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Look below for reviews on…
Seralago
Homewood Suites
Best Western Lakeside
Doubletree Guest Suites at Maingate
Calypso Cay (which includes a La Quinta, Country Inn & Suites, and an Amerisuites)
Check Back Soon for Additional Resort Reviews.
Seralago (formerly known as the Holiday Inn Maingate East)
***
$-$$
Budget to Moderate
Appropriate for families with kids of all ages
Location: 5678 Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway (U.S.192), Kissimmee, Florida 34746
Phone: 407-396-4488 or 800-366-5437
Web site: www.orlandofamilyfunhotel.com
Check-in: 4:00 p.m.
Check-out: 11:00 a.m.
Parking: complimentary parking is located around the perimeter and in front of the property so you will never be too far from your room.
In Brief
The Seralago is conveniently located along U.S. 192 among an array of family-friendly eateries and smaller attractions, several close enough to walk to on the newly widened sidewalks, an improvement brought about by the recent rebeautification of Kissimmee.
Only a short distance from the entrance to the Walt Disney World Resort (about 3 miles), it is the perfect location for families who want to be close to the House of Mouse without actually staying on the park property. It is also not too far from the I-4 exit or S.R. 535, which will both easily lead you to points north, including SeaWorld and Universal Orlando.
In Room Amenities
Several room layouts are available, depending on what best suits your family.
Standard rooms, which are better for smaller families of course, provide either a king or 2 double beds. However, if you are in need of something other than just 1 large open room, the Kidsuite may be the perfect solution, allowing for a bit more privacy for both you and your kids. The 2-bedroom suites are a great option for larger families as they can sleep up to eight with the pullout sofa bed in the living area.
There are 614 guest rooms in total, including standard double or king rooms, Kidsuites, and 2-room suites. The standard rooms include a microwave, small refrigerator, coffeemaker, iron and ironing board, a hair dryer, TV, VCR, and a phone with voice mail. The Kidsuites include ( in addition to the above) a separate kids sleeping area (that can accommodate up to 3 kids), separate TV, Nintendo 64, CD player, and fun phone.
The 2-room suites include 2 double beds in a separate bedroom, a pull-out double sofa in the living area, a wet bar, 2 full-sized closets, 2 TVs, 2 VCRs, and select suites have a whirlpool tub, microwave, and small refrigerator. Currently when you book a 2-room suite you receive 2 complimentary breakfast buffets daily. Cribs are available upon request and at no charge.
Guest Services Include
Bell services
Room service
ATM machine
Tour desk provided by the Orange Lakes Country Club
Laundry services, both self and valet
Safety deposit boxes at the front desk
Car-rental desk (Budget)
General store with snacks and sundries
Gift shop
Video rental
Free shuttle to the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, MGM Studios, and Animal Kingdom
Transportation to other area attractions is available for a fee
Recreational Activities
With plenty of recreational activities located right at the resort itself, you don’t have to venture far from your own door to take a dip in one of the pools, play a bit of tennis, or catch a free family flick playing at the mini-movie theater. It’s hard to choose from among all that’s offered.
There are plenty of activities and amenities that cater particularly to kids. There is of course the theater located in the lobby area that features those family flicks nightly, or if you prefer, there are videos to rent for the room. The game room is perfect for older kids, and the younger kids can enjoy running about playgrounds or wading pools all just the right size for them.
Facilities Include:
Fitness room
Sport court
2 kids’ playgrounds
Children’s movie theater
2 pools
2 whirlpools
Toddler wading pool
Game room
2 lighted tennis courts
Sand volleyball court
Child Care/Children’s Programs
While there are no structured facilities, in-room sitting is available through outside services.
Dining
The Vineyard Café, a full-service, family-style restaurant open for both breakfast and dinner, will let you sit down and relax. You can order à la carte or head to the buffet for breakfast, all served from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Dinner is served from 6:00 p.m. until 10:00 p.m., offering an extensive salad bar, daily chef’s specials, and à la carte items. The atmosphere is definitely casual and friendly, making dining out a bit easier with the kids along.
The People’s Food Court, located just off the main lobby, is perfect if you are on the go or just want a quick bite. Here you will find an array of choices to please almost anybody’s palate, from burgers and chicken to pizza and salads, just to mention just a few. A continental breakfast is available from 6:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., while lunch and dinner items are available at the Arrezio Pizza, the Vineyard Express, and the All American Grill from 11:00 a.m. until midnight.
The General Store is located just nearby, offering microwavable snacks and convenience foods, beverages (including beer and wine), and bakery items, along with plenty of other items to take to the room for those late-night snack attacks.
The Tropical Pool Bar is open seasonally, offering snacks and drinks when you can take a break from the parks to sit and relax by the pool.
