Nick Hotel - Any Thoughts - Experiences

Have any of you been to the Nick Hotel in Orlando? Any thoughts? Is the shuttle service worthwhile from the hotel to the parks (Disney, Universal, Wet 'n Wild & Sea World) or should I rent a car to have more control of when and where I go?

I'm not posting this looking for info as to the rates, features, best times to go, etc. I just wanmt to know from an enthusiast's point of view if it was worth it or not and if you have any memorable experiences to share.

By the Way...My son is 7. He likes parks, but when he gets tired, he's gone for the day. (Height restriction of 43") My wife enjoys a good family resort without too much of a crowd, (not likely in Orlando during April's vacation season) but she is basically a non-rider who doesn't want to cram in too much into one day.

I am willing to drop the "get there before it opens and be the last to leave" mentality for this trip. I have to to make this work.

Thanks for your help.

Ive never stayed there, but its basically just a Holiday Inn Resort that they did a remodel to. Looks nice on the outside, but its kinda far from Universal, its actually just across I-4 from Disney property. Pretty secluded though...surrounded by trees. Only thing in the immediate area is the World Center Marriott and the Gaylord down the street and a few apartment complexes.

If you have small kids maybe they'd be pretty interested in it just for the characters. If you are looking to duck in and out of parks, its a bit out of the way, which may not be a bad thing.

A few owners from my park went back in October to "check it out" and had nothing but wonderful things to say about the property. They brought their kids and spent 2 full says in the pool area...the other 2 at WDW Parks. Their kids had a great time, lot's of activities, pools and aquatic activities to keep busy with. The theming is incredible.... and lots of room to relax.

Based on their reviews, I would not mind visiting the resort myself....

In my opinion...you should always rent a car for Orlando trips...especially if you are doing Disney and Universal. As good as it sounds on paper...hotel transportation (including Disney on-sight) is not as convienient as having your own car. When you have tired kids and a nagging wife, the last thing you want to do is "just miss" the bus back to the hotel.

As far as the property...the posts above sum it up! I stayed back in the Holiday Inn (Sunspree?)days. It was great for us...but we had a car and could zoom in and out of Disney in minutes...especially Epcot (my ususal night park) and MGM!

P.S. If you are a AAA member...ask your AAA office about getting a "Diamond" parking pass for Disney. It is not cheaper...but will get you closer most of the time!

From the picture in Time Magazine from a couple of months ago, it's certainly very bright! It looks like orange was their favorite color. The onsite waterpark looks like fun for the kiddies (slides don't look too intimidating).

My girlfriend and I just stayed here for two nights at a really cheap rate, < $80. Your wife would love it, they have an adult pool with two hot tubs, and a large all ages pool area with two pools and four hot tubs. Both are open until 11pm each night. It has shuttles to all the parks in the area and is a ten minute walk from Sea World. There is also a movie theatre that shows movies each night for free and can be rented out if you want and there are a bunch of other activites. It was really nice, I wish we had better weather to enjoy it.

Here are a few photos

I second the idea of renting the car though unless you plan on staying at the Universal resort. That place is really easy to move around.
*** Edited 12/10/2005 2:15:08 AM UTC by eightdotthree***

Nick hotel is awesome for kids, I have a bunch of friends who work there, plus the pool manager. The pool is amazing and they have a huge kid area, playstation in the rooms, and an A&W on property. It is a few miles (maybe 3 or 4 ) from downtown Disney and the Premium Outlet Mall.

Rent a car when yhou are hear, and pack a hoodie, because if you are coming soon, the weather is kinda cool at night.

*** Edited 12/10/2005 5:37:19 PM UTC by Turbo***

Thanks everyone for your help. I booked the Nickelodeon Hotel for April, but I thought that $277 plus 11.5% hotel tax was very steep. What do you expect for peak season in Orlando? Tack on air-fare and car rental and it added up very quickly.

Eightdotthree: Thanks for the photos. It got my son very excited about the trip.

Richie Reflux *** Edited 12/19/2005 4:49:57 AM UTC by Richie Reflux***

I think this is crazy...You can stay at the Red Roof Inn on International Drive (actually Hawaian Court Drive which is an offshoot from International Drive that is right next to the convention center) for less than $50 per night...and maybe even less than $30 (ask for weekly rates) if you are creative (I do this all the time at Spring Break and Christmas...though they know me well and MAY be giving the extreme discount due to my continued patronage). This is less than a 1/2 mile from Sea World!

It has a pool and hot tub. The rooms are all new...the hurricaine led to a recent overhall!

It is not a fancy---themed place...but it is clean and comfortable. You can walk to Mc Donalds, Red Lobster, IHOP, Denny's, etc! There is a great convienient store right there with all snacks (and good pizza). The convention center motel next door (2 minute walk) has a high end steak house and good buffet...not to mention the pool there is awesome nobody checks to see you are staying cheaper! Rental cars are available here too!

I would NEVER pay that price (unless you were onsight Disney and really wanted to experience the whole thing---and even then it is not worth it for me when I can stay for so cheap)...you can get a whole week for $277...and use that money for theme park upgrades...etc!

