Reflection
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Sep 4, 2000
- Messages
- 2,377
We returned last week from our June (6-10 thru 6-26) trip to Orlando. Here are my observations on three off-site properties we stayed at between our Universal and WDW onsite stays.
Sheraton Studio Centre (or something like that)
On our arrival night we stayed at the Sheraton Studio Centre (I Drive area). We had a great view of Wet N Wild and the property is next door to a miniature golf place.
Our reservation was made thru Priceline ($54 plus the resort fee, which I think was $8). My daughter and I liked this hotel--Art Deco style thruout. All floors on the elevator required room key access. I don't recall if the two beds were queen or full, but each had the heavenly mattresses, and we enjoyed a good night's sleep in our non-smoking room.
Although, I thought the property could use a bit of a rehab--the lobby had a nice design but the upholstery and wall paper looked a bit bedraggled, the overall ambience was quite nice. Our room was very clean and room service was extremely prompt. The food was also good. If I could get same rate or lower through Priceline, I would stay at this property again.
The next morning we checked out nice and early to head over to the Royal Pacific at Universal for a two-night stay. Check out went smoothly, with no problems on the bill and I was assured my Starwood Preferred account would reflect the points from our food/beverage charges.
Cypress Pointe
After our Universal jaunt, we checked into Cypress Pointe. We stayed here for five nights while we did Sea World, day trip to the beach and other Orlando-area activities before heading over to WDW. My only requests were nonsmoking room and a building close to the main pool. We were placed in a 3rd floor two-bedroom in a building very close to the pool (sorry, but I don't recall the building name). The villa was spacious, clean, with numerous amenities, including a blender, which we put to great use making smoothies and margaritas. We really liked this property and enjoyed the villa. It was nice to have the space to spread out in--as well as the two televisions. We made our reservations thru Hotel Kingdom at $89/night. I thought this was a terrific price for the space and proximity to restaurants, etc. I also liked the fact that I was able to park right in front our building most of the time. We were never in the villa when the calls were made to 'come pick up our welcome package' from the front desk. So I don't have info about the time share presentation or what was offered if you took part. We went to the pool a couple of nights, and there were always plenty of chairs at that time.
I'm not into pools--my daughter is the swimmer in the family--and she liked the volcano pool just fine. We would definitely stay here again and this place is truly a bargain at $89/night. Next time, I might request being on the first floor. Schlepping groceries up three flights of stairs--luggage was no problem, we each had one suitcase with wheels and a handle--was no fun, but I was grateful to one of the staff who saw me struggling and helped me to carry my food bags up the stairs. Check out went smoothly--our only charge was for local phone calls, and we headed over to the revamped HIFS.
Nick Hotel
We arrived early, determined to take advantage of the pool and water slides. A nonsmoking room was available in Bldg 2. Our room faced front--looking out onto the street. My daughter liked the room--it had a Sponge Bob Squarepants theme--a cartoon favorite-- and I found it to be quiet as we were not on the pool side. Since we were only staying for one night, we unpacked just a few things. Other than the decor, the layout of the room was same as I remembered from a previous stay when the place was just Holiday Inn Family Suites. If anything, I would swear the room a little bit smaller--if that is possible. Anyway, there is the small living room area, with pullout couch, the kitchnette area with table/chairs, bathroom, the kid's room and the larger bedroom. I liked this version of the kids room with two twin beds instead of the bunkbeds, which was what we had before. There are televisions in both bedrooms as well as the livingroom. Everything was fine in the room except for the quilt on the bed in my room, which had some sticky brown substance (it looked like syrup but I don't know for sure). A call to housekeeping, and a freshly laundered quilt was brought up within 15-20 minutes.
The pool areas are quite elaborate. My daughter preferred the main pool area (by the higher numbered buildings), which had, in my view, a fancy slide, and a long line to go along with that. There were lots of pool side games/activities. By around 1:00 the afternoon sun was too much and we headed back to our room for a break. We did not eat in any of the sitdown placing--opting for burgers at the A&W stand--so I can't comment on the quality of the food in the main dining rooms. When it was HIFS, the food was pretty bad, IMO, and from other reviews I've read here, I don't think it has improved much. We enjoyed the evening activities (bingo and two different shows--patterned on Nick-style family games--in the Nick Studio. What a great theatre space and the shows were fun as well. Kareoake was also on the agenda but we were too tired to participate, after playing a few rounds of games in the Arcade. The spa for girls was open but my daughter did not get a manicure/pedicure or airbrush tatoo, as we had already had a spa day at the Saratoga Springs Resort spa and she still had the tatoo she had gotten at Universal.
This is one of the few times I've paid rack rate for a hotel (there were no AAA discounts available for our date) and since it was only for one night, I did not mind too much. We liked this place and it is a lot fun--I'm not sure if I felt it was good value at $199 a night plus tax, but I would stay here again for more nights if I could get a discounted room rate. If not, I would do as I did with this trip--book for one night, check in early and view the day as pool and R&R day.
