Best Western Movieland

[universalfan]

Can anyone help please. We are booked into the Best Western Movieland on International drive. If anyone else has stayed there can you please tell me if the rooms have safes and also what the shuttle service to Disney is like and how much do they charge for this?
Many thanks :wave:

[tura2]

The Best Western Movieland does have safes in its room. You have to pay a depoist for the key but I cant rember how much it cost. I saw poster up at reception for the bus service to disney but we never used them. We found it more convient to use taxis. :wavey:

[SusieK]

Hi we stayed ther in 2005 and there was a safe - not huge but held camera, travellers cheqes etc. I can't help with the shuttles as we had a car.

[°o°-Hannah-°o°]

we're staying there in november, not sure about shuttles and taxis will end up costing a small fortune but you can use the local buses. the i-trolley up to seaworld and the swap to the lynx costs about $1.50 each bus, kids under 12 are free i think. it doesn't take too long to do and the drivers and locals couldn't be more helpful when it comes to getting the right bus

[tura2]

I went to disney once using the trolly bus then swapping to the lynx bus. Found the driver very helpfull and the the journey very cheap but it took us 2 hours to get there. It only took 20 mins in a taxi and cost about $30. There were six of us in our party so it was quicker and just as cheap to go by taxi :wavey:

[tinkerella]

I went to disney once using the trolly bus then swapping to the lynx bus. Found the driver very helpfull and the the journey very cheap but it took us 2 hours to get there. It only took 20 mins in a taxi and cost about $30. There were six of us in our party so it was quicker and just as cheap to go by taxi :wavey:

havent stayed at this hotel but did use taxis for getting to and from disney parks at $60 round trip we too had 6 in our party dont forget to tip your driver, we used the same driver all the time when needed taxis and paid him after the return journeys he was always prompt and gave really good advise etc etc his name was jojo but for live of me cant remember taxis company name though dh said it could have been something like town and country

[uklad23]

I have stayed their last year. The shuttles had to be paid for and the times were rubbish for us as they didn't pick up that late. We just used the Lynx bus, forget the I-Ride as someone said you will be looking at a much longer journey using that. That is due to it being used as a local traveling tourest info by stupid people (people actually stop it to ask questions!) I gave up on it years ago and always use the Lynx as it is used by locals who just get on the bus and sit down. The lynx will take 20mins to get to Seaworld from your hotel then if it is running ontime you will be on the Lynx 50 within a few mins as they are well timed so you are not at a stop for too long. To get to DTD it takes 10min and 20mins to TTC.
If you want to go to MK get on teh Lynx to TTC jump on the monorail at TTC (5mns).
If you want to go to Epcot get the Lynx to TTC jump on the monorail at TTC (5mins).
If you want to go to the Waterparks get off the Lynx at DTD and get on a direct bus from their(5mins to TL and 10mins to BB).
If you want to go to MGM get the Lynx to TTC, monorail to Epcot then hop on a Disney bus to MGM (15mins).
If you want to go to AK get the Lynx to TTC get the monorail to a resort and change to a bus to AK (20mins).

[Villainlover]

If you want to go to Epcot get the Lynx to DTD jump on the monorail at TTC (5mins).


You make it sound so easy, but you missed out how to get to the TTC from DTD did you not? or should that have said Lynx to TTC?

[°o°-Hannah-°o°]

we used the lynx and i-trolley to get back to and from i-drive in 2005 and it took maybe 20mins wasnt that long at all, i guess different people ahve different experiences but ours have all been good and there's no way we could afford taxis at $60 a day!

[Lesley_Perschky]

Get the Lynx bus number 8 to Seaworld, then the Lynx bus number 50 to the TTC. Best Westeren Movieland is a horrible insect ridden hotel. We stayed there in December and had a horrible time. Rude staff, it took three days for them to agree to change our room!

[Villainlover]

Get the Lynx bus number 8 to Seaworld, then the Lynx bus number 50 to the TTC. Best Westeren Movieland is a horrible insect ridden hotel. We stayed there in December and had a horrible time. Rude staff, it took three days for them to agree to change our room!

gee .. it gets such good reviews too? I nearly booked this hotel as I believe they have computers in all the newly refurbished rooms .. it was just the $6.50 a day resort fee that put me off :erm:

[universalfan]

Thank you all for your help and advice. I must admit I am a little worried about the hotel now.

