We had to stay an extra night in Orlando and just used a coupon book to find this hotel. For just 49$ we had a decent room with an (old, but working) fridge, free parking and free full breakfast - and the Theme Park, which we needed was almost next door. If you just need to stay over night and spend the whole day in a park - it is not a bad deal (financially) - better than what we have with our time share in Orlando...

Despite the mixed reviews read prior to going; thought I'd go bravely nonetheless. Checkin was fine and lobby area appeared decent enough. Upon entering assigned room; first impression dirty, stained carpet, musty, stained rickety chair. Room change request was immediately honored, and new room looked much better and tolerable. Later on saw what I thought was an "ant" and then another "ant". Turned out to be baby roaches which came out to play in "numbers" that night. Staff got me some "Raid Ant & Roach" Spray which I utilized to the end of the stay. Next day, Room change was again accomodated by Staff (friendly and helpful). Did not see any more bugs.....but couldn't help wondering where they were hiding! Place is a goldmine if only they would put some money back into it like fumigating, updating furniture, adding microwaves (refrigerator is already good touch), Internet access throughout, paint job (can do wonders), replacing old faucets, bathmats. Place seems to be popular with locals. Observed lots of younger folks complete with cases of brew and bottles of liquor seemingly to party there on the weekend. Thankfully the noise level was not excessive. Housekeeping does well in working with what is available to them and DO change towels daily. Coffee shop is open from 6:30 to 10:30 am daily with reasonably priced. Small assortment of pastries (danish, bagels, slices of white/wheat, donuts), cereal, milk and juices. Tasty coffee, friendly staff. Would be a nice touch to have it opened for lunch with premade sandwiches, salads etc. Better to stick with the familiar eating places as IHOP and Dennys for breakfast. The All you Can Eat Buffets are not always what they appear. Some have additional charges (must purchase) drink to get advertised prices. However the prices of the drinks are $2.00 up (coffee/tea) so it works out to be the same as places mentioned. Tried the PONDEROSA on the 6500 block closest to the Continental Plaza and was OHH so disappointed. Service was horrible, food was processed, no brewed decaf (server made me instant) without informing me there was no brewed decaf. WOW!. Also tried a Brazilian All you Can Eat on the 6000 block as well. Buffet was $15.95 per person, thought selections were limited (white rice, fried plantains, black beans, red beans, collard greens (made into a chopped raw salad), dessert and salad bar (not much or tasty choices). Meat was okay, but watch out for the rock salt (makes meat too salty at times). Movies at the Cinemark down the street runs between 6.25 (child) and 6.75 (adult) daily. First shows for the day are all $5.00. Movie theaters are clean and spacious. Lots of Putput golf in the area.

My first ever trip from the uk (1998 dec)was to this hotel,it was a cheap last minute fly drive,we just slept in in it,pool was freezing,shaded by hotel,the rooms looks the same as they did then,wasn't a welcoming checking not even a smile,I've been looking at the photos on here,omg it's looks the same,just it's changed it's name a little,every holiday that I've been on to Orlando since,I've made a point on not stayin anywere like that again,u get wot u pay for?i wouldnt even ppl I don't like to stay there,awful ......!!!!!!!

Myself, my son (aged 12) and my daughter (aged 7) stayed in this hotel from 8th dec to 22nd traveling with First Choice. Upon arrival it was pretty late in the evening to do anything so we lost that day, we just ventured out to Walgreens (supermarket) and KFC which is right next door to the hotel. First impressions were not very pleasing but i thought it wouldn't matter as we wouldn't be in the room that much anyway so it was bearable to sleep in. They do charge a tax upon check in which i find strange that First Choice fail to advise you about!!

I have read the reviews and completely agree with the negative ones. The carpet in the room is dark and dirty looking and i wouldn't let my kids walk around bare feet. It does feel unsafe and due to this for the first few nights i kept awake as long as possible listening to every noise to ensure that no one was trying to get in our room.

