DoubleTree by Hilton at the Entrance to Universal Orlando

The pool was nice and the hot tub was big, but I left really upset. Parking cost $34, and after our plane landed at 11:30, we got there around midnight and had to park at the far end. There were no lights out there, so I had to walk in the dark with my two young daughters. There was no microwave, only one elevator worked, and none of the outlets would hold a plug. The hallway double doors weren’t held open by magnets anymore, so I had to pull a heavy door while carrying our things. There wasn’t even a trash can by the entrance.

The people working there were all very nice and helpful, and the hotel is close to restaurants, shopping, and Disney. It’s an older place with minimal decor and charm, but the room features made up for that for me. There was lots of closet and drawer space, plus a real mini-fridge that actually stayed cold. The bathroom had storage behind the door with extra towels, toilet paper, Kleenex, and other amenities, leaving good room around the shower and vanity. Just one sink, but plenty of counter space on both sides. I was there for a seminar.

The hotel price through Armed forces travel was great, though parking cost a bit much. The bartender at the grill was great, but Brenda at Sunrise is the reason I keep coming back for breakfast. She’s so personable, remembered us, was wonderful with my family, and made our mornings seamless. Thanks, Brenda! The people made the stay feel perfect.

The bathroom had pubic hair in the shower when we checked in, and the bedding for the pull-out sofa wasn’t enough. When I asked for a blanket, I got a thin fitted sheet. The quick-service restaurant on site also had no vegetarian breakfast options. A simple egg-and-cheese choice seems like it shouldn’t be difficult. At the front desk, the manager first said a refund wasn’t possible because we had an advanced purchase rate, then after more discussion offered to refund only the cheapest night. We felt misled into booking here in the first place. The hotel website calls it a Universal Partner Hotel, mentions early entry perks, then sends customers to a portal where they can only buy park tickets. I assumed the hotel had to be booked separately, but only days before our trip, after I’d planned around early entry, I learned I needed a hotel-and-tickets package that the linked portal doesn’t offer. Early admission was the only reason we chose this hotel, since staying on Universal property was outside our budget. I’ll be fighting for a full refund. If that website link isn’t fixed, it says a lot about the company’s integrity.