[AuntyA]

hiya

dont let bad comments worry u too much or you'll make yourself ill :(

before we went last year, were staying in the holiday inn internationla, i went on trip advisor and it was slated which made me really worry and was going to change the hotel. In the end we left it and just thgouht if we need to we'll change when we get there but we had a fab time and couldn't fault it at all.

People have different experiences and this is sometimes based on our expectations and some people have higher expectations than others. Just wait and see what happens when you get there, u never no it might be fantastic. :smile:

A

[universalfan]

Thank you for that :wave: I'm sure it will be fine, we've never had a bad experience yet in Florida. Not long now :d:

[uklad23]

It's a nice hotel. Has had lots of upgrades in Nov last year including....

All of exterior painted
New pool landscaping
New reception roof, TV screens, Doors
Hallways painted, new carpets
Lifts refitted
PC's put in all rooms

So the place is not a dump at all. The company that runs this hotel run the Double Tree Universal and the Crowne Plaza Universal. All of their hotels are well run and maintained.

[MonstersFAN]

We stayed here before the refurbs were done. We looked at 4 rooms before we found one that didn't smell of damp but once we did, the room was fine.

There was a safe but from memory, we had to get a key from reception. No fridge or microwave but you could pay for one.

Great location, right across the road from Wet n Wild.

Inside corridors so felt a little safer at night.

The room tax per day was the thing that put me off.

I like paying a price for my room without having to pay extras once there and also enjoy a fridge for cold drinks.

Have found better hotels for my needs but if you are not bothered about a fridge and the tax per day, then it is a good hotel.

Have fun

Claire

[°o°-Hannah-°o°]

we're booked to stay here with our friends who are first timers, i must admit i'm now a bit dubious but there is no way we can afford to change hotels. a bit of a downer now

[missl]

we are staying there in sept not worried at all the latest reviews are really good for there as there is a big refurb going on should be there when you are universalfan get there a few days b4 you

[uklad23]

Take a look at Tripadvisor http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g34515-d274618-r8141041-Best_Western_MovieLand_Orlando-Orlando_Florida.html
It's rated 84 out of almost 300 (remember Disney have over 20 of those top spots) so it's well rated.

[universalfan]

I'm definately looking forward to it again now, thank you :pgig: It would be nice to bump into a fellow dibber, maybe we will see you there, there are ten of us booked in so you may notice us :pgig:

[missl]

see you there we can complain together lol

[Lesley_Perschky]

It's a nice hotel. Has had lots of upgrades in Nov last year including....

All of exterior painted
New pool landscaping
New reception roof, TV screens, Doors
Hallways painted, new carpets
Lifts refitted
PC's put in all rooms

So the place is not a dump at all. The company that runs this hotel run the Double Tree Universal and the Crowne Plaza Universal. All of their hotels are well run and maintained.

uklad I beg to differ. We went in December last year and had the bad experiance that I have already mentioned :mad2:

I hope that for the OP's sake that things have changed. The Best Westeren Movieland is run as a franchise (not as part of a chain) so dont expect the same level of service as you would get at other Best West Hotels.


Also the swimming pool was being rebuilt, and there was lots of noise going on into the late evening. Hopefully this has all been finished now, and the standard of service has improved. Its a basic hotel, but the attitude of the staff left a lot to be desired.

[uklad23]

uklad I beg to differ. We went in December last year and had the bad experiance that I have already mentioned :mad2:

Your experience is a rare one looking at the reviews and based on my own personal experience. So I hope the OP isn't put off by one experience.



I hope that for the OP's sake that things have changed. The Best Westeren Movieland is run as a franchise (not as part of a chain) so dont expect the same level of service as you would get at other Best West Hotels.

All hotels are franchises of a chain. Hardly any hotel brand own their hotels and the level of service is dependant on the hotel management and staff. This hotel is run by a franchise company that has some of the best rated hotels is Orlando including this one.



