Where would you never, ever, stay off-site?

[redrosesix]

Yes! That is the exact Cinderella home. It was disgusting AND, none of the arcade games worked. I think one turned on, but didn't work right.

so happy you posted here then -- those pictures are soooo misleading.

 

[Missy_Mouse]

I had a reservation at the Howard Johnson Suites Orlando about 6 years ago...this was before I discovered trip advisor. It was by far the most dirty, shady looking motel I've ever stepped foot in. We checked in, looked around and left. Actually, we walked up to the check in counter, asked to cancel our reservation. Was told we could stay or go but the full week would be charged to my visa. We walked back to our room (no more than 5 minutes later) to see a sheet of paper NAILED to our door saying that we had to be out of our room by 9 EACH morning so they could spray for bugs. That was pretty much it for me. We took the paper and demanded our money back...it took some convincing but we finally were able to leave.

Dirty doesn't even begin to describe it. I'd say a visit from the health inspectors is definitely needed! The kitchen was filthy. There was food, not just crumbs, but actual food on the floor. The bathroom was full of dirty and hairs. The front door was about 2 inches too short, and had a opening on the bottom . Those little lizzards are cute to look at, but wouldn't be so cute crawling around our room...we were on the bottem floor with an outside door.

There was a pull out bed in the living room and a double in the bedroom. The bedroom was grimy, and the matress had such an indent on it, it looked like a huge boulder had been sitting on it for months. The pullout itself took a lot of effor to open, and didn't have sheets. We founds sheets in a closet, but they were definitely not clean...I don't think they'd ever been washed.

I guess to make a long story short....DO NOT STAY THERE

 

[Dallas_Lady]

I wouldn't stay in a regular hotel room offsite. If I'm going offsite, it's because we're staying in a condo, villa or suite hotel. If I'm just staying in a one room, one bathroom hotel I'll stay onsite.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

I wouldn't stay in a regular hotel room offsite. If I'm going offsite, it's because we're staying in a condo, villa or suite hotel. If I'm just staying in a one room, one bathroom hotel I'll stay onsite.

Yes, it's these roach motels that give 'staying offsite' a bad name. I don't think there is such a thing as a nice motel; it's an oxymoron.
If you stick with quality-oriented name brands such as Hyatt, Hilton, Marriott, etc. you'll do fine.
I didn't mind cheap places when I was 22. At this stage in my life my standards are higher and my vacations are way too important to me to try to save a few bucks by staying at a Quality Inn and feeling skeeved out the whole time. Most times, you get what you pay for.

 

[*disgal*]

My view on this is pretty simple. I'd never stay in a "regular hotel" anywhere offsite. Ever. There are simply too many properties with better room features and amenities, priced comparably to a single Disney Value room, to bother with anything less.

Same here... especially at the bargain chain hotels and motels. Yikes!

There are SO MANY gorgeous timeshare condo resorts and high-end pool home communities near WDW, where you can save money for your group by eating in or eating offsite on the way to/from the parks, that there is NO reason to risk your vacation by staying in a cheap place that could be a dump. If you're traveling alone, stay onsite and save the gas money by using Disney transfers.

We feel the same way but sometimes we need just one night(like when we booked with Skyauction). THis happens if we are at a condo that offers only 7 days (not 8 or 9). Even though it's for a short amount of time, I still wouldn't want to be in a dump.

This time we are at WH so the condo has actual owners and we were able to get 9 nights. It's SO nice when it works out that way but the few we've taken with Skyauction had to be 1 week or 2 weeks.

 

[Cameraguy]

Yes! That is the exact Cinderella home. It was disgusting AND, none of the arcade games worked. I think one turned on, but didn't work right.

I had the opposite experience in this same home. Although one of the arcade games was not working, and another was a bit too loud. Otherwise the home was very clean and the furniture newish. I didn't order pool heat in advance and the Loyalty pool guy came right away and turned it on. Cinderellas was the third Loyaltyusa.com home we stayed in, and the other two were just as nice. We will be staying in a different home in the fall, (Hollywood Nights) and expect it to be of the same high quality. We've found that if the pictures aren't exactly what you get, its becuase they have bought new furniture or changed the decor. I would, and have, recommended loyaltyusa.com to friends and family.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

We feel the same way but sometimes we need just one night(like when we booked with Skyauction). THis happens if we are at a condo that offers only 7 days (not 8 or 9). Even though it's for a short amount of time, I still wouldn't want to be in a dump.

