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(For the first page of this review of the Doubletree Suites, see this.)

PHOTO TOUR OF A ONE BEDROOM SUITE AT THE DOUBLETREE SUITES BY HILTON ORLANDO

The Doubletree Suites by Hilton Orlando in the Disney Springs Resort Area–an entirely different hotel than the two other Hilton-flagged properties in Disney Springs, the Hilton Buena Vista Palace and the Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista–offers several suite types in a long fortress-like mid-rise building.

One bedroom suites with a king bed, or with two queens–each also with a sleeper sofa–are available. Two bedroom suites, with a king bedroom and also a two queen bedroom, are also available. No suites have balconies, but a few first floor suites in the back by the pool and tennis courts have patios, and are bookable as a separate class, as are suites with pool views. (Views generally are of the parking lot or of 535, but there are enough trees in this area that they aren’t too objectionable.)

This photo tour is of a one bedroom suite at the Doubletree Suites by Hilton Orlando with two queens and a fold out couch.

The suite is about half a living/dining/kitchenette space and half a bedroom/closet/bath space–see the floorplan above.

The kitchenette has quite the long counter, and comes only with a microwave, mini-fridge, small sink and coffeemaker. The microwave is set into the cabinet–you can see it just above the center of the table.

Here’s the mini-fridge–the absence of a little freezer compartment makes the microwave less useful.

The coffee service.

The table is larger than it appears in my images. But it still seats just four–two fewer than the suite will sleep. There’s plenty of space on this side for a larger table…so this is a bit of a miss. Note the connecting door between the table and the couch. Since all rooms here are suites, there’s another one bedroom suite on the other side of that door.

Further back is seating for four or five on a couch, easy chair, and an ottoman/coffee table that can also serve as a seat.

Here’s a closer view of the couch and easy chair.

The couch folds out a queen-sized bed. Comfort is adequate for youngsters–although most will want to put the youngsters into the back queens, so that the living/dining space can be used after they are asleep, which complicates things a bit.

Across from the seating area is a surprisingly small TV above a storage cabinet.

The TV cabinet has a couple of drawers…

…but is mostly empty space.

The bedroom area–and the bath–is accessed through a sliding door next to the TV cabinet.

The two queen beds are a bit cramped on their sides.

The beds from the back of this space

A closer view of one of the beds–note how close the right side is to the wall.

Between the beds you’ll find this bedside table, with a small drawer and a storage cubby below.

Across from one of the beds in the back corner is a dresser and a larger TV, though hard to watch from the bed closer to the bath.

The dresser has four large drawers–plenty for the four people this space will sleep.

The other part of this room is a hallway that leads to the closet and the bath.

One side of this back hall has a long table. This suite would function much better with a door between this hall and the area with the queens, and also another door, to the living area, where the long table is. That would let the folks sleeping in the living area enter the bath area without going through the bedroom area.

Note the safe in the closet. My book is six inches by nine inches, so this will fit several laptops.

The other side of the closet.

The undivided bath has but a single sink–although there is another sink in the kitchenette.

Toiletries.

A tub-shower combo fills out the other side.

Frankly, a room that sleeps six ought to have a divided bath. This, the cramping of the queens, the small TVs, and the needlessly small table make it hard for me to be keen on these rooms.

But you will find them available for less than half–sometimes a lot less–than any Disney-owned accommodations that sleep six.  However, before booking them, consider booking two connecting rooms at the Holiday Inn just down the street. You’ll lose the spacious living area and its seating and dining table, but pick up another bath, another microwave, two (albeit tiny) freezer compartments in the mini-fridges, and more comfortable and/or less cramped beds.

AMENITIES AND DINING AT THE DOUBLETREE SUITES BY HILTON ORLANDO

This review continues here.

MORE ON THE DOUBLETREE SUITES BY HILTON ORLANDO

• Overview and summary
• Photo tour of a standard one bedroom suite 
• Dining and amenities
• The pool

OTHER KEY PAGES FOR WHERE TO STAY AT DISNEY WORLD

• Where to stay–the Basics
• Where first-timers should stay
• Reviews of all the Disney World resorts, based on my 160+ stays in them

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For the first page of this review of the Hilton Buena Vista Palace, see this.

