Which hotel to choose...

[soiabea]

like others, I am faced with the decision to choose 1 hotel. I have narrowed it down to 2 offsite hotels and a possibility of 1 onsite.
** Summerfield Suites - LBV
** Vistana Resort
or **WDW POR
I know it should be a no brainer to stay onsite, however, it would be sharing the room with the kids (they do have the trundle so that we shall leave "bruiseless" from restless sleeping), however, it would be nice to have extra space. Also, we would be paying $30 more a night (compared to SS). On the otherhand, it is Disney. Which would you choose and why?

 

[yecats]

IMHO, staying on Disney is great, but when you really want room you want room. Pick offsite to give yourselves the extra room to make the difference. As long as you have a car it should only take a few extra minutes to reach property.

P.S. I hear great things about the Vistana properties.

 

[soiabea]

Thanks yecats, I think that is the way we will go. Just stumbled on a real bargain for Wyndham Palms Golf Resort. Do you have any recommendation for them vs Vistana??

Thanks,
Janet

 

[Lorix2]

Have you gone to www.hotelkingdom.com yet? They are very reputable and i've used them 2x to get a great deal on offsite accommodations for 2BR/2 bath villa.

We have 2 kids and would not even consider staying onsite, there is just no room. When we come home from the parks, it's nice to spread out, have a snack in your kitchen, sit on your balcony, go in your hot tub (most have them) and the kids have a blast in their own room with their own tv. They even have washer/dryers.

I have heard good things about both places you mentioned. I did read that at the Vistana RESORT, there are some older sections. Newer ones are used for owners. You can read more here on this board, you've come to the right place

 

[stacy6552]

It is a nobrainer, especially if you have stayed in a disney resort in the past. ITs disney all the way. We tried the wyndham palace last spring and were miserable at how much it lacked even compaiered to disneys all-stars. My friends stayed at the summerfield suites LBV and were very unhappy. the room was shabby, the clock broken, and an ununiformed man turned up very late at night claiming to have towles and it turned out he did work for them.

From your list I say, POR. But heres another suggestion: with a AAA discount, the cabins at FT Wilderness will run you about the same at a moderate disney resort. You get a bedroom with a double bed and bunkbeds, plus another double murphy style bed in the living room, seperate from the bedroom. Theres also a full (but small) kitchen, so saving money by eating in is great, plus its much more feesable staying on property to do this.

 

[Grumpy's Mom]

Soiabea - I came upon the Wyndham rate also - check www.tripadvisor. com and read some of the reviews - they were enough to put me off!

 

[soiabea]

Grumpy's Mom,

What did you look under in Tripadvisor? I did a search for Wyndham and only saw 2 properties, neither of them the newest Wyndham Palm Resort. Very interested if there are neg. reports out there. I did search Cypress Pointe which was the other timeshare offered at Hotelkingdom and was turned off by their reviews.

Thanks.

 

[Grumpy's Mom]

If I recall, I did a search on Expedia and there was a link to tripadvisor. I think I was looking at the Orlando packages, which come up when you search for hotels, etc. in Lake Buenva Vista. Let me know if this does not work and I will see if I can retrace my steps.

 

[soiabea]

Grumpy's Mom,

Thanks for the speedy reply. Still no success. I searched through Expedia, Travolcity and Orbitz. Found the hotel each time, but no reviews yet. I thought that was because it was so new? Would you mind retracing your steps? Would appreciate it. I have booked as of Sun, however, will only loose $10 to cancel. The rate of $88 was too hard to pass up. When I called Wyndham direct, the best rate they could offer was $230 for the same 2 bedroom villa.

 

[Grumpy's Mom]

soiabea - try this link

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Re...s-Wyndham_Palms_Resort-Kissimmee_Florida.html

You will see there are some bad ones, and some good ones. After I posted my first response, I was still looking around the boards and found some more reviews - do a search and see what you think. I have a tendency to get easily put off by bad reviews -- I think the service should be excellent at the time!! But, you sure can't beat the rate you got! Where did you find that?

 

[soiabea]

FOUND IT!!!!! Thanks so much. Given the vast differences in opinions, it makes me question the neg. reports. Since everyone is invited to post a review, you wonder (given it is a timeshare property) if there isn't some competitive underwriting going on. Just a thought. Anyhow, for the $88 a night I got from Hotelkingdom.com, I will be tolerant of the complaints they posted. I still think it is much better than to have to be cramped in a small room with 4 people. I will be able to relax in the jacuzzi and the end of the day and forget about any problems!!

 

[soiabea]

Forgot to mention. The rate I got from Hotelkingdom.com DOES NOT involve sitting through the timeshare presentation. They might ask you to join, however, you are NOT obligated to attend to get this rate!

 

[Grumpy's Mom]

Cool! Have a great time -- we are vascillating between Disney Cruise and week at WDW, but week of 12/20 - and when I first checked Wyndham, they were sold out - I am rethinking my plans, though, because of the weather and the crowds - thinking the Magic, even if full, will still be better than waiting in line and getting only 3-4 rides done by middle of afternoon. When you you going? Have Fun!!

 

[soiabea]

We are going the first week in November - NJ's teacher convention week. Really getting excited. Have a wonderful time when you go in December. Thanks for all of your help.

 

[Disney845]

soiabea-

It is funny that you posted a thread concerning the hotels that you did. We recently decided to take a spur of the moment trip to Orlando and were looking at two bedroom villas. The Summerfield Suites in LBV was my number one choice (the price I had found seemed good to me -$68.00) but I waited one day too long to make the reservations and the site I was getting it off of had no more availability. I then ran across the $88.88 rate for the Wyndham Palms at hotelkingdom and decided it was too good to pass up. I also read the reviews at tripadvisor, but did not put too much stock in the bad ones. From everything I have read here on the DIS the Palms looks like a beautiful resort and I am sure we will have a wonderful time there. We leave on Thursday !!! Make sure you sign up for the Wyndham by Request program if you have not already. I find it to be one of the best "hotel clubs." I will report back about the resort and will be more than willing to answer any questions you might have after I have stayed there.

 

[soiabea]

Disney 845,

Have a wonderful trip!!! If you don't mind, would you be able to report back on the layout of the property. Have seen mixed reviews on location, and would like to know if there is a better building to request as far as location goes.

Bottom line, at $88 a night, I WON'T be expecting it to be perfect, just want to tie up any loose ends that are within my control.

Have a fantastic, super time!!!

 

[Disney845]

soiabea-

I will definitely report back once I have been at the resort. As far as room location goes. I considered requesting a specific building/location as I have been doing research on this resort on this site as well as others, but in the end decided to just take whatever I get. I have used that practice while staying onsite at WDW and have never been disappointed, although I know that some on here wouldn't be happy unless they had the exact room number they requested!! I did forget one question I had been intending to ask when on the phone confirming, I was a little rattled because the woman on the other end and I were having some communication issues. She spoke with a very strong accent, and I do not think that English was her first language (not saying there was anything wrong with this, just that it was difficult to speak to her and I forgot one of my questions). I have not seen it anywhere in my research yet, but if anyone here knows....does the Palms Resort offer highspeed internet access? Actually I think I might just post my own thread, and see if some of the great people on this site can help me.