Orlando hotel advice needed

I'll be going to Orlando next month and am curious to know where other people have stayed. Obviously, I'm interested in a nice place that isn't too expensive (isn't everyone)... I've already been to the Holiday Inn Sunspree (near one of the entrances to the Disney complex) and the Comfort Suites on the road that parallels Route 4. Both were okay, but I was wondering if there is something better?

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-Rob
A.C.E. member since 1990
Posting @ Coasterbuzz since 2000
E.C.C. member since 2002

Here is a site with deals. Good luck and have fun!

http://www.floridakiss.com/specials/hotels.html

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http://coastertrackrecord.tripod.com/

Rob,

Have you thought about the Hard Rock Hotel? I work there, but it is a great hotel! it is the closest of the three universal resorts to Citywalk and the parks, and with your room key you get express rides on all rides at both parks. Also the hotel has an underwatersound system and a great slide! plus it would be great to meet a fellow coaster buzzer!

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I am one.
I am Turbo.
Top Thrill in the front row... anything else is lame

...and it will only cost you your newborn! Actually, I don't know what their roomrates are.

I often stay at the Travelodge (world's largest Travelodge) on 192 in Kissimmee. It is a bit of a drive to the Universal area but there is a lot to do nearby after hours.

Actually, you can get the Universal hotels on Hotwire at a pretty steep discount. Also, they offer 45% or so off with the Entertainment Book discount. We were able to get the Royal Pacific for $110/night.

I believe the Doubletree Suites hotel in Downtown Disney was offering weekday rates of $20.03/night. They may not be available any longer, though. We stayed at the Hotel Royal Plaza for $60/night and were upgraded to a deluxe tower room overlooking Walt Disney World.

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--Maddie--
What do I Listen-To?
Hot stuff.

Turbo-

What are the rates like? Sounds like a good deal if it won't cause me to miss my next car payment.

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-Rob
A.C.E. member since 1990
Posting @ Coasterbuzz since 2000
E.C.C. member since 2002

"Too expensive" is really a relative term, especially for someone like me who doesn't mind paying for a nice room on vacaction. We stayed at Royal Pacific last year and plan on doing it again in November. Using your room key to bypass lines even in the off-season at Universal is worth it alone, if you ask me.

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Jeff - Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com - My Blog
Blogs, photo albums - CampusFish
What time does the water show start?

That hotel key feature at the parks is a great add-on. It turned a pakced Sunday in August with huge lines into a very enjoyable day for us.

I believe 159 a night or 189. well worth it though. great theming and great hotel. the roomkeys are amazing. they get you through the park in a couple of hours, and give you first priority at citywalk restaurants and clubs (so concierge told me)

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I am one.
I am Turbo.
Top Thrill in the front row... anything else is lame

Rob,

If you seek economy but 'nice', the Quality Inn on I-drive, about a 5 minute walk from the Convention Center and across from the Orlando Point complex is only $59 a nite, with 3 pools,a sports bar, and a 24hr. store. There is a Rodeway Inn near the Magical Midway that is about $45 a nite with free breakfast. Both cater to the British, and are often overlooked by us. I have stayed at both, and they do the job.

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"Step on that lapbar and make it nice and tight!"

I'm not sure if I'd call it "nice." I stayed there in '01 and I thought it was kind of a dump, at least the wing that I stayed in. That hotel has many parts to it, so certainly your mileage may vary.

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Jeff - Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com - My Blog
Blogs, photo albums - CampusFish
What time does the water show start?

Last time down I stayed at the Extended Stay right around the corner from Universal. Daily rate was $55 per night. If your not familiar with Extended Stay, they are all new hotels, which include your own kitchen and full on-site laundry facilities. We could have walked to Universal, but with what we saved on the room, we chose VIP parking instead. Also took the tram to Seaworld from right in front of the hotel for $.75 per person. Hope this helps.

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Jim Hansen
Number of coasters ridden: 313

Jeff makes a great point. One person's "too expensive" is another's "just right" and vice versa.

I'm often surprised at how (pardon the term) "cheap" the enthusiasts sharing tips on travel around here (hotel rooms especially) are.

Hotels are one of the places where the saying "You get what you pay for" is truest of all.

Don't get me wrong, I cut trip costs every way I find feasible and understand everyone has a different budgets and needs to work with, but man, as someone who "knows" the hotel industry (my wife is a GM) I can only imagine what's being skipped to bring some of the low rates you guys throw around...and quite frankly it gives me the heebie jeebies.

Although in this case we're talking the Orlando market and they're so desperate down there right now that they'll practically give away rooms to get the occupancy, so as far as super-low rates go, that area is one of the safest bets.

Just something I've wanted to toss out there for a while. If you just need "a place to sleep", then I guess some of the advice you get from other enthusiasts is solid. But I usually want a place that is comfortable and that I don't mind spending time in. Knowing the general visitor an Orlando hotel receives, things get trashed rather quickly – I wouldn’t stay anywhere less than a Fairfield Inn or Hampton Inn at worst. And like the posts above mention, paying the price (you can still get great deals) for on-property hotels often gives benefits that more than make up the difference in price.

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www.coasterimage.com
Dorney Park Visits in 2003: 17

Depends what you are looking for Gonchar. On my recent trip to PKI, SFKK, and HW, I stayed at Motel 6 the whole time during this trip albeit at different locations. I find these hotels to be clean and professional.

