What about Sleep Inn Maingate??

[GET3550]

We found an incredible deal online for the Sleep Inn Maingate for October 8-16. $24.00 per night including tax!!! Their regular prices are $40-60 a night

I was wondering if anyone had stayed here in the past 6-12 months. I have seen great reviews on one travel site and mediocre to poor reviews on another.

My questions are:
Was it clean and fairly up tp date? Was the staff helpful and courteous? Should we drive to the parks instead of taking the free shuttle? How was the quality of the free breakfast?

We are expecting a plain but clean hotel room with 2 beds, a fridge and microwave. Nothing fancy, but not in disrepair either. Am I expecting too much??

BTW, we got this deal from Lastminutetravel.com. We have confirmed that we have a reservation for this.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Was just wondering if this is your first WDW trip or have you visited before? Don't know if you'll get too many replies since many people on these boards are *certifiable* Disney nuts (like myself) and like to stay onsite. Personally, if money was tight I'd stay at one of the Value resorts (using a Mousesavers code) for a few less nights, during October you can stay for around $50/night and get all the perks and magic of Disney. Remember, you get what you pay for. And Time and Money are directionally proportional at WDW. I wouldn't risk it. Have read trip reports on some of these off site inexpensive hotels and the bathroom and rugs were moldy, rooms smelly, staff nonexistent, etc...

If you need more info on discount codes let us know.

 

[GET3550]

I've done the homework..........believe me. We can't stay at the value resorts because we have three kids. So that puts us up to the Moderates and even at $85.00 per night we think that is too high to pay for a hotel room. If we could get one around $50 per night, we'd go for that, but that just isn't a realistic number for disney mod hotels. Unless you know a secret that I don't. We also factor in the savings of the free breakfasts (which I don't believe you can get at any Dis hotels). We are pretty frugal (not that we necessarily have to be always), but our theory is that the more money that we save on each thing, than the more things we can do. Yes, I know that isn't exactly the theory of Disney. But old habits....and all that. We would love to stay onsite, but just can't justify that price. Can't even fathom paying those prices for a room that we just want to shower in and sleep in.

Last trip we only paid $34.00 per night. Nice hotel, nothing fancy, a few pools, decent shuttles, no breakfast. This hotel has since changed ownership, raised prices and added a resort fee, but not added any amenities. In my opinion this hotel is not really worth the price they ask for it now. I guess because we have been there and seen what they have and don't. This was in 2000 and they still show the same bedspreads in the pictures. I'm hoping they just didn't update the website pix...........but who knows.

I am basically just looking for info about the hotel (Sleep Inn Maingate) we have booked........I don't want to sleep with bugs or walk in filth or encounter strange smells, eat moldy doughnuts or brown fruit.

As I said, there are some very good reviews for this hotel and it is supposed to be recently updated. I know it won't have "Disney Magic" but we aren't use to that, so probably won't miss it.

Unless someone knows how to get us into a Moderate for $50.00 per night....................

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Can't even fathom paying those prices for a room that we just want to shower in and sleep in.

OK, I've got you now. I guess I should have asked for more info before I posted. Having 5 people does present a dilemma. And if you really don't plan to be in the room much than it does make sense for you. We are a little different - we think of the resort as part of what we like about vacation and we enjoy spending time there. Don't get me wrong - we are very frugal too but we budget and go without all year to enjoy some time at a nice place. And though our budget and work schedules don't allow for more than 4 or 5 nights, we really enjoy our time while we're there. And staying close to the action allows us, I believe, to shave some days off our trip.

Good luck in your research and have a great trip!

 

[gardendame]

I'd like info on this hotel also. If anyone has stayed there, please give us a review. Thanks.

 

[DJT]

We stayed there in 2000 and at that time it was very nice and only about two years old. It was really clean and we were very satisfied staying there. We also got a good rate like your rate now. I have read that it has been renovated in the last couple of years. We rented a car and didn't use the shuttle. I think it's more convenient to drive than to wait and depend on a shuttle. I believe their shuttle services other hotels as well. There's a continental breakfast which is handy for something quick first thing in the morning. There's also a McDonald's located out in front of this hotel close to the highway, so if you want a fast food breakfast for a change, you can walk to the McDonald's. This hotel has huge walk in showers but no tubs. We had no problem with that. We also liked having the fridge and microwave. Hope this helps.

 

[crazelion]

I would check tripadvsior.com for hotel reviews.