THE POOL COMPLEX AT THE HILTON BUENA VISTA PALACE

The pool complex at the Hilton Buena Vista Palace has somewhere between two and three and a half pools. Despite my counting failure, I can affirm that it is the best pool complex among the seven Disney Springs Resort Area hotels, with only the pools at the Wyndham and the Hilton even close.

What is clearly here is a large pool next to the outdoor bar and grill to which adults gravitate, and a separate lazy river pool which sees more families and kids. The third pool is in another location, barely visible except from the lobby bar and rooms near it, which has not been open during any of my visits. And the half pool is an appendage to the lazy river pool which functions like a toddlers pool.

The pool complex is between the main tower and the Island buildings.  From the main tower, you get to the pools from the lowest level, which is also where most Hilton Buena Vista Palace dining and other amenities are located.

The first thing you’ll note is this event lawn, which–if not being used for some convention-y thing (the Hilton Buena Vista Palace is a major convention resort) could have a variety of games set up on it. At one my visits it was just cornhole games–another time, it also had a badminton/volleyball net.

Deeper in the complex you’ll find the bar and grill on one side…

…a large hot tub off in a corner…

…and next to the bar the first pool.

The propinquity to the bar (in the right background) and the simplicity of its offerings makes this the pool adults will prefer.

Another view of this pool–some of the Island rooms are in the background.

Off to the right you’ll find another pool, a lazy river pool.

Another view of the lazy river pool. See the top of the page for yet another view.

There’s a zero entry to the lazy river, accompanied by a set of handrails, making it easily accessible.

Just to the right of this is a much shallower appendage with water sprays that functions well as a toddler splash area.

Another view of this area, which is my “half pool.”

The final pool is in a different area (although on the way from the lower floor of the tower to this complex). On my visits it has been unsigned, inaccessible and unused (so far as I could tell).

It is visible from the outside seats of the lobby bar, and from the rooms on this side of the tower.  I don’t know what’s up with it–my guess is that it is an event space–but on my next stay in the Hilton Buena Vista Palace, I will force myself to go to the lobby bar and inquire!

Even without this mystery pool, the rest of the pool complex at the Hilton Buena Vista Palace has something for everyone, and more to offer than any other pool set-up in the other Disney Springs Resort Area hotels.

MORE ON THE HILTON BUENA VISTA PALACE

• Overview and summary
• Photo tour of a standard tower room 
• Photo tour of an Island room 
• Dining and amenities
• The pools 

OTHER KEY PAGES FOR WHERE TO STAY AT DISNEY WORLD

• Where to stay–the Basics
• Where first-timers should stay
• Reviews of all the Disney World resorts, based on my 160+ stays in them

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(For the first page of this review of the Holiday Inn Orlando, see this.)

THE POOL AT THE HOLIDAY INN ORLANDO

The pool at the Holiday Inn Orlando is middling among the pool complexes at the seven hotels in the Disney Springs Resort Area.

The least pools among these are those at the Doubletree and Best Western; the best are at the Hilton, the Hilton Buena Vista Palace, and the Wyndham.  The pool at the Holiday Inn (and that at the B Resort & Spa) are in between.

The pool at the Holiday Inn Orlando is  located in a courtyard formed by one side of the main tower, two sides of a shorter six story building, and a landscaped wall.

The tower side of the pool area is the same part of the tower as the bar and grill, creating easy access for drinks and snacks.

Some more views of the pool (see the top of the page for the zero-entry area):

Each photo includes the water jets that kids find fun to play in.

In addition to these, you’ll also find a ping pong table…

…a cornhole game set-up,…

…and a small hot tub

At the pool at the Holiday Inn Orlando in the Disney Springs Resort Area, the bar and grill is convenient, the pool itself is fine, and the amenities aimed at kids and at play are middling among the Disney Springs Resort Area hotels. The pool and its features are fine, but are not strong enough to be a special reason to stay at the Holiday Inn Orlando.

MORE ON THE HOLIDAY INN ORLANDO

• Summary and overview
• Photo tour of a standard tower room
• Photo tour of a pool view room
• Dining and amenities 
• The pool 

OTHER KEY PAGES FOR WHERE TO STAY AT DISNEY WORLD

• Where to stay–the Basics
• Where first-timers should stay
• Reviews of all the Disney World resorts, based on my 160+ stays in them

Follow yourfirstvisit.net on Facebook or Twitter or Pinterest!!

