Looking for NICEST hotel at Sea World/DC??

[sanman5710]

This will be our final two nights of an 18 day ultimate Disneyworld vacation. There are 6 of us all together. We are ending our vacation with a day at Sea World and one day at DC. I would like to stay at the nicest possible hotel. Is it the Renaissance, Hilton Garden, Sheraton or Marriott. Has anyone used the concierge?

 

[Shells9]

The Renaissance is probably the closest to the two parks, and it is very nice. We stayed there last year. Didn't use the concierge, though, so I cannot tell you about that. There is a beautiful 14-story atrium there, with birds and a piano player in the lobby. Our room had a balcony that overlooked the indoor atrium.

Have fun!

 

[robvia]

Agree.
The Renaissance Orlando is the one you want.
http://renaissancehotels.com/dpp/PropertyPage.asp?MarshaCode=MCOSR&checked=True&Marriott_BD
Pay the extra money and stay on Club level (10th floor). That gets you breakfast, and snacks for dinner in the club room, which has couches, tables, huge tv, and over looks SWF.

 

[Jacqui.s]

From the research I have done, the Renaissance does look to be the best hotel.

Since you are already going to Discovery Cove, you can use the DCV code in your reservation to get quite reasonable discounted rates for Club Rooms ($129 per night for my dates).

If you are happy with a normal room, it will be well worth trying priceline (we have booked through them for our stay in December). It is the only Resort quality hotel recorded in the Universal-Seaworld area on www.biddingfortravel.com & www.betterbidding.com and if there is availability the normal priceline rate appears to be $69.

The Peabody Orlando might be another one to consider. A little further than the other hotels you mentioned, but it looks particularly nice.

 

[Shells9]

Peabody is not really that far from SW, just down I-drive and around the corner a bit.

 

[suzysezso]

We stayed at the Renaissance last week and while the hotel is indeed the closest, and the atrium lobby is very impressive, I was very UNDERwhelmed by our room.
It is a simple standard room, perhaps on the large side, with a balcony (ours overlooked the roof of the convention ballroom). We got it for $72 via priceline, so perhaps there are better rooms for the full price paying folks, but when I bid on a resort level room I expect at the very least to find a usable mini fridge. This room had a mini fridge, BUT it was fully packed with honor bar items, and if I were to unload thoses items in order to cool my own things, my kids would be into the overpriced stuff in no time flat.
There was no hair dryer in the bathroom. I called down to the desk and was made to feel very embarrassed when they told me it was in the hall closet, and that this fact was "cleary posted" in the bathroom. (there was indeed a card on the vanity which along with the usual yadayada about towels and forgotten toiletries DID mention the hairdryer's hiding place...)
My bad I guess.
The major advantage of this hotel is the proximity to SeaWorld. You can save the $7 parking fee by walking. This unfortunately did not help us because we have a wheelchair in our party and while it was not so bad in the morning, at the end of the day that was a heck of a hike.
We look for shortcuts where ever we can, and by paying the $7 and showing our blue tag we can usually park extremely close to the gate, so that is what we did. Besides, one other small advantage of the Renaissance is that valet parking is free when you show your blue tag, so I felt justified paying for the premium parking at SW.
Sorry I got wordy as usual, but bottom line is: I won't be paying resort prices for a fancy lobby and a plain room again. Next time I will be checking out the Hilton Gardens which I have heard is a better value.

 

[Grumpy37]

Renaissance was definitely the hotel for us. The room was OK, the view of SeaWorld was VERY cool (and not cheap, btw), it wasn't *too* far to walk across the width of the SeaWorld parking to get to the entrance. The pool/recreation area was a blast.

OTOH, the food at Renaissance's Tradewinds restaurant wasn't that good, wasn't that hot, the restaurant wasn't that clean, but at least to keep consistent the service wasn't that good either. But it sure beat trying to get food and a table at the BBQ "restaurant" at SeaWorld. Eat before you go to the park, afterwards either splurge for the Atlantis restaurant in the hotel or go out somewhere.

 

[spiceycat]

across the street from SW and Renaissance - is the Hilton Grand Vacation Club - this is a timeshare.

so if you are willing to listen to their sales pitch - you can probably find a good rate.

the studio are very nice - they comes with a queen bed, a double (queen) sleeper sofa - large TV and I think all the rooms had a video.

I would expect (will tell you shortly) that the 1-bedroom and up to have a complete kitchen and a whirlpool tub in the bathroom.

Just don't buy!!!

 

[hdnwaters]

I have stayed at the Hilton Vacation Club and this past trip we stayed at the Residence Inn. The Hilton basically does not have a restaurant. It's a very nice place.

I really liked the Residence Inn. It's very close. Just 4 trolley stops from Sea World. We are Marriot Club members and we got the room for $69.00 per night. They have a full service breakfast included. Our room had 2 queen beds, a sleeper soft, nice chair desk, a full refrigerator, 2 burner stove, micro wave and dishwasher. It has a nice pool. Pizza Hut if your hungry. I'd definatly stay there again.