Review : Orlando World Center Marriott | Marriott Bonvoy

The Orlando World Center Marriott hotel features:

• 2010 rooms including 110 suites
• 4 slides and 175 meters of lazy river
• A 28-story main tower
• A laser show every night
• 500,000 square meters of conference rooms
• 4 towers for the rooms
• 4 pools
• 1 golf course of 18 holes and a mini-putt of 18 holes
• 8 restaurants
• A hydroponic production (vertical vegetable garden)

It is so big that the jogging track that goes around the hotel is 2.5 km long!

The Orlando World Center Marriott hotel is available from 30,000 points to 42,000 Marriott Bonvoy points. Since I stayed there during the high season, the rate was 40,000 points.

So I used my free night certificate (which has a maximum of 35,000 points) and added 5,000 points. Thanks to this, I avoided paying $476 USD (or $640 CAD). This more than made up for the $120 annual card fee.

However, the hotel charges a hotel fee of $42 USD plus tax per night. It includes:

• Admission to the new River Falls Park with slides
• Daily shuttles to Disney and Disney Springs
• High-speed Wi-Fi
• A bucket of golf balls for practice

I hate this kind of fee! But I could get the full potential out of it, so I agreed to pay for it. For this time.

Each day there are various free activities, but some are not free.

Since it was New Year’s Eve, a DJ was at the pool and a magnificent fireworks display was presented at midnight. We had an excellent view from our room balcony.

The best way to earn Marriott Bonvoy points for free stays at over 8,000 hotels worldwide is to have the Marriott Bonvoy^® American Express^®* Card (and/or the Marriott Bonvoy^® Business American Express^®* Card).

In addition to the exceptional welcome bonus of each of these two cards, you’ll earn 2 points per dollar on all your purchases and 5 points per dollar at any of the Marriott establishments. On top of that, every year, you’ll receive a free hotel night certificate (worth 35,000 points) and 15 Elite Night Credits toward your Marriott Bonvoy status.

The Orlando World Center Marriott hotel is a huge complex located off Interstate 4. You can see Disney Springs, just across the highway.

By car, the Disney parks are at :

• 15 minutes from Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom
• 10 minutes from Epcot Center and Disney Springs

As it is far from the city, it is preferable to have a car to get there.

For the registration, there are 2 waiting lines:

• For members with Silver, Gold, Platinum, Titanium and Ambassador status
• For all other customers

But even if you have a status and see the other shorter line, feel free to go there. Often, it goes faster.

The resort map and activity map are provided, as well as the required wristbands to access River Falls.

There is no lounge for members.

For Platinum members and above, stop by The Pantry to get your gift of the day. In our case, we had 2 packages of yogurt pretzels.

Our room had a view of the new River Falls Park. It was a standard twin room with a desk and an armchair. There is also a mini-refrigerator.

The balcony and the two chairs were very appreciated.

The bathroom is divided in two by a sliding door:

• bath/shower and toilet
• vanity with 2 sinks

At the Latitude & Longitude restaurant, Platinum members and above are entitled to the Continental buffet for 2 people. This includes:

• Coffee, tea, juice, milk
• Toast, bagel, croissant, pastry, cereal
• Hard-boiled egg, cut fruit, salad
• Cold cuts, cheese, smoked salmon, grits

It’s a $22 USD value per person and gratuity is included.

For an additional $10 per person, you can get the hot buffet:

• Omelette and pancakes made on demand, French toast, egg Benedict
• Waffle, sausage, bacon, scrambled egg, biscuit and gravy

The main pool (Falls pool) is huge. It is surrounded by cabanas, lounge chairs, giant screens, waterfalls and a DJ is present all day.

Please note that each towel has a microchip. When you want one, you have to open a compartment with your room key and the taken towel is connected to your room. If you do not return it, a $25 fee per towel is charged to your final bill.

The new River Falls area has the 3 slides and the lazy river, surrounded by lounge chairs.

There are 8 restaurants:

• Mikado : Japanese steakhouse
• Central Pantry : Convenience store with cold or hot items at “acceptable” prices
• Falls Pool Bar & Grill: Fast food by the pool
• Starbucks : Near the reception
• Latitude & Longitude: Breakfast buffet and meals made with local food
• High Velocity : Sports restaurant
• The Lobby Lounge : Bar with veranda on the Falls pool
• Siro : Italian style

Reservations are strongly recommended.

The Spa is located right next to the River Falls, in the same building as the fitness room.

The equipment is relatively new.

Young and less young can have fun with the twenty or so gaming machines.

Nearby, on the floor below, there are 4 microwave ovens for everyone’s use and the guest laundry.

The sheer size of the Orlando World Center Marriott Hotel is impressive. But once you’ve had a look around, it’s easy to find.

However, such magnitude depersonalizes the experience. You feel like a guest like any other, through the tide of customers. Also, the loud music in the pools is very annoying.

The variety of activities is extraordinary. Rain or shine, there’s always something to do!