Hi i was wondering if anyone can help me. I am travelling to florida with my 3 boys age 14, 11, 9 on 30th may 2009. I have booked with first choice and i am staying at the orlando continental plaza opposite wet n wild. I have read many bad reports about the motel and have looked at pics and i am worried at wat i have seen. I dont want 5 star hotel just somewhere clean. This is my first time to florida and i want to stay on international drive. I wont be having car hire so that is why first choice recommended this motel as it does shuttles to all the parks. Can anyone recommend what i shud do or a good hotel on international drive that does shuttle to all the parks many thanks
Hi Julie,
perhaps I can help. I was due to travel to Orlando on 18 September 2008 for my sister-in-laws wedding but Travel City Direct went under the week before myself and my whole family where due to travel. It was basically a scramble for us to get something else. Anyway 9 of us ended up flying with 1st choice on the 21/9/2009 3 days later than planned and staying at the Continental Plaza. When when I read the reviews etc I was horrified because it was all done in a bit of a hurry (Over the phone with 1st choice!)
So, like you I didnt care as long as it was clean as I have 2 small children who are 3 + 5. In the end we decided it may ruin our holiday and booked the 2 star Rodeway Inn (Based on reccommendation from people who had stayed there) with Booking.com. With this particular company you can cancel the room with no charges as long as you give 24 hours notice so we figured we would end up paying for 1 night if the Continental was acceptable. It wasnt. I had absolutely no regrets that we paid to go to the Rodeway.
We have stayed in many types of accommodation including Pontins, Butlins and Blackpool in the UK and I consider myself to be easy going! (eg only somewhere to lay your head etc your not there to spend time in the room!)
So we went to look at the room and this is what I thought:
Ok so the rooms werent that bad but they were very, very basic.
I noticed that the top cover on the bed was ripped and the bed + furnishings a bit tatty.
There was small rusty fridge (Say half the under the counter size)
But it was the musty smell that hit me the most.
The doors to each room were on the outside of the building and I didnt see any security around.
Having said all that, it is situated very conveniently for buses etc and there is a Walgreens over the road as well as lots of restaurants and Wet + Wild close by.
We are returning to Florida on 23 May 09 so will be there at the same time as you!! I would definately consider staying at the Rodeway again in the future but we have decided to give Lake Buena Vista a try this time instead.
I would suggest you re-post this thread on the UK Boards and see what the other Disers think, but straight from the horses mouth I think 1st Choice should be ashamed of themselves for selling this Motel!!
Im sure you and your family will have a fabulous time wherever you end up staying. If you bear in mind its just a base you may find the Continental Plaza acceptable??
You could ask 1st Choice for a move or just purchase the flight from them if you have only given them a deposit? There are lots of places you can buy accommodation from like Travel Republic etc
Hope you have a fabulous time and good luck with the dilemma!
Mandy