I'm happy to answer any questions.
Edited to fix quite a few typos.
Sheraton Studio Centre (or something like that)
On our arrival night we stayed at the Sheraton Studio Centre (I Drive area). We had a great view of Wet N Wild and the property is next door to a miniature golf place.
Our reservation was made thru Priceline ($54 plus the resort fee, which I think was $8). My daughter and I liked this hotel--Art Deco style thruout. All floors on the elevator required room key access. I don't recall if the two beds were queen or full, but each had the heavenly mattresses, and we enjoyed a good night's sleep in our non-smoking room.
Although, I thought the property could use a bit of a rehab--the lobby had a nice design but the upholstery and wall paper looked a bit bedraggled, the overall ambience was quite nice. Our room was very clean and room service was extremely prompt. The food was also good. If I could get same rate or lower through Priceline, I would stay at this property again.
The next morning we checked out nice and early to head over to the Royal Pacific at Universal for a two-night stay. Check out went smoothly, with no problems on the bill and I was assured my Starwood Preferred account would reflect the points from our food/beverage charges.
Cypress Pointe
After our Universal jaunt, we checked into Cypress Pointe. We stayed here for five nights while we did Sea World, day trip to the beach and other Orlando-area activities before heading over to WDW. My only requests were nonsmoking room and a building close to the main pool. We were placed in a 3rd floor two-bedroom in a building very close to the pool (sorry, but I don't recall the building name). The villa was spacious, clean, with numerous amenities, including a blender, which we put to great use making smoothies and margaritas. We really liked this property and enjoyed the villa. It was nice to have the space to spread out in--as well as the two televisions. We made our reservations thru Hotel Kingdom at $89/night. I thought this was a terrific price for the space and proximity to restaurants, etc. I also liked the fact that I was able to park right in front our building most of the time. We were never in the villa when the calls were made to 'come pick up our welcome package' from the front desk. So I don't have info about the time share presentation or what was offered if you took part. We went to the pool a couple of nights, and there were always plenty of chairs at that time.
I'm not into pools--my daughter is the swimmer in the family--and she liked the volcano pool just fine. We would definitely stay here again and this place is truly a bargain at $89/night. Next time, I might request being on the first floor. Schlepping groceries up three flights of stairs--luggage was no problem, we each had one suitcase with wheels and a handle--was no fun, but I was grateful to one of the staff who saw me struggling and helped me to carry my food bags up the stairs. Check out went smoothly--our only charge was for local phone calls, and we headed over to the revamped HIFS.Nick Hotel
We arrived early, determined to take advantage of the pool and water slides. A nonsmoking room was available in Bldg 2. Our room faced front--looking out onto the street. My daughter liked the room--it had a Sponge Bob Squarepants theme--a cartoon favorite-- and I found it to be quiet as we were not on the pool side. Since we were only staying for one night, we unpacked just a few things. Other than the decor, the layout of the room was same as I remembered from a previous stay when the place was just Holiday Inn Family Suites. If anything, I would swear the room a little bit smaller--if that is possible. Anyway, there is the small living room area, with pullout couch, the kitchnette area with table/chairs, bathroom, the kid's room and the larger bedroom. I liked this version of the kids room with two twin beds instead of the bunkbeds, which was what we had before. There are televisions in both bedrooms as well as the livingroom. Everything was fine in the room except for the quilt on the bed in my room, which had some sticky brown substance (it looked like syrup but I don't know for sure). A call to housekeeping, and a freshly laundered quilt was brought up within 15-20 minutes.
The pool areas are quite elaborate. My daughter preferred the main pool area (by the higher numbered buildings), which had, in my view, a fancy slide, and a long line to go along with that. There were lots of pool side games/activities. By around 1:00 the afternoon sun was too much and we headed back to our room for a break. We did not eat in any of the sitdown placing--opting for burgers at the A&W stand--so I can't comment on the quality of the food in the main dining rooms. When it was HIFS, the food was pretty bad, IMO, and from other reviews I've read here, I don't think it has improved much. We enjoyed the evening activities (bingo and two different shows--patterned on Nick-style family games--in the Nick Studio. What a great theatre space and the shows were fun as well. Kareoake was also on the agenda but we were too tired to participate, after playing a few rounds of games in the Arcade. The spa for girls was open but my daughter did not get a manicure/pedicure or airbrush tatoo, as we had already had a spa day at the Saratoga Springs Resort spa and she still had the tatoo she had gotten at Universal.
This is one of the few times I've paid rack rate for a hotel (there were no AAA discounts available for our date) and since it was only for one night, I did not mind too much. We liked this place and it is a lot fun--I'm not sure if I felt it was good value at $199 a night plus tax, but I would stay here again for more nights if I could get a discounted room rate. If not, I would do as I did with this trip--book for one night, check in early and view the day as pool and R&R day.
I'm happy to answer any questions.
Edited to fix quite a few typos.
