Orlando's BEST Resort? Marriott Village Courtyard Lake Buena Vista Review!
Okay, buckle up buttercups, because we're diving headfirst into the chaotic, wonderful, and sometimes baffling world of the Marriott Village Courtyard Lake Buena Vista. This ain't your grandma's travelogue; we're getting real, warts and all. And trust me, after a recent stay, I've got opinions.
Let's Talk Accessibility (and My Almost Faceplant)
Right off the bat, gotta give a thumbs up for Accessibility. Look, navigating Orlando with a wheelchair or any mobility challenges can be a nightmare. But the Courtyard is pretty darn good. Elevators? Check. Ramps? Check. Wide hallways? Check. I almost went full-on pratfall in the lobby (smooth operator, me), but the layout is fundamentally accessible. A decent starting point, they’re trying. We’re talking Facilities for disabled guests are genuinely considered.
The "Things to Do" Conundrum (and My Quest for the Perfect Poolside Nap)
Okay, so you're in Orlando. Obviously, you're here for the magic. But what about the resort itself? Does it actually do anything?
- Swimming Pool [outdoor]: Yep. Pools. Plural. They are… nice. The main pool had a pretty good energy, and the Pool with view was lovely when the rain actually ended. I'm not sure about the "view," though, beyond other hotel buildings. Look, it's Orlando – expect some built environment around.
- Fitness Center: I walked past it. Twice. Didn't go in. Judge me all you want.
- Spa/sauna: This isn't a full-blown spa resort, let's be clear. If you're looking for a pampered experience, this is not the place.
- For the kids: Well, that's the whole shebang, isn't it? Kids facilities are scattered around, but honestly? The best thing for the kids is going to be the swimming pool (and maybe a generous helping of desserts in restaurant?)
Dining, Drinking, and Surviving My Carb-Loading
Okay, food. Let's be honest, hotel food can be… hit or miss. The Courtyard has several Restaurants. Here's the lowdown:
- Breakfast [buffet]: Sigh. The breakfast buffet. It’s there. It exists. There’s Buffet in restaurant for everyone. The Asian breakfast, was alright, I guess.
- Coffee shop: Need a caffeine hit? Good. You’ll need it.
- Poolside bar: Yes. Essential. The cocktails are, well, they’re cocktails. Perfectly acceptable. Maybe a little strong, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing after a day at the parks. This is where the most relaxed time I had at the resort was - watching the kids splash with a cocktail in my hand.
- Snack bar: See above.
- Restaurants We have to use the word (plural) because of the variety. A la carte in restaurant is available.
- In-Room Dining: Room service [24-hour] is a lifesaver, especially after a long park day when you just want to collapse.
The Room: My Little Fortress of Solitude (and Wifi Woes)
Available in all rooms: Okay, the room itself. Not bad, not amazing. Clean. Comfy bed. Free Wi-Fi. Internet access – wireless is everywhere in the hotel, but it was a bit spotty during peak hours. Wi-Fi [free] is a major plus, obviously, for streaming your shows on-demand movies and looking at Instagram for hours. Also, the blackout curtains (praise be!) were GREAT for those park-induced comas. Air conditioning was solid. Also was great to see the additional toilet.
BUT the Internet access – LAN? I don't even know what that is! The Internet was a little annoying to be honest.
Services and Conveniences: The Little Things That Matter (and the Almost-Disaster)
- Concierge: They seemed helpful, though I didn't need anything major.
- Cash withdrawal: Handy.
- Elevator: Crucial.
- Daily housekeeping: Always a win.
- Convenience store: Got me out of a jam when I ran out of… well, let’s just say essentials.
- Laundry service: Godsend.
- Luggage storage: Helpful.
- Car park [free of charge]: HUGE bonus. Parking fees add up fast at other resorts. The Car park [on-site] is also very close by.
- Contactless check-in/out: Gotta love a quick exit.
Cleanliness and Safety: Did I Survive? (Probably)
Look, safety is paramount. The Courtyard seems to be on top of it. Hand sanitizer everywhere. The Staff trained in safety protocol. Anti-viral cleaning products in use. Rooms sanitized between stays. Daily disinfection in common areas. Cashless payment service. The Smoke alarms and Fire extinguisher gave me confidence.
- CCTV in common areas, CCTV outside property and Security [24-hour] are a good sign.
Final Verdict: Worth It? (Maybe)
Okay, so is the Courtyard Marriott Village Lake Buena Vista the absolute best resort in Orlando? Probably not. But it’s a solid, reliable option. It's clean, conveniently located, and the perks (free parking, decent pool) are a win.
Here's the bottom line:
If you're looking for a reliable, family-friendly base camp for your Orlando adventures, and you aren't super-fussy about luxury, the Courtyard is a good choice. It's not perfect, but it gets the job done. And hey, you might just catch a beautiful sunset from the pool, which is more than enough for me!!
My Verdict: 3.5 out of 5 stars.
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- One more time I need to remind the kids to behave as they go to the pool.
