Which Hilton Resort?

[Haley R]

We decided we're gonna stay at Disney this Friday night because Dh has the day off from work. We have 41k Hilton points to use so we want to stay at one of the 3 resorts by Disney Springs. We've never stayed in that area so I'm looking for any advice/opinions from anyone who's stayed at one of these. Here are the 3 options:

1. Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista
   • 38k points 1 King Bed
2. Hilton Orlando Buena Vista Palace
   • 41k points Resort View, 1 King Bed
3. Doubletree Suites by Hilton Orlando
   • 37k points 1 Queen
   • 40k points 1 Bedroom Suite, Pool View, 2 Queens with sofabed
   • 40k points 1 Bedroom Suite, 1 King Bed, amenities delivered to room (whatever that means)

It's just the two of us for one night so we don't need a large room or anything like that. We will be driving our own car and get breakfast included since we have Gold status.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Room Amenities List
For your Comfort

• Clock Radio w/ MP3 Connection
• Dining Table and Chairs
• LCD Flat Panel TV
• Non-Smoking
• Seating Area with Sofa Sleeper
• Spacious Two Room suite
• Sweet Dreams Sleep Experience
• Video Games featured on TV

For your Convenience

• Coffee Maker
• Complimentary Remote Printing
• Digital Key Available
• Hairdryer
• High Speed Internet Access
• Iron/Ironing Board
• Microwave
• Mini Refrigerator
• Wet Bar

Now, one of the pictures shows some small bags of chips next to the coffee, but I couldn't find anything that specified what amenities.

Anyway, I'd choose the best value (i.e., this amenities room is $172 Friday night) - but that's because I like to brag about deals

 

[Hopefully]

This probably belongs on the Orlando Resorts Forum

 

[Haley R]

This probably belongs on the Orlando Resorts Forum

Oops my bad. I didn’t mean to put it on the wrong one. Hopefully a mod can move it for me

 

[Lynne M]

Oops my bad. I didn’t mean to put it on the wrong one. Hopefully a mod can move it for me

Moving it over there now.

 

[HopperFan]

Stayed at them all.

- Doubletree would be our favorite overall, but breakfast is a pain so we stopped factoring that in. We enjoy it for the suite.
- Buena Vista has a great pool area so if you plan to use that it gets step up. Not sure where breakfast is handled there, we stayed in middle of renovation and there was no breakfast option.
- Hilton is the closest to Disney Springs, a bit long in the tooth, our included "breakfast" was in the HHonors Lounge which there is not great.

Have you looked at Hilton Bonnet Creek, that would win hands down for me if you want to have EMH. I go next week and spending the week at Embassy Suites South Lake Buena Vista. I like it over all three of those at Disney Springs and the point value is usually much better. Parking is less as well, breakfast way better. But no EMH.

 

[Haley R]

Moving it over there now.

Thank you!

 

[writerguyfl]

The DoubleTree Suites is a hotel, not a resort. I've also stayed at all three. I concur that it's the best of the three choices. I'm not a breakfast eater, so I can't comment on that aspect.

The public areas of the Hilton Buena Vista Palace are really great because they were recently renovated. It feels like a resort. That said, the guest rooms have not been renovated. I checked out after one night there because the room I was given was absolutely filthy.

The Hilton Lake Buena Vista has a lot of resort-type amenities like multiple restaurants. Unfortunately, it's not a well-run property. Personally, I think you'll feel like you wasted points based on the room and lack of attention from the staff.

Without a doubt, I'd take HopperFan's advice and check out the Hilton Bonnet Creek. If you have the extra points (it's 47,000 points right now for tomorrow night), it's worth it. It's a very nice property with a great pool. I've only stayed there once, but I was impressed by the staff.

 

[Haley R]

Stayed at them all.

- Doubletree would be our favorite overall, but breakfast is a pain so we stopped factoring that in. We enjoy it for the suite.
- Buena Vista has a great pool area so if you plan to use that it gets step up. Not sure where breakfast is handled there, we stayed in middle of renovation and there was no breakfast option.
- Hilton is the closest to Disney Springs, a bit long in the tooth, our included "breakfast" was in the HHonors Lounge which there is not great.

Have you looked at Hilton Bonnet Creek, that would win hands down for me if you want to have EMH. I go next week and spending the week at Embassy Suites South Lake Buena Vista. I like it over all three of those at Disney Springs and the point value is usually much better. Parking is less as well, breakfast way better. But no EMH.

Why is breakfast a pain at the doubletree? Did you use the free breakfast from being a Hilton honors member?

We aren’t planning to use a pool so that isn’t a factor for us. We also won’t be using EMH because it’s just for one night and we are waking up and walking to DS.

I didn’t pick Bonnet creek because it costs more than the amount of points we currently have and we want it to be all on points. I looked at the parking and it says bonnet creek is $29/night while all three of the DS ones are $22/night.

Thanks for your reply! Since it’s only one night I’m leaning towards the doubletree but I want to know about your breakfast experience first

 

[Haley R]

The DoubleTree Suites is a hotel, not a resort. I've also stayed at all three. I concur that it's the best of the three choices. I'm not a breakfast eater, so I can't comment on that aspect.

