OverviewLocated just off Highway 192 and about an 8-minute drive from Disney World Resort, the Ramada Gateway Kissimmee is geared towards travellers who require a hotel with a free theme park shuttle, two outdoor pools and easy highway access.
Each of the hotel's air-conditioned guest rooms offers free Wi-Fi, cable TV, a coffeemaker, a mini-fridge, a hair dryer, an iron and ironing board and a desk. Rooms with a microwave are also available and the hotel is wheelchair accessible. All rooms are non-smoking and pets are permitted for an additional $50 per pet, per stay.
Hotel amenities include two outdoor pools, a fitness room, a sports bar, meeting/banquet space, a business centre, a video arcade, a half-court basketball court, guest laundry, a gift shop and free parking. On-site dining is offered at Smokehouse Grill and Deli and Andy's Pizza, which both serve breakfast, lunch and dinner daily.
A free scheduled shuttle to Walt Disney World Theme Parks, SeaWorld, Universal Orlando and Lake Buena Vista Factory Outlet is also available (please contact the hotel for details).
SeaWorld is about a 14-minute drive from the hotel, while Downtown Disney can be found 11 minutes away by car. Orange County Convention Center is roughly a 16-minute drive away and Orlando International Airport (MCO) is a 25-minute drive away. (All distances and travel time estimates: Google Maps)
Verified with a front desk agent: Free Wi-Fi, free parking, pets $50/pet/stay, wheelchair accessible. (Call Date: December 10, 2013)
The GoodThe majority of the reviews sourced for this analysis were positive, with praise going to the hotel's location, rates and rooms.
The hotel's location was praised by numerous reviewers. They found it close to Universal Studios, Orange County Convention Center, restaurants, shopping, Downtown Disney, SeaWorld and highway access. A few patrons mentioned the hotel is not within walking distance of Disney World.
Many lodgers were pleased with the hotel's rates. They described them as great, inexpensive, budget friendly and cheap.
Some guests enjoyed their accommodations at the hotel. They found their rooms to be clean, spacious, quiet and well equipped, with efficient air conditioning, comfortable beds and great views of the Disney fireworks. Some travellers were disappointed with their lodgings, however (see below).
The Bad
While the majority of reviews consulted for this analysis were positive, there were some common complaints about the rooms.
Although some guests found their rooms to be well equipped and comfortable, some lodgers criticized their accommodations. They reported dated decor and furniture, worn fixtures, musty odours, cleaning issues, stained carpets and poor Wi-Fi signals.
Expedia.ca guest reviews rated the hotel 3.4 out of 5 with a 74% recommendation rate from 1,497 reviews.
TripAdvisor.com guest reviews ranked the hotel #45 of 161 Kissimmee hotels with an average rating of 3.5 out of 5 from 922 reviews.
Booking.com guest reviews rated the hotel 7 out of 10 from 121 reviews.
The author called the hotel on December 10, 2013 to verify some information.
