Originally Posted by
theOtherHolmes
We are planning a week long stay for Disney and Universal Studio using a 7-night cat 4 cert next January or Feb. Orlando.
We will rent a car so shuttle isn’t required. Would like a proprty that is clean, relatively new and spacious, close proximity (eg 15 min drive or less) to various restaurants and supermarkets. Bonus if the room has a small kitchen.
Any recommendation? Have a 3 year old. Plat premier/ titantium status so free breakfast for two adults and 1 kid would be great.
Especially if any recommended property is going to cat 5- we will book this week.
If you've checked Marriott.com, you're already aware that there are lot of Marriott Bonvoy category 4 hotels near the Central Florida theme parks, but almost all of them are extended-stay brands or select-service brands such as Fairfield, SpringHill, and Courtyard — where Titanium Elite status does not provide the level of benefits that it does at full-service brands. Of course, most of these brands provide breakfast to everyone, regardless of status. Courtyard would provide a F&B credit of $10 per day to you and another &10 per day to the other adult.
There are three category 4 full-service hotels serving the theme park corridor, and perhaps another one on the way.
Renaissance Orlando at SeaWorld is just off I-4 between WDW and Universal. It's officially a resort, so daily breakfast for two in the restaurant would be a Welcome Gift choice (which you could pick instead of points) for Platinum Elite (or higher). I read on TripAdvisor that this Renaissance interprets that to be just continental breakfast, but you can upgrade to the breakfast buffet for $10 per person more. You might want to call about whether they would charge for breakfast for your 3-year-old.
Renaissance Orlando at SeaWorld is going from category 4 to category 5 in the upcoming category changes.
Sheraton Orlando Lake Buena Vista Resort is a hotel I don't know anything about, but you might want to look into it.
Delta Orlando Lake Buena Vista Hotel is very close to Disney Springs. As is often the case at Delta Hotels in the United States, it has a 24-hour Elite Pantry for your free Platinum Elite (or higher) breakfast and snacks throughout the day — but neither a Signature Lounge nor complimentary Platinum Elite breakfast in the restaurant.
Another Delta Hotel is supposed to open in July 2019: Delta Hotels Orlando Celebration. There's no category yet, but perhaps it will also be category 4. It's now the Grand Orlando Resort at Celebration. Before that, it was the Radisson Resort Orlando-Celebration.
Be sure to consider mandatory fees and parking fees at any Orlando properties.
Finally, consider using your 7-night category 4 certificate somewhere else and booking a nice select-service property near WDW for under $100 per night. Such rates are often available during parts of January and February,