We're Back!! HIFS and Contemporary

[lovethemouse]

We just got back late last night from HIFS and the Contemporary resort. We had car trouble while we were there and ended up at HIFS for 2 additional nights. We have been to disney many times and always stay onsite, but decided to try HIFS because we were going to do non-disny stuff this trip. We stayed using the FLA lottery promo and it was terrific. I can't say enough good things about this hotel. The room was nice and it was wonderful having 3 tv's, nintendo and separate room for the kids. I was a little worried it would be kinda "cheesy" if you know what I mean, but it was nice and would definitely stay there again. The kids loved the pool and all the other activities, and the deals you get with meals in this place can't be beat. I'll be happy to answer any questions.

 

[mrspuff]

Just wondering if it would be a good idea to request a certain room, location, etc. at HIFS or just see what you get. What was your experience?

 

[drgnfly30]

Here is a very silly question but I can't seem to find this out anywhere... do the rooms have interior hall or exterior balcony entrances? All the rooms are non-smoking in the Kidsuites so my husband will have to go outside... just wondering how far of a walk it'll be..

Christine

HIFS 10/02
POR 11/01

 

[woody5]

Glad you had a great trip. Could you compare the HIFS to your stay at the Contemporary? I have considered both of these hotels in the past. We are a family of 5 so we have limited choices of hotels. Did you like the contemporary?

 

[Jane E.]

Christine, when we stayed there last year our suite had an outside entrance, NOT an interior hallway. We got there at 11pm at night and checked out at 7am the next morning so I never looked around, but if I remember correctly they all have outside entrances.

 

[lovethemouse]

Hi everyone , sorry it took me so long to reply! The HIFS have all outside entrances so it wouldn't be a problem for a smoker to step outside. We didn't request a certain room, but I would probably request 1st floor near the pool and lobby so you'll be convenient to everything. I think maybe building 8. But really my main concern would be to have a 1st floor room. It's hard to compare the Contemporary to the HIFS. They both have plusses. The Contemporary was nice and spacious but a one room hotel nontheless. But being on the monorail while you're doing Disney is REALLY nice. We are also a family of 5 and I would say if your kids are young and you are on a budget you will be very happy with HIFS. My kids have been to disney many times and they thought it was a great place, but they probably prefered the CR. But being at HIFS is so kid friendly it is almost like a disney resort. In fact if I had to choose between HIFS or any of the all stars, HIFS would win hands down. We saved a TON of money on food, and every person we encountered who worked there was friendly and helpful. Hope this helps. Happy planning!

 

[kathyclownfish]

Hi Lovethemouse,
So glad to hear good things about HIFS. My children are DD-12 and DS-10. Do you think HIFS is too kiddish for them? I've heard other posts say yes and no. Did you have the bunk beds? My kids believe it or not want the bunk beds oppose to the 2 single beds. Is my 12 year old too big for them? Can you hear the people upstairs when you have a downstairs room? Thanks for answering these questions!!

 

[toystorymom]

kathyclownfish - The kidsuites all have bunk beds. They weren't full size twin beds but I think your kids will fit ok. We have young kids but when we were there the arcade and evening events always seemed to be filled with older kids. I think they will have a great time and they will love having their own tv/vcr & nintendo. We were in a 1st floor room and never once heard anybody upstairs. We barely heard the people in the next room and I know that the room was occupied.

As far as room locations, remember that it is a big place. We were around the back side of building 12 and the walk to and from the lobby/restaurant got very long, especially for my little ones. I would definitely request something closer next time.

lovethemouse - I was glad to read what you wrote about the All Stars. We had originally booked a room there but decided for the 5 of us that HIFS would work better. We loved that the kids had their own room and having a fridge that didn't cost $10 extra per night. And the free breakfast buffet saved us so much. We would definitely stay here again!

 

[MK Familystone]

HI TOYSTORYMOM!
After your experience at HIFS and the Disney Resorts, do think Disney has LOST "IT" (the MAGIC), when it comes to Family Vacations?
Welcome to the "UNOFFICIAL HIFS FANCLUB"
ENJOY! jester:

 

[tink2dw]

The Magic was Sky High at HIFS!! That was Not so at All Stars.

We were on the 4th floor,and it was a very Quiet room. Our room was facing the Parking Lot,[I wanted to be closer to the Car,with my bad knee] But there are Elevators not stairs to the upper floors. The rooms do open to an outside walkway. Our oldest Dd smokes and there are ashtrays every few doors and by the Elevators.

We enjoyed the Breakfast there were enough chooses to suit everyone!!!

