Marriott World Center

[welovewdw]

I just made a reservation for Dec. 26-Jan 1 with Marriott points - has anyone stayed there? It looks nice when we drive by - but I've never stayed there! I love the location - and I love "free" with points. LOL - thanks for any feedback!

 

[JenniferW]

We stayed there 2 years ago during Tday and it was fabulous. Look on tripadvisor for more recent reviews. It had an incredible pool area and very nice, clean upscale rooms. It was in a weird location, not within walking distance of anything, but the drive to Disney was very short.


Jenn

 

[PixieDust32]

Oh I loved it! The pools are awesome, the restaurant brkfs buffet is great, also the service is excellent!

You can borrow noodles, balls and pool toys from the recreation area, they got an arcade near the big pool, a play area for little ones (DD called Pre-K).

They do hair wrap and face paiting at the pool for free, you'll get a calendar of the daily activities.

One of my favs there is the Starbucks.

 

[welovewdw]

Thank you!!! I did just read trip advisor, too - and it looks like it's great!!!

You can borrow noodles, balls and pool toys from the recreation area, they got an arcade near the big pool, a play area for little ones (DD called Pre-K).

They do hair wrap and face paiting at the pool for free, you'll get a calendar of the daily activities.

ok, my 8yo dd will LOVE all of this - and all 3 kids will love the pool (even if it's cold!)

Thanks so much!!! Now I can't wait to go!!

 

[PixieDust32]

Ohh they got a really cool indoor pool too.

You'll love it!

 

[holdem]

are the outdoor pools heated? do they have a shuttle to disney?

 

[welovewdw]

I think I read on tripadvisor that you have to pay for the shuttle and it doesn't run very frequently - we're driving, so that isn't a big deal for us.

One thing I've found is that rental cars are cheap in Orlando - cheaper than shuttles, taxis, etc usually!

Don't know about the pools being heated or not - Good question, though!

 

[holdem]

we will be renting a car. our 17 year old son and his friend will be with us. thought if they had a shuttle available they could go to the parks on there own a couple times. i hope the pools are heated......thanks.

 

[spiceycat]

with Disney new Magical Express - some of the car renting places are hurting.

I guess lots of Disney guest got a rental car before ME.

I have been to MWC yet - but one day!!!

here is the link

www.marriottworldcenter.com

 

[holdem]

what is magical express?

 

[spiceycat]

disney new tranportation program.

if you are staying at any Disney resort (this includes DVC resort) then you can add DME (for free) - and Disney will take you back and forth to the airport.

It is a nice service.

that plus a great discount made flying much cheaper than driving for my trip in May.

I used

www.wegoshop.com
for my groceries.

Dme is good until next Oct,2006. May + 18 months.

 

[DisneyForLife]

Marriott World Center----------AWESOME
You will love it.

 

[holdem]

are the pools heated? how far are the timshare resorts from the main hotel area.

 

[CarolA]

we will be renting a car. our 17 year old son and his friend will be with us. thought if they had a shuttle available they could go to the parks on there own a couple times. i hope the pools are heated......thanks.

I have stayed there several times, very nice hotel. I think the pool was heated because I got in it in Febuary!

They do have a shuttle to Disney, but I don't recall the details.

I am not sure where the ME discussion came from since you can't use that for this hotel.

The only thing I don't like is that they charge to park which I think is just plain STUPID, but... If you have a free stay I would just go for the valet. The "pay parking" is not very convienent.

 

[MickeyMouseGal]

I stayed there in January a few years ago. Like someone else said, the World Center isn't close to anything. I would definitely rent a car. (I was there for a conference, so I only got to spend one day in WDW. It was OK for that, but I can't imagine spending every day on this shuttle system.) Basically, the shuttle system there is lousy. It's run by Mears and is fairly expensive. (Like $8-$10 per person, per day.) They only run two or three "To the parks" shuttles in the morning and only two or three "From the parks" shuttles in the evening. You can only go "To" in the morning and "From" in the evening. So, if you want to go back to the hotel in the middle of the day, you're basically screwed. And if you miss the shuttle, it's at least an hour until the next one.
There is a Courtyard by Mariott near Downtown Disney that's also nice. It's smaller than the World Center and doesn't have all of the perks, but it's WAY more convenient to WDW and even has the Disney Shuttle service included. It's within walking distance to DTD.

 

[spiceycat]

the Courtyard by Marriott in DD doesn't exist any longer. Marriott sold it to Holiday Inn.

if you are staying in one of their timeshares Royal Palms, Imperial Palms, Sabal Palms you don't pay for parking. However if you drive your car to the main hotel you are charged for parking.

there is a shuttle from the timeshares to the hotel. If you don't want to walk or if it is too far.

you will have to pay the parking fee if you are staying in the hotel itself and have a car.

I think the shuttles also go to US/IOA which I think teens would like more than WDW.