This time we are at WH so the condo has actual owners and we were able to get 9 nights. It's SO nice when it works out that way but the few we've taken with Skyauction had to be 1 week or 2 weeks.

When we need just one night such as pre-cruise or before checking into our timeshare, we either stay at the Hyatt MCO (for late arriving flights) or get a great place for cheap on Hotwire. Even though they don't tell you the name of the place before you buy, if it's a 4* or even 3.5* it's going to be a decent place. (Hyatt, Crowne Plaza, Marriott)
Quality Inns, LaQuinta and such are 2-2.5*.

 

[spiceycat]

I had the opposite experience in this same home. Although one of the arcade games was not working, and another was a bit too loud. Otherwise the home was very clean and the furniture newish. I didn't order pool heat in advance and the Loyalty pool guy came right away and turned it on. Cinderellas was the third Loyaltyusa.com home we stayed in, and the other two were just as nice. We will be staying in a different home in the fall, (Hollywood Nights) and expect it to be of the same high quality. We've found that if the pictures aren't exactly what you get, its becuase they have bought new furniture or changed the decor. I would, and have, recommended loyaltyusa.com to friends and family.

don't want to sound cruel - but your first post EVER to the dis is in defense of this house.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

don't want to sound cruel - but your first post EVER to the dis is in defense of this house.

I thought this too.

 

[MattM]

Prices rarely lie. There's a reason the Marriott, Hilton, ICH Group hotels tend to be around the $100/night range...you get what you pay for.

 

[*disgal*]

When we need just one night such as pre-cruise or before checking into our timeshare, we either stay at the Hyatt MCO (for late arriving flights) or get a great place for cheap on Hotwire. Even though they don't tell you the name of the place before you buy, if it's a 4* or even 3.5* it's going to be a decent place. (Hyatt, Crowne Plaza, Marriott)
Quality Inns, LaQuinta and such are 2-2.5*.

Yea, we used to use Priceline but it's difficult when there is five in your family. We have to get two rooms and one time they didn't put us next to each other and the hotel wasn't busy at all. I knew we probably couldn't get connecting but not close to one another? DH had to come over twice to borrow the toothpaste I packed.

Now I just look for a deal thru mousesavers or something so I know the room fits 5 and we can stay together.

 

[redrosesix]

Yes, it's these roach motels that give 'staying offsite' a bad name. I don't think there is such a thing as a nice motel; it's an oxymoron.
If you stick with quality-oriented name brands such as Hyatt, Hilton, Marriott, etc. you'll do fine.
I didn't mind cheap places when I was 22. At this stage in my life my standards are higher and my vacations are way too important to me to try to save a few bucks by staying at a Quality Inn and feeling skeeved out the whole time. Most times, you get what you pay for.

We've stayed at several motels between here and Toronto and never had a bad experience. It's almost like stepping back in time, they're just like the places I stayed in as a child on those "drive til you drop" trips. But...the rooms have always been very clean and everything has been fine. Is it because they're family-owned and run -- not sure, but I think that would make a difference.

The other thing I have noticed is that the hotel chains seem to have different reputations in Orlando than they do in Canada. This can be verrrry confusing eg. Ramada up here is usually pretty good, if not great, but apparently in Orlando you don't get the same quality.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

We've stayed at several motels between here and Toronto and never had a bad experience. It's almost like stepping back in time, they're just like the places I stayed in as a child on those "drive til you drop" trips. But...the rooms have always been very clean and everything has been fine. Is it because they're family-owned and run -- not sure, but I think that would make a difference.

The other thing I have noticed is that the hotel chains seem to have different reputations in Orlando than they do in Canada. This can be verrrry confusing eg. Ramada up here is usually pretty good, if not great, but apparently in Orlando you don't get the same quality.

Good point. There are nice places that aren't part of a chain.
We spent our honeymoon touring bed & breakfasts in Ireland and loved it. People would welcome us into their home and lead us to our room. Very nice places and very clean too. Some nicer than others.

