I recently took a trip to Orlando. My hotel in Orlando for the week was the Waldorf Astoria; I was pretty excited because I had been to the original hotel in NYC and to another in Palm Springs. This, however, was not a typical Waldorf. It was a nice hotel; I don’t want you to think otherwise, but there was something missing.
First Impressions
- A turn-off to me started right from the turn onto the resort’s street name: Bonnet Creek Resort Lane. Not only is there no indication of the property’s existence on the way in, but it is also shared with two other hotels, also not indicated on the sign
- The hotel shares a sign and driveway with the Hilton, and it’s the furthest away
- From all outward appearances, it’s just another high-rise hotel
Arrival Experience/Sleeping Rooms
When I pulled up to the front lobby, my cab driver was the one who pulled my luggage from the car and handed it to me; I received very little assistance from the hotel bellman. The main entrance is nothing overly exciting, just four sets of double doors.
However, hotel check-in was easy. I was able to check in an hour early and the front desk staff was nice and friendly. You should know that the elevators are down the hall quite a ways from the main lobby – a bit hidden. From an operations standpoint – I really liked the elevators; there were six of them in all and they ran very smoothly and quickly.
My sleeping room and bathroom were nice, but nothing to write home about. The rooms were kind of small, and the view was not great. I had an odd-numbered room so I faced the golf course but the even numbers faced the parking lot. Really – a sleeping room with a parking lot view at a Waldorf Astoria?
Overall
There were several aspects of the hotel I did like, but also several that left me wondering what they were thinking:
- The hotel is a combined property with the Hilton, a good idea in theory – you have a large group with seniority they can be divided easily However, the hotels are very spread out and it’s kind of like crossing a border, you’re not really sure which hotel you are in, unless you look at the change in carpet
- But with the combined hotel you have more restaurant options, and both hotels allow you to bill to your room – with your hotel name and room number
- I wasn’t too impressed with the restaurant selections, but I didn’t have much of an appetite while in Orlando, so I spent most of my time at the Harvest Bistro in the Hilton because it was quick and easy, and the prices were decent
- As a side note, the to-go boxes are not eco friendly and they are very large. I did hear great things about the food at Bull and Bear restaurant located in the Waldorf; but I was not overly impressed with their hosts, as they were short and not helpful to me when confirming evening reservations. I noticed this for other diners as well; but I did go on a night when the hotel was sold out (a first for the hotel since its opening in October 2009)
- While the hotel staff was very friendly, many were very ‘green’. For some that I talked to it was their first time in the hotel industry. I felt the hotel needed more of a blend of seasoned staff and new staff. I’m all for recent graduates and young staff; I feel you have to train the new with the old, but in a hotel with the name Waldorf I would think it would run a little more smoothly
- From a group operations standpoint, I learned to have a go-to person in each area. I felt comfortable making requests to this person, so I knew the job would get done
Location
You should know that the hotel is quiet and secluded. It’s located about 25 minutes from the airport, 15 minutes from the convention center and 10 minutes from Disney (which offers frequent shuttle visits). A few key details:
- I do not recommend the use of motor coaches as your only means of transportation. Motor coaches are doable, but harder to get close to the hotel – the hotel has a large awning and the turn-around loop is narrow. Mini buses are better; but sedan and van transfers are the best!
- You need to be comfortable with a 10+ minute transfer anywhere. The only option within walking distance is the Hilton Hotel
