Residence Inn by Marriott Orlando at SeaWorld

The pool restaurant and bar team were exceptional, though the food itself got mixed reviews. The rest of the property was disappointing: there was mold in the bathroom, the carpet hadn't been vacuumed, and chunks of drywall were missing from the hallway to our room. We won't stay here next year. Other Marriott properties we've visited, such as Residence Flamingo Crossing, are much better maintained. Instead of a dear John letter from the assistant or general manager saying they'll do better or asking us to give them another chance, it would have been nice to get some of the money we paid refunded.

The staff made a tough start to our trip much easier. Our room had a maintenance problem when we arrived, and since there were no other rooms free, they arranged for us to stay nearby. The disruption wasn't welcome, but it couldn't be helped. What mattered was how the Residence Inn team looked after us while we were away and did everything they could to make our return comfortable. When we came back, we found clean, comfortable rooms, a lovely team, and a great breakfast. Having a kitchen made the trip much more practical, and the location worked perfectly for us. We chose to Uber, though shuttles were available too. The lobby marketplace was handy for picking up groceries without planning ahead. I'm very grateful to everyone there. We'll stay here whenever we return to Orlando.

I used to make this my regular hotel, but the place has gone downhill. This time, my first room looked out over the parking lot, not what I expected as a titanium member. Then a light switch short-circuited, so I moved rooms. That end of the building had only one working elevator. The second room had toenail clippings on the floor, so it didn't seem properly vacuumed. I asked for fresh towels while I was out, and new ones were dropped off, but apparently the towels just inside the front door weren't obvious enough for anyone to take out of the room. We had no housekeeping or room cleaning for the whole stay. They were meant to refresh the room and said they were too busy but would return before 5 pm. They never did. They also don't mention the $27 daily parking charge until check-in. From a management standpoint, this place is a mess. The photos don't tell the story, and I won't be back. The prices should go up, because the clientele is declining and a lot of riff raff who can barely afford to stay here are showing up.

The pool was a real treat in the evenings: one larger pool was heated to about 25°C (77°F), and the smaller one was pleasantly warm at roughly 39°C (102°F). Breakfast was served each day, with fresh omelets, sausages and waffles alongside continental choices, fruit and several kinds of yogurt. It's not the usual European-style buffet, but there was plenty to make a satisfying meal. We spent five nights here as a family and were very happy with the stay. Our two-bedroom apartment was clean and roomy, with two bathrooms, a large living and dining area, and a fully equipped kitchen. It made for a comfortable, relaxing visit.