Distances to
Walt Disney World Resort 3 Miles
Universal Orlando 15 Miles
SeaWorld 8 Miles
Downtown Disney 4 Miles
Busch Gardens 60 Miles
Kennedy Space Center 70 Miles
Orlando International Airport 23 Miles
Overall
With so many family dining options and smaller attractions located right nearby, not to mention the recreational activities and casual dining options available right at the resort itself, this Holiday Inn is yet another great choice for families vacationing in the Orlando area.
Homewood Suites
***
$$
Moderate
Appropriate for families with kids of all ages
Location: 100 Parkway Blvd, Kissimmee
Phone: 407-396-2229
Web site: www.homewoodmaingate.com
In Brief
This hotel is located in a secluded area just off of U.S. 192 (Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway), where there are plenty of restaurants, shops, and smaller attractions to enjoy. The hotel itself offers nicely landscaped grounds, an outdoor heated pool with a small children’s wading pool and whirlpool, a very small playground, a gazebo with gas grills and picnic tables, a sport court, small game room, guest laundry, small exercise room, and a small 24-hour convenience store. In the mornings, you can take advantage of the complimentary continental breakfast, and on select evenings there is a manager’s reception with drinks and snacks. There is also complimentary shuttle service to the Walt Disney World Resort. The suites offer either 1 or 2 bedrooms, each with a separate living area and kitchen, and can accommodate up to 8 guests. The kitchen features a microwave, stovetop, coffeemaker, dishwasher, dishes, and refrigerator. The suites also feature 2 TVs, a VCR, video games, hair dryers, a sofa bed in the living area, iron/board, and a phone with voice mail and a data port. Cribs (no charge) and roll-away beds (charge) are available upon request.
Located just down the road (a minute or so) at the entrance to Parkway Boulevard is a plaza with shops and restaurants, though again there are plenty of choices to be found all along the roadway within only minutes from the hotel. The entrance to Walt Disney World is only about 2 minutes away. It will actually be 10-15 minutes before you reach the parks themselves, but the hotel is still quite close compared to many others in the area.
Best Western Lakeside
***
$-$$
Budget to Moderate
Appropriate for families with kids of all ages
Location: 7769 W. Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway (U.S. 192), Kissimmee
Phone: 407-396-2222
Web site: www.bestwesternlakeside.com
In Brief
It is rare that I list a hotel that does not offer suites, but for this property I will gladly make an exception. Families with 1-2 children would fare well here, and if you also have an infant who could sleep in a portable crib, they could squeeze in as well. The rooms feature either a king or 2 double beds, a small refrigerator, coffeemaker, TV, safe, hair dryer, phone with voice mail and data port, and an iron and ironing board. Roll-away beds (for a fee) and cribs (at no charge) are available upon request. All in all, the rooms, while nicely decorated, are fairly standard. The recreational offerings and guest services are what really grabbed my attention here.
With an ATM, car-rental desk, gift shop, guest services desk, complimentary shuttle to Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, and SeaWorld, and a supervised children’s center, you may think you are at a high-priced exclusive resort. The La Quinta Inn Lakeside offers many of the same guest services that the more exclusive resorts offer, but at a price tag that families will appreciate.
The recreational offerings are extensive, with 3 heated pools, a miniature golf course, game room, playgrounds for the kids, and the Kid’s Club--a supervised activity program for children. The eateries are extensive, especially given the proximity to the many restaurants located along the main roadway (U.S.192): Hurricane Sam’s Bar & Grill for a snack and a drink, a full-service Pizza Hut, the Greenhouse Restaurant featuring an extensive breakfast buffet (kids under 10 eat free--1 kid per paying adult), the Poolside Gazebo for snacks and drinks, and the General Store and Deli. The General Store is rather large, offering a wide selection of on-the-go items, sandwiches, snacks, and drinks.
All in all, the hotel is perfect for smaller families. The Walt Disney World Resort is just minutes away, as are plenty of restaurants, shops, and smaller attractions. You may find it hard to leave with all that is offered right at the hotel.
The Doubletree Guest Suites at Maingate
***
$$-$$$
Moderate
Appropriate for families with kids of all ages
Location: 4787 W. Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway (U.S. 192), Kissimmee
Phone: 407-397-0555
Web site: www.doubletreeresortorlando.com
In Brief
This out-of-the-way resort offers unique accommodations, a secluded and relaxing atmosphere, as well as a few little plusses that make this a perfect choice for families.
The villas include 1, 2, or 3 bedrooms, some with an extra loft area. These are bi-level suites, which allows for even more privacy for napping or just spreading out and relaxing after a long day at the parks. They are full of all the comforts of home, featuring full kitchens (including a dishwasher, microwave, oven, and refrigerator, and coffeemaker), a living area, separate bedrooms, and either 1 or 2 bathrooms. There are the usual amenities, including a hair dryer, safe, phones (with voice mail and data ports), and TVs, as well as an iron and ironing board. Cribs are available upon request at no extra charge, with roll-away beds available for a small nightly fee. The suites are in fact rather large, accommodating up to 8 guests depending on the layout you choose. The 1-bedroom actually has 2 bedrooms and a loft, and in a way is more flexible than the 2-bedroom suite.
