 |
|
This Months Hotspots and Highlights |
|
|
Nickelod eon Family Suites by Holiday Inn
****
Moderate to Superior
Best for families with kids up to age 12 though appropriate for all ages
$$-$$$
(formerly the Holiday Inn Family Suites)
Location: 14500 Continental Gateway, Orlando
Phone: 407-387-5437 and 866-462-6425
Web site: www.nickhotel.com
Check-in: 4:00 p.m
Check-out: 11:00 a.m.
Parking: Spaces are located around the perimeter of the resort at no charge. Depending on the location of your room, however, you may find yourself in for a hefty hike – especially if you arrive at the hotel after the dinner hour. As an added security measure the lots are gated and are only accessible with a guest room key. There is however a small lot near the lobby where you can park while checking in.
In Brief
This resort is a big favorite with families. And it’s no wonder given than no one even comes close to catering to the needs of kids and families quite the way that the Nickelodeon Family Suites does. Once the most family-friendly resort in all of central Florida and a huge hit with families since the get-go, the Holiday Inn Family Suites has evolved to become the Nickelodeon Family Suites. Signature Nickelodeon colors and a cast of very familiar characters can be found splashed throughout the resort from the Mall to the Oasis and Lagoon (the resorts completely renovated pool and play areas), to the kid-friendly themed Kidsuites.
The Nickelodeon Family Suites Resort is simply made-to-order for families, offering an outstanding array of family-friendly amenities and services. With the top names in family travel (Holiday Inn) and family entertainment (Nickelodeon) joining forces to create this resort, it’s no wonder the results are so amazing. I will admit that the colors and characters may scream cartoon, but the kids go crazy for it. Don’t worry, though, only the kids’ rooms (or Kidsuite area) are themed; the adults can escape to a more relaxing atmosphere when all is said and done. Did I say relaxing? Is anything really relaxing when you’re in a suite with your kids?
The Highlights:
-The Nickelodeon Style entertainment
-The 2 extensive water play and pool areas as well as a rather lengthy list of recreational offerings
-the extensive children’s activities , entertainment, and programs
-a very casual comfortable atmosphere where kids can act like kids
-the Kidsuites (and other varied suite-stule accommodations)
-the array of appropriate onsite dining and shopping available
-the proximity to the Walt Disney World Parks (only about 5 minutes away) and the proximity to all of the tourist areas including Lake Buena Vista, International Drive, and Kissimmee (the hotel is smack dab in the middle of them all making it extremely easy to get just about anywhere).
In-Room Amenities:
There are 777 suites in total, including 2-bedroom King and Queen Kidsuites, as well as 3-bedroom 2-bath Kidsuites and 1-bedroom Kitchen or Whirlpool Suites. Nickelodeon has taken the original Holiday Inn Kidsuite to a whole other level. The kids’ area still includes either bunks and a pull-out sleeper bed or 2 twin beds, a TV, DVD, small activity table, fun phone, and of course a Nickelodeon theme, however there are now even larger Kidsuites available including 2-bedroom and 3-bedroom/2-bathroom Kidsuites. The 2-bedroom suite can sleep up to 7 with reasonable comfort, and the 3- bedroom suite offers space for up to 9, with the bonus of having 2 full bathrooms. The family room is a bit on the small side, but, given that you have the bedroom(s) and the Kidsuite area to retreat to, it is really of no consequence. The kitchenette in the 2- bedroom suite is also smallish, but it is just right for making snacks, storing a few drinks, and keeping baby food and formula fresh. If you have a 3-bedroom suite (or a 1- bedroom kitchen suite), a full-size, fully equipped kitchen is at your disposal. Making a quick meal or stocking up for breakfast (hot or cold) is a great way to save both time and money so you can get to the parks a bit earlier--if you make it that far with the extraordinary pools and recreation areas right at the resort tempting you to stay and play.
