Fantastic if traveling with small kids

We chose the Holiday Inn Family Suites based on reviews here at trip advisor. I exceeded my expectations and I would highly recommend for people with small children. My husband and I went with our 3 children (5,3, 7months) and Grandma. We got a kidsuite and it fit us all fine. This hotel pleasantly surprised us every day. They have a great pool, a covered/shaded baby pool and a wonderful clibing structure with tubes and slides. There's even a sandbox. The buffet breakfast is great and free. No made to order omelettes, but pancakes, french toast, donuts, cereal, fresh fruit, bagels, you name it. And friendly staff too. There are swans, ducks, egrets, and fish to feed, and pretty good arcade, train rides around the property, free face painting (and it's quite elaborate), kiddie bingo, and fun fun fun. They give out game tokens as prizes for bingo, games by the pool, etc. It's conveniently located. The rooms are nicely decorated, supplied with ample towels and such, and have 3 TVs. I would definitely stay here again and highly recommend it.

The best hotel we ever stayed at in Florida

This was the best place that we have ever stayed. My children had a wonderful time. There was so much for them to do, and the themes were great. We are a family of five with children ages 3, 7, and 14 so finding a hotel room is not an easy task without having to get more than one. If we ever go back to Disney, we will stay at the Holiday Inn Family Suites again. The whole family was sad to leave at the end of our vacation. The breakfast buffet was wonderful. There is no other free breakfast buffet out there that includes the things that they do. The only thing that they need is more of these hotels in other parts of the country. You owe it to yourself and your family to give them a try. You will not be sorry.

This hotel exceeded my expectations - it was great!

I picked this hotel based on the reviews at TripAdvisor. We have four children and travelled with another family of six. Even though most reviews were positive, I was nervous because a few reviewers complained about 1) the size of the suites 2) the cleanliness of the rooms 3) the quality of the food. The suites are charming. They aren't huge but they are extremely well designed, immaculately clean and easily absorbed all four of my children. Each child got their own bed - two on the bunkbeds, one on a fold out sleep sofa and one on a cot that rolls out from a little closet. Even better, all three rooms have a TV and two have game stations. Everybody loved the free hot breakfast. We also had lunch and dinner at the hotel buffet and since kids eat free that was a big savings for us. Our lunch for six, including coffee and desert was $15!!!The hotel offers three pools: a toddler pool, a lap pool, and a very impressive family pool with lots of features. It was always filled with kids but never felt crowded. Also for kids: miniature golf, a mini-train ride, arcade, and organized evening activities. We had much more fun at the hotel than we did at the parks.Here are a few very minor issues: if you plan to sleep past 8:45 you should request a room that does not face the family pool. It did get noisy on that side, especially on the ground floor. Also, be sure to print out directions before you go because the hotel is not located on International Drive - but on SOUTH int'l Dr. - I think this must be a common mistake and cost us about 45 minutes at 2 in the morning.

Great spot for teens and pre-teen

3rd visit...very convienent....if your kids are over 10 years old, stay in the west side of property. The east side has all the little kids and your older ones won't like it. Great buffet that you can "take-out" to go to your room. About a 2 min. drive to the Disney front gate. Parents get there own bedroom with a solid door to close for privacy. 3 TV's so no one has to fight over the remote. Would go back again. Great heated pool.

Brilliant

Last year (2002) we were a party of 6, Two adults, 1 teenager of 16, 11, 10 and 5m year old. The Kids suite was excellent. Great maid service, Clean and spaious. We liked the fact that we had privacy from the kids. The buffet breakfast was a great start to the day and what a choice, there was something for everyones taste. The pool was a menace because the children didn't want to come out. The location was perfect as we wanted accomodation that was a little quiter than the hustle and bustle of International drive ect. In fact we were so impressed overall that we have booked to go again this March 2003. Would highly recommend to families

A great alternative to staying in the parks when the kids start to grow and you need more room!!!

We have been "on property" fans of Disney for years and only went "off" when the kids started to get older and we needed more room. Two years ago we decided to try the HIFS-LBV and I was apprehensive because prior to that we were a Disney's Wilderness Lodge family all the way, for about 6 years. Well, I needn't have worried. Once we got over the initial shock of not being on-site, I have to say that this hotel is wonderful. The suites are new, amply sized at 485 square feet each, and you have your choice of different types of suites for different needs. A massive and plentiful buffet breakfast with the usual hot items is included in your room price daily. Also, kids eat free at the hotel restaurant and food court (Pizza Hut and A&W Root Beer) when accompanied by their parents. There are two huge pools, one a free-form zero entry pool with interactive entertaining toys built in, the other an adult olympic-style lap pool. (TIP: the suites on the lap pool side are much quieter, that is where they put business people!!) There's a kiddie pool, playground, free miniature golf, etc. There is free entertainment for the families every night. Each suite has three tv's and a vcr (videos can be rented in the lobby). For those renting kidsuites, they are equipped with cd player, tv and the all-important Nintendo 64 (rent nintendo tapes at the video arcade).

If you decide to try this hotel, ask to join the HI Priority Club (free) when you arrive. You will get points for your stay and for each dollar spent in the hotel. We did this last year and have already received enough points for a free night at a Holiday Inn, have also received free upgrades to pool views and suites instead of regular rooms.

This is a great hotel for a family vacation. The brochure says it is one mile from WDW, but it is really only a few thousand feet from the parking lot of the hotel to the Magic Kingdom gate....one mile must mean from the center of the MK! Another thing that is great about this place is its location, across from the Marriott World Center on World Drive (a main drag) and near major things but not in a "strip mall" area that's tough on the eye. It is surrounded by lots of greenery.

Great spot

We stayed here with my three children and mother in law. It was great! You couldn't beat the price and the free buffet was superb----- So many people want to pay a fortune to stay on property and I am still trying to figure out why! Disney trip with out all the expense!!!

Great holiday- great hotel!

This was one brilliant hotel, it was perfect, we visited all the Disney theme parks but to be honest we wouldnt have minded staying at the hotel! we were on bed and breakfast so we didnt eat at the hotel apart from breakfasts which were great! There was a lot for kids, the gamesroom, the fantastic pool and our kidsuite was fantastic! we hope to go back in the near future!

Wonderful kid's suites!

We loved the kid's suites here. The breakfast buffet, included in our package, was a great start to the day. The heated pool and hot tubs were wonderful on those January nights. The suites were roomy and comfortable for 6 people. I wish this resort was in every major city, making my travel plans much easier. Will definitely stay here again!

Hotel was as much fun as the parks!

My husband and I and two 12-year-old boys made reservations at HI Family Suites sight unseen. We were impressed driving up. The boys LOVED the pool and all the friends they made. They had free rein of the place. When they weren't swimming, playing bingo or watching karoke, they were in the suite, playing Nintendo games. They never complained about the food. It was served well and was plentiful at the breakfast buffet. The whole place was clean. The only negative was there was no stove in the "kitchenette." We will highly recommend this hotel to other families, especially those with young children.