Best hotel to stay in when going to SW

[stampinot]

Looking fo a hotel that has a shuttle to SW, aquatica
Thanks

 

[canadiandisneyfamof4]

I've been hearing good things about the Residence Inn. We just booked it for August.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

We stayed at the Residence Inn SeaWorld over Christmas week, and really enjoyed it . You can check out the link in my signature for my trip report. There are lots of photos of the room, common areas, and courtyard, pool & hot tub.

This property offers a free hot breakfast buffet, free parking, free wireless internet, free scheduled transportation to the park, and free Quick Queue for SeaWorld. The rooms are large and include a full kitchen. Staff were super friendly too.

 

[MondaysChild]

We stayed at the renaissance and loved walking across the street to sea world. Next trip we are trying hilton grand vacations at sea world. They have great rates and reviews. The spring hill suites was a close next choice with free breakfast, parking, wifi and a good rate! All three of those can technically be in walking distance to sea world which is what I like, but the renaissance is the closest. Negative is you pay to park there. I am sure the renaissance would look beautiful during holidays.

 

[stampinot]

We currently are staying there. the rate is good and they offer free wifi and breakfast

 

[Lynne G]

We currently are staying there. the rate is good and they offer free wifi and breakfast

I stayed there 2years ago, it was nice.

 

[Marshay]

We stayed at the Residence Inn SeaWorld over Christmas week, and really enjoyed it . You can check out the link in my signature for my trip report. There are lots of photos of the room, common areas, and courtyard, pool & hot tub.

This property offers a free hot breakfast buffet, free parking, free wireless internet, free scheduled transportation to the park, and free Quick Queue for SeaWorld. The rooms are large and include a full kitchen. Staff were super friendly too.

Gina -- we booked the Residence Inn based on your recommendation and pics. Is this within walking distance?

We will have our car and AP for free parking if we choose to drive in or may just take the shuttle, but I was curious how far it is to walk, ESP if our daughter falls asleep in the stroller...sometimes it's just easier to walk than wake her up and fold everything up for a vehicle...

Thanks!

EDITED: never mind Gina...I saw your response in another post on this same topic.

 

[PatMcDuck]

I've been hearing good things about the Residence Inn. We just booked it for August.

I also just booked Residence Inn for late Sept. I need a true suite, with a bedroom that has a door on it, to close it off from the rest of the suite. (I was looking and some of the "suites" at other hotels in the area just have a partition between the bed and the kitchette/living space. Which could be fine, but does not suit my needs when traveling with DS (adult with special needs).

Can't wait to see Sea World again, it has been 21 years!

 

[DOOM1001]

As far as convenience to get to the park I can't imagine any hotel having better location than the Rennaissance or the Hilton Garden Inn,they're both literally on the other side of Sea Harbor dr which is a small street that's pretty easy to cross,once you cross it you're literally in the parking lot.The Hilton Grand vacations resort is probably also a pretty easy walk to the park.I'll look more into the Residence Inn,especially since it has a free breakfast for future visits as the Hilton Garden inn or Rennaissance don't offer free breakfast.Just how far is the Residence Inn from the park?If you have a car there's a bunch of good hotels like the Hampton inn on Universal blvd or on International Drive that are nice,new and clean with free breakfast and are no more than a 5-10 minute drive to Sea World or Universal.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

As far as convenience to get to the park I can't imagine any hotel having better location than the Rennaissance or the Hilton Garden Inn,they're both literally on the other side of Sea Harbor dr which is a small street that's pretty easy to cross,once you cross it you're literally in the parking lot.The Hilton Grand vacations resort is probably also a pretty easy walk to the park.I'll look more into the Residence Inn,especially since it has a free breakfast for future visits as the Hilton Garden inn or Rennaissance don't offer free breakfast.Just how far is the Residence Inn from the park?If you have a car there's a bunch of good hotels like the Hampton inn on Universal blvd or on International Drive that are nice,new and clean with free breakfast and are no more than a 5-10 minute drive to Sea World or Universal.

The Residence Inn is very close to SeaWorld. MapQuest has it as a mile, or 4 minutes by car.

All of the SW onsite hotels are in excellent proximity to the parks, IMHO. I would love to try the Renaissance some day (being across the street would be GREAT!) but we like having a fully separate bedroom when travelling with the boy, so unfortunately it gets scratched off the list for that reason alone. I'm also not sure if internet and parking are extra charges there........those are two other things I like to have included in a hotel stay.

 

[MondaysChild]

Internet in the room an parking were add ons for us at the Renaissance. I think they may have packages that include it. I pricelined our room so we were happy for about 90 a night I didn't mind paying for the Internet and I parked my car at sea world since my pass lets me park there for free. They have free lobby Internet if you don't need it in your room.

I am trying hilton grand in July...excited to see how it compares!

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Internet in the room an parking were add ons for us at the Renaissance. I think they may have packages that include it. I pricelined our room so we were happy for about 90 a night I didn't mind paying for the Internet and I parked my car at sea world since my pass lets me park there for free. They have free lobby Internet if you don't need it in your room.

I am trying hilton grand in July...excited to see how it compares!

That's what I thought.

Seems like a nice hotel otherwise, though. And their pool area looks fun for little ones.

 

[DOOM1001]

Internet in the room an parking were add ons for us at the Renaissance. I think they may have packages that include it. I pricelined our room so we were happy for about 90 a night I didn't mind paying for the Internet and I parked my car at sea world since my pass lets me park there for free. They have free lobby Internet if you don't need it in your room.

I am trying hilton grand in July...excited to see how it compares!

Do you mean you left your car parked at Sea World overnight??

 

[MondaysChild]

Do you mean you left your car parked at Sea World overnight??

Yes. We left it parked there overnight literally the first spot in front of the Renaissance. I think our spot in the sea world lot was the same length walk as if we parked in the hotel.

 

[DOOM1001]

I didn't think that was allowed,did you ask if you could do this,I would have been worried about it getting towed.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

I didn't think that was allowed,did you ask if you could do this,I would have been worried about it getting towed.

That would have been my concern, too.

 

[MondaysChild]

We left a note with my number on the car dash the first two nights that said we were pass holders and we will be back the next day. I also left the preferred parking sign that they put under your wiper on the dash so they knew we were platinum members. No one called and i Had no issues but figured I should still play it safe and make sure it was "actually" okay so I went to guest relations the third day and filled out a form to leave the car. They have them there for special circumstances...like your keys flew out on a ride so you couldnt drive your car!!! I just put my reason for leaving the car as "returning back the next day, easier to walk to hotel" which we did! Left it the rest of the week without an issue.

I read elsewhere that someone did that so I knew I would be allowed to leave it. I don't think it is common. There were only a few cars in the lot. And really, most the hotels there have free parking except the renaissance.

Edited to add...the one weird piece about it is you have to make sure you are back in sea world before they close! We took a night away and went to dinner at fort wilderness, then the campfire with chip and dale. By the time we got back sea world was practically shut. Guessing if you came back really late, the lot might be closed to incoming traffic.