Marriott'S Cypress Harbour Villas

The rooms were spacious, comfortable and clean, the grounds were immaculate, and the staff were friendly and helpful. We were a family of four with two grown children, staying five nights while visiting Orlando's parks. We'd chosen the resort hoping to eat breakfast and dinner on site, but our first night's meal was poor and expensive. We ate in a bar area that felt like an airport lounge. That cafe was the only on-site dining option, so we didn't go back. Parking came to an outlandish $35 a night, or $175 for our stay. We were also told about nearby construction only after booking and paying a non-refundable charge. It didn't seem active near us and didn't affect us, but guests should be told clearly when they book. A shuttle would help, since the hotel is a drive from everything Orlando offers. I asked reception to order a taxi, but was told I'd have to download Uber and arrange it myself. I've never stayed somewhere that didn't provide this basic help. We were remotely locked out of our room before the 10 a.m. checkout time. Fortunately, a family member was still inside. It took two trips to pack the car, so we had to leave someone in the room to avoid getting locked out. That shouldn't happen. I think highly of Marriott hotels, so I was surprised by the reception staff overall, aside from how promptly they called on checkout day to ask again if I'd attend the 90-minute timeshare presentation. They were on the ball about that. I politely declined again, and they remotely disabled our key card before checkout time.

The staff made our stay a five out of five. They were friendly, accommodating and seemed to care about how things were going. Our two-bedroom, two-bathroom villa was spacious and great, with a full kitchen and laundry room, which made the stay easy. Even the older rooms were clean and nice, and I know parts of the resort are being redone. There was lots to enjoy, including three pools, the activity center, arcade, baby gators and their show, plus bike and boat rentals. Everything sits around a beautiful lake. We'd definitely stay here again. It's convenient to Disney, Universal and SeaWorld.

The property and its location are the best parts. The villas are great overall, though pantry storage is lacking. The washer could give a really dirty toddler a spin, but the dryer couldn't. ;) The patio's bug net is a great Florida addition. There are daytime shortcuts if you're on the back side of the property, but getting to the gym before the pools open means a long walk. Aldi, Wal Mart, Sea World, the airport and plenty of other places are nearby.

The rooms were clean, though pretty ordinary. The villa ahead of ours had what looked like sketchy “temporary support” holding up its concrete landings. I wish there were a working ATM and better food options by the pool. The menus are very limited.