For recreation, try a swim in the outdoor heated pool, with a small children’s wading pool and whirlpool just nearby. There are lighted tennis courts on the rooftop of the on-site convenience store (which is rather extensive for a hotel store) and a sport court for basketball. The kids can play on the playground, with plenty of space to run around to boot. If you need to cool off, there’s also a video arcade and game room indoors. In front of the property (though not actually part of it) and within walking distance is a mini-golf course, perfect for evening activity with the kids. Or you can simply walk along the boardwalks that wind through the wooded property, enjoying the great outdoors Florida style.
As I mentioned above, there is a rather extensive convenience store right on-site offering grocery items, souvenirs, and sundries. Other services include a guest services desk where you can purchase attraction tickets and gather information, guest laundry or valet, and room service from the restaurant. There is an ATM in the lobby, and baggage storage is available if you arrive early or depart late. If you’re headed to Disney, the shuttle is free; if you’re traveling by car it will take about 20 minutes or so depending on
the time of year or even the time of day.
The Island Restaurant is located just off the lobby, beautifully hand-painted with a seafaring theme to match the little sailboat that sits in the corner. The menu offers a variety of choices for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with plenty for kids and adults alike.
The breakfast menu offers hot and cold morning favorites, while lunch and dinner includes appetizers, sandwiches and wraps, salads, pizza, pasta, and more. If you prefer, they will deliver to your room during the evenings.
While the resort is a bit out of the way, the combination of its spacious suites, recreational activities, and overall amenities make this a very good choice for vacationing families. Don’t forget to pick up some of those famous Doubletree chocolate chip cookies. They’re by far the best around.
Calypso Cay
***
Moderate
$-$$$
Appropriate for families with kids of all ages
Location: 4991/5001 Calypso Cay Way (Amerisuites and Country Inn) and 3484
Polynesian Isle Boulevard (La Quinta), Kissimmee
Phone and Web sites:
Country Inn & Suites 407-997-1400; www.countryinns.com/orlandofl_maingate
La Quinta Inn & Suites 407-997-1700; www.LQ.com
Amerisuites 407-997-1300; www.amerisuites.com
In Brief
Here is another example of a small group of hotels that have joined together to form a little community of their own, sharing an array of facilities. The configuration is a bit odd, however, as the Amerisuites and the Country Inn & Suites are located next to each other, while the La Quinta is just up the road a bit.
The Amerisuites features 151 suites, all with microwaves, refrigerators, coffeemakers, and dishes, as well as a TV, Nintendo game system, iron/board, hair dryer, and phones with voice mail and data ports. The rooms offer a bit of privacy since they’re partially separated between the bedroom and living area (with sleeper sofa), with a small kitchen and desk area as well. Laundry facilities are also available (including valet service).
The Country Inn & Suites features 162 rooms, 48 of which are 1-bedroom suites, and 12 of which are Country Kidsuites. There is a microwave, coffeemaker, and refrigerator, along with a TV, Playstation game system, iron/board, hair dryer, and phone with voice mail and a data port in each room. The 1-bedroom suite features a partially separated bedroom and living area (with sleeper sofa), while the Kidsuite features a small partitioned area with twin beds and a separate TV.
Both the Amerisuites and the Country Inn offer free self-parking, a complimentary deluxe continental breakfast, complimentary shuttle service to all three major theme parks (the Walt Disney World Resort, Universal Orlando, and SeaWorld) as well as Wet ’n Wild. They share the large landscaped courtyard area featuring 3 pools, a children’s play area, and an 18-hole mini-golf course.
The La Quinta, just up the road a bit, features 148 rooms and suites, all including a microwave, refrigerator, a sleeper sofa or lounge chair, TVs, coffeemaker, iron/board, and phones with voice mail and data ports. The suites have partially secluded bedroom areas, allowing for a bit of privacy. There are guest laundry facilities on-site, and like its sister hotels, it offers a complimentary breakfast buffet. While it has its own pool area, guests are welcome to share the facilities at the main Calypso Cay site.
You will have to provide your own transportation to get there, though, as it is much too far to walk. The main Claypso Cay site, as well as the La Quinta, are located close to area restaurants, shops, and attractions found along U.S. 192, with plenty of others a few minutes farther along S.R. 535 and S.R. 536.
Families will enjoy the roomy accommodations as well as the array of kidfriendly recreation, all included in the rather reasonable prices.
Grocery and restaurant delivery services are available though are provided by independent services (not through the hotels or resorts themselves).
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