usvi-on-line
Orlando anyone? Looking for resort, forums, websites
Orlando anyone? Looking for resort, forums, websites
We are thinking of squeezing a trip to FL in before our winter BVI trip.
Specifically Orlando so we can visit SeaWorld. (Son is nuts for whales, sharks and dophins)
Our idea is four nights, spending the days at SeaWorld (one or two) and possibly the animal park at Disney.
I would like to stay at a resort-type of hotel with a nice pool. I am thinking we do the parks in the day and chill at the pool late afternoons/early evenings. We would likely eat on-site. Not really interested in renting a house/condo for this trip.
We will likely get down more times so I'm not concerned about jamming too many things into this trip.
Anyone have opinions, recommendations, sources of information they would like to share?
Specifically Orlando so we can visit SeaWorld. (Son is nuts for whales, sharks and dophins)
Our idea is four nights, spending the days at SeaWorld (one or two) and possibly the animal park at Disney.
I would like to stay at a resort-type of hotel with a nice pool. I am thinking we do the parks in the day and chill at the pool late afternoons/early evenings. We would likely eat on-site. Not really interested in renting a house/condo for this trip.
We will likely get down more times so I'm not concerned about jamming too many things into this trip.
Anyone have opinions, recommendations, sources of information they would like to share?
We stayed here in March of 08. Two great pools. Nice units. I think its officially a timeshare but they didn't bother us and we had a great time. Less than 2 miles from Sea World. A little further from Disney.
http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/m ... t-orlando/
http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/m ... t-orlando/
Disney has some really nice value, moderate and deluxe resorts so you might want to look into that as you can get a package deal. I LOVE the Animal Kingdom Lodge and The Beach Club. The Universal Orlando resort is nice too but you didn't mention that you'd want to do that as well. The Nickelodeon Family Suites are nice and great fun for the kids. My son loves it! If you want to go with something offsite, very nice and resonably priced, you can look at the hotels at the Marriot Village (Springhill Suites, Fairfield Inn and Courtyard Marriott). I think you'll want to stay in Lake Buena Vista area.
www.wdwinfo.com for all your Disney, Universal and even Seaworld info.
www.wdwinfo.com for all your Disney, Universal and even Seaworld info.
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California Girl
Hi PA Girl! I work in the group travel biz and we are taking a group to The Walt Disney World Swan & Dolphin Resort next month. It's kind of ritzy, but it's the total "resort" experience.
http://www.swandolphin.com/home.html
http://www.swandolphin.com/home.html
The Horizons place is nice if you want to a 2 or 3 bedroom "villa" type place. More of a condo setup as all their timeshares are like. It is right by seaworld if that is your main destination that would work out well. The Marriott Village is also nice, but I would only stay at the Courtyard and the Springhill. The Fairfield there is not very nice. Most Fairfields are pretty nice places, not this one. Closer to Disney off 535 there is a Residence inn that is pretty nice too. We have stayed there and its easy in and out via 535 since its on the north side of 535. They also have free hot breakfast daily for guests and its only about 4 years old. The south side of 535 can be a bear to get in and out since its pretty much the main entrance to downtown disney. All the abovementioned places have nice pool facilities...thats usually not an issue when you stay with a good brand in the Orlando area.
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California Girl
He was always correcting me as a kid.
Whatever you do, do NOT stay at the hotel that is right at SeaWorld--I think it is called the Renaissance? John had to go there for work conferences a couple of times, and he says it is a total dump. He also gives thumbs down to the Marriott World Center.
Disney does have some nice properties--I've stayed at a bunch of them. The main problem with Disney properties--all of them--is that they can be noisy! There's very little insulation between the walls, and there is a decent gap at the base of the door which lets in noise. Every morning at about 6 AM you will hear the herd exodus running down the hallway, heading out for rope drop.
I absolutely loved the Portofino Hotel at Universal. Universal is close to Sea World. It has really nice linens and bath products, comfy huge beds, it is QUIET, and the staff gives excellent service. Plus, there are some good restaurants over there, and you can also take the boat to City Walk.
disboards.com is the forum run by wdwinfo--it's huge, with tons of members, and lots of good information.
Disney does have some nice properties--I've stayed at a bunch of them. The main problem with Disney properties--all of them--is that they can be noisy! There's very little insulation between the walls, and there is a decent gap at the base of the door which lets in noise. Every morning at about 6 AM you will hear the herd exodus running down the hallway, heading out for rope drop.
I absolutely loved the Portofino Hotel at Universal. Universal is close to Sea World. It has really nice linens and bath products, comfy huge beds, it is QUIET, and the staff gives excellent service. Plus, there are some good restaurants over there, and you can also take the boat to City Walk.
disboards.com is the forum run by wdwinfo--it's huge, with tons of members, and lots of good information.
Last edited by liamsaunt on Mon Jul 28, 2008 3:37 pm, edited 1 time in total.
It's like looking in your soup and finding a whole different alphabet.
After peeking at a few of the Disney boards, I have no doubt in my mind that it is true!!!!!
Disney people on some of the forums are hardcore, the boards almost scare me a little bit!
We were thinking of us SeaWorld on this trip as our son doesn't even know Mickey exists at this point in his life.
He is obsessed with marine-life so we thought SeaWorld could be fun for all of us. He loves the Baltimore aquarium and thinks a visit to Bass Pro and Cabellas (to see the fish tanks) is just the greatest thing.
Disney people on some of the forums are hardcore, the boards almost scare me a little bit!
We were thinking of us SeaWorld on this trip as our son doesn't even know Mickey exists at this point in his life.
He is obsessed with marine-life so we thought SeaWorld could be fun for all of us. He loves the Baltimore aquarium and thinks a visit to Bass Pro and Cabellas (to see the fish tanks) is just the greatest thing.
How old is your son? If he is 6 (for some reason I think he is younger?) you could also look into spending a day at Sea World's Discovery Cove. Sea World is fun, my niece and nephew love it. It's a much more relaxing experience than Disney.
If your son likes fish tanks, you should plan to have lunch at the Sharks Grill. It's a restaurant with a whole wall that looks into the giant shark tank. The food is only OK but the view of the sharks makes it worth going.
If your son likes fish tanks, you should plan to have lunch at the Sharks Grill. It's a restaurant with a whole wall that looks into the giant shark tank. The food is only OK but the view of the sharks makes it worth going.
It's like looking in your soup and finding a whole different alphabet.
He is younger, turns three in the fall.
I am looking into Discovery Cove. He is too young for the interactive swim but would enjoy the birds, lagoon, river, etc.
One of our employees was just down and he said the same thing about the Sharks Grill. We will definately go and not expect too much in terms of food.
I am looking into Discovery Cove. He is too young for the interactive swim but would enjoy the birds, lagoon, river, etc.
One of our employees was just down and he said the same thing about the Sharks Grill. We will definately go and not expect too much in terms of food.
I agree with Dolphin or Swan...great beds. They have remodeled both. The pools at dolphin seem better to me. You can walk to Epcot & MGM (kinda long) but you didn't mention those. Free transport to the others. Good restaurants, nice caferteria & gym. Hubby has a conference there every other year & I go along and chill. One year someone gave us their Swan 3 bedroom suite facing Epcot for the last night. Nothing like watching fireworks from your choice of heavenly beds 