Delta Hotels by Marriott Orlando Celebration

Housekeeping still hadn’t made our room by 10:00, even though we’d left the door card out while at the pool and had asked the front desk to contact them when we saw them on another floor. The phone in the room didn’t work, so I called from my cell to ask for towels and coffee, which they brought. Earlier, we’d come back from a day at Epcot around 7:00 and found the elevator to our room was out. I’d asked twice by phone about a first-floor room or one near a working elevator and got cut off both times. On my third call I was put on hold for 5 minutes, then went downstairs to find three desk staff with no customers. The woman said they were booked, but offered a Tower room overlooking the pool. It actually faced the parking lot. I’m a titanium member and had emailed manager Jamaira with this feedback, but got no response. I’d requested early check-in as a titanium member, but there was no room when we arrived. I can understand there being no upgrade, but the staff don’t seem concerned about customer satisfaction. I won’t stay or recommend this hotel again. I’ve never written a bad hotel review before and don’t usually expect much, but the staff still fell short.

Jermaine at the front desk made a point of greeting guests with the same warmth every time I saw him. He checked me in, made sure I had what I needed, and was friendly, affable, and professional. The whole staff was attentive and caring, and that really made a difference. The room was spotless, the views were beautiful, and the hotel felt peaceful and welcoming after long conference days. I’d stayed at other conference hotels nearby, but this was my favorite by far. I’d choose it again even if I had to take a shuttle. I ended up at the Delta Celebration Hotel in Orlando as overflow for a conference after I couldn’t get a room at the main site, and I’m glad it worked out that way. Highly recommend.

The staff were the best part for me, with genuine smiles and excellent manners. After a stressful week, I wanted to recover and had low expectations, but the bed and pillows were comfortable, the AC was as cold as I wanted, and the shower was hot. The mini fridge was larger than usual. One marathon runner left a small dog that barked and woke me at 5 am, but guest services gave me a complimentary breakfast that normally costs about $22. It’s a busy resort town with youth soccer teams and a big group of marathon runners, so you have to make allowances for other guests. The amenities include a beautiful Jacuzzi, a great heated pool, and plenty of secure parking with active security. Prices were comparable and made the stay accessible to many travelers. If you want a truly existential resort experience, you’ll need to look somewhere priced beyond the average traveler. For the best experience here, book a top line room.

There’s a private Starbucks coffee bar in the lobby, with lots of seating, and out back there’s a good sized smoking area with a couple of gas fire pits that are nice to sit around at night. The gorgeous pool feels like a secret oasis, with a fun slide, though it gets busier at night when everyone returns from Disney. Shuttles run to the 4 Disney parks once a day, there and back, so check whether the schedule works if you’re hoping to avoid parking costs. You can also get an Uber whenever you like. Our two beds were Kings and very comfortable. The rooms are nice, but not “expensive nice.” There’s no daily cleaning service, which was fine for our weekend, and no microwave. The coffee maker and much larger than usual fridge were handy. The elevator closest to our room had apparently needed repairs for months, but there was another working one, so it didn’t cause us a problem.