Thoughts on Omni and Championsgate?

[mla973]

We just "won" our bid on Priceline for the Omni Orlando Resort at Championsgate. It looks like a great place. I think I've driven through this area before, but it was last year.

We will have a car, and may or may not be going to the parks, so the actual location itself isn't an issue for us. Just wondered what is around that area (restaurants, etc.). I would appreciate any info. Thank you!

 

[snappy]

We stayed at that Omni one weekend in July 2005. We got a good deal too, maybe not priceline prices but decent at $99 plus resort fee and tax.

You can self park but there is also valet since the parking is kind of far from the entrance.

It has three good pools, one Olympic sized, a smallish lazy river and I think one pool attached to the lazy river.

There is a strip shopping center at Championsgate, with a Publix.

We tried the Chinese takeout in that strip. It was not very good.

We mostly ate onsite so I can't remember any other restaurants.

We rented homes off 54 in the general vicinity many times. It is not far to 192. I think we hit the Outback there once. We used to cook a good bit back in the day when we rented 4 br 3 bath houses so access to that Publix was ideal.

I4 gets you to WDW fast or you can take Old Lake Wilson road, pass by Reunion and get to 192 that way. Before Reunion was built it was quick, now I am sure there is more congestion on Reunion.

There used to be a lady selling fresh produce on the access road to I4. We were good customers.

Do you mind sharing what you bid?

 

[southtown]

There is a subway,McDs and a pizza place in that strip mall also,but the pizza isnt very good. There is a Chilis right when you get off the Championsgate exit. I would just drive the few miles to 192 and you have your choice of whatever you want.

 

[mla973]

snappy - we paid $89 (plus fees) for mid-April. I know it's not a steal, but I was just looking for something nice under $100. On or off property didn't matter. We drove past Reunion last year, and it looked like a great area.

Thanks to both for your info.

 

[dougsmom98]

If you travel west on Ronald Regan Parkway (Route 54), it takes 2-3 minutes to get to 27. If you go to 27 north, there is an Applebees and further down the road there is a Super Wal Mart. If you go to 27 south there is a Chilis, Target and a JC Penney and few other fast food places. We took Lake Wilson Road to get to 192 for dinner several times and found it to be quick (10 minutes). The Publix at the Champions gate is really convenient.
Enjoy your trip.

 

[snappy]

snappy - we paid $89 (plus fees) for mid-April. I know it's not a steal, but I was just looking for something nice under $100. On or off property didn't matter. We drove past Reunion last year, and it looked like a great area.

Thanks to both for your info.

Great deal. I thought the room was upscale (this was 2005). I remember the bed being triple sheeted and comfortable. Also, the bathroom was nice with granite surrounds everywhere.

The real asset is the pool area. Loved the idea of the cabanas around the big pool but they were too pricey for my blood.

I could not remember what was down 27. I remember going to a Walmart one way and a Walgreens the other.

Reunion looks interesting to me too. We are trying Bonnet Creek this year.

My kids miss the big houses we rented along country road 54 on four occasions. I have gotten lazy now and prefer on site, but am willing to try Bonnet Creek.

Please give your thoughts on the Omni when you return.

Also, I think there is an Omni Rewards member thing you can join that gives an upgrade in view and some other doodads.

You might try to search the website for that.

 

[mla973]

I will definitely share details upon my return.

The original Priceline price was $215, so I gues $89 is a pretty good deal. I don't like "stuffy" hotels, so I hope it is not that way. We're looking forward to the trip. Thanks for the info.

 

[psac]

I was there about two years ago. We liked it a lot, and would have stayed there again this year if not for the 4/3 offer. There were a few business conferences there while we were there, so it's a very different crowd than a Disney resort, but I still wouldn't call it "stuffy." The service was very friendly, and didn't look down at us at all (or show it) while we were wearing our shorts and tee shirts every day.

The on site breakfast buffet was great for a morning fill-up, but it's expensive. We had it included with our booking (not priceline), but I think it was $18 or so per person. I think all of the restaurants in the hotel were expensive. They did have a starbucks.

 

[snappy]

I think for $89, the pool area and nice rooms are a great deal.

 

[MNFootballMommy]

We stayed there in Sept. '08 and really liked it!

Everything about it was nice--pools, restaurants, location, rooms and the shuttle to WDW! You will enjoy yourselves there, no question!

 

[jdybnsn]

We stayed there last year and we thought it was absolutely fabulous !

We thought that it was way better than any Disney hotel we have stayed at in terms of both facilities and service !

