Waldorf Astoria experiences?

[Jen1995]

Definitely staying off site this time - really want more of a luxury experience for my 400 dollars a night. We have 3 older children and we just no longer fit in a disney deluxe (and I'm tired of not being able to call the front desk, reduction in theming, weird room checks, etc.). Seems like the Walforf would be a great fit for us, especially a suite. I do have some questions that I could not figure out from the website:
1) Do they always have free welcome drinks or was that some sort of special?
2) Do they always have turn down service?
3) Do they always have bagpipes at sunset?
4) I know they only have valet and no self-parking - is the valet 24 hours? We like to leave for the parks early. Really early. Want to make sure we can access our vehicle.
5) How far is the walk to the Hilton lazy river pool (I know they allow pool hopping and say it is walkable, but that could mean 5 minutes or 25 minutes).
6) How often do the shuttles run to the parks? (Planning on driving to parks, but using them if a teenager wants to head back early, meet us later, etc.)

Thanks for anyone who can help!

 

[snappy]

My husband and I stayed there in a suite for 4 nights when it opened fall, 2009. It was a Travelzoo deal, pay for 3 nights, stay 4. The Waldorf pool is very nice and relaxing but the lazy river at the Hilton is large and beautiful. It’s also busy and can be hard to get a free float. It’s not a bad walk at all, 5-10 minutes, you can walk outside along the canal or inside through the wide corridor in convention center that connects the 2 hotels. I don’t know the hours of the valet service but I would definitely check with the hotel on that and if you stay there, call down for your car a couple minutes before you go down. We mostly used our car too to a park but I can see that it would help for older children to come and go. I think they ran every 30 minutes and there were 2 different routes so 2 different busses. It’s been a while though, check with the hotel. I don’t remember turndown service but I bet it’s included. No bagpipes or free drinks in 2008 but they had my favorite herbal tea, Tea Forte, along with coffee in the peacock lounge (complimentary). You can sit in the lovely lounge to drink the drinks Or in a lovely terrace overseeing the Waldorf pool area. We stayed for a night more recently when I booked the Hilton Bonnet creek and I did the option of requesting an upgrade when it was offered. We had an even nicer suite that time. Worth signing up with the Hilton points program as they send you an email offering a possible upgrade if it’s available upon arrival.
I think it’s a great place to stay hope you love it if you end up there. The staff was attentive and professional and well, grown up, compared to their Disney counterparts. We also have stayed at and enjoyed the Hilton Bonnet Creek, once in a freaking amazing 2,800 square foot presidential suite. Both are good choices but the Waldorf feels more plush overall.

 

[writerguyfl]

Typically, primary sources are best. I'd highly recommend calling or emailing the hotel. Contact information can be found on the Waldorf Astoria Orlando's website. Phone and email is located directly under the name of the hotel on this page:

http://waldorfastoria3.hilton.com/en/hotels/florida/waldorf-astoria-orlando-ORLBCWA/index.html

That said, here are some answers to some of your questions:

1) Do they always have free welcome drinks or was that some sort of special?

Currently, the mandatory resort fee includes two welcome drinks. So, they're not really free drinks but you should get them.

4) I know they only have valet and no self-parking - is the valet 24 hours? We like to leave for the parks early. Really early. Want to make sure we can access our vehicle.

Valet would certainly be available 24 hours. During overnight hours (around midnight to 7am), there will be fewer staff members and it's possible that the person handling Valet will also have other responsibilities. As such, it may take a few extra minutes to get your car.

If you know you will need your car at a certain time, ask the Valet staff the night prior about the procedure. A superbly-run Valet department will take your information on the spot so that your car will be waiting for you. If that doesn't happen, they should at least tell you what time to call the following morning.

5) How far is the walk to the Hilton lazy river pool (I know they allow pool hopping and say it is walkable, but that could mean 5 minutes or 25 minutes).

Lobby to lobby via the indoor walkway is roughly 1,380 feet (420 meters).

Courtesy Bing Maps: https://binged.it/2Apmbek

6) How often do the shuttles run to the parks? (Planning on driving to parks, but using them if a teenager wants to head back early, meet us later, etc.)

The Waldorf Astoria Orlando and the Hilton Bonnet Creek share a shuttle service. When I stayed a the Hilton Bonnet Creek, I was not impressed with the shuttle. The buses were comfortable but the schedule was pretty sparse. Each afternoon, there were gaps of 2 or 3 hours without service to various theme parks.

For example, if you were going from the hotels to either Disney's Hollywood Studios or Epcot tomorrow afternoon, your options are 1:30pm, 3:30pm, or 6:30pm. You can view the shuttle schedule at this website. However, they only publish the schedule for the near future (roughly 5-7 days in advance).

http://bonnetshuttle.com/

The sparse shuttle schedule is the main reason I haven't returned to the Hilton Bonnet Creek. But, for your purpose of having a backup to driving, it's probably good enough.

I hope some of that information helps.

 

[Jen1995]

Thank you both for your very helpful responses!