We're here! All checked in and ready for SW tomorrow!

[bas71873]

Staying at the Renaissance Marriott with a view of SW. Had a yummy dinner at the Tradewinds inside the hotel. Have QQ in hand, ready for tomorrow!

 

[mcd2745]

Staying at the Renaissance Marriott with a view of SW. Had a yummy dinner at the Tradewinds inside the hotel. Have QQ in hand, ready for tomorrow!

We are checking in there exactly 2 weeks from today. staying 3 nights right after our Disney Dream cruise - doing one day each at SW and Aquatica (with the all-day dining at each). So any kind of review with any tips or suggestions when you get back would be great!

 

[bas71873]

We are checking in there exactly 2 weeks from today. staying 3 nights right after our Disney Dream cruise - doing one day each at SW and Aquatica (with the all-day dining at each). So any kind of review with any tips or suggestions when you get back would be great!

I will give a more detailed report when we return. We did SW today. Picked up our QQ passes last night which I recommend. It was nice to not have to wait in lines It was hot, hot, hot today! The walk across the parking lot is a breeze too.

We ate breakfast at the hotel. They have a very nice buffet. It's $22 for adults and $9 for kids. Omelet and pancake/waffle stations and beverages included. DD had the buffet. DH had French toast with blueberries ($12 I believe) and I had a bacon, egg and cheese sandwich that came with has browns ($12). It was all yummy. We didn't eat at SW today. Too hot and no one was hungry. We brought our refillable mugs from BG at home and used those for water. We ended up only spending about 4 hours at SW today because DD wanted to go swimming. Renaissance has a great pool and bar. We munched on apps and swam.


We are off to Kona at the Polynesian for dinner with friends who are there this week. More later.

If u have specific questions, please ask.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Staying at the Renaissance Marriott with a view of SW. Had a yummy dinner at the Tradewinds inside the hotel. Have QQ in hand, ready for tomorrow!

Glad you arrived safe and sound . Have an awesome trip! Looking forward to hearing about your travels when you return.

PS....we all love pictures (hint, hint!) .

 

[the_princess]

That is a lovely hotel. We stayed there a couple of years ago and will stay there again in 2014.
Have a great trip

 

[bas71873]

Check your rates! The hotel is offering a fantastic special and it ends September 3. It's code SUN and it's $85 (might be $89) per night including parking and kids eat free with adult meal purchase. I was able to adjust my rate the day before we arrived and saved myself a couple hundred bucks.

Cannot stress enough...get your QQ passes the night before. This room special has brought in the locals and we noticed a big jump in crowds this weekend. Hoping they all leave tonight and it thins back out. Local kids start school tomorrow.

It makes me nuts that they charge for Internet. In this day and age it should just be worked into the room cost. It's free in the lobby and I've figured out that if I stand by the door to our room, I can connect to the lobby wifi . Silly, but it works.

We r having a great time and I will post more details when I get home. Pictures too.

 

[reelmom]

We are thinking about booking the Renaissance Hotel in June. We have been back and forth about where we want to spend our vacation. We have finally decided on doing a relaxing, week long trip to SeaWorld. On the SeaWorld website, we can book this hotel and get SeaWorld and Aquatica length of stay tickets for a really good deal. I am looking forward to reading your review of this hotel.

 

[mcd2745]

We just spent 3 nights at this hotel after our cruise. When we checked in on Wednesday, the place was practically empty. We went to the pool and almost had it to ourselves. When we checked out on Saturday, the place was packed. Probably had to do with the specials they were running for Labor Day weekend. They also seem to be a popular hotel for conventions.

It is a really nice hotel and the location for Seaworld can't be beat. The pool area is beautiful. I only wish that the slides and toddler slides/splash area were closer to the pool. They also had a couple of ping pong tables and a foosball table outside by the pool area. We did get some food from the Palms bar/grill out by the pool and it was pretty good. A little on the expensive side, but that is to be expected. We didn't eat from anywhere else at the hotel.

The room was nice, very spacious, just starting to show some signs of age though but nothing drastic. We were on the top floor (10th), on the opposite side of Seaworld...still a decent view. If I returned, I would request one of the interior side rooms with the small balcony out over the atrium/lobby on a lower floor. That way, you can probably pick up the free WiFi from the lobby - at least I assume so since I saw several people out on those balconies with their laptops.

We went to Aquatica and Seaworld. There was an issue with the shuttle to Seaworld. According to the paper they gave us at check-in, the shuttle was supposed to be there at 8:40. we got outside at 8:35 and waited at least 15 minutes. My wife asked the bellman out in front if he knew when it was coming and he said it actually came 10 minutes early at 8:30 (and the next one wasn't until 9:30). If it arrives early, it should wait there until the scheduled time before leaving - so that was annoying. Anyway, we walked over to Seaworld as it only takes 10 minutes at a leisurely pace. They need to add the "Quick Queue" perk to Aquatica as well. There are only about 5 attractions at Seaworld where it applies and if you have two kids who don't go on big roller coasters (Manta & Kraken) then you don't get much use of it. But if they had it for Aquatica, that would be great as there are a lot more lines to wait on there. I inquired Friday night about the behind the scenes tour you can go on at Seaworld most Saturday mornings as a guest at a partner hote (no extra cost)l, but it was completely booked. So if someone is interested in that, reserve a spot early - even before you arrive.

Never been a fan of hotels that charge you for parking. I realize that they do not want people parking there for Seaworld and walking across to the park. But if you have to swipe your room key and they then know you're a registered guest, it is completely unnecessary.

Our first couple of days (Wednesday & Thursday) they didn't have any scheduled activities for the kids, but on Fri & Sat they did. Friday evening they had cookie decorating and then they were showing "Cars 2" in one of the large conference rooms. On Saturday, they were doing jewelry making outside by the pool and then in the evening they were doing the cookies again and then showing "Toy Story 3" outside.

If you have any questions, I'll try to answer them.

 

[monica9]

I'm excited to ready more reviews or see pictures. We will be there the Sunday after Thanksgiving. Only for one night but will probably be hanging at the hotel for the second half of Monday. What is the free tour that was booked up? Is it worth it with a 4 year old?

 

[mcd2745]

I'm excited to ready more reviews or see pictures. We will be there the Sunday after Thanksgiving. Only for one night but will probably be hanging at the hotel for the second half of Monday. What is the free tour that was booked up? Is it worth it with a 4 year old?

I believe it's a "behind the scenes" tour of Seaworld's rescue facilities. It's early in the morning, pre-opening. It's only offered on certain days (most Saturdays I believe).