Old Town

Ian Turgeon

Ian Turgeon

Cascading Inspiration
We went to old town last night to check it out. Neither of us had been down there yet, so we wanted to scope out the scene.

It seems like a really cool place with lots for everyone of all ages to do, and its really close to all the theme parks and highways. Old town itself is a closed off brick street with lots of shops, bars, restaurants, kids games and so on. They have a top fuel dragster simulator, 2 go-kart tracks, human catapult, giant swing, and a ton of other things. Theres hotels right there in the area too. The car show was nice, seemed a little smaller then expected, but we were a little late and it had been raining randomly on the way there.

It'll be a bit of a cruise to the track if we end up there, but I think we could swing it.

I'm positive it will be a good place for us and the families you guys bring. After our visit we've all agreed we should be planning the event around Old Town.

Oh and Pacino's steaks are awesome, although for the $30+ range they better be.
 
Raist103

Raist103

Engine Killer, iPhone Killer, Lawnmower Killer
Re: Old Town

pacinos is the reason i make trips to fl every week some times a couple times :) last time down i spent more on pacinos then i did on the house i rented.
 
SYO237

SYO237

SyTy Registry
Re: Old Town

Raist103 said:
pacinos is the reason i make trips to fl every week some times a couple times :) last time down i spent more on pacinos then i did on the house i rented.
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no doubt, that place is pricey, although really good. We only went there on your recomendation Don
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While their steak was great and rates up high, I still think Texas Cattle Company / Charlies is still the best Ive had.
 
SYO237

SYO237

SyTy Registry
Re: Old Town

If you standing at Pacinos looking towards Old Town, its to your right a few blocks down near Arabian Nights. They do their steak similar in a pit with orange and oak wood... all the steaks are aged.

http://www.talkofthetownrestaurants.com/charleys_kiss.html

The same company owns Texas Cattle Company as well. The closest TCC is in Lakeland.


Next time your down, let us know.... Im down for some Charleys as long as the bank account lets me.
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Raist103

Raist103

Engine Killer, iPhone Killer, Lawnmower Killer
Re: Old Town

sounds like a plan, i am going to try and get down there before the fl meet but do to the new job may only get down one time this year :(
 
420

420

Broke Ass Racing
Re: Old Town

As far as Old Town, did we confirm that there won't be an issue wiht our trucks joining the car show? I know they are picky about who can come in...
 
Ian Turgeon

Ian Turgeon

Cascading Inspiration
Re: Old Town

Going to be working on that, I know they let the CRX guys in when they were having a get together there, so I'll be talking to my contacts there and with whoever runs the old town shows.
 
N

natsforever

New member
Re: Old Town

I was hoping this would happen. I go to Old Town every year for a car show and I can't imagine a better place in central Florida to have a meet. During the Winter Nationals they have two host hotels, the Comfort Suites and Seralago. If I can get a good rate I will stay at the Comfort Suites, it opened in 2000 and has won best Comfort Suites in the US twice and it's in walking distance of Old Town. Until about two years ago we were getting rates of $69 a night, last time it was $85, I think, but that was in February. Maybe early November is off peak(cheap rates)? There is a big Days Inn and Days Suites on the other side of Old Town and a Super 8 across the highway, but the Comfort Suites is closest and nicest.

There are resturants everywhere and just a couple miles from the main gate of Disney. There are plenty of bars in Old Town so you can get hammered and WALK back to the hotel, for that matter you can walk to Pacinos(you can see Pacinos from the Comfort Suites if your room is on the second floor or higher).
 
SYO237

SYO237

SyTy Registry
Re: Old Town

I called the Comfort Suites yesterday. The best they could give me was $89 plus the 13% gratiuity crap on top of that. To me, thats not a good price if we book 20-30+ rooms. That would be the best place to stay, its literally overlooking old town and its a 100 yard walk.

Im calling a few other hotels down the strip though, see what I can find for the best price. Id like to get us something in the $75 and under. I dont want us staying in dirt hole either. There is a super nice Radisson down the street (but it might be to pricey) and a place called Vacation Village next to Arabian Nights.... not exactly across from Old Town, but still somewhat walkable I guess. The closer, the better we are. 192 is a busy road.


The thing is, I need to get a better idea of how many people are attending. Im guessing in the range of 40-60 people. You guys need to register on the site, www.sytyshindig.com to help me out.
 
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natsforever

New member
Re: Old Town

13% gratiuity, at a hotel, I've never heard of that before. The Seralago(sp) was $55, I think, and you don't have to cross 192. Also, Arabian nights isn't really walking distance, it's like a mile and a half and the other side of 192. The next closest(to Old Town) is the Days Inn, I've stayed there for a walk-in rate(no reservations) of $29 a night in February. I wouldn't call it a dirt hole, but it's NOT the Ritz. I think with reservations the Days Inn was $50-$55 a night and it IS walking distance.

