Marriott Recommendations

[Texas Trio]

I need two nights off site for our January trip and have lots of Marriott points. We've only stayed onsite so I don't know the area at all. Can you help me sort through the Marriott locations and pick the best for us. I'm having trouble finding everything on the map on the Marriott site.

We have a very early departure and are flying into JAX and driving into Orlando (no frequent flyer miles into MCO ) so the first night we just need a place to sleep. Maybe a suite with a pull out sofa to more comfortably handle 5 ppl? It wouldn't have to be immediately by WDW either. We also need one night before we go home after we checkout from POR. We'll either go to the park or do other things around Orlando so close to WDW might be preferred then. This will be January so pools aren't going to be super important either. Thanks!

 

[erikthewise]

I suggest looking at Springhill Suites and/or Residence Inn, both Marriott-owned.

 

[michvin]

We stayed at the Courtyard at Marriott village and although it was clean, it was kind of noisy and the supposed cafeteria style eating area was poorly, poorly staffed...I had to go back into the Courtyard and complain to get some milk (even though there was a Starbucks location in the cafeteria? ) We love Marriott locations, but I would try the Grande Vista club instead of the ones at the Marriott Village...espeically if you are used to the amenities of a full service hotel.

 

[PortieOwner]

We stayed at the Courtyard at Marriott village and although it was clean, it was kind of noisy and the supposed cafeteria style eating area was poorly, poorly staffed...I had to go back into the Courtyard and complain to get some milk (even though there was a Starbucks location in the cafeteria? ) We love Marriott locations, but I would try the Grande Vista club instead of the ones at the Marriott Village...espeically if you are used to the amenities of a full service hotel.

I stayed at Fairfield at Marriott Village last Sept for the first night/last night of my trip. I liked it a lot. Very efficient and clean. The four things it had that I wanted were: near WDW and SuperWalmart and SuperTarget, free breakfast, free WiFi, and free refrigerator. They seem to have a lot of guests who are on the Disney Cruises staying there. I liked it and might stay there again (the price went up some--it was $55 with Magicard and now it is more like $68 with AAA). The buffet breakfast was fine but it would get old after a couple of days.

Portie

 

[dis-happy]

My dh is platinum with Marriott and we've stayed at just about all the hotels that are close to Disney (both on points and with cash).

Residence Inn on Palm is very, very nice. We had a 2 b/r and great stay there. Free breakfast included. Great pool, resort feel.

The fancy marriott resort is a cat. 6 for points----we haven't stayed there because it doesn't seem worth it.


Marriott Village, Lake Bryon:
1.Courtyard has the nicest pool. We had a room with balcony overlooking the pool area---it made the room seem very spacious.

2/3. Fairfield and Springhill both have the free breakfast. SH is nicer than FF. FF is a cat. 4 for points (and I believe that SH is a cat5)---we preferred to stay at FF for cash (just booked 3 nights later this month for $67. per night direct on the Marr. website). FF is getting renovated starting Oct. this year.

You can use the pools at all 3 hotels if you are staying there (look mom, pool hopping!). The food court is a great convenience; we ordered pizza and ate at the Courtyard pool. The park transportation looked crowded and inconvenient--we always drive to WDW though. The parking lot is monitored, which I like.


Courtyard on Palm---
older hotel. We got a suite room which was huge, for a great rate, over Easter a year ago. Would stay here again. Some rooms have balconies---large interior grounds and pool area.

HTH!

 

[CPM]

The Courtyard on the Palm just renovated all their rooms. It's very nice. Usually has good rates. I also like the Springhill Suites Lake Bryan.

 

[shellby]

We stayed at the Springhill and it was lovely we had no complaints at all.

 

[OKW Lover]

I'll second the recomendations for the SpringHill Suites or the Fairfield at Marriott Village, giving them the nod over the Courtyard for the free breakfast. But with five people, you'll probably need two rooms at either place. The suites are really just one room with a low divider in it.

Depending on when in january you are going, you might keep an eye on Marriott's site for a good deal on one of their vacation club properties that are on the grounds of the World Center property. I believe the names are sable palms, royal palms and imperial palms. I've snagged one of these 2Br units for $125 a night a few years ago.

Also, check the Residence Inn Lake Buena Vista for larger accomodations.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

My dh is platinum with Marriott and we've stayed at just about all the hotels that are close to Disney (both on points and with cash).

Residence Inn on Palm is very, very nice. We had a 2 b/r and great stay there. Free breakfast included. Great pool, resort feel.

The fancy marriott resort is a cat. 6 for points----we haven't stayed there because it doesn't seem worth it.


Marriott Village, Lake Bryon:
1.Courtyard has the nicest pool. We had a room with balcony overlooking the pool area---it made the room seem very spacious.

2/3. Fairfield and Springhill both have the free breakfast. SH is nicer than FF. FF is a cat. 4 for points (and I believe that SH is a cat5)---we preferred to stay at FF for cash (just booked 3 nights later this month for $67. per night direct on the Marr. website). FF is getting renovated starting Oct. this year.

You can use the pools at all 3 hotels if you are staying there (look mom, pool hopping!). The food court is a great convenience; we ordered pizza and ate at the Courtyard pool. The park transportation looked crowded and inconvenient--we always drive to WDW though. The parking lot is monitored, which I like.


Courtyard on Palm---
older hotel. We got a suite room which was huge, for a great rate, over Easter a year ago. Would stay here again. Some rooms have balconies---large interior grounds and pool area.

HTH!

Not trying to hijack the thread, but have you stayed at the Residence Inn Sea World? If so, how did it compare to the other Residence Inn? We want to avoid some of the touristy stuff on our next visit & want to be closer to the city. Thanks

OP,
This is a bit OT, but did you check Tampa Airport (TPA)? For future visits, if you can use frequest flier miles at TPA, it's much closer to Orlando than Jacksonville is.

 

[dis-happy]

Not trying to hijack the thread, but have you stayed at the Residence Inn Sea World? If so, how did it compare to the other Residence Inn? We want to avoid some of the touristy stuff on our next visit & want to be closer to the city. Thanks

OP,
This is a bit OT, but did you check Tampa Airport (TPA)? For future visits, if you can use frequest flier miles at TPA, it's much closer to Orlando than Jacksonville is.

Haven't stayed at Residence/Sea World (we are Disney people through and through!). But have stayed at several other Res.Inn in other parts of the country and have liked them all. I've really come to like Marriott because it's a "safe" choice. Like McDonald's you pretty much know what you're going to get, and properties that don't meet the standards are dropped. I don't think you can go wrong if stay there.