The bus from the hotel to Walt Disney was disappointing, there are only two busses to WD, one at 7.25am and one after 11 but the first bus back is at 6.00pm, we usually got the 7.25am so we could be first at the parks before it got too busy but we found the first bus back to the hotel was too late as we had been walking round for 10 hours. I would therefore not recommend this hotel to people with young children, actually i wouldn't recommend it at all.

We never used the bus service to universal as, again, the times were rediculous, the first bus being lunch time. On the first time we went to universal we asked reception to ring us a taxi to which he charged $10, i later found out that the taxis you call yourself only charge $5.25. I asked reception why she rang a taxi that charges so much and she said that she couldn't call the ones i had used only the ones that they called (it later became apparent that the hotel gets a cut of the taxi drivers ripping you off - the ones that they ring for you).
Luckily Universal is within walking distance so we would have a nice walk there and back somedays and didnt need a taxi afterall.

Seaworld - went to order tickets only to be told that if i was American i could get a reduced ticket price instead of paying $222 i would only have to pay $122 - due to this i did not buy the tickets on the grounds of the fact that American's seem to think that it is right to discriminate against tourists. Apparently to live the American Dream you must be American!!!


We only ever saw our rep when we were collected from the airport upon arrival and upon departure which i thought was pretty bad. They give you a welcome meeting the day after your arrival but with all due respect why would you wait around the hotel until midday when you could be out using your park tickets that you have paid for? This didn't seem to make sense to me and so i was off out with my kids.

I travel a lot and have been to quite a few third world countries to which i can say i have felt safer in, not to mention the friendliness. To me it seemed that the people's attitudes here were, well if you don't like it we dont care - funny really as when we were going back to the airport and traveling through the other areas you could see a lot of the real Florida housing estates and i thought to myself - well there you go - that's the real Floridians after all!! (worse than moss side, actually moss side is luxury to that).

Now as i have said, i wasn't bowled over by the hotel or the cleanliness but as always being the nice person that i am i left the maid a number of items in my room (442) upon departure along with $20. As we vacated our room my daughter failed to pick her Harmione Wand up from the open safe that she had purchased from Harry Potter World at Universal - she only remembered when we were boarding and so when we arrived back at the UK i telephoned the hotel (2.00am their time) who advised that i should ring back at 9.00am to which i did. I spoke with housekeeping who asked me to call back after he had checked with the maid - i telephoned back on three occasions only to be fobbed off. I eventually asked the main reception to put the First Choice rep on the phone (Lee), i advised him what had happened to which he said i needed to speak to the hotel as it was a matter for them (not satisfactory at all really - it seemed like it was a case of we've had your money now sod off - no after care whatsoever). I again spoke with the hotel who advised that they would speak to the maid for me - i stayed on the phone and their response was that the maid had advised that there was absolutely nothing left in the room. i advised that this is completely untrue as i had left a number of items along with money yet the maid had denied this and that from my point of view the things that were left for her didn't seem to be enough that she chose to also steal the wand which anybody walking into the room would know from where it was left it had been left accidentially. I advised the reception that i would be writing to complain as this was blaitant theft and lies. It took me some 10 minutes to get all the details of whom i should write to and the names of the person i was speaking to along with the maid to which i do not think he gave the correct ones in any event as he was very vague. (names being Zak Jah and the cleaner Sherzad Jahharoe)

I was on the phone for over 40 minutes just in one call - which i am sure i could have bought three more wands for the money it'll cost for the phone calls but it was just simply the sentimental value to my little girl and how she was so upset without it, this being the reason for it meaning so much to me.

All in all the staff appear to be thieves and liars, something the hotel doesn't seem to have a problem with.

I, like others are unaware how this hotel can get a good report, unless of course you really dont go on holiday much or simply ignorant to the bad service received. I mean theft for me is simply a big no no... that is where the line is drawn!! Needless to say i will not be returning to this hotel and have wrote a letter to the management and to First Choice concerning the theft. Believe me, if i was still in the US i would not hesitate in going to the Police to pursue the matter further. If you have already booked to stay here - GOOD LUCK!