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Luxury Lima Getaway: Unforgettable Antigua Miraflores Hotel Experience
Okay, buckle up buttercup, because this ain't your grandma's itinerary. We're diving headfirst into the glorious, messy, and utterly unpredictable world of a trip to the Courtyard Orlando Lake Buena Vista in the Marriott Village. Prepare for a schedule that’s… well, let’s just call it "suggestive." The "Magical Mess" Itinerary: Courtyard Orlando & Disney (Maybe) – For Real People
Day 1: Arrival & The Great Pool Debacle of '24 (Or, the Joy of Delayed Gratification)
- 10:00 AM: Supposedly leave home. In reality? We're scrambling. Coffee's been spilled (as usual), the dog's eaten my passport (kidding!… mostly), and I'm pretty sure I forgot to pack underwear. This trip is already a comedy of errors.
- 1:00 PM: Land at Orlando International Airport (MCO). Airport chaos. I swear, every time I fly, I feel like I'm in a low-budget action movie. Finding the rental car is a quest in itself. I pray to the travel gods for an automatic transmission that doesn’t feel like it’s about to spontaneously combust.
- 2:30 PM: Arrive at the Courtyard Orlando at Marriott Village. Check-in. Oh god, the line. It's a sea of families, luggage, and the faint scent of chlorine. I'm already getting phantom sunburn. Mental note: Pack more sunscreen than humanly necessary.
- 3:00 PM: Room check. Alright. It is not a palace, but it's clean, has a bed (crucial), and AC (more than crucial). I'm ready to sink into that bed. The kids? They're already eyeing the pool.
- 3:30 PM: The Great Pool Debacle: Poolside mayhem. Kids are screaming, the sun is beating down, and I'm frantically trying to remember where I packed the sunscreen. Then, the unthinkable: no pool towels. A minor detail, sure, but in the face of an impending meltdown, it's a crisis. I swear, I spend the next hour navigating the hotel, looking for the elusive pool towels. Finally, mission accomplished! The pool, eventually, is pure bliss.
- 6:00 PM: Dinner at the hotel's food court (or, more likely, a nearby chain restaurant). The kids are starving, I’m tired, and the allure of a quick, easy burger is irresistible.
- 7:30 PM: Poolside chill time! Ah, sweet relief. The day’s chaos fades away as I watch the kids splash around, a little bit of wine. Perfection. Maybe.
- 9:00 PM: Bedtime struggle. Kids.
- 9:30 PM: Collapsed on the bed, I start looking for the next day planning and realizing I never did. Ah, well. The best laid plans, right?
Day 2: Disney Bound (or, a Day of Questionable Choices)
- 7:00 AM: Wake up (or, more accurately, get woken up) by a tiny, screaming human. Coffee. Now.
- 7:30 AM: Breakfast Buffet at the hotel. The sheer volume of food always overwhelms me, but hey, free (ish) food, right? The eggs are suspiciously yellow, and the bacon is cooked to a crisp, but I’m too hungry to care.
- 8:30 AM: The Great Disney Decision. This is where things get truly messy. I want to go to a theme park, but just thinking about the crowds makes me want to crawl under the covers and never come out. The kids, however, are in full Disney-fever mode. Do we brave it? Do we change it? We do the classic, the "Maybe tomorrow."
- 9:00 AM: Maybe spend some time at the hotel pool again.
- 12:00 PM: Lunch at the hotel. Probably take-away.
- 1:00 PM: Nap time (for me). Kids playing video games.
- 3:00 PM: The Disney Dilemma, Part II. Still no clear answer (and the decision is entirely weather-dependent).
- 6:00 PM: Dinner at whichever hotel restaurant or a nearby place.
- 8:00 PM: The kids are crashing. Maybe I should too, but my "me-time" must be had.
- 8:30 PM: Stumbling back to the room, I'll try catching up on my own work or reading that book on the nightstand.
- 10.30 PM: Maybe sleep. We'll see.
Day 3: The Unplanned…and the Great Departure
- 9:00 AM: Breakfast, slowly this time.
- 10:00 AM: The Great Departure. Packing.
- 11:00 AM: Final pool time (if the planets align).
- 12:00 PM: Lunch.
- 1:00 PM: Head to the airport.
- 4:00 PM: Flight home. A sigh of relief as the plane lifts off the ground, away from the organized chaos of Orlando.
Final Thoughts:
This trip, with its imperfections, its questionable decisions, and its moments of sheer, unadulterated chaos, will probably be perfect. It will be a memory, a story to tell, full of laughter, exhaustion, and the shared experience of being a family. And that, my friend, is what it's all about.
Escape to Kentucky: Your Perfect OYO Hotel Awaits!
Oh. My. Goodness. Marriott Village Courtyard Lake Buena Vista: The Honest Truth (and a Whole Lotta Feelings)
So, is Marriott Village REALLY the best resort in Orlando? Lay it on me!
