Hotels on Hotel Plaza Blvd.

[ToTBellHop]

Hello everyone! We have just started planning our March 2004 trip to Disney World, and are considering staying at one of the Hotels on Hotel Plaza Blvd. I was wondering which of these hotels you think is the best. Thanks for your help!

1. Best Western
2. Courtyard by Marriott
3. Hilton
4. Hotel Royal Plaza
5. Doubletree
6. Grosvenor
7. Wyndham

 

[yoav_ko]

Let me help you a bit

Hi,


I would reccomend you to go to
this site,

http://pub180.ezboard.com/bpricelineandexpediabidding


Unlike the "Real" disney hotels, those hotels are friendly naighbore hotel you can actulaly get real decent prices for rooms there through priceline
I Stayed at the Best Western LBV last september for 25$ a night
and this hotel is a 70-120$ per night hotel,

the site I just gave you is a priceline users forum, it will give you reviews of the hotels and will help you determine which price is good to bid on for each of those hotels,

as a rule, Best western and Marriot are considered 2.5 stars, the Hilton Grosvenor and double tree are 3 Stars and the wyndham palace is a resort (a bit more then 4 star)

I liked the BW LBW although its a little bit old, it is clean and close to disney

 

[lentesta]

I've stayed at the Hilton, Hotel Royal Plaza and Grosvenor in the last 18 months. I'd certainly stay at the Hilton again. It's got a 24-hour mini-mart inside, a variety of decent restaurants, it's clean and you get Early Entry into the parks. Expedia usually has good rates for the Hilton, which is how I booked. Even better than Hilton.com.

The Hotel Royal Plaza probably has better rates, but the restaurant didn't seem to be as good as the Hilton, and you don't get Early Entry. But for budget Downtown Disney resorts, it ain't bad.

The Grosvenor was just okay. The decor is odd, the prices just average, and no Early Entry. I doubt I'd stay there again.

If money is really tight, the new Motel 6 looks like a real bargain. I'm not kidding - I'd stay there. The Orlando Sentinel did a piece on it - it's supposed to be the prototype Motel 6 of the future.

Sincerely,

Len

 

[Woody13]

Over the years I have stayed at all of them and I would rate them in the following order:

1. Wyndham Palace Resort & Spa
2. The Hilton
3. Grosvenor Resort
4. Courtyard by Marriott

As for the other three (Doubletree, Royal Plaza and Lake Buena Vista Resort) I would never stay at any of those again. I have one word for those hotels, bad.

As a previous post said, you might want to try priceline or some other service to check on booking a low rate. Even before the current low visitation problems at WDW, it was always fairly easy to get substantial discounts at the aforementioned good resorts. While it's been several years since I last stayed in any of these resorts, I recall that we always found rooms there for at least 40% off the rack rate (50% or better was the norm). Also these resorts are within easy walking distance to DTD. The hotels have their own bus system to run you to and from all the parks and it was very efficient and comfortable (read no standing in the aisles). Good luck and have a great trip!

 

[BJones]

We just returned from a stay at the Doubletree Guest Suites, and these are my observations from staying "offsite":

Pros:
Nice, updated, clean hotel - you get a HUGE suite that has a separate living area and a refrigerator and microwave. I really can't say enough about how large the suites are - you will have more than enough room for a family of 4.
The separate living area is convenient when traveling with teenagers, however the sofabed is very uncomfortable, but we were able to get an additional mattress to put on it. The buffet breakfast was good ($7.95) per person. And if you purchase Park Hopper tickets from their concierge in advance, you get a substantial discount. (I paid $192 for a 4-day park hopper).
Elevators were among the quickest I have ever encountered. Rooms were quiet and housekeeping was excellent.

Cons:
Definitely know you are "out" of Disney. We've stayed at the Polynesian a few times and the atmosphere doesn't even come close, but I didn't expect it to. You are a far walk from Downtown Disney, and the buses to take you there don't start running until 6 p.m.

And now the biggest drawback - the substandard bus service!
Buses would start an hour before park opening times (this hotel no longer participates in Early Entry) and run every 1/2 hour. As the day progressed, the schedule seemed to be quickly abandoned and it was kind of "hit or miss" as to whether a bus would show up when it was supposed to. Also, the Downtown Disney buses now pick up at EVERY hotel in the Hotel Plaza Blvd. area. Plan to add atleast 45 minutes each way, and we were there in an "off" time. Buses will pick up/drop off at every hotel, load and unload strollers, etc. An aggravating way to start and end your day. Also, here's a tip - if you're going to Epcot, take the Magic Kingdom bus - it drops you off at the TTC - and then take the monorail to Epcot. At the end of one day, I made the mistake of waiting for the bus at Epcot. It's dark, and you have to find Space #26 (and the numbers were worn off on the space)in the middle of a very dimly lit, huge parking lot. Just hope that another bus doesn't hit you - VERY unsafe!! I have a feeling Disney wants you to be very aware of the fact that you didn't choose to stay at one of their hotels - areas for Disney hotel buses were covered, organized and well-lit.

All in all, it wasn't a BAD experience, but I've been spoiled by the Polynesian. Next time, I'll use Mousesavers discount codes, Kingdom Konsultants, go in off-off-off peak times, basically do anything to stay at a monorail hotel. I'm at DISNEY, and I want to FEEL like I'm there!!!!