Marriott Rewards (including Ritz-Carlton) - Advise on Orlando properties - JW/Autograph/Renaissance

Am looking to book a 4-5 night award stay in Orlando with the family sometime in mid november (prob 2 weeks before thanksgiving to avoid the crowd) - was looking at either the JW, Bohemian (autograph) or the Renaissance Seaworld. I am a Platinum elite - what benefits can i expect from these properties

- JW: read around this forum, that there's no lounge access or breakfast coupons for platinum members. Is this still true? What about room upgrades? Any recent reviews of this property?

- Autograph: cant really find much information about the bohemian in orlando. Do they recognize Marriott platinum status - is lounge access/breakfast included? Any chances for room upgrades? Again, any recent reviews would be helpful.

- Any other properties around Disney or Sea world that i fail to consider? Am open for suggestions.

Thanks.

Here is a page of recent reviews and discussions about the JW Grande Lakes (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/marriott-rewards/446320-jw-grande-lakes-orlando-5.html)

Here is a link to a recent thread on the Ren Sea World (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/marriott-rewards/1169554-renaissance-orlando-seaworld.html)

And here's one on the Bohemian (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/marriott-rewards/1173747-bohemian-hotel-celebration-autograph-collection.html)

Autograph is not really well located for the parks.

I loved JW but no lounge etc..

Haven't done the Ren.

Avoid the Marriott World Center....place is just not that nice and overrun with conventions.

If I am not using points I generally do the Marriott Village hotels (Courtyard, Fairfield, Springhill) not as nice as you options, but cheaper :)

Am looking to book a 4-5 night award stay in Orlando with the family sometime in mid november (prob 2 weeks before thanksgiving to avoid the crowd)

You won't avoid the crowds at Walt Disney World (WDW) and other Orlando area attractions if your stay overlaps with "Jersey Week." New Jersey public schools are closed November 8 and 9, 2012. Enough New Jersey families use this as an opportunity for a long weekend or a full-week vacation that crowds are significantly higher than during other fall weeks.

Keep in mind that downtown Orlando is around 15 miles northwest of WDW and that traffic on I-4 can be slow. So the Orlando Marriott Downtown and the Grand Bohemian Hotel Orlando are not convenient for WDW vacations.

Any Orlando-area full-service Marriott / JW / Autograph / Renaissance property that's categorized as a resort will not provide lounge access or breakfast to Platinum members.

When my wife and I needed one extra night near WDW and I had a category 5 certificate from my Chase Visa renewal, I chose that Bohemian Hotel Celebration, Autograph Collection. As a Platinum member, I was upgraded to a junior suite. The wine and cheese welcome gift had the usual Meridian wine but the nicest platter of various cheeses, crackers, and fruit that I've ever received as a welcome gift. It was a weekend night, so there was no breakfast. I asked what they do on weekdays. I was told that they have no lounge, but they provide a voucher toward breakfast in their restaurant. I don't recall the voucher amount, but it seemed rather inadequate and not compliant with the rules for Marriott Rewards Platinum benefits. (Perhaps they've fixed that by now.)

Celebration is the master-planned, "New Urbanism" town on Disney property. The town is charming (if somewhat artificial), old-fashioned, very walkable, and relatively close to the attractions of WDW compared to many other off-site choices). There are terrific restaurants in walking distance from the hotel.

I'll just add that I liked staying at the Bohemian Hotel Celebration, but my wife found the early 1900s Florida decor to be weird and uninviting. (I liked it because it was completely unlike the cookie-cutter chain hotels I often stay at.)

Finally, for a family vacation, I really like 2-bedroom "villas" (timeshare condos) at the various Marriott Vacation Club properties in Orlando. You don't get an upgrade or breakfast or other Platinum recognition (beyond the welcome points), but the accommodations are much better than squeezing a whole family into a traditional room with two double beds or two queen beds.

Bludgeon,

I will be attending a convention near the Seaworld properties although not at a Marriott property. Therefore, I was looking around what may be avaiable in the area, and although the Renaissance is reported to be nice, I believe that parking is extra.

I was looking at paid stays and not for the family, however, the Springhill Suites Sea World and the nearby Fairfield Inn have gotten very good reviews on T/A for their new and modern decor, as wll as proximity to that park. In addition, they have a very reasonable shopping package promotion, although you may be drawn to the promotion permitting park access.

The Bohemian was very sniffy with me when I stayed there a few months ago - no upgrade and a condescending explanation by the front desk that "We're not really part of Marriott".