HIFS is so close to WDW property it practically onsite!!

I stayed at 2 offsite hotels and found much better Customer Service offsite!!

 

[ri_no1disneyfan]

I know this is probably a silly question but I'm going to ask anyway. I see that a lot of people have suggested to request a room on the 1st floor at the HIFS but since there are exterior corridors, is there a problem with bugs? I had a terrible experience last September at the Blue Tree Resort. Our room was located on the 1st floor and we had TONS of bugs in our room. We were forced to place a wet towel under the door so they would not come in. Needless to say this was a terrible experience for 2 small children. I hope to avoid this problem again at all costs. So could someone please tell me of their experience in a 1st floor suite at the HIFS? Am I safe from insects or would I be better off requesting a suite on a higher floor? Please help!

 

[lovethemouse]

Kathyclownfish, I think HIFS is fine for pre-teens, my dd is 10 and we had my neice who is 13 with us and they both thought HIFS was great. I think if we had older teens we'd stay somewhere else though. Or I would consider staying at HIFS but not in a kidsuite . I think your 12 yo would be fine in the bunks and believe me it is nice to have your own space and TV. Try to get the fla promo if you can, it will save you a bundle in food. ri_no1disneyfan: We did see a couple of bugs in the room, which I was pretty sure was because we were on the first floor, but it was not a big problem by any means. For me the convenience of not having to wait for the elevator every time we went back to the room was more important. But I hate bugs and believe me if there had been a bunch I would not have been very happy!! But if you are worried you'd be fine to request an upper level room, preferably near the main pool and lobby.

 

[ri_no1disneyfan]

lovethemouse,
Thanks for the bug info. Taking into account what you said about the bugs, I think I will request an upper floor. The whole "bug thing" really freaked them out last time. Thanks again.

 

[drgnfly30]

Good to know about the bugs.. that is one thing I cannot tolerate.. they FREAK me out! And there are some weird bugs in FLA!!
Hubby gets his bonus this week which means I can finalize everything... It seems so much more REAL when everything falls into place!
I am hoping to squeeze an overnight stay in the next few weeks (by tacking on a day to a business trip to Tampa)... I would have loved to stay at CR to get the most out of my park time but it seems to be cost prohibitive at this time!! What about the hotels surrounding DTD? Any suggestions?
Christine

 

[kathyclownfish]

Thanks for the info, Lovethemouse. I'm really excited about the HIFS. I choose HIFS over 2 rooms at the All Stars. Should I request a room by the lap pool or the kids pool? Do you think it really matters? Thanks for your help!

 

[drgnfly30]

I believe that all of the Kidsuites are by the big pool.. all of the other suites are by the lap pool... Correct me if I'm wrong..
Christine

 

[lovethemouse]

Kathyclownfish, I would want to stay near the main pool. It is really fun for all age kids and they have 2 hot tubs, pink pong tables and putt putt golf at the pool area. Your kids will love it. I have to say we have a pool, so my kids are kinda spoiled and picky when it comes to pools, but they still thought it was fun. It was also great for my 23 month old because it is zero entry. drgnfly30 may be right about the kidsuites being around that pool anyway-it makes sense.

 

[cindyx4]

I'd like to get more info on room locations please. I was looking online at HIFS website and learned that the East Track Courtyard houses the family suites and the recreation area. It seems like it is very far away from the main entrance. Are there kidsuites in the main building or just on the East Track?

Thanks.

Cindy

 

[lovethemouse]

Cindyx4, Although it looks far it really isn't at all. There is a corridor that runs around the pool (it's covered so if it rains, which it did every afternoon we were there ,you won't get wet). We were in bldg 10 but I still felt it was fairly convenient. Bldg 7or eight would probably be a little closer though. I wouldn't worry too much though because the hotel is laid out really well , kind of like a big circle. We just kept saying how glad we were that we were on the first floor so we didn't have to wait for an elevator everytime we went back to the room. Someone earlier was saying they were worried about the bugs on the first floor, and that might make a difference but I think it probably has more to do with the doors opening to the outside, not having an interior corridor like some hotels do. I know when we've stayed at a disney mod we've always seen a bug or two, but don't remember seeing any in the deluxes.

 

[WDWKim]

I have a family value promotion where breakfast and dinner are included for everyone. From what I've read on here everyone seems to say the breakfast buffet is good. But I get mixed signals about the dinner butter......can you give me your opinion. Trying to budget how often we'll stay for the buffet or head out somewhere. Also do you know the times for the dinner buffet?