Welcome back to Fridays with Jim Korkis! Jim, the dean of Disney historians, writes about Walt Disney World history every Friday on yourfirstvisit.net.

TIKI CULTURE AT WALT DISNEY WORLD AND DISNEYLAND

By Jim Korkis

Brandon Kleyla, sometimes known as Trader Brandon, just released a small book entitled The Field Guide to Tiki Decorating, available only directly through him at www.traderbrandon.com.

Why is that of interest to WDW fans? Kleyla is a former Disney Imagineer who was responsible for designing Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar at the Disneyland Hotel and Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto at The Polynesian Village Resort. It took him seven years to do both the Disney locations.

“The book started because people were asking me to write a Trader Sam’s related book which obviously because of Disney trademark restrictions on intellectual property I can’t,” shared Kleyla with writer Seth Kubersky. “But I started putting together thoughts together of what I could share about creating a backstory, music, lighting…kind of a big overview.

“I’m sad because I don’t really enjoy Trader Sam’s as a guest because I’ve slept in there. I’ve lived in there. But I get to enjoy sitting in a corner, just watching everyone else and seeing them react so I get that side of it.”

Disneyland, of course, was partly responsible for the revival of Tiki Culture in the 1960s. Stouffer’s sponsored the Plaza Pavilion and the Tahitian Terrace restaurants at Disneyland and had contracted to sponsor the new “adventure in eating and dining” called The Enchanted Tiki Room which would share the kitchen with those other two dining locations. Posters were printed up and guests alerted.

Reservations (the first ever restaurant at Disneyland to have reservations) were to be spaced at one hour intervals and after the main course had been completed the performing audio-animatronics tropical birds would spring to life in dozens of overhead bird cages.

Walt soon realized that guests would be so enchanted that they stopped eating and didn’t finish in time for the next seating. In addition, the space was so small that it would have limited capacity as a restaurant. (That is certainly the situation with both Trader Sam’s locations, with lengthy wait times for the limited indoor space.)

The Enchanted Tiki Room–where all the birds sing words and the flowers croon– opened June 23, 1963 at Disneyland and it was the first to feature audio-animatronics technology developed by WED (Imagineering) from recently declassified military documents about the launching of rockets and releasing the various stages (open/close the same as bird beaks).

The building was the first fully air-conditioned building at the park, in order to make sure the computers in the basement of the attraction did not overheat. Since the attraction was owned by WED rather than Disneyland, guests paid an extra seventy-five cents (the cost at that time of an “E” Ticket) to experience it.

An almost identical copy of the show (but with a much different pre-show) called Tropical Serenade opened with Walt Disney World in 1971. It was rehabbed as The Enchanted Tiki Room (Under New Management) in 1998. It returned to its original format in August 2011 with a slighted edited version of the original show. [A review is here–Dave.]

Of course, the Polynesian Village Resort that also opened in 1971 has many references to Tiki Culture, including since 2015 Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto located inside the Great Ceremonial House where guests can order a HippopotoMai-Tai in a souvenir mug. The interactive interior of the Grotto seems to be a tribute to Walt’s original plans for such a food and beverage area over half a century ago.

*  *  *  *  *

Thanks, Jim! And come back next Friday for more from Jim Korkis!

In the meantime, check out his books, including his latest, Secret Stories of Mickey Mouse,  and his Secret Stories of Walt Disney World: Things You Never You Never Knew, which reprints much material first written for this site, all published by Theme Park Press.

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DISNEY WORLD NEXT WEEK: SEPTEMBER 29 TO OCTOBER 7, 2018

The material below details next week’s Disney World operating hours, Extra Magic Hours, parades, and fireworks.

For more on September at Disney World, see this, and for more on October, this.