I dont need first class treatment or any of that crap. I would rather spend the majority of my vacation money at the places that I took this trip to begin with. To each is own though.

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Arena football has arrived in the Windy City. Go "Chicago Rush"

Exactly, Chitown. I tried to convey that in my post - everybody is looking for something different.

I'm just often surprised at how little many enthusiasts are willing to settle for in terms of a hotel room. What's funy is I often see a negative attitude in general towards hotels from these same people (again, let me stress, I don't mean this thread in particular - I just chose to say it at this time)

I honestly think if some of these people shelled out and extra $10 or $20 in lodging, their attitudes would change.

I don't think the $69 to $99 basic rate many of the smaller "name" hotels I mention is too much to ask and usually include a continental breakfast and clean, well maintained rooms. Plus you can usually get these rooms for slightly less than posted rates. My wife has been GM at both a Fairfield and Hampton in the past and I know that both Hilton and Marriott (the companies behind these chains) aren't making money if ADR (average daily rate) falls much below those levels. Makes me really leery of what gets skipped to turn a profit at the chains that offer $39 or $49 rates.

Then in the case of "resort" style places, I still find the $159 or $189 or whatever to be a steal. You're within walking distance of the parks and save on a rental car, parking and gas, plus you get the walk-ons with your room key. In general you'll have a better time, save on a few of the additional costs of staying off property and these hotels are usually themed in a way that rounds out your entire vacation experience quite nicely.

Alternately, there is a small Marriott complex with 3 of their hotels in Orlando. Right now their rate for a room with a King bed or 2 doubles is $59. This gets you a nice clean room, breakfast and a free shuttle to all the area parks. In the long run a more comfortable and better deal than most $49 rooms that won't include breakfast and may or may not have a shuttle and even then you may have to pay to use it.

Those two options seems like no-brainers to me depending on what your after (high end vacation or low budget trip)

But again, a $39 room may be just what you need. So what do I know. Just offering up the alternate POV as it doesn't seem to be said much (especially in enthusiasts circles).

I always used to always throw out the offer to enthusiasts when visiting Dorney that I could probably swing something with my wife's hotel. Their summer rate was usually $99 and she'd do $79 for people through me. In two years we only hooked 3 people up with rooms. In general enthusiasts don't want to fork out the few extra bucks for a nice place to stay.

I doubt I'll mention it much this summer for Kennywood visitors -the low rate at this hotel is $119. I don't expect anyone to be interested in a $90 or $100 room, no matter how good the deal.

I try to help :)

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www.coasterimage.com
Dorney Park Visits in 2003: 17

Stay at the Portofino Bay hotel. It is by far the nicest in Universal, and I don't think it is much more expensive than the others. You get the front of the line acces like any Universal hotel. Don't stay at the Royal Pacific, IMO it was terriblle. Hard Rock is nice, but stay at the Portofino.
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Did you know that 3 out of 4 people make up 75% of the world's total population?- Light travels faster than sound; that's why some people appear bright before they speak.-"Did you know that the hole's only natural enemy is the pile?" -Bart Simpson

Go to priceline.com and select orlando, then select Universal Studios - Sea World area

now select ONLY the resort option

Bid $32 to $35 per nite

You'll get the wyndham resort orlando it's close to universal and seaworld, and just a short drive to everywhere else.

OR

Select Walt Disney World Area and Bid $70 per nite for a resort (this "may" work) but people have got the dolphin on disney property for $70 per nite (many places charge up to $10 per nite resoert fee) (orlando wyndham was 4ish per nite)

OR select Walt Disney World Area and bid even as low as $15 per nite (I got the Quality Inn MainGate West for $15 a nite)

ALWAYS REMEMBER with priceline you get what you get, no refunds BE CAREFUL

biddingfortravel.com is a users forum for Priceline.com and can give you a good idea of what people are getting for what, and it also talks about the different properties.

SAM
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never met a coaster I didn't ride (except Junior Geminii) :(

What's wrong with Royal Pacific, Stitch? Just saying it's "terrible" isn't really a helpful review (kinda like me saying Quality Inn is a "dump" ;)).

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Jeff - Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com - My Blog
Blogs, photo albums - CampusFish
What time does the water show start?

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Lord Gonchar said:

I'm often surprised at how (pardon the term) "cheap" the enthusiasts sharing tips on travel around here (hotel rooms especially) are.

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I think it's because the typical enthusiast takes 4-8 mini-vacations a year on the same budget that a normal person would usually take one or two regular trips.

chris - loved Royal Pacific.

I did the priceline Universal/Seaworld Area thing and for $35.00 a night i did infact get the Wyndham. $332 including tax, for 8 nights Nov 15-23. And it is listed on priceline as three star not as resort, even though in reality it is.

On my last trip I got the BW: MovieLand across from Wet n' Wild for $65 during Christmas-New Years week using Travelocity. It was a nice hotel, that also caters to the Brits.

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Dave

Magnum Force-" I cant eat on an empty stomach!" Chirs -"what did you say"
MF-I cant eat on an empty stom... Oh, Ride I mean Ride"
*** This post was edited by kneemeister 9/26/2003 1:34:47 PM ***