Hard Rock. My DD has been bugging us to go to the Nick hotel since it opened, so I feel your pain! We're doing 3 nights at Nick and 2 nights at the Hard Rock for FOTL access. Would that be an option for you? I'll try to remember to post my experiences when we return.

 

[wwessing]

My hubby and I have taken your advice and begun looking at the on-site hotels. Downside is we will be staying during spring break, which is one of the most expensive times during the year. Are there discounts offered anywhere? What about AAA members?

We are also wondering which hotel is the most "family friendly". Right now Hard Rock is at the top of the list, but nothing is firm. Is Hard Rock occupied by mostly by the 20ish crowd? That is what we have experienced in other states (Las Vegas especially). We have "bribed" our kids away from Nick hotel with a day at Wet N Wild, which we were originally not going to do. There is that great Orlando Flex ticket which meets our needs exactly.

Any further information regarding the on-site hotels as well as the Orlando Flex ticket would be appreciated. I am going to search this board as well, because I am certain there is alot of info regarding this topic out there.

 

[tlinus]

We stayed at the Nick hotel in November of 2005. You can see pics and my trip report at http://www.shellistravel.com/Travelogues.aspx

My opinion for kids the age of yours....stay onsite at Universal. They will appreciate the close proximity. Nick was very much geared towards younger kids, I think. Just my humble, very humble opinion. Its been awhile since we stayed there, and I'm glad to hear that the reviews have gotten better.

I agree

The 14 year old and possibly the 11 year old would like it for one night, maybe two. We have 11-7-5 and split our stay, did 4 nights at Nick and 4 nights at HRHClub.....The kids really enjoyed the pool at the Nick but that was about it! We all loved the HRH pool, dive in movies, Club Lounge, closeness to the parks. They had activities by the pool for the kids at the HRH as well and my kids got a kick out of the whole thing! We are going back in November with DH's sis and her family, they are staying onsite at Disney, we are staying at the HRH again!!

 

[damo]

wwessing, if you give us your projected dates, we'll see what kind of rates we can find for you so you have some idea of what to expect. HRH is a family resort which a mixture of all ages. I don't really think there is a predominant age group at all.

 

[wwessing]

wwessing, if you give us your projected dates, we'll see what kind of rates we can find for you so you have some idea of what to expect. HRH is a family resort which a mixture of all ages. I don't really think there is a predominant age group at all.

damo,
thanks, but we are not traveling until spring, 2008. There are no rates available that far out that I have been able to locate. The other thing is, we have to wait to find out when our school district is going to schedule spring break 08. In 2006 it was the last week ofr March, and this year it is the first week of April. My understanding is that about 50-52 weeks we will be able to begin finding some rates. We will likely decide which hotel we want, book the type of room we want, then negotiate with the hotel as we find better rates. When we traveled to Vegas in March of 06, I booked about 50 weeks out, but changes reso's several times. We ended up with a great hotel at a killer rate. I will be closely monitoring this board for the next year and will likely need lots of help, so I appreciate your offer and would like to take a rain check until we have exact dates.
THANKS!

 

[yaytezIOA]

My wife won, over christmas, a two night stay at the Nick hotel with character breakfast and tickets to the show. We've been before, and while it was great fun, with all the water slides, arcades and whatnot.....It really felt like what it is....an overstuffed Holiday Inn. Dont get me wrong, its a vacation hotel. Its not meant to be luxurious.....but then again, RPH are very nicely done and they arent near as expensive as Nick hotel.
The bad thing about our "free" stay is that we have to do it during the week, no holidays, but we have a year to do it.......so much for that idea.