Originally Posted by jcresq

I have posted two positive reviews of this hotel, and have stayed there probably half a dozen times without problems. I stayed there last night and changed my impression considerably.

Cutting to the chase: I was told this morning that the hotel changed management in January and the new management changed a number of policies. In particular, parking is no longer free (14/night for self park, 19 for valet). Breakfast vouchers for Diamonds and Golds no longer covers the full buffet but only the cold items. The full buffet is $5 more. I inquired about these changes to my breakfast server, who told me of the management change, and couldn't wait to bring out the restaurant manager to talk to me. She also expressed unhappiness about the changes, and offered to comp breakfast and take care of my parking. She basically said, they did this all the time for Diamonds who complain. So apparently, management believes they should tick off Diamonds before giving them what they want.

The changes don't stop there. I got the sense that management has hired less experienced, less expensive employees. I used express check-in, and was assigned a room other than what I had reserved. I went to the front desk to ask if they would change me to what I had reserved, and while they were at it, upgrade me (I had checked my app, there were suites and other premium rooms available). The desk clerk initially acted like I was from Mars. She finally got it together, and announced that she would put me in "one of our best rooms." I have previously stayed in some very nice rooms in this hotel. The room she assigned me did not fit that description. It was a room. A room that lacked sufficient electrical outlets to plug in a laptop (or anything else) at the desk. I had to unplug the lamp to plug in my laptop, but who really needs light anyway? By the way, the other lighting in the room was inadequate as well.

The carpets on my floor (the HHonors floor) were dirty and frayed.

The breakfast was not well presented, at any price. They previously made omelets and pancakes to order; nobody said anything about that to me when I arrived, so I went to the buffet, which was more or less a Hampton Inn style arrangement, down to the make your own waffle. The syrup came in a pitcher which was covered in syrup, so my hands got sticky from using it. The rest was nothing special. While i was eating, I overheard my server telling someone else he could order an omelet. I asked why he hadn't offered that to me; he told me that it was because I had a Continental breakfast voucher. So....people with vouchers get fewer options and less service? And those people would be Diamond and Gold HHonors members...That's when the discussion about the changes ensued. I also overheard someone ask for Earl Grey tea, only to be informed that they didn't have that, only "black" and "green" teas.

So, management changes, cost cutting, reduced service. Oh well, it was nice while it lasted. The new Hampton Inn up the street is really nice!

Originally Posted by writerguyfl

This statement is simply not true.

• DoubleTree Orlando Airport: $16 self parking/$20 valet
• Embassy Suites Orlando Airport: $16 self parking
• Renaissance Orlando Airport: $16 self parking/$19 valet
• Hyatt Regency Orlando Airport: $19 self parking/$25 valet
• Orlando Airport Marriott Lakeside: $18 self parking/$24 valet
• Hilton Garden Inn Orlando Airport: $10 self parking
• Sheraton Suites Orlando Airport: $10 self parking
• Embassy Suites Orlando Airport: $16 self parking
• Residence Inn Orlando Airport: $10 self parking
• Courtyard Orlando Airport: $12 self parking

Indeed there are some airport-area hotels that have free parking. But the DoubleTree is not the only hotel that has parking charges.