Hi FT talkers,

My best friend will come visit me in the US during the first two weeks of June. I am planning this major trip, and Orlanda is one of my planned destinations, since he likes theme parks.

Which hotels should I stay at? Any recommendations... I will prefer a Hilton-related hotels, so I can get some HHonor points, but am open to any hotel.
I guess I will like to visit both Universal Studios and Disney World.

Thanks,
Carfield

Carfield

My son and his girlfriend do this trip every June 2nd to the 15th and last year they stayed at the Hampton Inn at Universal Studios. It was an award stay (my points) and they had a blast. This year I got them in at the Homewood Suites in Maitland which is closer to a friend of his and they can cook if they are so inclined. You might still be able to get an award stay if so inclined. Have a great time.


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Cheers Scott

Never stayed at a Hilton there but visited the Hilton WDW at LBV and it seems okay so long as there is no huge convention in town!

My favorite choices there:

Grand Floridian
Grand Cypress Villas
Loews Portofino Bay

And the Hyatt Grand Cypress is also just fine too as long as there is no convention there but not everyone shares my view of this place!

have a great trip!

If the cost is not a factor, pick the Grand Floridian. It's on site - service is great - the hotel is terrific.

Hi,

I stayed at the Crowne Plaza resort on Intl Drive last November for a bargain $99 a night including Breakfast. The rooms were enormous; lounge, kitchen, dining area, separate bedroom and bathroom.

Well worth it!!

Richard

I've stayed at several of the Disney hotels and loved staying on the WDW property even if I didn't get miles/points. For an upscale property, both the Polynesian Resort and the Boardwalk were great. For a more moderate priced hotel, the Caribean Beach was good. Staying at a Disney hotel does bring some perks like early admission to one park each day, the ability to purchase e-ride night tickets for Magic Kingdom, and the ability to have all purchases at Disney parks shipped straight to your room.




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portifino at universal studios, worth just for the no waiting rule for guest at islands of adventure and universal parks.
A loews hotel, I had a great time at the hyatt but Beckles sums it all up in his report on the Hyatt postings

Sometimes you can get a very good price with priceline but I don't think you can earn or use points. I got a room at Sheraton World for 47$ plus taxes (about 5$). Probably some people got a better deal.

After many visits to WDW, and many stays at their on-site properties, I finally decided to try somewhere else. Last year I was able to book, via Priceline, the Wyndham Palace, which is just across from the DownTown Disney complex. At ~$20/ night, it was extremely nice. I highly recommend it!

Carfield,
I go to Orlando often but usually end up at the Hyatt Orlando which is probably the blandest Hyatt in the world. However, it is very cheap, in a very convienent location, and has actually quite nice rooms for a glorified motel and the service is great. But I really choose it for the Gold Passport points. I would agree with most of the posts on this thread. I did stay at the Renaissance for a conference last January and was very impressed. It's a nice atrium hotel accross from Sea World. Also, look into the two Loews hotels inside Universal Studios. I heard great things about them. I would also recommend staying a night at the Hyatt inside the airport. It's probably the best airport hotel in the US and one of the best airport hotels in the world.

I agree with doc, the Villas of Grand Cypress are quite a nice respite away from the larger crowds.



[This message has been edited by dsimon (edited 04-21-2001).]

Applefan:

I too was at the Hyatt Orlando!

"blandest Hyatt in the world?"

C'mon, they have there own golf course right there, don't they!

It's a putt-putt course!

It is/was VERY inexpensive and convienient too! Glorified motel is an excellent description of this property!

Carfield,

I spend one to two weeks a month in Orlando on business. My company has corporate apartments, but last time the apartments were full and (like you) I wanted to maintain status and earn HHonors points, so I stayed at a Hilton in Suburban Orlando (Altamonte Springs).

It's kind of a drive to the attractions area, but the hotel and staff are decent.

The handling of a fire at 11:50pm was a little out of control, but that's another story.

There is free parking and I was upgraded to a club level room based on my status.

While the Hilton was decent, there is a brand new Westin in downtown Orlando. It opened on Thursday, see http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum...ML/002258.html

No HHonors points, but it's much nicer than the Hilton. The staff is spectacular. If you can cultivate some sort of Starwood status, I believe you will have good luck with an upgrade.

I checked in, the room had two queens so I called the front desk to ask if they had anything with a king.

The front desk said they did, and asked if I would like to be upgraded to a club level room. I graciously accepted, but then was told that no king rooms were available on the club level.

I was given the option of a club level room with two queens or a suite on my existing floor. I am enjoying my brand new suite, they said it's never been slept in before.

I had to move the cordless phone to the unswitched outlet and the lamp to the switched, but the hotel is great and the staff is super accommodating.

Valet is $12 per night, there's a garage across the street for hourly parking. It comes to $15 for five or more hours. It can be more expensive to self park overnight, but I asked the security guard about my situation. The security guard said that if you leave before the cashier arrives at 7:30am, to just insert the ticket on your way out and you've got free parking. Seems to be working well so far.

Here's the site for more information about the hotel: http://www.grandbohemianhotel.com/

The hotel site won't let you book anything with less than three days notice. Westin.com doesn't seem to impose this restriction. More information can be had at at http://www.westin.com/main.taf?sec=a...stid=2k1_apr19

-Robert

p.s.

I enjoy your trip reports and your postings on the Alaska board.

edited to fix bolding in quote

[This message has been edited by rwinn (edited 04-23-2001).]

Feb end, we were down there in Orlando.
Stayed at the HGVC Seaworld Resort. It was one of the better Hilton properties I have stayed at. Has a 18 hole golf course not a put put course

Choose it if you intend to laze around for a day after those loooong walks at the theme parks. The place has poolside bars with drinks served in the pool (no kids under 18 allowed in this one), poolside pool tables, and a gazebo with great direct view of the daily Seaword fireworks show.

Pricewise, you are probably looking at $125-140, though you could redeem points for a stay as it is a "Select" property even though it belongs to HGVC.

If price is a big factor, you could probably go there as one of the potential timeshare customers and pull the tag down to 225 for a three night stay. ( info on HGVC.com ). Or you could probably wait for a value rate offer to come by.

$29.95 -- Orlando, Per Night This Summer
http://www.travelzoo.com/Top20.asp?id=10241426

Source: Orlando Kissimmee Lakeside