There is already a thread ostensibly about the HGVC properties in Orlando, but that one pertains mostly to their role as timeshares and how they are marketed. I recently stayed at this property as a hotel guest and wanted to share my experience as a Diamond HHonors member on a relatively short two-day stay.

The property is well located just off I-4 very close to Disney World and adjacent to an outdoor outlet mall. There is a strip plaza across the street with a Publix, a 24-hour Walgreens and a McDonald's.

I had never stayed at a HGVC property before, but since I was traveling with my wife, my parents and my in-laws on this trip, I figured the location and amenities would suit everyone's tastes in activities better than the Disney World Hilton. The fact that my party would have two cars tipped the scales in favor of the HGVC, as the Hilton now charges $15/day per car .

We booked two rooms for this stay, one "Studio Suite" and one "One Bedroom Whirlpool Bath Suite". As far as I can tell, these are the only types of rooms at this property - one which is set up as a typical hotel room (referred to by the hotel as a "Studio Suite") with a small kitchenette that is really just built into the wall in the entryway, and the other is a true suite with a separate bedroom, a full kitchen, a dining area and a pull-out sofa. The small room was about $100/night and the 1 br was about $120.

Upon arriving, you will be stopped at the gatehouse and asked for your name. If you have a reservation, they will have a parking tag prepared with your name which you hang from the rear-view mirror of your car.

The lobby is very nice and opens onto a courtyard and the pool area. Check-in was smooth and indistinguishable from a standard Hilton. At 1 pm, our rooms were not ready, but the clerk promised to call up our cell phones when they were. No sweat. I asked about a Diamond upgrade to a two-bedroom suite for the 1 br room res, was told they would get back to me. Good enough...

We took a walk around the grounds; the fitness center is well-equipped and there is a games room with billiards tables, computers and a big screen TV. There is also a cafe nearby with coffee, snacks and drinks... I did not partake since we stocked up at Publix instead.

The property is actually a collection of buildings that house the rooms... depending on your room assignment you can be quite a hike from the lobby/pool area. If that's an issue make it known at checkin. We got rooms in the second-nearest building, so no big deal. There is usually a friendly staff member rolling by in one of their fleet of golf carts who always offer to give you a lift.

The buildings are several stories high with two elevators apiece. Never saw a queue at the elevators. The buildings themselves have all-outdoor corridors... it all looks very "Three's Company" to me but I live in a cold climate so maybe I don't get down south enough. My Mom loved the look of the place.

Eventually we were called on our phones and we returned to the lobby. No free breakfast on offer (not surprising given the self-catering options) but we got a $10 credit to the cafe per room. We were also told we were given a two-bedroom suite as requested. Great!

Got to the rooms and found that our two-bedroom suite was actually two rooms - our 1 br whirlpool suite plus a studio suite, joined by double adjoining doors. The rooms both had separate entry doors, so my request to spare my wife and I from sleeping on the pullout actually resulted in a free room from my perspective. Wow!

One downside - the parking in front of the buildings consists of only two rows of spots per building, and finding one in front of your assigned building can be challenging, especially at night. There is a more expansive lot near the lobby, but if you are more than a few buildings away, that could create another long walk. There is a few handicapped spots in front of each building, which were usually empty.

The staff are exceedingly friendly - they make it a point to smile and say hello. Even if passing by in your car, they usually wave hello. Even if it is policy - it's a nice one. On paper, you are supposed to use your room card to raise the road barrier at the entry gatehouse, but if you have your parking tag hanging, they usually raise the barrier in advance when they see you coming.

All in all, I was very impressed. No free breakfast and less than ample parking aside, the property presented very good value for money - especially considering my upgrade. Where else could you sleep 6 people in great comfort in Orlando for $120? The only other plus for the Disney World Hilton over this property is its participation in Disney's "Extra Magic Hours" promo.

If you are looking for a room near Disney, and will have a car, you really should consider this property, and if you are considering this property, do yourself a favor and buy up to the 1-br suite.