Where to stay????

[major]

We are looking at booking accomodation and thought about staying at a disney area hotel for a few days then moving on site at universal and finally finishing off on I-drive for the final 7 days of our stay.
So far I have narrowed the choices to Royal Plaza nr downtown disney, the Roya Pacific at universal studios and the Staybridge suites on I-drive.
However,I have started to look at tripadvisor reviews and both the Royal Plaza and the Staybridge has a mixed bag of reviews. We've stayed at the Royal Pacific before so know what this is like....anyway (I'll eventually get to my questions!!!) Has anyone stayed at any of these hotels? What did you think? There's 2 adults, our daughter and her friend (who'll be 17 & 18 at time of travel) They are fine sharing one room for the couple of days we're staying at disney & universal but I would like a suite when we stay on I-drive
Any recommendations for hotels in the disney area and suites on I-drive would be great. Thanks

 

[barnaby1]

Our favorites are the Hilton at DTD (you get the benefit of the EMH's), Portofino Bay at Universal and the Homewood suites (the universal end one) for I-drive. I have read that the homewood suites at the south end of
I-drive are really good too. At the homewood suites you get breakfast a 1 bedroom suite and a complimentary managers reception 4 nights a week. Sometimes the food is just average but there have been times when it certainly passes as dinner.
Great service and nice rooms at all the above.

Off to the DTD Hilton in 21 days.

 

[castanea1985]

Hi

We have stayed at Courtyard by Marriott on Palm Parkway - we had a balcony and free internet access and were very happy with it for the price.
Wayneg usually gets great prices for this and am sure will give you the relevant links.

Hope this helps.

Tracy

 

[wayneg]

Out of the DTD hotels we have only stayed at the Hilton, Xmas few years ago, paid £50/night. There was nothing wrong with it but for half the money we have stayed last 2 Augusts at Courtyard by Marriott which was just as good.
I did see Royal Plaza coming up at good rates for this summer, think it was about £36/night incl.
Let me know where you decide, dates, and best rate you see, I will have a quick look at all my faves see if there is any better rate about.

 

[major]

Thanks for the quick replies.
We have stayed at the Hilton and loved it however, we got this at a good price via Priceline but will check out how much it is. Thanks


wayneg- Hi
We are going on the 11th Sept - 25th and thought of spending 11th-16th at disney (RoyalPlaza - £226) , 3 nights at universal (Royal Pacific £359) and the remaining 7 nights on I-drive ( Staybridge suites 2bed £355 total =£940)
Any other recommendations (and good rates!!) greatly appreciated.

 

[earthelves]

Embassy Suites Jamican Court I Drive Are Fab...

Goodluck

 

[wayneg]

So much choice. How about Marriott Grande Vista 5* looks very nice £48.80/night incl
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Re...-Marriott_s_Grande_Vista-Orlando_Florida.html

Homewood suites (Idrive) £38.60/night

Cypress Pointe Resort Grandvillas
8651 Treasure Cay lane £27.54/night

Courtyard Palm parkway £36.36/night

If you are a memeber of rpoints they give anything between 3.5%-6% cashback on these rates.
Interested in any let me know I will send you link

 

[major]

Thanks wayneg,
I have looked at the Homewood suites but couldn't find a rate as good as yours so a link would definetly be appreciated.
We aren't members of rpoints but if it saves us money i'm sure we could change that little detail!!

Just going to look at the other 2 you recommended .
Thanks again

 

[Daysleeper40]

I have also heard good things about the Homewood suites although I have never stayed there...

 

[Morgstar]

We stayed at the Royal Plaza for 9 nights of our trip in Nov06. DGF got a good deal on a 'tower room'? (I dont get involved with booking so dont know the difference)

Have to say that the room was splendid, loads of space and a good bathroom.
They have interconnecting rooms on the corners of the towers which could be an advantage for you.
The pool doesnt look particularly appetising and we stayed well clear, infact the whole hotel doesnt look that nice from outside but i would definately stay there again. It is a 10min (at most) walk from DTD so great for the older kids(ie adults) to have a drink with dinner at one of the DTD restuarants and not have to drive.
The buses to the parks are quick although they rarely run at the designated times, we found them to be 10min either side of their schedule.
Having said that if the price is right i would definately go for the Royal Plaza, its not 5*, nor is it 4* but it most definately does the trick.

Have a great trip.

 

[wayneg]

Best price I have seen for Homewood suites is with Alpharooms, 11th-16th Sept £38.60/night
I have used Alpharooms numerous times, based 20 miles from me in Sheffield employ about 70 staff.
Homewood suites, not stayed at this one but have at the one higher up Idrive near Universal, payed £22/night a few years back outstanding value. I believe this one is just as good.
rpoints give 3.5% cashback with Alpharooms, not a great deal but £6.72 better in you pocket than theirs. Can't recommend highly enough joining a cashback site. I joined rpoints 3 years ago, just claimed back another £100 totalling £766. Just for clicking thru a site to buy things. They paid me £84 2 week back for booking Virgin Holiday via their link.

 

[Steve and Sarah]

Hi - Just got back from Orlando this morning having stayed at the Homewood Suites for 10 nights. I would definitately recommend them as one of the best on I-Drive both for location and quality of accomodation.

They also do a free breakfast - which we normally avoid like the plague. However theirs is pretty damn good and we had it all but one morning. It is a full buffet affair - I astounded the Americans with my handmade Toasted Sausage Butties.....! Tremendous....!

Could not say anything bad about the place - apart from their lifts are really slow...which says something if you are having to moan about that.

Location is great also as they are between I-Drive and Universal Boulevard - so you can bypass I-Drive when it is busy and come in the 'back way'

Cream crackered now so off to bed to catch up on sleep.

Steve and Sarah