Did get some breakfast coupons though and it is a nice, quiet property away from all the bustle of the parks.

The Bohemian was very sniffy with me when I stayed there a few months ago - no upgrade and a condescending explanation by the front desk that "We're not really part of Marriott".

Did get some breakfast coupons though and it is a nice, quiet property away from all the bustle of the parks.

Thanks for the suggestions. I am still split between the JW and the Bohemian - breakfast coupons would be nice and according to other posts on FT, room upgrades are hit or miss.

Have people had any luck in getting some firm answers by emailing/talking to the property directly?

Key things I am really hoping for as a Plat are really simple - Room upgrade, free breakfast and having a good pool area for the kid (and me!) to enjoy. Am i asking for too much from a Marriott property in Orlando?!??

Key things I am really hoping for as a Plat are really simple - Room upgrade, free breakfast and having a good pool area for the kid (and me!) to enjoy. Am i asking for too much from a Marriott property in Orlando?!??It has nothing to do with Orlando. And yes, you seem to be asking for an exception to MR T&C of what is provided as elite benefits.

Nicer pool areas are usually associated with resort properties. If you are staying at a resort property, then per MR T&C you do not get free breakfast. Maybe some day they will change this rule, but up until now this has been the rule. Welcome to MR.

The JW and Seaworld Ren are resorts, whereas the Autograph is not. I don't know what the Autograph's pool is like.

Key things I am really hoping for as a Plat are really simple - Room upgrade, free breakfast and having a good pool area for the kid (and me!) to enjoy.

Nicer pool areas are usually associated with resort properties..I don't know what the Autograph's pool is like.

The Grand Bohemian is located in Downtown Orlando across from City Hall and is primarily a business hotel. The pool is located about 6 levels up on top of the garage. From the aerials the pool doesn't appear to be all that special, particularly for a kid. For that matter, there are no green spaces where a child could play either. Map it out on Google and take a look for yourself.

The Grand Bohemian is located in Downtown Orlando across from City Hall and is primarily a business hotel. The pool is located about 6 levels up on top of the garage. From the aerials the pool doesn't appear to be all that special, particularly for a kid. For that matter, there are no green spaces where a child could play either. Map it out on Google and take a look for yourself.

I was talking about the Bohemian Hotel Celebration, which seems to be right next to the Walt Disney parks.

I was talking about the Bohemian Hotel Celebration, which seems to be right next to the Walt Disney parks.

**hanging my head in shame**

I should have remembered that from reading it upstream a couple of days ago. When I read "Am i asking for too much from a Marriott property in Orlando?!??" I immediately thought of Orlando proper and went to the Grand Bohemian. (Having lived in Orlando most of my life I'm a little more sensitive to specifics than most.)

On the plus side, the Bohemian Hotel Celebration has a little bit of green space but the pool still doesn't look all that special. I'm thinking a kid would get bored pretty quickly. The surrounding area in Downtown Celebration is more of an adult destination too.

I wouldn't be so quick to rule out The Marriott Village. The pool is fun for kids, if you pick the SHS or FI you will get free breakfast, and when I stayed at the FI, I received a suite upgrade. There are some little shops for ice cream and other stuff....

The Celebration location gets really mixed reviews....too mixed for me, we didn't want to risk it.

**hanging my head in shame**

I should have remembered that from reading it upstream a couple of days ago. When I read "Am i asking for too much from a Marriott property in Orlando?!??" I immediately thought of Orlando proper and went to the Grand Bohemian. (Having lived in Orlando most of my life I'm a little more sensitive to specifics than most.)

On the plus side, the Bohemian Hotel Celebration has a little bit of green space but the pool still doesn't look all that special. I'm thinking a kid would get bored pretty quickly. The surrounding area in Downtown Celebration is more of an adult destination too.

harmless mistake mate... no worries :-)

though you are right, the Bohemian dosent have much going for it in terms of kids entertainment.

I booked the JW for now - but am looking at starwood properties as well; the disney Swan has some good reviews.

I just got back from the Orlando World Center Marriott and overall we had a pretty good time. I emailed the front desk manager and told him my situation (we have 3 young kids and wanted some sort of suite but I was looking to use my 7 night travel certificate). He recommended a standard room with 3 bay hospitality suite attached. The suite came with a pull out couch and we could have fit two cots if we needed it. It also included a huge dining room and a mini-kitchen/wet bar area. The 3 balconies were nice and we had a view of the fireworks each night. Not the most awesome view but considering we were in our hotel room each night it was a nice touch.

