Review: Orlando World Center Marriott

The Orlando World Center Marriott was the destination for a weekend away with my wife and her brother’s family, where our niece got her first taste of Disney World! The resort is excellent for kids, with one of the best pools I’ve ever experienced and a full-service water park included in the room rate. 

This definitely isn’t a run-of-the-mill Marriott property!

Booking

I was lucky to book this hotel at an industry rate; otherwise, it can be pretty expensive with cash and points. However, one key element to a Disney vacation is having a great hotel to take a break from the parks. Because of all the included extras, I think the high price is justified. 

That said, there are pockets of opportunity to use a Marriott Bonvoy Free Night Certificate worth 35,000 Marriott Bonvoy points!

Canadians who are looking to get into hotel loyalty programs, specifically Marriott Bonvoy, are best off to consider adding the American Express Marriott Bonvoy card to their wallet to maximize their rewards and benefits.

This card currently offers a welcome bonus of up to 110,000 Marriott Bonvoy points and awards a free night certificate worth 35,000 Bonvoy points at every cardholder anniversary, which can be used at hotels like the Orlando World Center Marriott.

Check-in

The lobby of this resort is huge. It instantly reminded me of a classic conference center that would be featured in a ’90s movie. My description was shockingly accurate, as further research showed the hotel opened in 1986 and was the largest hotel in Florida at the time, and is currently the largest Marriott hotel in the world.

There are many check-in desks, and as a huge resort, the check-in area does get busy. Thankfully, a Marriott Bovoy Elite desk is very clearly marked.

We were given a lot of information at check-in, including four wristbands to access the River Falls waterpark, a daily activity guide, and a resort map. The breakfast benefit for Marriott Bonvoy Elite members is a continental spread, which you can upgrade for an additional fee at the restaurant.

I was impressed with the three bags of chocolate we received per room as a welcome gift. We checked into my room with Titanium status, and my brother-in-law, who has Marriott Bonvoy Gold status, received the same. 

There are tons of signs around the resort, and the footprint is massive.

Location

The Orlando World Center Marriott is in a pretty good location. They have a shuttle to all four Disney World parks, and it operates early enough to get you there for rope drop if that’s your thing. I’ve often said it’s not worth renting a car in Orlando if you only plan to visit the theme parks, as you’ll have to pay exorbitant prices to park at most hotels and theme parks.

Instead, you can earn 5 Chase Ultimate Rewards points with the Chase Sapphire Preferred card and 2 BILT Points per dollar spent on Lyft rides. Receiving 7 transferable points or effectively ~14% back in rewards on that spending is much better than dealing with the headache of a rental car with little reward.

Parking

As mentioned, parking here is costly. You’ll pay $38 USD per day for self-parking or $55 USD per day for valet. As a Platinum Elite member or above, you’ll get a 50% discount on self-parking. 

The self-parking lot here is quite far from the hotel towers; it’s at least a 10-minute walk, or you can wait for a shuttle.

Room – 1 King, Pool Laser Show View, Balcony

We had two rooms booked at this resort, and they were almost identical except that they were located in different towers. My wife and I stayed in the 1 King room in the East Tower, which is the closest tower to the check-in desks.

We were lucky to get a room on the 22nd floor with excellent views of Disney Springs and the Tower of Terror. Although the room feels a bit dated, you can tell it’s been renovated recently.

The bathroom is to your immediate left, and it includes a handy space-saving barn door. The vanity is quite large but only features one sink, compared to the two-queen bed room, which has a double vanity. 

The shower is a classic Marriott Standard, with rainfall and handheld shower heads, which is something I love about staying within the Marriott portfolio.

The amenities were also consistent with the “this works” brand.

My only complaint is that the full-length mirror is a bit small. Strangely, the mirror in the 2 Queen room was significantly larger.

Moving into the main chambers of the room, I must compliment Marriott on the very aesthetically pleasing design of the bed. It is much more inspiring than the Los Angeles Airport Marriott.

The bedside tables included connectivity on the window side with USB-A and multiple outlets. But on the hallway side of the bed, I found myself digging to access power! It required me to move the nightstand forward to expose this outlet in the wall.

The room’s opposite wall has a small window with views of Disney Springs, but is mainly filled with a huge TV and multipurpose cabinet that includes a minifridge, coffee maker, dresser, and a small desk.

The coffee machine is in an odd spot, and you need to use two hands for the whole process, as you can’t open the lid of the supplies container all the way. The room included two small bottles of water, free of charge, and $6 large bottles were also available.