The public areas of the Hilton Buena Vista Palace are really great because they were recently renovated. It feels like a resort. That said, the guest rooms have not been renovated. I checked out after one night there because the room I was given was absolutely filthy.

The Hilton Lake Buena Vista has a lot of resort-type amenities like multiple restaurants. Unfortunately, it's not a well-run property. Personally, I think you'll feel like you wasted points based on the room and lack of attention from the staff.

Without a doubt, I'd take HopperFan's advice and check out the Hilton Bonnet Creek. If you have the extra points (it's 47,000 points right now for tomorrow night), it's worth it. It's a very nice property with a great pool. I've only stayed there once, but I was impressed by the staff.

We’re wanting a hotel that’s within walking distance of Disney springs so I think we’ll probably end up going with the doubletree. It’s only for one night so it’s not too big of a deal. Thanks for your help

 

[kaytieeldr]

Thanks for your reply! Since it’s only one night I’m leaning towards the doubletree but I want to know about your breakfast experience first

Please let us know what the Amenities to the Room are!

 

[HopperFan]

Why is breakfast a pain at the doubletree? Did you use the free breakfast from being a Hilton honors member?

We aren’t planning to use a pool so that isn’t a factor for us. We also won’t be using EMH because it’s just for one night and we are waking up and walking to DS.

I didn’t pick Bonnet creek because it costs more than the amount of points we currently have and we want it to be all on points. I looked at the parking and it says bonnet creek is $29/night while all three of the DS ones are $22/night.

Thanks for your reply! Since it’s only one night I’m leaning towards the doubletree but I want to know about your breakfast experience first

There is no Honors Lounge there, breakfast is done in the “restaurant”. It’s small. You arrive, check in and then you will be seated when a table is available. We have had waits 20-60 minutes. Once seated someone gets your drinks then you go to the buffet. When we first started staying there about 15 years ago the continental was great. Of late it was minimal and the offer there to pay to upgrade to hot breakfast. As Diamond we were never offered hot breakfast like we ate at other Doubletree, it might have changed. The time involved is the biggest issue.

 

[Haley R]

Please let us know what the Amenities to the Room are!

If I book that room category I’ll let you know!

 

[Haley R]

There is no Honors Lounge there, breakfast is done in the “restaurant”. It’s small. You arrive, check in and then you will be seated when a table is available. We have had waits 20-60 minutes. Once seated someone gets your drinks then you go to the buffet. When we first started staying there about 15 years ago the continental was great. Of late it was minimal and the offer there to pay to upgrade to hot breakfast. As Diamond we were never offered hot breakfast like we ate at other Doubletree, it might have changed. The time involved is the biggest issue.

I don’t think we get lounge access anyway because we are only gold members. Waiting 20-60 minutes for breakfast is not good though. Dh wouldn’t be happy about that. I’ll have to ask him what he thinks

 

[HopperFan]

I don’t think we get lounge access anyway because we are only gold members. Waiting 20-60 minutes for breakfast is not good though. Dh wouldn’t be happy about that. I’ll have to ask him what he thinks

And that was wait time for a table. When we go now I pack breakfast food since kitchenette.

 

[Haley R]

And that was wait time for a table. When we go now I pack breakfast food since kitchenette.

We do have an ADR at homecomin at 10:20 am so if the line/wait looks too long we can just wait and eat there. I thought we could do a small breakfast at the hotel and then do our brunch. I guess we’ll see. Dh and I are gonna talk over the options when he gets home from work.

 

[Haley R]

I tried chatting with a rep from Hilton to ask about the amenities and she was super unhelpful and took forever. Whatever the amenities are (I'm thinking just snacks), I don't think it's worth 3k more points.

 

[Haley R]

We ended up booking the DoubleTree for 35k points. It's only for one night so I'm sure it'll be good enough.

 

[writerguyfl]

Please let us know what the Amenities to the Room are!

I've stayed at the DoubleTree Suites many times. I've never done this upgrade, but I have asked about it twice. It is basically a tray that comes with various sweet and salty snacks. On multi-night stays, the tray is replenished daily.

It also comes with an in-room Keurig coffee maker instead of the lousy Cuisinart pour-over pods that are in the regular rooms. I'm a HUGE coffee drinker, so I'm considering doing it on my upcoming September stay.

The cash upgrade price is listed as $17/night on that reservation. That seems expensive, but the store in the lobby sells candy bars for $2-3 each. So, you could theoretically end up close to even.

 

[writerguyfl]

We ended up booking the DoubleTree for 35k points. It's only for one night so I'm sure it'll be good enough.

It's a very good hotel. I've stayed there at least 80 nights over the past 5+ years. In all that time, I've only had one major problem. That was when a hotel guest started a fire in a microwave in a room. The entire hotel was evacuated, which made me miss my dinner reservations.

Despite the fact that the hotel didn't cause the problem, they went above and beyond to try to make it up to me. The hotel management is very good.

For the record, I spent over a decade working in upscale hotels and I also worked at Disney World. So, I feel like I know a good hotel when I see it.