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Best Western Plaza International
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Reviewer's Name:
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Kathy Miller |
Reviewer's Email Address:
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m0366@webtv.net |
Date(s) of Stay:
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October 1998 |
Location:
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On International Drive North of the Bee Line and
South of Sandlake. |
Ease of WDW Park Access:
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Shuttle service to MK 3 times per day, pick up 3
times at MK and Epcot. About a 20-30 minute drive to
WDW via car. |
Address:
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8738 International Drive |
Phone Number:
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(407) 345-8195 or (800) 654-7160 |
Facility Type:
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Hotel |
Accommodation Used:
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Standard Room |
Accommodations Review:
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The rooms are very large. Plenty of room for a
family of 4. Two double beds, table, 2 chairs, dresser and TV
cabinet w/ pay per view and super Nintendo on the TV (one controller
in the room). The dressing area has a rod w/ hangers, 1 sink, long
vanity, and safe. Toilet and tub are in their own room. |
Rate/Night (for your stay):
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Approximately $95/ night for two people (rates vary) |
# of Restaurants/Lounges:
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None |
Restaurant/Lounge Review:
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n/a |
Activities/Facilities Available:
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This 4 building hotel has white walls and blue
roofs. Very easy to spot from I-4. The desk and lobby is in a
building in front of the the main buildings directly off of
I-Drive. This building also has a limited number of rooms.
Buildings 1,3,4 surround a courtyard w/ pool. Building 2 is just
across a parking lot.
Check in 4:00pm, check out 11:00am.
The lobby is done in peach pastels w/ tile floor. The desk is VERY
SLOW. Over a 1/2 hour wait to check in w/ 2 people in front
of us. The usual desk for discount tickets, arcade, and gift shop
are located here. They also have express check out, but you have
to ask, because it was not offered, at least to us. |
Pool Description/Comments:
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The "Y" shaped pool is in the court yard
along w/ the kiddy pool, Jacuzzi, bar and laundry. There were lots
of lounge chairs. The bar serves drinks and sandwiches. Great
frozen concoctions. Never got to the laundry room, but it looked
clean and well kept when we passed by. |
Amenities Provided:
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Towels/Supplies, Laundry available, In-Room Safe
(fee), Pool, Hot-Tub, NO Pets Permitted, Pool bar, Arcade,
Sundries Shop. |
Other Comments:
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We really liked it here. The room was very clean.
Even w/ the white walls, there was no evidence of the people
before us. The rooms seemed "new". We did an early check
in around noon and we were offered a room facing the parking lot,
or if we waited we could have a poolside room. We opted to
wait, and stowed our bags. We did not hear one sound
from the pool that was right outside our door (we were actually on
the second floor) .
We loved the pool. "Y" shaped gives space for people
to do what they want. Kids can play in one area, the unskilled
swimmers can hang around the shallow area and the adults can hang
out in the deeper area and Jacuzzi. The pool bar is usual bar
prices, but not too bad. Shrubs and palm trees sort of hide the
parking lot on the one side that is not bordered by a building.
There is a Friendly's Restaurant across the parking lot towards
I-Drive. Their burgers were great.
The location is ideal. It is near Sandlake Rd., making it about
a 5 minute drive to Universal Studios. Pirates Golf, the Mercado,
Race Rock, visitors center, and King Henry's Feast are within a 5
minute walk. Point Orlando is about 10 minutes walk away.
(you know, the place that houses FAO Schwarz). This
part of I-Drive is very pedestrian friendly. Even the palm
tree covered medians have cross-walks thru them.
The only complaint we had was how inefficient the front desk
was. From the slow check in to not answering the phone to not
getting a key to the safe I agreed to pay for (although the fee
was refunded at check out without a hassle). Check out was a snap,
though. If you are the type that deals w/ the front desk a lot,
I'd reconsider staying here. But, if you only deal w/
housekeeping, it is great! They were very fast and friendly.
Everyone here was friendly. We would gladly stay here again. |
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