The family room in all of the suites includes a pull-out sleeper sofa, television, video player, rocking chair, small game table (which doubles as a very small dining table), a safe, telephone with voice mail, high-speed Internet access (which is free). The main bedroom includes a telephone, vanity and work station with separate Internet connection, a lighted make-up mirror, hair dryer, iron and ironing board, and television. The Kidsuite area includes bunk beds and a pull-out sleeper bed or two twin beds, a television, DVD player, video game system, CD/cassette player, and a small activity table. The 3- bedroom 2-bathroom suites include 2 master bedrooms (please see the amenities listed above), a Kidsuite area (as described above). The 1-Bedroom Kitchen or Whirlpool Suites include1 master bedroom (amenities listed above), a parlor area with either a full kitchen or a 117-gallon heart-shaped whirlpool in addition to a TV. As far as kitched facilities in the other suites, a mini-kitchen including a small sink, small refrigerator, microwave, and coffeemaker is what you’ll find in the 2-bedroom Kidsuite while the 1- bedroom Kitchen Suite and 3-bedroom Kidsuites include a full-sized, fully equipped kitchen with a stove-top range, full-size refrigerator, microwave, dishwasher, coffeemaker, and an extended countertop.
Guest Services
-Guest services desk offering attraction tickets
-Kids’ check-in desk
-The Lagoon: a zero-depth entry pool with an extensive interactive play and activity area including a four-story interactive water tower, water slides, climbing nets, water jets, and a 400-gallon dump tank that splashes unsuspecting guests standing below, two whirlpool spas and more.
-The Oasis: a large lap style pool with an extensive interactive play and activity area that includes a multi-level interactivel water tower with flumes and slides (with lower level slides for littler guests), a wet and dry kid’s play area with slides and squirt games for younger kids, a sand play area with a sandbox and slide, and a poolside snackbar.
-the Kids’ spa (services run form approximately $10-$40 for individual services or $29- $99 for packages)
-Studio Nick - featuring nightly live and interactive Nickelodeon-style entertainment in a special state-of-the-art theater
-Complimentary transportation to Walt Disney World, SeaWorld, Wet & Wild, and Universal Orlando (reservations are required)
-Transportation (for a nominal fee) to shopping venues such as the Mall of Millennia, the Florida Mall, and Belz Factory Outlet World, and to the Orlando International Airport is also provided (again, reservations are required).
-The Mall: the mall is the center of activity at the resort –here you will find the Other Stuff Convenience Store, The Arcade, and the Nick Stuff shop.
-Movie and game rental shop
-the Other Stuff convenience store
-Nick Stuff gift shop
-Character meet and greets – schedule meet and greets take place daily in the lobby and Mall areas
-Character Wake-Up calls The Buffet: the Buffet restaurant serves up a hot buffet breakfast every morning (see below for more details) The Nicktoons Café: the resorts full service restaurant – there is also a character breakfast available here (again, see below for details)
-Guest laundry (coin operated)
-A small business center with free high-speed internet access. A computer, photocopier, and fax are also available (for a small fee)
-Express check-out via phone or TV is available
-Fittness Center
-High-Speed Internet access is available in all guest rooms
-1 Complimentary 5X7 family photo – just stop in to see the resort photographer to schedule a session
-Safe-Deposit boxes are available at the front desk
-Room service is available from the Nicktoons Café and the Pizza Hut Express
Child care/children’s programs:
A supervised children’s program, Nick After Dark, is available for kids ages 5 to 12 on Thursday and Saturday evenings so parents can take some time off. The cost is $60 for the first child, $50 for each additional child and runs from early evening (they must be checked in before 6:00 pm to get dinner – which is included) until no later than 11:00 p.m. Special activities and Nick style entertainment is provided. Additionally, there are plenty of scheduled activities throughout the day and into the evening for kids to enjoy.