JeffreyR: I agree with you completely. It wasn't my choice and it isn't "MY" trip. If it were up to me, I would be somewhere in a Motel 6...heck I'd even take a Motel 5.

Stay at the Red Roof? Heck, I would sleep ON the Red Roof. (And shoo away the seagulls)

Sometimes in order to do what we want, (Summer Trips) we have to give in to "Outside Demands." I am not willing to fight this battle.

Confidentially, if I can't do parks "My way" I don't even want to go.

It's a long way off, but I promise to post a trip report. The good, the bad and the ugly.

Ah the things we do for those we love.

I actually stayed at this hotel back when it was the Holiday Inn Family Suites before it was remodeled. They had just opened about a month before we went there. It was a great place. I was about 12 at the time, still young enough to enjoy the place. The seperate room for the kids was a real blast. My sister and I having our own TV was a lot of fun...we could watch our Nickelodeon at night instead of some boring thing my parents would watch.

When I was there, the large water playstructure was not there, it was just a few little kiddie pools. The main pool was there, and it was a lot of fun.

I suggest this hotel for anyone with kids ages 4-12'ish. It's really the perfect place to stay. You can spend days at the hotel just hanging out by the pool. A big moneysaver in the moolah black hole of Orlando.

Richie...I feel for you buddy! I've got a Californian wife who often dictates our places of stay! Due to EXTREME price savings and the fact this Red Roof is possibly the best in the entire chain...I've been able to skate by on my Orlando trips! :-)

As for $277 per night...Have you checked onsite Disney or USF? You should be able to get All-star Sports/Music on Disney for cheaper than that! The Caribbean (Beach Resort?) themed hotel on property might come in below $277 per night also!

I've nothing against where you are staying...but for the price range...you might be able to DO IT RIGHT and stay on property! As nice as the Nick hotel is for kids...it still is not Disney!

As for USF...they are nice too...but every time I have checked they have been out of the price range!

Again...at $277 per night...you should be able to stay top of the line (except for Grand Floridian)... I would contact Disney directly to see what the packages are for your visit date! You may be surprised (good or bad)!

P.S. The more I think about it…after writing all this…Check out the Port Orleans onsite Disney!

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/resorts/resortLanding?id=PortOrleansRiversideResortLandingPage

I just ran a random search for ROOM ONLY from April 12th through the 19th for 2 adults and 2 kids! The rate came out to $1500++ for the week! About $215 per night and you are ONSITE with the Disney transportation at your disposal! The resorts are Disney quality and the pools are made for kids. The restaurants are onsite! It is a matter of preference…but if you have never stayed onsite…I would go this route!

P.P.S. If you start factoring in packages with ticket options…I’m guessing you’ll save even more! AND have a better vacation than you would going to/from Nick!!!!

*** Edited 12/20/2005 1:47:41 AM UTC by Jeffrey R Smith***

The thing with that $275 rate is the timing. Spring Break rate bump, Easter weekend even. Bah!

The rate drops $100 a night the next week and another 15 or 20 bucks the week after that.

Even the Red Roof Inn (*shudder*) that J.R.S. mentions is going for $89/$99 a night that week.

Not if I call... :-)

So you're offering to make the reservation for him? ;)

I do advise anybody to call the motel directly (do not use central reservations) and ask for the weekly rate...even if you are only staying 4-5 days this seems to work!

I am a little worried about the $89/$99 quote...I do not remember it ever being that high! I ALWAYS am there during busy season since I work in education and my days off are when it is crowded!

They either are charging more for the new rooms (I was worried about this when they redid the rooms) OR there might be a convention next door!

Nah, they're paying for the re-do.

They're still at $80/$89 the first week of May.

And hell, the rates at the Courtyard at Marriott Village that same week in May are at $107 for a double queen room.

Marriott quality, 1 mile from WDW, shops and restaraunts, gated community well out of the 'touristy' hustle and bustle of I-Drive, free shuttle service to the parks all day long.

Spending the $18 is a no-brainer in my book.

(Insight into the mind of the hotel snob ;) )

The maximum rate for Disney All-Star and Pop Century is 129$ a night and that's during peak period! Usually, it hovers between 89-99$ a night.

Damn it...give me the old room for $24 per night (This is what I paid for 2 weeks in Christmas-New Years 2003)! The new rooms are not worth the upgrade in price!

...the mind of a hotel (your only going to sleep there anyway) cheapo! :-)

...besides...there has never been a nice motel pool I could not sneak into!

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Jeffrey R Smith said:
...the mind of a hotel (your only going to sleep there anyway) cheapo! :-)

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Nothing wrong with that approach. In fact, I'd say it's more common than not.

However, I don't just sleep at the hotel. I use the restroom, I shower, I swim in the pool, I roam the grounds, I watch TV, I surf the net...

...pretty much what I do at home.

I'm essentially living in that room for a week.

Granted, I'll be spending most of the day elsewhere and on occasion be going out at night for dinner or sightseeing or some other attraction...

...pretty much what I do at home. :)

I don't necessarily think of my home as 'just a place to sleep' and am concerned of the quality of my surroundings and living space. I guess I just apply the same philosophy to travel.

(I'm such a b*tch! ;) )