Train between North and South Terminals at Gatwick

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

I also prefer the Sofitel, but only very marginally - I certainly would call the Hilton "rubbish". The family rooms at the Hilton are (IMO) just as nice as those at the Sofitel, and the convenience is so much better - especially with the bus system that is going to be running - what a pain with all the luggage! Plus we get HHonors and VA flying club miles by staying at Hilton

Oh, and the Hilton have just (in the past few weeks/month) renovated all the rooms - really nice fresh new decor and much better than in the past (we stayed a couple weeks back and it was great).

I'll take a gander

 

[islandmum]

Great :-(
Not going to change to the Hilton, its rubbish compared to the Sofitel, but
No shuttle,
No Virgin Clubhouse

What's next?????

probably the end of the world ....

To be honest I'm not that fussed - of course I'd prefer to be nicely cosy in the Clubhouse but we have the choice between the V-lounge or No1 (we've chosen No1) and it looks fine, we're only in there for about an hour so I'm hardly going to bust a gut over it.

Same with the hotel, we're booked at Sofitel, theres no way I'd cancel to change to the Hilton as I think the Sofitel is much better and whats wrong with a 2 minute bus ride? We do buses all the time in WDW? We wont have luggage as doing twi-light dropoff so its just as easy as the monorail in my eyes.

I'd rather have a refurbed product and endure a closure than have it falling to pieces - and Sept for both is obvious .... Hurricane season in the WI and US so less travellers on the routes that Gatwick mainly services, so less people to upset.

 

[madmumof2]

I had no idea this was happening so I'm glad I read this!

I don't like the look of the Hilton at all so I'll be staying with the Sofitel and I suppose I'll get a taxi or something. Don't fancy lugging round bags and 2 kids on my own on packed buses.

Small glitch really if it means I can still stay in the Sofitel which, IMO, far surpasses the Hilton.

 

[Frances999]

I had no idea this was happening so I'm glad I read this!

I don't like the look of the Hilton at all so I'll be staying with the Sofitel and I suppose I'll get a taxi or something. Don't fancy lugging round bags and 2 kids on my own on packed buses.

Small glitch really if it means I can still stay in the Sofitel which, IMO, far surpasses the Hilton.

You can't really go making comments like that when you haven't stayed there

We stayed at the Hilton last week and it was beautiful. As another poster said, the rooms are being renovated. The new rooms are very stylish with great new decor and flat screen televisions. We're Hilton Club & HHonors members and got the usual upgrade to executive level and the service far surpasses that at the Sofitel.

Before the refurb, I agree that Sofitel had the edge. Now that the Hilton has fresh new rooms it's a difficult choice. With the inconvenience of the Sofitel's location for those flying from the South Terminal (and the monorail being closed), Hilton wins easily IMO -- and I've stayed at both - recently.

 

[Ware Bears]

Well, I'm actually looking forward to staying at the Hilton.

We always choose the Sofitel because they release their family (for 5) rooms earlier than the Hilton and we're always afraid of losing out so book as soon as we can. Although we do twilight check-in we like to go to our room after our car journey before checking our bags in and I didn't fancy messing about with the buses with all our cases even though it's the day before. If the room at the Hilton had been the same price or more expensive I would just have put up with the inconvenience and stuck with the Sofitel but even after paying £15 cancellation fee we are still in pocket so the Hilton it is.

 

[nannyj]

probably the end of the world ....

To be honest I'm not that fussed - of course I'd prefer to be nicely cosy in the Clubhouse but we have the choice between the V-lounge or No1 (we've chosen No1) and it looks fine, we're only in there for about an hour so I'm hardly going to bust a gut over it.

Same with the hotel, we're booked at Sofitel, theres no way I'd cancel to change to the Hilton as I think the Sofitel is much better and whats wrong with a 2 minute bus ride? We do buses all the time in WDW? We wont have luggage as doing twi-light dropoff so its just as easy as the monorail in my eyes.

I'd rather have a refurbed product and endure a closure than have it falling to pieces - and Sept for both is obvious .... Hurricane season in the WI and US so less travellers on the routes that Gatwick mainly services, so less people to upset.

I emailed the Sofitel and they said the buses would run 24 hrs a day and would be free of charge. We too are doing twilight check in so it shouldn't be any bother. We will also be using the bus in the evening to go to the ST to have a meal.

 

[oceanscape]

Small glitch really if it means I can still stay in the Sofitel which, IMO, far surpasses the Hilton.

You can't go slagging it off if you haven't even stayed therm both to compare .....

 

[penlanspice]

I'm so glad we booked the Sofitel now, we couldn't decide until a great price came up for the Sofitel so it was a no brainer.
We are flying from the North so it's worked out well for us, just have to get the bus down to the south in the evening to visit Frankie and Bennys...

 

[going/again]

Okey dokey! Change of plans to the Hilton it is. Could you get a refund and rebook?

we booked through going places, went down yesterday and changed to the hilton no problem even got a small refund.

 

[madmumof2]

Lol, I'm not slagging it off! lol From the pictures I've seen of both places, IN MY OPINION, the Hilton is ugly, it's just not my taste.

I'm one of the few who absolutely hates the look of the Grand Floridian too. Different strokes and all that jazz, I just don't like the look of the Hilton at all and I wouldn't be happy staying there which is all that matters really. The Sofitel looks stunning, again in my opinion. I haven't stayed at either so I'm unbiased towards the Sofitel, I picked it because it looked the (much) better of the two.

 

[islandmum]

Lol, I'm not slagging it off! lol From the pictures I've seen of both places, IN MY OPINION, the Hilton is ugly, it's just not my taste.

I'm one of the few who absolutely hates the look of the Grand Floridian too. Different strokes and all that jazz, I just don't like the look of the Hilton at all and I wouldn't be happy staying there which is all that matters really. The Sofitel looks stunning, again in my opinion. I haven't stayed at either so I'm unbiased towards the Sofitel, I picked it because it looked the (much) better of the two.

Ditto on the GF LOL!

and with the runway view rooms at the Sofitel - they rock when you have littlies, mine can sit for hours watching the planes.

 

[Beth__WDW23/6/02]

Oh the GF is lovely, I wouldn't personally stay there,but have visited (when DD had her pirate cruise) It's such a gorgeous looking place.
Can't base an opinion on it as in respect of room's etc but the exterior was lovely

I guess everyone can have an opinion on something but unless you've actually stayed in or on a resort then it doesnt really stand.

 

[moolie19]

the airport are recommending that you leave half an hour to complete the transfer between the north and south terminal. They are not saying it will take that long to make the transfer only that it could. From what I have heard there will be a bus approx every 5-7 minutes or so.

the buses I think will be pretty busy as it is not just holiday makers that will be using them but also staff who have also been told that they will have to use them to travel between terminals

they are hoping to have the first monorail back and running from april next year and then reopen fully I think in August.

 

[Elise79]

We have stayed at both and much prefere the Sofitel. IMO the rooms at the Sofitel are so much nicer they have a lovely big window and if you get a view over looking the airport if can't be beaten.

The hilton room we just found to be dark with a silly small window and mostly wall alone the outside wall.

We will be sticking with our sofitel ressie for September and just minimise our trips backwards and forwards.