Please help me decide which hotel for 3 nights?

[leebee]

Hi-
I need help deciding on a hotel for myself and two girls (9 and 11) for the last 3 nights of our vacation, June 18-21st.
We are staying for the first three nights (15-17)with my DS and BIL at Marriott Grand Vista, free! I know these others won't match up for quality, but I'm budget watching! Our priorities are CLEANLINESS, no musty/mildew odors or moldy bathrooms, refrigerator (since it's JUNE!!!), not cramped for space if possible. Currently we have ressies at Comfort Suites Maingate on West Irlo Bronson for $68/night. Just got the following from an Orbitz special...what do you think?
RIU, for about $45/nt
Seralago, 1 king bed, 1 sleeper sofa, microwave and fridge for $63/nt
Clarion Maingate, 1 king bed, 1 sleeper sofa, microwave and fridge for $45/nt

Should I keep the CSM ressie or pick a different hotel? We stayed at CS Maingate East (near Old Town) about 5 years ago and thought it was great! We were also happy with Nikki Bird (again about 5 years ago) and Mainstay Suites 2 years ago. Please help me decide!!!

 

[floridagirrl2]

Comfort Suites Maingate on West Irlo Bronson is a very decent hotel--DH and I stayed there last year and thought the room looked brand new. It was very clean, and although we don't use pools, the pool area was very nicely landscaped. There are several restaurants and a grocery store right across the parking lot.

We have stayed at Clarion Maingate twice, for Priceline bids of $26 and $31 per night. It's pretty old and threadbare but was very clean. I thought it was in a safe area of W. Irlo Bronson.

A couple of weeks ago, we stayed at La Quinta Lakeside for $50 per night including all taxes (we couldn't find a good deal on the internet--DH called the hotel directly to get this deal). All of the 13 buildings have been remodeled EXCEPT for 1/2 of one building, so make sure you ask for a remodeled room if you stay here. Our room looked new and was very clean. It had a refrigerator. The window faced a very nicely landscaped area (pond with fountain, gazebo, benches, etc.).

With children I think I would choose Comfort Inn Suites. The room was relatively spacious and I think your girls would really like the pool area much better than Clarion Maingate (which has a very plain pool). I can't comment on RIU or Seralago since I'm not familiar with them.

 

[Laurajean1014]

What would be your reason for not checking out the value resorts inside the park? Cleanliness has not been a problem at WDW.

 

[floridagirrl2]

Good point, Laurajean--with a discount code,leebee might be able to stay at a Value resort for the same price as Comfort Suites--of course, the Values do charge extra for a refrigerator. For the same price, I would choose a Value over a hotel on Irlo Bronson any day--but I don't think I would pay rack rate at a Value (the most DH and I have ever payed for a Value was $84 including tax, and we thought that was high--we are used to paying around $65 including tax during the slowest seasons, which are our favorite times to go).

 

[leebee]

Thanks for the info on CS and Clarion. Just to clarify, I am not an on-site girl. We (me, DH, DD10 at the time) stayed 5 nights at POFQ and by day two I was longing for the space and privacy of a suite or condo. IF it was just me and one girl, maybe we'd consider a value resort, but I don't think so. I find the rooms small, the bathrooms too small, and a double bed shared with a child WAY too small; also, I'd rather have root canal work done than use Disney transportation. Until I can afford my dream ( a week at AKL, Savannah view), I'll choose off-site every time. I think we will stay with Comfort Suites. We've stayed at several different CS, just not this one, and always been happy. I was just trying to decide if I should squeeze a few more vacation dollars from the hotel budget!

 

[courage]

I was moved twice at the Riu until I found an AC that worked It is an international hotel - I felt like I had left the country....I played charades with the maid jumping up and down with my hand over the AC vent until she finally understood me (I am a dumb American who only knows English) The rooms have flat indoor outdoor carpeting and no frig. or anything like that....not bad but you can do better. The Comfort Inn on Sand Lake was very nice..got that one for #39 on www.orlandodiscountrooms.com