OPERATING HOURS AT WALT DISNEY WORLD 9/29-10/7/18

The Magic Kingdom will be open from 8a-12MN 9/29, 9a-6p 9/30, 9a-10p 10/1, 9a-6p 10/2, 9a-10p 10/3, 9a-6p 10/4 and 10/5, 9a-11p 10/6, and 9a-10p 10/7

Epcot will be open from 9a-10p 9/29, 9a-9p 9/30 through 10/4, 9a-10p 10/5 and 10/6, and 9a-9p 10/7

Disney’s Hollywood Studios will be open from 9a-9p 9/29, and 9a-8p 9/30 through 10/7

Disney’s Animal Kingdom will be open from 9a-8.30p 9/29, and 9a-8p 9/30 through 10/7

EXTRA MAGIC HOURS AT WALT DISNEY WORLD 9/29-10/7/18

Saturday 9/29 Morning: Animal Kingdom Evening: none

Sunday 9/30  Morning: Hollywood Studios Evening: none

Monday 10/1  Morning: Animal Kingdom Evening: none

Tuesday 10/2 Morning: none Evening: Epcot

Wednesday 10/4 Morning:  none Evening: Magic Kingdom

Thursday 10/5 Morning: Epcot Evening: none

Friday 10/6 Morning:  Magic Kingdom Evening: none

Saturday 10/7 Morning: Animal Kingdom Evening: none

Sunday 10/8 Morning: Hollywood Studios Evening: none

PARADES AT WALT DISNEY WORLD 9/29-10/7/18

The Magic Kingdom: Afternoon Festival of Fantasy Parade: 2p every day

FIREWORKS AND EVENING SHOWS AT WALT DISNEY WORLD 9/29-10/7/18

Happily Every After at Magic Kingdom: 8p 9/29; 9p 10/1, 10/3, 10/6, and 10/7

IllumiNations at Epcot:  10p 9/29; 9p 9/30 through 10/4; 10p 10/5 and 10/6; 9p 10/7

Fantasmic at Disney’s Hollywood Studios: 8p every night

Star Wars Show and Fireworks at Disney’s Hollywood Studios: 8.30p every night

Rivers of Light at Disney’s Animal Kingdom: 8.15p 9/29 through 10/6; 8p 10/7

SHOW SCHEDULES FOR WALT DISNEY WORLD 9/29-10/7/18

See Steve Soares’ site here. Click the park names at its top for show schedules.

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Several new Disney World deals for 2019 came out this morning, of which the two most important are a room rate deal (covered on this page) and a Play, Stay and Dine Offer which I will cover later.

The new room rate deal is complicated:

• It covers most periods between January 1 and February 14, 2019 and February 17 and April 27 2019
• However, during the first period (until February 14) at the value and moderate resorts, only the Sunday-Thursday night parts of your trip will be discounted–you can still stay on Fridays and Saturdays, but with no discount.
• At most resorts, stays during either period will be discounted more if they are booked by January 2, 2019

As always, there’s a limited inventory of rooms available, and not all resorts or room types are included.

VALUE RESORTS 2019 ROOM RATE DEAL

No resort is totally excluded, but at Art of Animation, as usual only Family Suites are included. Discounts are limited to Sunday through Thursday nights until 2/14, and are higher if you book by 1/2/2019.

MODERATE RESORTS 2019 ROOM RATE DEAL

No moderates are excluded, but the deal is less valuable at Port Orleans Riverside and Port Orleans French Quarter. You’ll face the same patterns as at the value resorts–no discounts on Friday and Saturday nights through February 14, and better deals (except at the Port Orleans Resorts) if you book by January 2, 2019.

DELUXE RESORTS 2019 ROOM RATE DEAL

No deluxe is excluded, nor do they have Friday/Saturday night exclusions from the deal, but you will find not as good a discount at the Polynesian Village, Contemporary Resort, and Wilderness Lodge. Except at these three, discounts are better if you book by January 2.

DISNEY VACATION CLUB RESORTS 2019 ROOM RATE DEAL

At the DVC resorts, the Villas at the Grand Floridian and Bay Lake Tower are excluded, and at the Polynesian Village, only the Studios are in the deal.

Moreover, the Polynesian studios are at a lower discount.

Like at the deluxes, there are no Friday/Saturday night exclusions from the deal. Except at the Polynesian, discounts are better if you book by January 2.

HOW TO BOOK THERE DISNEY WORLD DEALS

Full reviews of each of the resort options begin here.

Disney World’s page on this deal is here.  You can find the other deals that came out today here (scroll down to find the ones with a 2019 date).

Today’s set of deals for 2019 is complicated, especially for families aiming at a value resort. The long-standing travel agent partner of this site, Kelly, can figure out and book the best deal for you. Contact her by using the form below:

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