We also stumbled onto a lovely hotel in Ft. Lauderdale called Pelican Grand Beach Resort and it's not part of a chain. Luckily it was even prettier in person than it is on their website.
I guess it would be hard then for Canadians to gauge what kind of place you're getting based on the name. For most Americans then, each hotel brand name sort of conjures up an image of a certain standard of quality or lack of.
If I'm staying in an unfamiliar area, it's easy to rely on a name like Marriott, Hyatt, Ritz-Carlton, etc. to know it won't be dumpy.
I guess it depends how much of a risk-taker one is.

 

[redrosesix]

Good point. There are nice places that aren't part of a chain.
We spent our honeymoon touring bed & breakfasts in Ireland and loved it. People would welcome us into their home and lead us to our room. Very nice places and very clean too. Some nicer than others.

We also stumbled onto a lovely hotel in Ft. Lauderdale called Pelican Grand Beach Resort and it's not part of a chain. Luckily it was even prettier in person than it is on their website.
I guess it would be hard then for Canadians to gauge what kind of place you're getting based on the name. For most Americans then, each hotel brand name sort of conjures up an image of a certain standard of quality or lack of.
If I'm staying in an unfamiliar area, it's easy to rely on a name like Marriott, Hyatt, Ritz-Carlton, etc. to know it won't be dumpy.
I guess it depends how much of a risk-taker one is.

If you ever come to Nova Scotia or go to Quebec, B&B's are the way to go (there is a ratings system for them too). But, any type of accommodations are few and far between when you're doing the road trip between here and Toronto unless you're in the big cities. Not at all like Orlando, where it seems that there are so many places to stay -- one would think that the competition would improve the quality, but I guess not.

 

[MickeyP]

I had the opposite experience in this same home. Although one of the arcade games was not working, and another was a bit too loud. Otherwise the home was very clean and the furniture newish. I didn't order pool heat in advance and the Loyalty pool guy came right away and turned it on. Cinderellas was the third Loyaltyusa.com home we stayed in, and the other two were just as nice. We will be staying in a different home in the fall, (Hollywood Nights) and expect it to be of the same high quality. We've found that if the pictures aren't exactly what you get, its becuase they have bought new furniture or changed the decor. I would, and have, recommended loyaltyusa.com to friends and family.

Do you work for Loyalty? Because there is no way (honestly) you could say this house was nice. And trust me, IF there is ever new furniture.....they will post it the next day. I can't believe you are telling people if the house doesn't match the pictures, it's because they've upgraded. That's a good one.

 

[dis-happy]

I'm not sure which made me laugh more....the bullet proof glass story or cameraguy's very first dis post.


My hotel of shame doesn't exist anymore but my dh still makes fun of me for booking us there on Priceline (in fact, he brought it up again just yesterday!). The Nikki Bird. Not only did our room fridge not work (but at least they didn't charge us for it) but the pool was so cloudy a small child could sink to the bottom and drown and no one would be the wiser. I'm only allowed to book at a Marriott forevermore.

 

[J&J]

some of the raddisson hotels no way again the one in Buena Vista is ok.

 

[SRRN]

Personally,I would NEVER stay at any of the WESTGATE properties ......but that's just me !

 

[redrosesix]

Do you work for Loyalty? Because there is no way (honestly) you could say this house was nice. And trust me, IF there is ever new furniture.....they will post it the next day. I can't believe you are telling people if the house doesn't match the pictures, it's because they've upgraded. That's a good one.

 

[lauren5406]

When we need just one night such as pre-cruise or before checking into our timeshare, we either stay at the Hyatt MCO (for late arriving flights) or get a great place for cheap on Hotwire. Even though they don't tell you the name of the place before you buy, if it's a 4* or even 3.5* it's going to be a decent place. (Hyatt, Crowne Plaza, Marriott)
Quality Inns, LaQuinta and such are 2-2.5*.

I LOVE Hotwire and I use it several times a year and have only been disappointed once. I broke my own rule and went with something less that 3.5 stars.

I ended up in here to say that I would never ever stay there again - Serelago Suites. It was a mess.