Also the swimming pool was being rebuilt, and there was lots of noise going on into the late evening. Hopefully this has all been finished now, and the standard of service has improved. Its a basic hotel, but the attitude of the staff left a lot to be desired

I would imagine all the work has finished. At the the end of the day if the improvements weren't made people would complain the hotel was run down. Yes they made the improvements when I stayed and when you stayed but it's didn't ruin my stay. I just view it as change that needs to be made to keep the hotel in good shape. I had very little dealings with the staff apart from check in and check out and both times they were fine.

[missl]

yeah hope things are better by sept

[Lesley_Perschky]

As I said I hope things have improved. I personally would not stay their again unless the hotel had showed marked improvement. To have building work going on late at night (when you are trying to sleep) was intolerable.

Its well placed on I-Drive close to bus stops, and over the road from Wet and Wild. The problem being that most of the staff are Hispanic and dont really understand the needs of us Brits.

Yes we got our room changed (eventually) but as we were only there for a week it was a nusciance. Yes there is a computer in your room, but you have to pay for internet access.

When I pay a lot of money for a holiday, I expect to get good service. This did not happen at the Best Western, and I would not recomend this hotel to anyone unless I had evidence that things had changed.

There are plenty of other hotels along I-Drive with better facilities and staff that provide the care which myself as a tourist expect.

[uklad23]

The problem being that most of the staff are Hispanic and dont really understand the needs of us Brits.

Tad racist in my eyes. Most hotels have a large amount of Hispanic staff due to the low wages unfortunately. I don't understand what "needs" a Brit has over other tourist. Maybe you mean they didn't understand your "needs" since everyone else just sleeps and uses the hotels facilities which are listed at the time of booking. This hotel doesn't pretend to be a 5 star it's a 3 star and a good one at that.

There are plenty of other hotels along I-Drive with better facilities and staff that provide the care which myself as a tourist expect.

Sorry what facilities are missing that other hotels have in this price range? Errrrr non as far as I can see. The fact this hotel offers PC's in guest rooms is something I haven't seen in any other Orlando hotel, in fact Disney has only just started offering this in it's Deluxe rooms. As for staff providing "care" this is a hotel, when I go to a hotel I don't expect a level of care. What I do expect is efficient service when I check in and out, a clean well maintained room and guest areas, a safe hotel with security measures, and a good standard of housekeeping during my stay. This hotel offers all of these :grin: You will have a great stay Universalfan!

[Lesley_Perschky]

Im not being racist at all, but when I go on holiday its nice to be able to talk to at least one member of staff that speaks English. I dont agree with the Hispanic staff being treated like third class citezens at all.

Once we had changed rooms we enjoyed what was left of our holiday. Like I keep saying I hope the OP has a nice holiday and does nt have the problems that we did.

[°o°-Hannah-°o°]

oh my gosh this is turning into a war, and is starting to worry me, i dont like to hear of bad experiences after i've booked and seeing as i did all the research and booked for us and our friends too, i'd hate for my friends to feel let down because of me. oh well we'll just have to wait and see

[Lesley_Perschky]

No its not a war its just different people expressing different points of view. Go and have a great holiday, and you can tell us how brilliant it was when you come back.

[missl]

im sure it will be fine its our first WDW holiday and we are staying at best western movieland too thanks for sticking up for it so much uklad

[icatqman]

Stayed there in 2001.
Great location. Had a car so wasnt worried about 2 hour journeys to the parks.
Our children were younger then and this hotel suited our needs perfectly. Has to be a villa now. Don't let one persons bad experiences put you off. If we believed all the airline/hotel reviews on sites then no-one would end up flying/staying.
If it has had a re-furb, then so much the better.
Pool was adequate and you are well placed for the I Drive scene, IOA and US and the I4.
For a first time florida holiday it will be fine for you, and PC's in the bedrooms? Even better!
Most hotels charge for Internet connection but it is handy.
I am certain you will have a great time, dont be put off by negative comments.
I agree with UKlad..............Hotels are for sleep/relaxing by the pool/ and storing your kit. We ceratinly had all of our "needs" catered for.
We found the staff to be friendly and helpful (hispanic or not)

Have a great holiday.

[missl]

thanks thats nice to know :)