Would you stay at Doubletree Universal or Four Points??

[kmc33]

I have narrowed it down between the Doubletree at the entrance to Universal and Four Points Studio City. I keep going back and forth on which to stay at. It's more than just the difference between the two hotels. I am thinking if I stay at the Four Points I will get a rental car (however I realize that if the shuttle isn't convenient I may need to drive to the park or take a cab). If I stay at the Doubletree I will probably use Mears from the airport to the hotel because I don't want to pay parking at the hotel if we will walk to the parks and not use the car except to get to and from the airport.

I like the idea of being able to walk to the parks, but I also like the convenience of having a car. What would you do??

We are going for three nights in Nov. (11-14). We are planning to go to US and IOA on the Friday and Saturday. It is basically a mother/son trip to see WWoHP. But my son who is 11 has never been to US or IOA. I appreciate any feedback to help me decide!!!
Thanks!
Kim

 

[tink1957]

I just got back from a 3 night stay at the Doubletree with a Universal view and it was great. Only a short 10 minute walk to the parks and a better view than the one I had at RPR later in our trip. The only thing I didn't like was the low flow toilets that took many flushes. We took a taxi back one night from HHN and it was around $4.00. The shuttles ran at 8:25am, 10:10am, and 11:10am with return times at 5:20pm, 6:35pm and 7:20pm.

The chocolate chip cookies they give you at check-in are yummy too!

Hope this helps.

 

[Greg@Fourpoints]

First, let me say that I work at the Four Points!

We are a smaller hotel (301 rooms) so you might feel "lost" at the other hotel . We are also walking distance to the parks. Many of our guests choose to walk to/from the park. While it is a little further (about 1 mile "door to door" it is a nice walk af about 15-20 minutes. We also offer complimentary shuttle transportation and a taxi ride is fairly cheap from our hotel as well.

We have a great outdoor pool, game room, 24-hour fitness center, free wired Internet in the rooms, and free wireless Internet in the rooms and in the public areas. We also have two computers for guest use (with free printing). You are correct that we do not charge for parking and we even have a car rental company (Alamo) on-site. And that $5 bottle of that is in most hotel guests rooms--well, that is free also and we replenish it daily! We have a mini-golf course on site and are close to numerous restaraurants, shopping and attractions on International Drive.

I hope that this helps!
Greg Blackwood

 

[bubba's mom]

Never stayed @ Sheraton, but just stayed @ DT Sunday nite (after HHN).

Had NO problems with DT or cleanliness.

We didn't have/need a rental car...but they do charge to park one. With being so close to the parks, it's easily walkable...either to the parks or to PBH where you can hop their boat to the parks.

We didn't pay for a rental because staying at DT you don't need a rental car.

Don't know if that helps you or not...but if the only reason you are getting a rental car is to/from the parks, seems like a lot of $ for little usage. Pay to rent, pay to park.... nah....

 

[hpfan100]

Doubletree's location can't be beat. It is at the light to the main entrance of the park. Also, there is a Walgreen's and few restaurants in the parking lot that you can walk to for groceries and dinners. I know Doubletree is a hilton property and normally Hilton properties have excellent service and amenities. On the con side that doubletree nickel and dimes you. there is a fee for everything (internet, parking, breakfast etc.)
I don't know anything about four points but Sheraton properties are excellent too. I would check the fees there too.

 

[bubba's mom]

We ate at the restaurant for breakfast at DT.

Granted, a bit pricer than the local diner at home for eggs, but it was easy access, filling and pretty good.

DH had the breakfast buffet...it had everything AND it filled him up! My DH never skips lunch...but he was still full from breakfast by lunchtime. Mof, he was still full when we landed in PHL Methinks DT lost $$ on his buffet (which was $17 btw)

 

[Bobo912]

I've never stayed at the Four Points, but I've stayed at the Doubletree twice. If you're not staying onsite, I think it's a perfect location. It's an easy walk, so I wouldn't bother with the shuttle, which is crowded and stops at other hotels, and I think it's just a waste of time. My experience has been that the staff was friendly, the rooms and pool were nice and the foodcourt is convenient. We didn't use the sit down restaurants or lounge. We took the Mears shuttle from the airpot and never needed a car, but I think there was a car rental location in the lobby, but I may be misremembering.

 

[dfriia]

First, let me say that I work at the Four Points!

We are a smaller hotel (301 rooms) so you might feel "lost" at the other hotel . We are also walking distance to the parks. Many of our guests choose to walk to/from the park. While it is a little further (about 1 mile "door to door" it is a nice walk af about 15-20 minutes. We also offer complimentary shuttle transportation and a taxi ride is fairly cheap from our hotel as well.

We have a great outdoor pool, game room, 24-hour fitness center, free wired Internet in the rooms, and free wireless Internet in the rooms and in the public areas. We also have two computers for guest use (with free printing). You are correct that we do not charge for parking and we even have a car rental company (Alamo) on-site. And that $5 bottle of that is in most hotel guests rooms--well, that is free also and we replenish it daily! We have a mini-golf course on site and are close to numerous restaraurants, shopping and attractions on International Drive.

