In a Nutshell

Just back after 14 days. Stayed at the Wyndham on I-Drive. Facilities were excellent although the room was a bit on the shabby side. Didn%26#39;t spend much time there apart from sleeping anyway. Any questions please ask and I%26#39;ll go into more detail.

Went to just about every park apart from Epcot - just didn%26#39;t have time. My favourite was Islands of Adventure. Went with just myself and my girlfriend one day and went back with her 7 year old a couple of days later and had a ball both times. There%26#39;s something for everyone. We arrived before 9am both times and managed to get through tonnes of rides by 11am when it really started getting crowded.

Favourite water park was Blizzard Beach and again if you go early you can do most of the main rides before the lines build up.

The thing I was least looking forward to was the Winnie the Pooh character lunch at Magic Kingdom. Turned out to be the best meal I had the entire time I was there - by miles! Also really enjoyed dinners at Chilis and The Olive Garden. Breakfasts at Denny%26#39;s, Perkins and Golden Corral were good starts before a day at a park. Breakfast in the Wyndham is worth the extra money for the orange juice and omelettes.

All in all a fantastic time was had by all but nothing in any theme park was a patch on watching the space shuttle taking off from the pool in the Wydham on the 4th of July. Amazing.

In a Nutshell

thanks for the report. Glad you had a good time.

In a Nutshell

Hello Badly1004

Glad you had a great time. I am staying at the Wyndham next May. There have been many bad reviews about this hotel so I wonder if you could give me a little more detail on your experience there (good and bad is fine)

Seeing the shuttle must have been awesome - I went in 1997 and saw a launch (didnt even know about it - was walking round Universal when we heard it) - was great!

Did you wander down to the Mercado ? Was it dead ?Any news what is going on there ?

My favourite ride when I last went (2001) had to be Dudley Do-Rights Ripsaw falls at I.O.A. Did you ride this? - Is there still what seems like a really fast steep drop and bounce at the end ?

( heard they modified it last Winter).

Hi Perkin, I was worried about all the bad reviews of the Wyndham before I went as well. At first I was very disappointed. We arrived after being awake for 24 hours in the middle of a huge thunderstorm so the last thing we wanted was such slow service at reception. Then when we got to our room we discovered it was actually pretty basic and we didn%26#39;t even have a balcony. However, this is Orlando and if you%26#39;re spending time in your room other than sleeping then I doubt you%26#39;re making the best of your time. As mentioned before the hotel grounds were really nice, seemingly miles away from the hussle of I-Drive. The pools are also excellent and are open 24 hours. Believe me it%26#39;s a fantastic way to end a busy day by taking a late night swim. I managed to get up and use the gym a couple of times which was also excellent. All in all the rooms could have been better (and a bit cleaner) but the facilities are excellent.

...absolutely loved Ripsaw Falls by the way. We got absolutely drenched one morning when we went on that, then Popeye and Bluto%26#39;s Bilge Rat Barges, then Jurassic Park River Adventure all by 10.30a.m. Don%26#39;t worry the big drop at the end of Ripsaw Falls is very much still there!

Hello Badly 1004,

Feel a bit better about the Wyndham now - glad the pool is open 24/7, and your right, its only a bed for a night and a pool to relax in after my miltary style operation I have planned!

One more question (sorry to bug you)! You say your room didn%26#39;t have a balcony ? I was told all upstairs rooms have a balcony and downstairs have a patio (though not enclosed), Is this not true ? and did you feel it was a safe place to stay ?

Thanks

I felt pretty safe I have to say. Most of the blocks are what I would describe as ';motel'; style. The newer blocks near the main pool had balconies and I spoke to someone who said he managed to get moved from my block to one with a balcony but I just couldn%26#39;t be bothered with the hassle.