WDW First timer-What hotels should be avoided at all costs?

[Angelcatsmom]

Hello,

I will be making my first trek to the World in November and want to know what off sites besides the Days Inn should be avoided like the plague? I am planning to rent a car and stay offsite (unless I get lucky later in the year and find a good onsite deal) so any help you can give me would be appreciated.

 

[tednvon]

Hi....in the last year I have used a site weeklytop10-orlando.com they have some very good deals, especially some of the smaller "suite hotels" in Lake Buena Vista....as for the real bad ones, it is hard to define "bad"...Days Inns have obviously got a rep and the Comfort Inn LBVista is very old and very basic....Sheraton Lakeside is also older and basic, but goes for 20 a night on Priceline...our son stayed there (a single male, so a little dirt is not a problem) and he thought it was great for the money.....I am also a firm believer in Priceline..they have exceptional deals on hotels especially at the 3 star level for about 35 to 40 dollars a night.......Just keep an eye on these boards and heed the advice...it is usually right on...Ted

 

[Lewisc]

If you're plans are set in stone a PL 3* is probably your best bet. Knights Inn on 192 is one of the worst motels I've ever stayed in. Low opinions on this board, chain rated dead last with consumers reports. If your travelling with a family best value might be a timeshare rental (check hotelkingdom for Vistana).

 

[Topper]

Do not, I repeat, do NOT, stay at the "Best Inn" on 192

 

[Angelcatsmom]

What happened to you at Best Inn?

Leslie

 

[Dopey & Grumpy]

I agree with Day's Inn and Knight's Inn....also, don't stay at Travelodge. We stayed at the Main Gate East Travelodge in Kissimmee last December and it was dirty and very poorly maintained.

 

[BarryHom]

The Best Inn is now the Super 8 Maingate (I think). I stayed at the Best Inn once. It was more like the "Adequate Inn." It wasn't Portifino Bay, but it was OK. Nothing really special. I think the carpet looked kind of old and the room could have used an alarm clock, though.

 

[Babblin'Boo]

My input: Ramada Limited right at Universal's main entrance, Nikki Bird.

Why? At the Ramada the security codes for the doors are few and alternate. Someone already reported the fact that a stranger walked into her room in the night, thinking it was his room. If you want a safe place, avoid those hotels and inquire abotu door security codes at the desk before you reserve. They may all tell you that "nothing has ever happened", but take time to make sure it is not just a line.

At both, there were bad smells coming out of the sink. At the Nikki Bird there were dry, dirty towels left over by housekeeping staff when we first came in. Just poor cleaning habits.

 

[Emmyfaye]

Ants in rooms, grubby carpets, overflowing toilets, rude management.... need I say more?

 

[Lewisc]

Check the date of the hotel, any of the older lower priced properties on 192 should be avoided. Don't trust the renovation date, you don't how much of the property was renovated. Basically older properties charge low rates as an alternative to spending money on major renovations.
If you can live with all of PL restrictions and limitations a 3* PL hotel is probably your best bet, if you want to spend more money a timeshare type resort through a consolidator is also a good thing to look at.

 

[Margie J]

Silverleaf Suites near Universal (if they are still in business) - The units were large but not well kept. I was placed in a unit that smelled like a combo of pee, vomit and mold. Pleasant isn't it. The sheets were dirty, lamps broken. The doors didn't have deadbolts. The desk wasn't staffed beyond 10pm.

Delta Orlando Resort - They bounced me from their hotel to Silverleaf Suites when they said they were "overbooked" suddenly. It didn't matter that I made a reservation months prior. I've heard awful things about this place.

 

[Angelcatsmom]

Thanks for the help everyone. After doing some other research, I have come to the conclusion it might cost me less to stay on Disney property at one of the All Star resorts than it would to stay off and rent a car. So here's hoping for good November rates!

Leslie

 

[Humpbacks1962]

That was exactly the conclusion I came to after staying at the Nikki Bird. I'd spent almost the same amount booking a room onsite, in a value resort, with a good discount and without going through the hideous routine of missing out on good service. The "free shuttle" to the parks was always late, sweaty and packed, the place was dirty and not the value I thought I'd get.

For about the same $69/night, I'd booked a much more decent room onsite with decent, air conditioned and frequent transportation. Staying offsite is not always worth the hassle.

Wanda

 

[AlicesAdventures]

Made the mistake of staying 3 nights at the Clarion Suites on Palm Pkwy, LBV in February. We didn't receive any housekeeping for our entire stay. Needless to say we went next door to the Hawthorn Suites LBV(we had stayed there in Oct. 2001) where the rooms were clean and very large for the price. Just booked 10 days on the internet for Sept. at $69./night. Palm Parkway,LBV is only about 2miles from Downtown Disney.

 

[AlicesAdventures]

Made the mistake of staying 3 nights at the Clarion Suites on Palm Pkwy, LBV in February. We didn't receive any housekeeping for our entire stay. Needless to say we went next door to the Hawthorn Suites LBV(we had stayed there in Oct. 2001) where the rooms were clean and very large for the price. Just booked 10 days on the internet for Sept. at $69./night. Palm Parkway,LBV is only about 2miles from Downtown Disney.

 

[tinaluis]

I agree with the comments on the "Best Inn" on 192 -- stay away from it at all costs. We stayed there some time ago and it was horrible, so horrible, in fact, that we called the Best Inn chain to report it and were informed that it had been removed from the Best Inn chain. I understand that it's now a Super 8 but unless they've done extensive renovations and "additude adjustments" on all staff and management, it's not even worth a try.

 

[Tiger926]

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[cwrbc]

Add Quality Suites Maingate East to your list of DO NOT STAY AT Hotels. Needs Some major cleaning and painting. Staff Great but doesn't warrant dirty hallways, elevators and semi-clean rooms.

 

[cofey]

We were at WDW in March and also had a terrible experience at Clarion Suites (no housekeeping, pool was full of leaves, extremely rude staff, etc.).

After we got back, I sent a letter to Choice (or rather "Choice") Hotels expressing our concerns. Response: NOTHING. Not even a form letter.

Avoid this place like the plague. You can do better.

 

[Tiger926]

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