I first stayed at the Seralago in 1986 when it was the Holiday Inn Main Gate East on our very first trip to Disneyworld. At the time I took my two children who were 3 and 5 years old. Since that time I have stayed at least 9 times. This last year, in 2008, I took all three of my children, the youngest at age 14 and my two grandchildren. It was a wonderful experience for my children to return to the site of so many happy memories with their own children. We have stayed in the children’s suites with the bunk beds and a few times in a family suite. My vacation photo albums include many pictures from all of our stays and each time the caring staff and wonderful amenities at the Seralago have added to the magic of our trip.
I never have to rent a car, as Seralago has the shuttle to Disneyworld. Though in recent years the times of the shuttle are farther in between, it still saves so much money not having to rent a car.
Old Town is right next door, and the kids love it there. It’s like a 1950’s recreated small town village with shops, classic cars, and carnival rides. This year my son, who is now 26 (5 years old the first time we stayed) finally got to ride the “slingshot” type ride at Old Town! And my youngest, at 13, her 5th stay at Seralago, won a ticket jackpot at an Old Town arcade and brought home a suitcase full of souvenirs from her ticket purchases.
The hotel has aged, no doubt, but it’s always clean and well maintained, and only one time did we have a problem with a broken toilet that was fixed almost immediately.
The staff is very caring and courteous and always happy to help. The beds are typical hotel beds, but the pillows are rather fluffy and comfy. Fridge, Microwave, and Coffee Maker always work and help save money because we buy groceries at the grocery store about 2 blocks up from the hotel and eat what we can in our room. We also keep milk, juice, fruit, etc, in the fridge. And of course, coffee creamer! There are several businesses that deliver to the hotel so we have had pizza and wings delivered to the room. There are fliers for those businesses right in the room.
The kids love the pools and the kiddy pool and the playground. This last year the adults got to use the hot tub and outdoor bar after a long day of walking and kid wrangling at the parks! The prices at the bar were reasonable and we all enjoyed a relaxing evening, with the hot tub being right outside our suite, as was the pool. There is a volleyball court and a tennis court and basketball area too. Plenty of things to do on those days when you just want to hang out in the sunshine and enjoy life!
In 2010 we are staying again in a family suite, this time with my oldest son, his girlfriend, my youngest daughter (14) and her best friend, my granddaughter (5), and my good friend with her two children (9) an (5). $72 per night. There are two double/queen beds in the bedroom, a pull down Murphy bed, a pull out sleeper sofa, and a cot we arranged with the front desk. We will all be comfy. I am excited to help my friend and her children start their own tradition of staying at the Seralago when they visit Disney. It’s so much cheaper than Disney Hotels, usually between $40 (room) and $80 (suite) a night. And with the little convenience store in the lobby and a diner style restaurant, both with reasonable prices for a tourist area, we don’t have to travel for conveniences.
A grocery store, Burger King and Kentucky Fried Chicken and a bunch of other places are just next door, too.
FYI In 2006 I got a package thru AAA to stay at Disney at Pop Century. The rooms were twice the price with no coffee maker, fridge, or microwave that Seralago has, and the bus ride to the parks was maybe 10 minutes shorter. It was magical to stay on Disney property, but for the budget conscious, as I have to be, it was not worth the money when Seralago has so much to offer for such a small price.
If you aren’t expecting five star rooms with gourmet cuisine, then consider the Seralago, it’s so family friendly, your children can run around and have a great time, you can relax, and it won’t bust your budget!
There are also kids activities posted in the lobby, Disney and other movies at night in the mini-theatre, etc. And there is DVD rental in the lobby for about $3 and a DVD player in the room.
It’s easy to plan your park trips based on the shuttle schedule and the pickup and drop off is right at Magic Kingdom gate. From there you can use Disney transportation to go anywhere you need to go in Disney. After a long day at the park it’s nice to sit back on the comfy bus seat and relax on the ride back to the Seralago, about 20-30 minutes.
This year we are also going to Universal Studios and the hotel will arrange a pick up and drop off for us. (At our expense.)
Last year my granddaughter Katie actually found a coconut outside our suite under one of the palm trees and it was the highlight of her stay. A few years ago my oldest daughter stumbled upon an armadillo outside our room which made a nice picture opportunity!
There is a coin laundry room so we are able to pack light by doing laundry mid-stay, and one year it served its purpose when one of the little ones had too much cotton candy and too many sweets and had a ’stomach’ problem all over her pajamas and favorite blanket from home.
I would not think of staying anywhere else when we go to Disney, which we do just about every year now. (Usually leaving behind six feet of snow in Syracuse, NY) It’s so exciting and magical to see the colorful Seralago sign when we pull up! When we arrive it always feels like our home away from home!
Thank You to klynne2
Posted to TripAdvisor Reviews December 2009