I hope that this helps!
Greg Blackwood

Thanks, Greg for posting. We are coming down to stay at your hotel soon so that I may spend my birthday in Hogsmeade. You have upped my anticipation level! See you soon, Debbie

 

[ArielRae]

DH and I plan on staying a the Double Tree Nov 1 - 4

I have a question about the parking.

When do you pay the parking? Is it payed when you check in or when you leave? I notice in a satilite view they don't have a guard or gate house to the parking lot so how do they charge you for parking unless you tell them you have a car at check in? Do they give something to put in your car window to say you paid for parking so you don't get towed I'm guessing?

Any info from your experience would be great.

 

[tink1957]

You pay for the parking when you check out. There's a gate into the parking lot where you swipe your room key for access.

 

[Stacy's a freak]

Thanks for posting, OP! I'm staying at DT 11/26-11/29 and it's great to hear the feedback.

To the poster who had a view of the park, did you pay extra for that view? Is it something you just requested at check-in? It's not essential for us, but it would be pretty cool

 

[tink1957]

I'm not 100% certain but I think I paid around $5.00 more per night for a Universal view which was well worth it since the last time we stayed we paid for a Std view and got a view of the roof and dumpsters.

 

[Bobo912]

We've had views of the parks on both of our stays, and I didn't pay extra. I did'nt ask for a view of the parks either. First time we were there in early April (it was around Easter) and the second time was in late June. The hotel didn't seem anywhere near full either visit, so maybe they charge extra during busier times.

 

[ArielRae]

Is there a place to park while you check in since you don't have a room key to use their parking lot? We don't want to valet.

Is there signs when you drive up to help you find it if not can you tell me where to look for it. Thanks. Trying to get everything planned.

 

[kmc33]

Thank you for the responses. It looks like there are a lot of positive experiences at DT. And I appreciate Greg's input. Even though he may be biased it was informative.

Anyone that has stayed at Four Points???

 

[bubba's mom]

We took the Mears shuttle from the airpot and never needed a car, but I think there was a car rental location in the lobby, but I may be misremembering.

There is an Avis rental desk in the lobby, but there are also cabs that seem to just sit there and wait to be called. There is a parking attendant out front at all times. He asked us if we needed a cab and we said 'no, we are waiting for our car'. But the people that came out after us asked to get a cab, and he just called him over. There seemed to be a few of them just sitting there...guess they get a lot of business? Or, if it wasn't a cab, maybe a shuttle?

You pay for the parking when you check out. There's a gate into the parking lot where you swipe your room key for access.

The key (or the leaflet it comes in) specifically says if you have a car onsite, take your roomkey with you to swipe to exit their lot.

To the poster who had a view of the park, did you pay extra for that view? Is it something you just requested at check-in? It's not essential for us, but it would be pretty cool

idk if you mean me...but, no...we didn't pay for park view upgrade. 2 reasons: first, we just spent the night before at PBH harbor view...park view isn't as pretty as that. second....we knew we weren't getting to our room till very late (after HHN)....what were we gonna see...in the dark? and, how long would we really have to look at it? i'll upload our pix and get 'em posted for you.

We've had views of the parks on both of our stays, and I didn't pay extra. I did'nt ask for a view of the parks either. First time we were there in early April (it was around Easter) and the second time was in late June. The hotel didn't seem anywhere near full either visit, so maybe they charge extra during busier times.

When i stopped by Saturday (10/9) to be sure I could pre-check in and stow our bags, she happened to mention they were sold out that Sat AND Sunday nite. She said was good thing we had res. Then again, it WAS holiday weekend.

Is there a place to park while you check in since you don't have a room key to use their parking lot? We don't want to valet.

Is there signs when you drive up to help you find it if not can you tell me where to look for it. Thanks. Trying to get everything planned.

There is an attendant there to help you...just ask him/her. You can leave your car out front while you check in.

 

[bubba's mom]

can't upload my pix to photobucket to post.

DH is gaming and when I started to upload them to PB, he got mad he was getting lag.

sorry...gotta wait till 2morrow.

 

[bubba's mom]

Was able to upload pix today....

Our room was 1526 and it actually faced the other building. But, if you looked to the right, across the street, there was Universal.

The view:

Parking garage and Dr Doom in the center of pic...HRRR on right (in distance)

Parking garage, Doom, IOA lighthouse (smaller to the right), Hulk, JPRA, look all the way to the right and you can see Mythos & the entrance to the Studios

From left (in the distance), Hogwarts, (going right) HRRR and HRH in the foreground.

Parking garage and look in the distance from the center of the pic to the left...."yellow" building is RPR.

So...not the BEST view, but A view nonetheless. A bonus since I chose to not pay for the upgrade to park view.

 

[busymom_of5]

We chose the 4 points. Does anyone know if there is a club level there? Also, we will be there for 4 nights, doing SW and US/IofA, do we need a car, or should we skip that $125 expense. Thanks!

 

[Csaks]

Nice to see some reviews on DT. Will be there on Sunday, checking out on Tuesday after getting the HP fix. Then off to Disney for 10 days.