I remember those commercials that's why I said 192 was the gateway to the World. That was up until they built Osceola PKWY and added other entrances off of I-4. Those were the happiest days of my life!
Actually the Marriott World is notorious for it's hidden fees and expensive parking. But it's not on 192. I have always felt that 192 needs to revamp its self. If I had a group of friends invest with me, I'd start buying up dead motels and turning them into nice hotels with free breakfast and transportation to the parks. Not to mention no hidden charges. But that's happy thoughts. It's been a dream of mine since I was a kid and after acquiring my degree in hospitality to make my hometown great again. It's shameful how some of these places have been allowed to die out being so close to Disney. Sure I-Drive is next to Uni and SEAS, but the problem with that is the nasty traffic even off the peak tourist season. As for restaurants I miss Key W. Kools but I love Longhorn for it's price as well as the quality, if only Disney had restaurants like that!
To be honest there are more and more that do charge for parking at the hotel. Those are the ones that I will not go to even though I can pay that charge and still save money when compared to onsite. It's more the shortsightedness of charging for that by them that I find offensive. I would probably pay more for a room with no objection, but, to be asked to pay to park my car, in that area, is not something that I take kindly too. I had to get there someway, so I get penalized for using my vehicle to get to them so I can spend money for my room? No! I understand downtown areas where the parking is limited, hotels that have to build underground facilities, with employees, because of that limitation. OK. Don't pave a field, not have security and tell me I have to pay extra. Just one of my things.
Ah, 192. It will always be a "special place" to me. I grew up two hours south of the parks, so we'd visit for a weekend every month or so. Because of the frequent visits, and the fact that there were five of us in our family, we rarely stayed on property. Getting to stay at one of the All Star Resorts because of a great AAA or FL Resident discount was the most exciting thing to this loyal WDW For Kids By Kids reader. Instead, we made our way through the many different properties along 192 - everything from the Travelodge Suites with the big orange out front to the old HoJo near Water Mania. One place we stayed at frequently was the Magic Castle Inn & Suites, because their "suites" offered our family plenty of room and the place was actually clean and comfortable (it's still there today, but I have no idea what it's like inside). The trouble of going to hotels so much actually led my dad to buying us an apartment out in Kissimmee a decade ago, which we all still stay every other weekend or two today.
I took my wife and kids to Old Town a few months ago, on a Friday night, and man, was it a bummer. That place used to be a blast at night. No more carnival rides at the back, no more ferris wheel, lots of empty spaces, etc. Thankfully the haunted house is still there, and the general store still sells Pepsi in little glass bottles. I used to love going there for one of those a Moon Pie. Hopefully the announced refurbishment turns the place around. And does anyone remember the Jeff Foxworthy restaurant near the Burger King? That place was great.
For me, 192 was so exciting to drive up and down because so much was going on back then. So many hotels, restaurants, shops, etc. The excitement I feel driving up and down the Vegas Strip at night now is how I used to feel on 192 as a kid that simply loved being in Kissimmee/Orlando. It's a shame to see it like it is now. The old Wild Bill's plaza, which had a decent remodel, sits there empty. The Movie Rider building by Chili's and Uno is falling apart. The plaza with Boston Lobster Feast and the old American Gladiators dinner show looks like it was frozen in the 80's. And then there's all the crappy hotels, no-name "restaurants," and hookah bars. I think it'd be great to see some major improvements up and down the whole road. Some of the newly announced stuff, like MargaritaVillage and that extreme sports resort (though I'd be surprised if that actually happens), are steps in the right direction. I hope they keep it up.
What was this? It's one of many now-abandoned buildings on 192 that I'm baffled by. I had no idea there ever even was an American Gladiators dinner show. Apparently its now "The Rock Church." I pass it frequently and never knew, but was always confused by the massive size of that seemingly empty building.
Ah, 192. It will always be a "special place" to me. I grew up two hours south of the parks, so we'd visit for a weekend every month or so. Because of the frequent visits, and the fact that there were five of us in our family, we rarely stayed on property. Getting to stay at one of the All Star Resorts because of a great AAA or FL Resident discount was the most exciting thing to this loyal WDW For Kids By Kids reader. Instead, we made our way through the many different properties along 192 - everything from the Travelodge Suites with the big orange out front to the old HoJo near Water Mania. One place we stayed at frequently was the Magic Castle Inn & Suites, because their "suites" offered our family plenty of room and the place was actually clean and comfortable (it's still there today, but I have no idea what it's like inside). The trouble of going to hotels so much actually led my dad to buying us an apartment out in Kissimmee a decade ago, which we all still stay every other weekend or two today.
I took my wife and kids to Old Town a few months ago, on a Friday night, and man, was it a bummer. That place used to be a blast at night. No more carnival rides at the back, no more ferris wheel, lots of empty spaces, etc. Thankfully the haunted house is still there, and the general store still sells Pepsi in little glass bottles. I used to love going there for one of those a Moon Pie. Hopefully the announced refurbishment turns the place around. And does anyone remember the Jeff Foxworthy restaurant near the Burger King? That place was great.
For me, 192 was so exciting to drive up and down because so much was going on back then. So many hotels, restaurants, shops, etc. The excitement I feel driving up and down the Vegas Strip at night now is how I used to feel on 192 as a kid that simply loved being in Kissimmee/Orlando. It's a shame to see it like it is now. The old Wild Bill's plaza, which had a decent remodel, sits there empty. The Movie Rider building by Chili's and Uno is falling apart. The plaza with Boston Lobster Feast and the old American Gladiators dinner show looks like it was frozen in the 80's. And then there's all the crappy hotels, no-name "restaurants," and hookah bars. I think it'd be great to see some major improvements up and down the whole road. Some of the newly announced stuff, like MargaritaVillage and that extreme sports resort (though I'd be surprised if that actually happens), are steps in the right direction. I hope they keep it up.
I stayed there once, I had a Hawaiian Theme if I remember (in name only) and it's demise is a very good reason why hotels might react strongly to someone saying that they had time to build a Meth Lab.
You are not alone in that. One of the things I like most about Disney resorts is the one and done pricing. Paying to park at a resort I am paying to stay at long with a "resort fee" for a paper I never read or services I never use chaps my rump like you would not believe.
I remember reading it was built elsewhere, Delaware maybe for some sort of event and then dismantled and brought there. I thought it was clean and a steal at the prices we got. I had zero complaints until out last trip. I should have checked out and gone elsewhere. It was bad. The girl working the front desk wouldn't even respond when i said Hi how are you. just looked down, played on her phone a bit, then looked up and asked for a reservation number, keyed some stuff in told us our room number and said NEXT. Similar to how you get greeted at a Disney hotel, except the complete opposite.
Movie Rider was a simulator attraction, similar to some of the Ripley's Moving Theater attractions out there today. I never did it, but always wanted to. There was also one on I-Drive, in the building that's now Howl at the Moon.
That place (which is considered Celebration, which I wasn't really focusing on) looks great. And there are plenty of other improvements that have been made on 192, and there are a lot of other projects on the way. The majority of the road needs more improvements, though. I would say everything from the Wawa/Medieval Times/Walmart area to 192/I-Drive (besides newer stuff that has come about and the SuperTarget and such) could use some serious updating.