The final features of the room are a small sitting area, a beautiful balcony, and some art along the wall next to the bed.

The views were pretty spectacular from the balcony. Being in a corner room, we could see the main pool area (left) and the waterpark (right).

Room – 2 Queen, Pool Laser Show View, Balcony

This room was in the South Tower, which requires a bit of a longer walk but has a better view of the nightly laser show at 8:00 p.m. and the pool area. The entrance to the room is nearly identical to that of the East Tower.

The bathroom is also identical, but it has a much larger full-length mirror and a dual vanity rather than a single one in the king room.

The rest of the room is very similar to the King room, but the extra bed made it feel a bit more cramped.

The pool view was much closer here, giving an excellent view of the laser show.

Restaurants & Bars

Latitude & Longitude – Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite Complimentary Breakfast

Latitude & Longitude is centrally located, a short walk from the central atrium, making it easy for all hotel guests to access. On top of being a breakfast restaurant, it’s also open for lunch.

The Platinum Elite breakfast is valid for two people and includes the “cold” buffet spread, even though that spread includes piping hot oatmeal.

For an additional $10 USD per person, you can upgrade to the hot breakfast, which adds a custom omelet station, freshly made benedicts, French toast, and Mickey Mouse pancakes.

I was a big fan of the scallion cream cheese and bagels; we created reasonably well-rounded breakfasts from the continental spread. A nice touch is that juice is included in the continental offering.

Central Pantry

Central Pantry is the ultimate grab-and-go spot at the resort. Prices are high, but the convenience and vast selection almost justify them. Everything from sandwiches to snacks to ice cream, desserts, and alcohol is available here.

Mikado Japanese Steakhouse

We didn’t get a chance to visit, but Mikado is in a separate building from the resort with a rather dramatic entrance. If you plan to stay for a week at this resort, you won’t tire of the on-site dining.

Siro Urban Italian Kitchen

Siro is located in the hotel’s central atrium. We didn’t sample the food, but it boasts creative Italian dishes with a unique flair.

Lobby Bar

The lobby bar is also in the central atrium and was packed every night. At least two conferences were happening at this resort, so it made sense that attendees would take an opportunity to mingle.

The bar even offers a cigar humidor!

A smoking area to enjoy said cigars is next to the lobby bar.

Starbucks

Starbucks is also in the lobby if you want to collect a few extra stars, or are “pink drink” addicted like our niece!

High Velocity Sports Bar

High Velocity is a classic American sports bar with casual fare. We didn’t get the chance to eat here, but again, it shows the variety of food options available at this resort.

Falls Pool Bar & Grille

Falls Pool Bar is the restaurant servicing the pool area. Outside food and beverages (except water) are not permitted inside the pool area.

Servers come around to all the loungers and offer food and beverages, or you can sit on their patio if you prefer a change of scenery.

Facilities

Fitness Center

We didn’t use the fitness facilities during our stay, but I did pop in for a few pictures. The large windows were a nice touch.

Pool

This pool area is fantastic—there’s no other way to describe it. Tons of seating is available, and games like ping pong, cornhole, Connect Four, and checkers, along with some astroturf, will entertain all family members. It is not like you need to watch TV at the pool, but three giant screens broadcast various cable channels.

Separate from the River Falls waterpark, the main pool area also has three waterslides!

The theming throughout the pool area is immersive, as you walk around, everything is wonderfully landscaped, and there’s a splash pad for younger guests, which is nicely shaded.

Waterpark

While I was skeptical about this “waterpark” being an important amenity, I can confidently say it’s super fun and a considerable value add. It had been years since I drifted away in a lazy river, and it’s equally, if not more, fun than I remember it.

The waterpark requires a wristband, but you’re provided with up to four per room. There are plenty of lounge chairs, but more importantly, another three waterslides to explore.

Cruising around the lazy river, you’ll get views of the hotel, and there’s a snack bar tucked away at the back of the water park.

Spa

The spa is located in the same building as the gym. We didn’t visit, but after a day walking around at Disney, it’s nice to have this service in-house!

Arcade

What surely will be a hit with kids is the arcade offering. We didn’t stop here with our niece as we were maximizing visiting Disney, but if you’re taking an off day from the parks, there’s no shortage of entertainment.

Conclusion

The Orlando World Center Marriott is a behemoth resort offering an amazing array of amenities. While it can be overpriced at times, if you’re able to use a Marriott Bonvoy Free Night Certificate worth 35,000 Bonvoy points, this hotel is a fantastic deal. It’s a great home base for a trip to the Orlando theme parks!