We particularly loved the breakfast (worth getting it included in your deal if you can, otherwise it is quite pricey) -it was the quality of food that stood out.


Also, kids are surprisingly well catered for; with completmentary goodie bags on arrival, the kids clubs and numerous organised kids' activities.

The reviews on Trip Advisor speak for themselves.....we are desperately trying to find somewhere to stay next year that will compare - we always like to stay somewhere different, if we can, to get a different holiday experience ...we know that after our stay at the Omni this is going to be a tough task to find somewhere as good.

 

[alexcturner]

I think the Champions Gate area is the BEST to stay in. It is convenient but new and nice. It is very convenient to Disney and you are close to lots of restaurants or anything else, via I-4 or go 54/Ronald Regan to 27. There is a great restaurant in Bella Trae (is that the name,? it is the Del Webb development.) between the Omni and I-4. They have a new chef and the fish and chips are great!

 

[lsayd]

We were there last week - also pricelined ($80/night) - absolutely loved it. It was quiet, the pools were nice, the room and property were immaculate. Being right off exit 58 on I-4 there's a lot available close by. The only recommendation I would have is if you are planning on sitting around one of the pools for the day, go out early and "reserve" some chairs. There are not nearly enough lounge chairs. People must have been doing this, by 11:00 when we were getting out there it was hard to impossible to get a chair.

Have a great time - it's a great resort!

 

[YayDisney!]

I'm excited to stay here, too. We got the Omni on Priceline for $89 for the last 2 nights of our vacation (June 7 - 9). Sounds like a great place to unwind.

 

[MJonesMBA2001]

I just won a nice price on this resort through priceline for a last minute trip next week for just me and my daughter, and I'm a little nervous too. Usually, my wife and daughter and myself stay on property, but this was just such a great deal I couldn't pass it up. I have some PTO from work I have to use, and my wife has to start back the school year with nobody else to watch our daughter, so it just worked out.

I'll be driving down there so I will have a car to drive to WDW (that's all we'll be going to for 3 days).

About how long is the drive from the Omni to the Magic Kingdom? I know it's around 10 miles, but how is the time?

Do they have two beds in the rooms, or can I request this ahead of time?

We've stayed at on property resorts from the Polynesian to the Pop and loved them all. I'm not a resort snob, but not having the Disney bus to pick us up sort of stinks.

I'm rationalizing it because we won't have to wait one minute on the bus to pick us up on either side, and whenever we're ready to go to the parks or back to the hotel, we can just pick up and go.

I've never had to do this before, either, so, if we buy a 3 day non hopper ticket and we have a parking pass each day, can we still drive to the Omni for a mid afternoon break, then drive back to the parks, and not have to double pay for parking or to enter the same park again?

(We've always had park hoppers, but usually just go to one park a day anyway, and we've always used disney transportation)

 

[Bay Hill]

If you go I-4 to the 429 north, take the Western Way into WDW, near the CS resort.

 

[horseshowmom]

About how long is the drive from the Omni to the Magic Kingdom? I know it's around 10 miles, but how is the time?

Do they have two beds in the rooms, or can I request this ahead of time?

I've never had to do this before, either, so, if we buy a 3 day non hopper ticket and we have a parking pass each day, can we still drive to the Omni for a mid afternoon break, then drive back to the parks, and not have to double pay for parking or to enter the same park again?

I can only help a little bit, but I'll try.

The location is pretty good (right off I-4 and very easy to get to). It's a very upscale resort, so I think you'll like it. I can't remember an exact time of travel, but it's not terrible for sure.

Since it's Priceline, you're only guaranteed one bed, but the odds are that you can get two beds (considering it's Orlando, most rooms have 2 beds). I would just call the hotel directly and put in a request.

You will only have to pay to park at Disney once per day (just keep up with your parking receipt they give you).

Have a great trip!

 

[jking6]

I just booked directly through their web site with a AAA rate of $85.00 a night for new year's eve weekend. Hoping to relax there for a few days after a week at Disney and before driving back to NY.

 

[cdingess]

I stayed there last fall while on a company business trip. The resort was very nice, clean and relaxing. It wasn't very crowded and I loved floating in the lazy river when taking a break from my meetings. We went to Epcot for a day trip and it was about a 15 minute drive. There was a bus provided by the hotel at no charge which was very convenient. The rooms were rather large and nicely furnished. Super comfortable beds! I imagine you will enjoy it!

 

[scrapbookingpro]

i live right by the Omni. It takes us about 20 minutes to drive to the Magic Kingdom, going the speed limit of course. It's a very easy drive.