There is now a good "blacklist" for hotels on TN, but there really isnt a compiled list of decent hotels to stay at, so I thought I'd start one.

Use this format for posting. Feel free to post more than one hotel if you can remember them.

Hotel Name
Location
Date of Visit
Approximate Price Per Night
Nearest Park to Hotel
Comments

I'll start with a few:

Hotel Name: Disney's All Star Sports Resort
Location: Lake Buena Vista, FL
Date of Visit: April 1995, April 1997, December 2003, October 2005
Approximate Price Per Night: $65 (Mousesavers.com)
Nearest Park to Hotel: Walt Disney World
Comments: All Star Sports is my favorite of the All Star properties at Disney, although the property is starting to show its age. Disney still does a great job of keeping up the properties (we came back to Wet Paint signs on our building during our last trip). Be aware of Wide World of Sports events though as this is where the groups stay when they visit and it can get noisy at times.

Hotel Name: Hampton Inn Maingate-West
Location: Kissimmee, FL
Date of Visit: January 21-22, 2005
Approximate Price Per Night: $109
Nearest Park to Hotel: Walt Disney World
Comments: This was a one-night stop before driving to Tampa. Due to a builders convention in Orlando, none of the Disney resorts had any vacancies, but this was an excellent alternative. The free breakfast was a plus too.

Hotel Name: Disney's Pop Century Resort
Location: Lake Buena Vista, FL
Date of Visit: April 30 - May 9, 2004
Approximate Price Per Night: $65 (Annual Passholder Rate)
Nearest Park to Hotel: Walt Disney World
Comments: I have stayed at all of the value resorts on Disney property and this is my favorite, mainly because of the larger food court. The only downside to Pop Century over the other value resorts is that Disney clearly skimped on soundproofing on this resort compared to the All Star Sports or Movies.

Hotel Name: Disney's Port Orleans Resort Riverside
Location: Lake Buena Vista, FL
Date of Visit: June 13-19, 2003
Approximate Price Per Night: $89 (Annual Passholder Rate)
Nearest Park to Hotel: Walt Disney World
Comments: This is one of the older resorts on Disney property, but it is still well maintained. It has a more laid-back atmosphere than the other Disney resorts I've stayed at.

Hotel Name: Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge
Location: Lake Buena Vista, FL
Date of Visit: May 9 - 17, 2003
Approximate Price Per Night: $134 (Annual Passholder Rate)
Nearest Park to Hotel: Walt Disney World
Comments: The best resort on Disney property as far as I am concerned. We got a free upgrade at check-in to a savannah view room, which was great.

Hotel Name: Hampton Inn
Location: Williamsburg, VA (Bypass Rd.)
Date of Visit: June, 2000
Approximate Price Per Night: Unknown
Nearest Park to Hotel: Busch Gardens Williamsburg
Comments: A decent hotel located 5-10 minutes from Busch Gardens.


There are others but I think that's enough for now. If anyone has any questions regarding Orlando feel free to ask. I've now been there 13 times in the past 11 years.

Also, I am trying to plan a trip to Southern California next month, so if anyone has any suggestions on any decent hotels, I'd love to hear them. Right now I'm thinking the Knott's Berry Farm Hotel because it's right next to Knotts and has a free Disneyland shuttle.

Hotel Name - Fairfield Pigeon Forge
http://marriott.com/property/propert...rshaCode=TYSPF

Location - About 2 miles from Dollywood

Date of Visit - May 2005

Approximate Price Per Night - $60-$65 depending on when you go

Nearest Park to Hotel - Dollywood

Comments - Very nice hotel. Just remodeled. Across the street from tons of outlet shopping and just down the street from Nascar Speed Park.

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I need suggestions for Holiday World and King's Dominion for my summer trips this year. Any suggestions?

I stayed in Louisville at http://marriott.com/property/propert...rshaCode=SDFJF

It's about an hour from Holiday World and about 10 minutes from Six flags Kentucky Kingdom.

We stayed at Holiday Inn Express at PKD this past fall
http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/hi/1/en/hd/avava

I can't recall anything bad about it.

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I have web pages for the hotels across from IOA.
http://www.nogodforme.com/offsite.htm
http://www.nogodforme.com/hiltongardeninn.htm
http://www.nogodforme.com/Amerisuites.htm

Staying at one will save you the $9 parking fee each day, as you can walk from most.

