Travelodge Maingate East

[meaneausindisney]

Hey all. Though I haven't finished my trip report wanted to let everyone know that the Travelodge Maingate East (5711 Irlo Bronson Blvd) was AWESOME! I was very worried cause i had read some not so great reports. Well, I think they must have recently redone the hotel because it's wonderful. Staff is friendly, they let us check-in at 10am even tho check-in wasn't until 4pm. And they gave us a late 1pm check out because we needed it and they stored our luggage while we killed sometime across the street at Old Town waiting for our 5pm Tiffany car service.

There is a good cafeteria as well with nice food selections. Also there is a bar open till 1am right there in the hotel that serves food. Shuttle times were a bit limited but still worked out great and the shuttle bus was very dependable and timely. Also, great, clean pool area too! Free newspaper at your door every morning.

Plus a concierge desk, word of warning tho, they will try to get you to go see a time share in exchange for either free tix to a show or a discount on your Disney Passes. I know better now to buy passes in advance so you don't even have to fight off the timeshare speal. Other than that slight bit of aggravation the first day - it is a GREAT hotel and hope to stay there again this fall.

I HIGHLY recommend Travelodge Maingate East for anyone that can not afford onsite (which was the case for hubby and I). We had no rental car and shuttles worked out fine. A couple nights we took cabs back from Pleasure Island and they were $16.00 but not bad since only 2 nights we did that and it's because we were returning at 12-1am.

So that's my feedback for Travelodge Maingate East, keep in mind, I know there are a few other Travelodges in Orlando. I don't know about those. This is the Maingate East one - address is 5711 Irlo Bronson

 

[Lewisc]

Originally posted by meaneausindisney
[. I know better now to buy passes in advance so you don't even have to fight off the timeshare speal.


[/B]

Actually most of the timesehare hawkers will offer you cash (around $100) if you tell them you already have your passes. Most of the timeshare promotions (tickets, discounted tickets) are worth about $100.

 

[RC Fan]

Hi meaneausindisney!

Glad to hear you had a good trip!

I am shopping for a hotel for next time. Can you please tell me what time the earliest shuttle came?

 

[meaneausindisney]

Hey there!

There were a few different ones that went to different parks which wasn't a problem cause you can get from one park to the other with WDW transport. I think the times were 7:40am, 9:25am & 11:10am. They all worked out great for us even tho it was a little limited. It's a really great offsite hotel! I highly recommend it. For the money the location, service and accomodations can't be beat

The only time we had a problem was getting to and from Downtown Disney. No parks go to DD so you have to catch a WDW bus to a resort and then grab DD bus. As for our late nights back to the hotel we just hopped in a cab that was outside Pleasure Island/DD.

Hope this helped!

 

[RC Fan]

That is great!

Thanks for the info!

 

[phorsenuf]

What was your rate? How far from the parks is the drive?

 

[meaneausindisney]

We got it as part of an expedia package. I think it was something like $45 a night. We did not drive, we took the shuttle. It couldn't have been more than 15min to Magic Kingdom (and that was the furtherest one away from hotel). Also another thing that ASTOUNDED me. NO TRAFFIC!?!? Granted we took the 9:25 shuttle each morning so maybe that's why - but it's worth it to go a little later if there are no lines or traffic.

Highly recommended. You also get some sort of 'parking permit' but declined it cause we didn't need it

 

[Kenbar]

I stayed there in '96 and again in'97. it was fine and I have been surprised at the negative comments over the last couple of years. The first year we were walk ins and they had a special 'pick your own rate' deal. The receptionist had a bag full of ping pong balls with different numbers on them. You took one out of the bag and the number was the rate you paid for your first night. Our ball said $20 but the receptionist let me try again and this time it was only $5.
The time share people give you a voucher to be redeemed at the timeshare resort. If you accept the voucher then you are left alone for the rest of your stay. Just don't go to the resort.

Ken