NICK Hotel advice for Newbie

[Tawll3]

Hello all-
I am planning out 1st vacation to Orlando with DH and 3 boys, 16,12 &7. They are excited and want to stay at the NICK hotel. Has anyone stayed there before, is it worth the money, is there shuttle service to the parks?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I am feeling a bit overwhelmed and it is just the planning process. We are looking to go in October 2009. I did get the unofficial guide to disney book and --theres alot of stuff!!

Thanks for any help!

 

[TivoQueen]

I would love to know this too. I just booked 2 nights for July 2009. My kids are 5 and 9 and it is there life dream to stay at the Nick Hotel. Any input????

 

[Tanzanite]

We stayed there 3 nights last year the kids loved it my youngest 2 want to go again they have a bus you pay for it on top of your room rate .The rooms were nice with decorations of Spongebob.We had a car but still paid for bus as they said it was a resort rate whether you use it or not hope its changed .The hotel wasrecently brought by Marriott i believe .We paid a lot for the rooms.The service was not very good but kids loved pool you can get slimed once a day in the afternoon.When are you going we went Memorial weekend pool was not heated it was cold.

 

[stitchon]

First, congrats! I really loved the place and you've made a great choice.

Second, shuttle service is available, but not that great. I suggest having a rental car or something like that. Also, Set aside a day at the hotel itself and let the kids have a day in the waterpark. Once they see the place, they'll never want to leave.

The food court has a nice variety of options, plus the two buffets that change selections every night. The character breakfast is really good, and you can see Spongebob and Dora no matter what, along with others like Cosmo, Wanda, Tommy, Angelica, Diego, and Blue. The "Mall" area also has a photo studio, a kids spa, a 3-D theater attraction, and two shops (A convenience store and a Nick shop). At 4:45, the bucket on top of the lagoon pool fills with slime and dumps onto the crowd below, so don't miss that, and there are daily Nickelodeon game shows in the mall and poolside shows as well.

The rooms are very nice, IMO, and they all have TVs and Bunk Beds or two Twin Beds. There is also a Playstation 2 in the kids room, so if you have games, bring them. You can also rent them from the massive Arcade. Request rooms nearest the Lagoon pool, it's the largest waterpark area in the hotel. Spongebob rooms cost more than a regular room, but generic rooms have Fairly OddParents, Danny Phantom, Jimmy Neutron, All Grown Up, and I believe a few Nick Jr. Shows as well, so request a specific one if you want.

I personally think it's only worth the money if you aren't going to the parks for at least a day or two while you're there. 2 nights is just right to see everything but not enough to get bored.

OP, I'm thinking your 16 year old will think the place is "kiddie", but it's honestly really cool. Besides, no one will know if he goes to Dora and gives her a hug! I also suggest getting him into the games at the pool. A sliming could be a pretty cool memory!

2nd poster, your 9-year old will likely have a great time, but the 5-year old might feel a bit overwhelmed with the loudness and the crazyness.

Have fun!

 

[Cogswel_Cogs]

Our kids loved it! They are 10 and 6.
Make sure you book for the free show early as good slots get booked.
In fact they were upset when we moved to the Coronado for split stay.
Kids loved the slide and pool more than CSL.

 

[xmas16]

Buyer Beware

If you don't overpriced terrible food, being nickel and dime'd to death, rooms that friends of mine had bugs, one even found roaches on his son in bed (you decide if it was a fluke or not), then go for it. I'm spending too much $$ to take a chance. Then again it's Orlando, what isn't overpriced. Now, I'm sure I'll be bashed by the Nick Hotel lovers and they'll say they had no problems and I won't argue. That was their experience, but it is what it is. Kids will love it.