Hotel Name: Disney's Dixie Landings (now Port Orleans Riverside)
Location: Walt Disney World Resort, FL
Date of Visit: August 98
Approximate Price Per Night: Don't Know
Nearest Park to Hotel: Transportation by Bus or Boat to all Disney Parks
Comments: Great Hotel, my favourite of the ones I've stayed at when I go to Florida. Our room came with an extra rollaway bed (there were 5 of us) which was really comfy. The theme was very nice, and the main cafeteria with refillable cups was awesome.

Hotel Name: Fantasy World Club Villas
Location:Kissimee, FL
Date of Visit: Feb, 2005
Approximate Price Per Night: Not Sure, I think about $160
Nearest Park to Hotel: Disney, Universal, and SeaWorld
Comments: Not a bad place for families or budget travelers. Each "room" is actually a house with two bedrooms, living room with pullout couch (so 4 beds in total), full kitchen, dining room, patio, 2 bathrooms, laundry, and ironing. From the outside, it doesnt look all that impressive, but inside each house is actually quite nice. Walking distance to tons of restaurants and shopping, plus free bus to all Disney, Universal, SeaWorld, and Wet'n'Wild. There's also Old Town and a dippin dots parlour with over 40 flavours down the road. The staff was always very nice and didnt mind cashing my $60+ in coins.

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ThrillNetwork Moderator
The user formerly known as WildeFyre
UOIT Mechanical Engineering Student

Neither of these are actual "hotels" but they are lodging.

Hotel Name: Sugar Maple Cabins
Location: A Mountain in Pigeon Forge
Date of Visit: Nov. 19-21 2004
Approximate Price Per Night: $190 for a 2800sq ft cabin
Nearest Park to Hotel: Dollywood
Comments: Great views from the top of the mountain, huge layout with great features like big screen tv and pool table, very close to the action, but still secluded on the mountain. I definitely recommend them to anyone traveling to Dollywood.


Hotel Name: AAA Dream Homes
Location: Kissimmee
Date of Visit: Apr. 4-9, 2005
Approximate Price Per Night: $119 for a 3br/2bath with private pool plus a one time $50 cleaning fee for a stay shorter than 6 nights
Nearest Park to Hotel: Disney MGM Studios about 5 minutes away
Comments: My family had originally asked for a 3 bedroom, but we upgraded to a 4BR upon arrival. The house was nicely appointed, had a good sized swimming pool, and everyone in my family was able to sleep in a bed by themself. The subdivision was only 5 min from MGM and 15 from the Magic Kingdom. I don't know someone would pay more to stay in a cramped hotel room when you can get such a great deal with a home.

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TV/Event Guide Editor

Hotel Name: Governor's Inn
Location: Williamsburg, VA
Date of Visit: June 19-22 2004
Apprx Price Per Night: $100
Nearest Park: BGW around 10 min.
Comments: I heard a lot of negative reviews about this place before I went but my family was pleased to find none of them held true. The train tracks next to the motel were virtually impossible to hear. Our stay was a real deal because the price included passes to Colonial Williamsburg from June 19, 2004 until June 19, 2005 for each of the 4 members of my family. The breakfast was nice and had a nice variety. The motel also provided free shuttle service to anywhere in the Colonial Williamsburg complex as the motel was owned by them. If your staying in Williamsburg and want a great deal choose this place.

Hotel Name: Camelot Inn
Location: Cape May, NJ
Date of last Visit: July 25-29, 2005
Apprx Price Per Night: $150 (which is a steal for Cape May during that time of year)
Nearest Park: Morey's Piers and other Wildwood, NJ attractions are about 20 minutes away
Comments: Though this may not be in Wildwood its close enough. Wildwood is full of cheap doowop style motels. Most of them are real dumps. Plus Wildwood itself is a trashy place. Cape May is pretty close and is a great place to stay. Our room here was clean and well kept. Though you do not get Breakfast you can get a room with a fridge and buy some milk or anything else at a nearby Acme Grocery Store. You could also try one of the surrounding places to eat. There is plenty to do in Cape May and you'll probably realize Wildwood is only worth spending one afternoon and evening at. Cape May is really the last nice seaside resort in New Jersey. The drive up to Wildwood is nice too. You drive through marshes and get a good view of the Cape May Coast Guard Post from the bridge entering/exiting Cape May. Plus you get to drive past Tom Hank's Parent's house!!!!!!!