I thought it interesting that the rate he gave us on the room required an additional manager's approval and both the front desk clerk, the hospitality manager who took care of our room decorations and the front desk manager who had to approve the rate commented on the price we got for the hospitality suite.

The pool was big with a nice water slide and they had inflatable rentals you could use for fee.

We ordered room service a few times and the food was good, above average in my opinion. We also ate the Japanese hibachi style restaurant one night and the food was good and the portions were huge.

I even talked to the hotel prior to our arrival about decorating the room "Disney" style much like we did when we stayed on property a few years ago and they obliged. Setting up stuffed animals, Mickey confetti, letters written to our kids from "Mickey" and other stuff.

And you cannot beat the location of this hotel for Disney, 5-10 minutes to each parking lot.

There are some drawbacks:
The place is huge and can be overrun with tweens playing on the main tower elevators some times. There are no choices for mid price meals for dinner since the food court closes at 5. So if you are looking at eating dinner you can enjoy one of the really good restaurants or room service or go out.

One of the things that were a push to me were the parking: If you self park it's a long walk to the hotel and valet was $25/day, however I can say that the only time we ever had to wait for our car was when I called down and gave them the wrong number. They looked up my number based upon my room number and pulled it around anyway. I valet almost every time it's offered and I can say for 9 nights it was one of the best valet experiences I've encountered.

The valet claim ticket has a 14 minute guarantee for your car. I'm not sure what happens if they don't deliver but we never even came close to waiting that long.

Overall we were quite happy with our stay here and we plan on staying here again. I would recommend it if your plan is Disney and I think you should contact the hotel and see what kind of upgrade/room options they are willing to work out with you.

I booked the JW for now - but am looking at starwood properties as well; the disney Swan has some good reviews.

If you prefer a vacation involving golf and spending the day at a spectacular resort pool, then the JW Marriott Orlando Grande Lakes is a great choice.

If this is primarily a Walt Disney World vacation, then the Walt Disney World Swan & Dolphin Resort is a much better choice. You can walk or take a boat to Epcot and Disney's Hollywood Studios. You can use WDW bus transportation to the Magic Kingdom and Disney's Animal Kingdom.

I just got back from the Orlando World Center Marriott and overall we had a pretty good time. I emailed the front desk manager and told him my situation (we have 3 young kids and wanted some sort of suite but I was looking to use my 7 night travel certificate). He recommended a standard room with 3 bay hospitality suite attached. The suite came with a pull out couch and we could have fit two cots if we needed it. It also included a huge dining room and a mini-kitchen/wet bar area. The 3 balconies were nice and we had a view of the fireworks each night. Not the most awesome view but considering we were in our hotel room each night it was a nice touch.

I thought it interesting that the rate he gave us on the room required an additional manager's approval and both the front desk clerk, the hospitality manager who took care of our room decorations and the front desk manager who had to approve the rate commented on the price we got for the hospitality suite.

The pool was big with a nice water slide and they had inflatable rentals you could use for fee.

We ordered room service a few times and the food was good, above average in my opinion. We also ate the Japanese hibachi style restaurant one night and the food was good and the portions were huge.

I even talked to the hotel prior to our arrival about decorating the room "Disney" style much like we did when we stayed on property a few years ago and they obliged. Setting up stuffed animals, Mickey confetti, letters written to our kids from "Mickey" and other stuff.

And you cannot beat the location of this hotel for Disney, 5-10 minutes to each parking lot.

There are some drawbacks:
The place is huge and can be overrun with tweens playing on the main tower elevators some times. There are no choices for mid price meals for dinner since the food court closes at 5. So if you are looking at eating dinner you can enjoy one of the really good restaurants or room service or go out.

One of the things that were a push to me were the parking: If you self park it's a long walk to the hotel and valet was $25/day, however I can say that the only time we ever had to wait for our car was when I called down and gave them the wrong number. They looked up my number based upon my room number and pulled it around anyway. I valet almost every time it's offered and I can say for 9 nights it was one of the best valet experiences I've encountered.

The valet claim ticket has a 14 minute guarantee for your car. I'm not sure what happens if they don't deliver but we never even came close to waiting that long.

Overall we were quite happy with our stay here and we plan on staying here again. I would recommend it if your plan is Disney and I think you should contact the hotel and see what kind of upgrade/room options they are willing to work out with you.

thanks for the review - i'll keep World Center Marriott open as an option.