Kid-friendly activities available at the resort include:
-Nick Live! Poolside: live Nickelodeon-Style entertainment takes place daily poolside
-Bingo (daily)
-Face painting, balloon art, caricatures, and more are available daily in the Mall
-The Craftzone is where kids can create tye-dye t’s, suncatchers, decorate backpacks, and more (additional fees apply and vary depending upon the craft; daily)
-Nick Live! Family Style (a super sloppy game show; daily)
_Who Know Best (a game that pits parents against kids to find out who knows best; daily)
Family Karaoke (daily)
-Dora’s Tea Party (at an additional fee, reservations are required, offered Sundays and Wednesdays)
-Blue’s Scavenger Hunt (Mondays)
“Nick-or-Treat” Halloween celebrations including a costume parade, Halloween Movie Nights, Halloween- themed crafts, trick-or-treating, and even more activities on Halloween night itself
-Nick for the Holidays including the SpongeBob Squarepants Christmas Show (reservations suggested), Holiday-themes intertwined into the daily activities, visits from Santa Claus, special holiday menus at the restaurants, and special “sliming” to ring out the old year and ring in the new.
Recreational Facilities:
The pool areas are by far the real highlight of this newly remodeled resort. The Oasis in the west courtyard and the Lagoon in the east both boast unique water play and recreational areas. The Lagoon sports a zero-depth entry pool with a 4-story water tower full of slides, climbing nets, water jets, and a 500-gallon dump tank, along with 2 extralarge whirlpool spas. You can also find a recreational team poolside leading hula-hoop contests and float races, among other unique activities. The kids’ sand play area offers hours of fun for preschoolers and younger kids with its 5-foot slide and Nick Jr-based activities. Older kids can shoot hoops or play the 9-hole mini-golf course--just watch out for the sand traps and obstacles. If all that running, climbing, and jumping about in the water makes you hungry, you can grab a bite poolside at the Pool Bar and Grill, where burgers, hot dogs, sandwiches, and salads are the fare.
The Oasis features waterslides and a water tower complete with an erupting geyser spewing water out over the guests riding the flume and water slides below. With lower-level slides for the younger kids, no one will miss out on the action here. There is even a shaded play area with slides, squirters, and a giant sand box . The Poolside Snack Bar will curb your craving if you feel like a bite to eat but don’t feel like leaving.
Two additional and unique features (other than the fact that this is the only Nickelodeon Resort anywhere in the world) include Studio Nick and the Kids’ Spa. At Studio Nick, the resort presents free nightly family entertainment, including live stage shows with Nicktoon characters and Nickelodeon-style family activities. At the Kids’ Spa, kids get the chance to be pampered with facials, manicures, and tattooing (the temporary type, of course). Spa services currently range in price from $10 to $40 for individual services and $35 to $99 for packages.
The new 3,000-square-foot arcade that needs no further explanation
Dining
Nicktoon’s Café offers full-service lunch and dinner. This is also where the daily character breakfast is held featuring visits from Sponge Bob, Dora, Tommy and Chuckie, just to mention a few. Breakfast includes, among other things, waffles, bacon, sausage, eggs, fruit, and even a special kids’ buffet. The cost for the character breakfast is $8 per child 12 and under, and $16 per person 13 and older. American fare is on the menu for lunch and dinner, and kids 12 and under can eat free from a special menu. This provides an option other than the food court. Prices tend to lean toward the higher end, though they are certainly comparable to restaurants offering similar fare outside of the resort.
If you would prefer to eat minus the characters, the Buffet offers a variety of hot breakfast items from 6:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
The breakfasts at the Buffet and at the Nicktoon’s Café are excellent. The variety, which at times seems unending, and the quality are both top-notch.
The Pizza Hut Express, Edy’s, Barnie’s Coffee, and A&W Restaurant need little explanation, other than to say that they can be a real lifesaver when it comes time to feed the kids. Offering relatively quick service, menu choices that the kids (and even adults) will like, not to mention that they offer extended hours for those late nights at the parks - what more could you ask for? There’s even a “Kids Eat Free” program (up to 4 kids ages 12 and under eat free per paying adult - the only exception being the character breakfast where you’ll have to pay the full fare for the entire family)
Distances to:
Walt Disney World Resort 1.5 Miles
SeaWorld 4 Miles
Universal Orlando 10 Miles
Orlando International Airport 16 Miles
|
|
