Walt Disney World With Kids (Fodor's, 2012) - Fodor's [33]
+ The heated indoor-outdoor pool is an asset in the off-season.
+ Lots ofe sports options: a gym, tennis courts, basketball, shuffleboard, and volleyball.
Minuses
− Proximity to I-4 means a consistently high noise level.
− This Embassy Suites is on Palm Parkway surrounded by many other hotels, which means you may hit traffic getting to the parks—another reason to start early.
Magical Memories Villas 407/390–8200
www.magicalmemories.com Map location 21
One can only imagine how thrilled Disney is that this independent rental agency has adopted the word “magical”—perhaps the most frequently employed word in Disney promotional materials. But Magical Memories, while having no affiliation with Disney, can offer good deals for families. The company handles both condo and house rentals in nine different neighborhoods throughout Orlando. If you want to pay for a home with a private pool in a gated community, that’s certainly available, but most of the rentals are clean, simply furnished, safe apartments in condo complexes. Rates start surprisingly low: During the off-season you’ll pay $109 for a two-bedroom condo and $179 for a five-bedroom house with a private pool. During the on-season, condos begin at $129 a night and houses at $189 a night. Be sure to browse the Web site to see all your options. There’s a substantial range of amenities and prices.
But the benefits can be substantial as well, as outlined by a mother from Canada. “Because we have a family of six we would have had to rent two hotel rooms, so renting a house was ideal for our situation—not to mention that we split the cost with another family. We ended up with a five-bedroom, five-bath house with all the perks. They said it was minutes from Disney, and it really was.”
Proximity to Disney:
Minimum 5 miles, maximum 8 miles
Proximity to Universal:
Maximum 16 miles
Proximity to SeaWorld:
Maximum 13 miles
Pluses
+ Good choice for large families and groups, since you can get a multi-bedroom house or condo with a well-equipped kitchen and all the conveniences of a hotel.
+ If you’re staying at one of the condo-style Magical Memories villas, you’ll also have use of the villa clubhouse. Some have amenities such as Wi-Fi, exercise rooms, larger pools, etc. The Magical Memories Villas encompass 15 different villa sites and each clubhouse is different, so if you’re seeking a specific amenity, be sure to ask when reserving.
Minuses
− This isn’t like a familiar hotel chain where you know what to expect. There’s a range in the quality of accommodations.
− For rentals of four nights or fewer you’ll be charged a cleaning fee based on the size of your unit.
− A stay of three nights is required for the villas and five nights for the houses.
− There’s a very strict reservation and payment policy. This isn’t something you can cancel at the last minute, like a hotel, so make sure your plans are firm before you book.
Nickelodeon Holiday Inn Family Suites
www.nickhotel.com 407/387–5437
Map location 22
Okay, you say you’re totally doing this trip for the kids? You’ll never find a hotel any more kid-oriented than this one. First of all, you’re not going to miss it while driving in from the airport—the lime green and hot orange facade of the building looks like it’s been slimed. Once there, you’ll find an array of Nick-theme activities, including a character breakfast with SpongeBob SquarePants and Dora the Explorer, nightly live stage shows, and poolside games. There are two separate water park-style pools. One is oriented toward older kids with big-deal slides and a 400-gallon “dump tank” that periodically splashes gigantic waves of water down the slides and flumes. The other pool is geared to younger kids, with preschooler-size slides, climbing areas, and games. Other types of recreation include basketball, miniature golf, and one of Orlando’s largest arcades. There’s even a kids’ spa offering manicures, pedicures, hair braiding and wraps, and airbrush tattoos. Whew! While several hotels in Orlando offer a limited