Maybe we should have a poll about nice vs. cheap hotels, to see what the other attendees think. I know being in 'walking distance' is REALLY nice(another thing to put in the poll). If nothing else, it takes drinking and driving out of the picture AND you can park your truck at the hotel and leave it there.
 
SYO237

SYO237

SyTy Registry
Re: Old Town

Yeah, I wasnt to clear on the 13% thing... oh, plus theres a $2 per night room deal thing as well. Not sure if thats standard, or because its a "group" rate deal. They should be paying my ass 13% if Im gonna fill their hotel.
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Hopefully I will be calling more places today and getting some rates. I think everyone wants both as cheap as possible and as nice as possible. I looked at the Seralago yesterday, but didnt call....
 
SYO237

SYO237

SyTy Registry
Re: Old Town

Dunno... she hit me with $99 at first, then said 89 and mentioned 13% + $2 room rate, blah blah blah.... I asked if that was included into the 89 or on top... she said on top. I was still stuck on the $89 rate being a bit pricey (i was looking online and could have booked it for $10 cheaper than that) and everything she said when in one ear, out the other....

I may call her again today and explain everything again and ask for a better rate in the range of like $65-70 per night. If Im gonna bring that much business, I want a good price.

Here is the link to registration:
http://www.sytyshindig.com/forms/use/SyTyShindigRegistration/form1.html

That list should be filled up with FL owners that are BRINGING trucks. Where are all you guys in WPB and Tampa areas?
 
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natsforever

New member
Re: Old Town

I checked my info from February 2008 and we had a group rate at the Seralago of $49. It looks like ALL hotels in that area have a 13% tax + 2.26 per room per day. You can book rooms on Seralago's website for $48 for a limited time.

The Comfort Suites has a AAA rate of $81, I know that's not much help if your not AAA(I am). The Comfort Suites is probably not too concerned about giving discounts, if you plug in Shindig dates of November 6 thru 9 it shows that some of their room classes(1 king bed and 2 queen beds) only have two rooms left--at that rate. I think the 'word is out' on that hotel. Last year I called them in October to reserve a room in the middle of February and they were already booked, almost 4 months in advance. I called them again, at the end of January, and someone had cancelled so I was able to get in. I talked to one guy from England and he said his family comes to Old Town every year (he's a car guy and was totally blown away by the cars at the Saturday night cruise) and they reserve their room for next year a full year ahead of time. People know that if you want to be at Old Town, the Comfort Suites is the place to be.

The bad news is that it may not be possible for us to stay there as a group. They may not have enough rooms available, at least not at a rate that we would want to pay.

The nice Radisson you were talking about, would that be the Radisson Resort Parkway? I stayed there once, I think that's right behind Charley's Steak house...
 
SYO237

SYO237

SyTy Registry
Re: Old Town

I didnt get a chance to call hotels yesterday.... will start again on monday.

So far from what your saying, it looks like Seralago is going to be the place to go if we can get a rate at those prices. That will be my first call. Yep, thats the Radisson I stayed at as well. The Vacation Village is right around there as well.
 
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natsforever

New member
Re: Old Town

Ah, I don't know if that's what I'm saying(not trying to be difficult). I haven't stayed at Seralago and although it's close and on the same side of 192 as Old Town, it's quite a walk(like maybe a 1/4 mile). Also, it's about the same price(I think) as the Days Inn, so I don't know how much better it would be. The Days Inn or the Days Suites are within walkin distance but that brings up that whole 'dirt hole' thing you mentioned. I'm not dissin' the Days Inn, but some people may not think it's nice enough. The Super 8 is about as close as Seralago(maybe closer) and 80 feet from a Dennys and Bennigans! It's also less than 200 yards from Pacino's(I think), but it's on the wrong side of Hwy 192.

Being in walking distance is important to me, it may not be as important to other people. I'm thinking of reserving a room at the Comfort Suites now. The only thing that may change my mind is if everyone is at a different hotel and you need a certain number of rooms rented to get a discount. If I couldn't stay at the Comfort Suites(because it was booked), my next choice would be the Days Inn(because it's the next closest and is cheap).
 
SYO237

SYO237

SyTy Registry
Re: Old Town

no prob. im gonna hit up everyone on the strip on monday and see who can give me the best deal. im definatley calling back comfort suites and seeing if i cant push them to go cheaper before we decide on going elsewhere.

my thing with the dirt hole places is due to my kids/wife, plus I want to have some sort of security knowing the trucks will be ok and not easily open to vadalism/theft, plus some of the bigger name hotels might be easier to get amenities such as garbage cans and would be more understanding having a big group for an event with the noise and ongoing activity. Last meet in GA, we got yelled at by hotel management, Burger King management, and then finally the cops called on us by the hotel due to the pocketbikes. The hotel said they would have to "think" about letting us back.
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