Wellesley Inn & Suites -Florida Mall Area

[Katiebug]

Hi everyone,

First of all I am upset b/c I could not get the rate I wanted at the Swan or the Dolphin thru my work. (I am a travel agent). They make us wait until 30 days prior and then ask the hotel for availability at a wholesale rate ($75 per night - which is awesome) but the hotel said they didn't have availability!!!!!!

So, alas we are not staying at the Swan. I spoke to DH who was extremely disappointed but we decided if we couldn't do the Swan thru work then we would try Priceline. I checked Bidding for Travel.com and the Swan or the Dolphin is not coming up. The Resort hotel coming up for around $70p/n is the Hilton. We don't want to get stuck at the Hilton. I am sure it is nice but no fun.

So anyway I tried Priceline for a 3 star in the WDW Vicinity hoping for the Sheraton Safari, which is not the swan but still fun. My bid was rejected. I got nervous & didn't want to up the bid b/c typically you get stuck with the Orlando Hyatt for around $35p/n. I knew I could get the Wellesley Inn & Suites in the Floriday mall area for around $30p/n.

So, that is where we are staying. It is brand new and I have heard positive things about it. It is not the Swan but we really don't have the money to stay on-site this time. And they have free continental breakfast which will save us money. Hopefully we will be happy.

So anyway, my question is, what is near the Florida Mall area for restaurants/attractions? I have never stayed there.

Thanks for listening!!!

Jennifer

 

[bd-celebration]

Katiebug - My office is very close to that Wellesley Inn & Suites and I have even stayed there as a guest a number of times before I moved here. It is actually a very nice hotel and each room has a kitchen, which can be quite handy. Florida Mall is only about a mile or so to the east and International Drive and I-4 are about two miles to the west. The hotel is in a pretty nice location and for the price you really cannot go wrong. There is a Supercenter just across the street, which also can be a plus if you need to get some more suntan lotion! Use the money you saved on the hotel and have a nice meal at EPCOT or one of the Disney hotels.

As far as nearby attractions and restaurants are concerned, here you go:

Attractions: Wet n' Wild (2mi), Ripley's Believe It or Not (2mi), The Mercado (2mi), Point Orlando (3mi), Belz Factory Outlet Mall (3mi) Sea World (4mi), Universal (4mi), Disney (10mi)

Restaurants: Cafe Tu-Tu Tango, Bahama Breeze, Olive Garden and many more on I-Drive. Buca, California Pizza Kitchen, Red Lobster, Chilis, Hops Orlando Ale House are in or next to Florida Mall.

Have a great time!

 

[Katiebug]

Hi!

Thanks for all the info! I wish I worked in Orlando! Maybe someday....

We have stayed on Int'l Drive before and loved that location. The Florida mall area sounds good to me b/c I like to go shopping the last day of our trip.

I know we will be saving alot of money by not staying on-site! I booked the Cinderella Dinner at the Grand Floridian our first night there - so we'll be on-site at a deluxe property for dinner at least.

Thanks again!

Jennifer

 

[Robinrs]

I wished I worked in Orlando, too! Hi, bd-celebration!

I won the Wellesley/Florida Mall on Priceline for a two day stay before moving to the Summerfield Suites the last two days of the year 2002. I was very impressed with this hotel! The rooms are very well appointed and has a full sized refrigerator. I also liked their free breakfast buffet, which was BETTER than the Summerfield's!

The area was the best part. I LOVED having a Walmart Supercenter right across the street. I was able to get everything I needed from there. There is also a dollar store right next to it where you can get rain ponchos!

My son's favorite eating place was the Denny's across the street. It's designed like a diner and it has the BEST food I've ever eaten at a Denny's! I mentioned it to our server and she said she hears that every day! Turns out the chef is quite a unique cook for Denny's.

I'm sure you'll enjoy your stay!

 

[sgtdisney]

We stayed here for a few nights a couple of years ago when we were in Orlando for a short visit after a wedding we attended. I believe this Hotel is called the Southpark location? It is about 2 miles from the Florida Mall... We really liked it here. It was clean, the rooms were spacious and they had a small kitchen which comes in handy. Being as you are so close to the Florida Mall there are many restaurants located around there. And as Robinrs mentioned, there is a large Wal-Mart Across the street. It really didn't seem all that far of a drive from Disney World either.. You can either take Sand Lake Road to I-4 or go south on John Young Parkway and go in that way. I don't think you will disapointed. In my opinion, it is 100 times better than the Hyatt Orlando.

 

[tinaluis]

Another thumbs up from my family for the Wellesley Inn and Suites. It's a little off the beaten path (which we liked) and very near the action on I-Drive and WDW. The Florida Mall is nice to spend some time in when you're not at the parks as is the Belz Outlet Mall which is just down I Drive. The room we had was very nice and the kitchen is a lifesaver with our three young daughters. I hope you have a great time!!!