> Does anyone know if the newly renovated tower (3 years, I'm told) at the IP
> is any nicer? Thanks.
Newly renovated rooms are much nicer, but at three years I'm not sure "newly renovated" really applies.
Hmmmm ... I would guess that the room I had last time at the IP had a makeover within the last few years. The decor was current but not opulent by any means. The vanity did look like it was recently replaced, I remember. Typical Hampton Inn type of room. It did have a real open-to-the-air balcony.
I'm sure that by booking that "Deluxe" room, you'll get one of the nicer rooms which is available when you check in.
However, I've found over the years that if you book the plain old run of the house, there's a chance that you'll end up in a "Deluxe" room. This was true about 50% of the time for me at the Sahara, in which I stayed for DLV 2000 thru 2006.
I must say that in all years of DLV, from 1997 thru 2010, I've never had a bad room. I've stayed at Riviera, Stardust, Sahara, IP and Flamingo for DLV over the years. I admit I'm really not that particular. I use the room for sleeping, getting ready, and the occasional power nap. Other than that I'm usually out of the room.
One time, for DLV 1999, I actually ended up in a three-room suite at the Stardust after having booked a ROTH "motor inn" type room. (I know I have witnesses to this on the forum here.) I actually paid something like $29 per night for the suite!
Another "war story" on rooms and rates happened in 1998. Densie came in cold with no reservation, stepped up to the desk at the IP, and got a room for $49 per night. Later that evening we picked up Margeth at the airport and took her to the IP to check in. Margeth had reserved a room at the IP well in advance for something like $79 per night. All three of us went up to the desk when Margeth checked in, and she mentioned to the desk agent that Densie, standing right up there with us, had walked in cold that day and got the $49 rate. The guy didn't even blink. He picked up his pen, crossed off the $79 rate, and wrote in the $49 rate. It always helps to ask if better rates are available.