Alright, buckle up, because this is NOT a simple yes or no. "Best" is subjective, you know? Like, what's YOUR definition of paradise? Do you envision a butler, a personal plunge pool, and caviar for breakfast? Then, honey, Marriott Village ain't it. BUT... for families on a budget, folks who actually want to SLEEP after a day at the parks, and people who appreciate a solid, no-frills experience? Yeah, it's a contender. And I'd even argue it's *really* good. I mean, we've been there, done that – survived a week with a toddler AND a whiny teenager (bless their hearts) – and we're still breathing. That's saying something. Think of it as a reliable Honda Civic of resorts. It won’t give you a six-figure lifestyle, but it will get you safely down the road, and you'll get a lot of value in it!
How are the rooms? Are they as cramped as everyone says?
Okay, let's be real. They aren't HUGE. You're not getting a sprawling suite. When we first walked in, I kinda went *gasp*. It was…compact. But honestly? We made it work. We were smart enough to choose a two-bedroom suite. Think of it this way: It’s sufficient. Clean beds, a functional bathroom, a decent-sized mini-fridge (essential for keeping juice boxes cold, you know…the important things in life). No, you won't be doing cartwheels in the room. But you will have enough space to avoid tripping over luggage (mostly). The noise level, for the most part, was pretty good. We managed to sleep through the night, and trust me, that's a HUGE win with kids! The cleaning staff: AMAZING. They really kept things spotless, which is a lifesaver when you have little sticky fingers everywhere.
Tell me about the pools! My kids live for pools!
Okay, pool time! This is where Marriott Village REALLY shines, in MY humble opinion. There are THREE. THREE! Different pool areas, and they're all pretty fantastic. One is a bit larger, geared toward families, with a splash pad and a little slide. Perfect for the littles. ANOTHER had a hot tub that was actually hot, not lukewarm. The third... well, the third was our go-to. The kids wanted it - but the parents are probably going to be hanging there more than the kids. There's plenty of seating, and while they can get busy, the availability is pretty good. The poolside bar? Essential. Nothing beats a margarita while watching your kids turn into prunes. Word to the wise: get there early to snag a good chair, especially during peak season. I might even judge you slightly if you don’t.
The food situation... is it all just overpriced theme park garbage?
Alright, the food. This is where things get…interesting. The resort has a food court with various options: pizza, burgers, salads, etc. It's convenient. It's edible. It's... nothing to write home about. The pizza was fine, just not spectacular, and the burgers were what you would expect from a food court. But! There's a benefit, it's actually relatively affordable. As in, it won't completely drain your wallet. I will say, after a long day at the park, convenience wins out. And Starbucks is ALWAYS a good addition, and they had one right there. We often just grabbed breakfast at the hotel and planned for a more substantial lunch and dinner. One day we decided to be fancy. We tried to order room service, but that didn't work out . It took FOREVER, like, we almost gave up on getting food at all! Ultimately, we decided to go out.
Transportation? How's the shuttle situation to the parks?
Ah, the shuttle! This is a KEY factor. Because, let's face it, driving in Orlando traffic is a special kind of hell. The shuttle service to Disney World is generally reliable. However, it can get CROWDED, especially at park opening and closing times. Be prepared to stand (you might need to have the kid on your shoulders), and budget extra time for travel. I'm not going to lie, we experienced some delays. One time, the bus was late, and we almost missed our breakfast reservation at Cinderella's Royal Table. Pure panic! That was the day I swore I’d learn to apparate. The upside? The shuttle drops you off right at the main entrances, which saves you some serious walking. Also, the cost of parking at the parks adds up *fast*. So, yeah, the shuttle is a trade-off: convenience versus potential chaos. Just be flexible, pack your patience, and maybe bring a book to read while waiting. And for the love of all that is holy, don't forget your sunscreen!
What about the atmosphere? Is it family-friendly or a total zoo?
Okay, the atmosphere. It's definitely family-friendly. Think strollers everywhere, giggling kids, and the occasional meltdown (usually from a tired parent, let's be honest). The noise level is what you'd expect from a family resort. It's not a place for a romantic getaway (although I did see one couple looking very happy). The staff are super-helpful and genuinely friendly, which makes a huge difference. They always had smiles, even when dealing with cranky guests. Which is impressive because you know dealing with some of the demanding people is a daily part of the job. The whole place has a fun, relaxed vibe. It's not *super* fancy, but it's clean, safe, and everyone's just trying to have a good time. And who can argue with that?
Okay, so you mentioned a 'but'. What's the catch? What didn't you love?
Alright, deep breaths. There are always a few things that aren't perfect. First off: the check-in process sometimes felt…slow. It wasn’t always the smoothest experience, and after a long flight, I just wanted to be in my room! There was one time when we waited in line for what seemed like an eternity. Also, the walls aren't exactly soundproof. You'll hear your neighbors, especially if they have rambunctious kids of their own. We also had a minor issue with a towel shortage one day. Nothing catastrophic, just a mild inconvenience. The real problem? Getting into the pool can be a nightmare. Finding a chair felt like a competitive sport. So, yeah, it's not all sunshine and rainbows, but the good definitely outweighs the not-so-good.
Bottom line: Would you stay at Marriott VillageEscape To Inns
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