I just got back from a five night stay at the Radisson Worldgate June 16-21). At first, I too was considering not showing up and just taking the loss after reading some of the posts on this board, but my finances just couldn't afford to throw away money, so I decided to go ahead with the reservation I received through Priceline. I got the Radisson for $52 a night, and I think it was listed as a three star hotel (not four star). I was a little relieved to find out that
AAA also lists this hotel as a three diamond hotel.
Since this was my first trip to WDW, I was more than nervous about having a bad experience out of the gate, but the hotel is not as horrible as some of the reviews on the board might lead you to believe.
I called before time to confirm that I could get a sleep # room without an extra charge, and that was done. If the hotel will not agree, try calling Priceline and having them call the hotel for you. It will take some patience, but I think the sleep # beds are worth it. We slept very well on them.
The Good News:
The rooms were comfortable, air conditioning unit (in wall style) worked well, Pizza Hut express downstairs, nice pool area, nice lobby. I did not notice any urine smell in the room or hotel. It is not horrible. Laundry on 2nd floor was clean, and I did not have any problems even though I left my one load I washed unattended for 20-30 minutes at a time. ($2.00 per wash and $2.00 per dry cycles).
They have down comforters which were nice but did get a little too hot for me at times in the night. My sister loved them and even used an extra blanket since she stays cold at night. We had plenty of pillows, and I usually need extra (4 per bed - two fluffy non-feather pillows, two feather pillows per bed).
The location is convenient to restaurants, and there is a Publix supermarket and Walgreens just up the street. It is also very easy to get to WDW via Sherbeth Road (avoiding a lot of traffic if you are going at a busy time of day). It was close enough to come home during the hot part of the day and take a nap and go back out later.
The Other News
I won't call this bad news, because it's nothing that can't be tolerated. The air conditioning units are what my dad called "swamp coolers" which means they use evaporated water to cool the room. They work VERY WELL, but they do tend to make the room slightly damp, and you may notice a slight damp smell when you first come into the room after a day out. However, the smell is not overwhelming (I have an EXTREMELY sensitive sniffer), and you do not smell anything on your clothes when you go outside.
I had requested a microwave before arrival, and they said it would not be a problem, but there would be a $5.00 charge. I agreed, and they said they would take care of it. They didn't have it in the room when I arrived, and after asking at least three times and being told "We'll get that fixed right away," I never did get a microwave. After multiple attempts, I went to the front desk and told them to forget it. They confirmed that I would not be charged and told me that the request was never put into the system. When we checked out, the microwave charge showed up on the bill.
They did correct the bill with no hassle.
The staff was friendly enough but not overly helpful.
The room cleaning staff must change from day to day, because it seemed inconsistent. Some days the room seemed very clean with all new toiletries and other days they didn't even empty the ice bin and give us new glasses. However, unlike the microwave, I was able to get those type of issues resolved (though it might take two phone calls downstairs).
My conclusion
I had a fine time at the Radisson. It was worth the $52.00/night, and I'm glad I didn't decide to stay somewhere else this time. Saving the money gave me more to spend at the parks including a few really nice meals. That said, I would probably not stay there again. I would not recommend the hotel for anyone who wants a posh experience or anyone who intends to spend a lot of time at the hotel. I would also not recommend this hotel to super picky people who must have things perfect or expect superior service at all times.
I did not travel with kids, so I cannot speak to that.
If you'd rather save money to spend somewhere else and don't have to have the most spectacular hotel but need a comfortable place to sleep, the Radisson Worldgate will serve its purpose.
I hope this helps.
Jamie
P.s. There is another post on here with pictures of the rooms, and my room looked identical.
