Orlando's Hidden Gem: Marriott's Royal Palms Paradise Awaits!
Marriott's Royal Palms Paradise: A Dive In (and Sometimes a Plunge!)
Alright, folks, buckle up. This isn't your average cookie-cutter hotel review. We're diving headfirst into Marriott's Royal Palms, an Orlando "Hidden Gem" – emphasis on the hidden, because finding it in this sprawling tourist-palooza sometimes feels like a treasure hunt in itself! (And trust me, I love a good treasure hunt.)
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- Title: Marriott's Royal Palms Paradise: A Raw & Honest Review (Orlando's Hidden Gem… Mostly)
- Keywords: Orlando, Marriott, Royal Palms, Review, Accessible, Wheelchair, Family Friendly, Spa, Pool, Restaurant, Wi-Fi, Vacation, Hotels, Florida, Disney, Accessible Travel, Pet Friendly (Sort Of!), Best Hotels Orlando, Family Resorts
- Description: A brutally honest, funny, and detailed review of Marriott's Royal Palms, Orlando. Discover the pros, cons, accessibility, amenities, and overall experience – from the amazing pools to the sometimes-dodgy Wi-Fi. Prepare for a wild ride of opinions, anecdotes, and a healthy dose of reality!
First Impressions (And a Slight Panic Attack…)
Pulling up to Royal Palms, you’re greeted by… well, a lot of palm trees. Which, you know, checks out. The vibe is immediately more relaxed than, say, a theme park. This isn't the frenetic energy; it's more "ahh, breathe." The architecture gives a vibe of a Mediterranean village, all stucco and red-tiled roofs. Which, again, is a nice break from the cartoonish buildings elsewhere. Getting in, though? That was the first real test.
Accessibility: The Good, The Grumbles, and The "Almosts"
Okay, here’s where things get interesting. Royal Palms advertises accessibility. And on the whole, they're pretty darn good. The elevator system, crucial for someone with mobility issues, worked without any major drama (whew!). The pathways are mostly smooth, and well-maintained. The staff is generally helpful and friendly.
Wheelchair accessible yes!
Do they have facilities for disabled guests? Yes!
But…
There were moments. Like heading to the pool and discovering the ramp was… well, let's call it “a bit steep.” Or the single accessible room I encountered that the door was somewhat narrow.
So, while they’ve made a good effort (and honestly, it’s better than some other places I’ve stayed), there's definitely room for significant improvement.
Restaurant and Lounges (Fueling the Adventure!)
- On-site accessible restaurants / lounges I'm going to give a hearty "Yep!" and say…mostly.
Dining, drinking, and snacking: So, let's get down to the nitty-gritty: the food! They've got a few options.
Restaurants There are several restaurants to choose from!
Poolside Bar: The poolside bar is a must. Slap on some sunscreen, take a seat, and order a cocktail.
Asian cuisine in restaurant yes!
Vegetarian restaurant Yes, which is awesome and convenient.
Breakfast They got a breakfast Buffet and breakfast [buffet], for the morning!
Coffee shop The coffee shop is an absolute lifesaver.
Room service: Need a late-night snack? 24-hour room service is your friend.
Happy hour, It is a good way to end the day.
Overall, food options.
Cleanliness and Safety: Sanitizer, Sanitizer Everywhere! (And That's a Good Thing)
Listen, considering the times we live in, cleanliness is HUGE.
- Anti-viral cleaning products: They use them!
- Rooms sanitized between stays: YES!
- Daily disinfection in common areas: Yup.
- Staff trained in safety protocol: Pretty darn sure!
For the Kids: Keeping the Little People Happy
- Family/child friendly: ABSOLUTELY!
- Babysitting service: Yup, if you need it.
- Kids facilities: Definitely some stuff for the kiddos.
The Room: My Oasis (and My Tiny Prison)
Now, let’s talk about the rooms.
- Air conditioning: Thank goodness! Florida without AC? No, thank you!
- Free Wi-Fi: Glory be!
- Bathtub: The bathtubs are nice.
- Coffee/tea maker: Essential for a caffeine addict like me.
- Desk: Useful for, you know, pretending to work.
- In-room safe box: Always a good idea.
Things to Do, Ways to Relax: Spa Day, Anyone?
Okay, the good stuff! Royal Palms is all about chilling out.
- Swimming pool: Gorgeous! The main pool is HUGE.
- Swimming pool [outdoor]: Yes!
- Spa: Oh, YES!
- Massage: I’m not going to lie, I booked a massage. The masseuse was… well, she deserves a medal.
- Sauna: I love a good heat sweat.
- Spa/sauna: They had a nice, spa/sauna package!
- Gym/fitness: For the fitness fanatics.
I spent an entire afternoon by the pool, alternating between sunbathing, reading, and periodically dunking myself to refresh. It was pure bliss. The pool staff brings around refreshing drinks, and the service is impeccable.
Services and Conveniences: The Little Things That Matter
- Concierge: Helpful!
- Daily housekeeping: My room always looked spotless.
- Laundry service: Lifesaver.
- Luggage storage: Convenient.
- Wi-Fi for special events: Good!
Getting Around:
- Airport transfer: Easy peasy!
- Car park [free of charge]: Yes! A huge plus.
- Taxi service: Always available.
The Wi-Fi Saga (Because No Review is Complete Without a Wi-Fi Rant)
Alright, let's get REAL. The Wi-Fi. It. Is. SPOTTY. Or, to put it more dramatically, it’s the bane of my existence!
Free Wi-Fi in all rooms! Yes, technically. Internet: Yes! Internet access: Yes! Internet [LAN] Don't believe it! Internet services: Well…
Yes, yes, there should be free Wi-Fi. Should. And the times it actually worked? Glorious. I could stream movies, check emails… life was good. But then, the connection would drop. Or crawl. Or just disappear entirely! I swear, I spent a good chunk of my vacation yelling at my laptop. It was a rollercoaster of frustration.
The Verdict: Is Royal Palms a Paradise? (Mostly)
Marriott's Royal Palms is a solid choice. It’s beautiful, relaxing, and offers a fantastic break from the theme park madness.
The good: The pools, the spa, the overall ambiance, the mostly-helpful staff, and the proximity to everything.
The not-so-good: The Wi-Fi, the accessibility hiccups, and the occasional feeling that you’re slightly off the beaten track (which, in a way, is part of its charm!).
My final rating? 4 out of 5 palm trees. And a silent prayer that the Wi-Fi gods will be kinder next time.
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Okay, buckle up buttercups, because this isn’t your sterile, perfectly-formatted travel itinerary. This is my actual attempt at surviving (and maybe even enjoying) a few days at Marriott's Royal Palms Orlando. Consider this less a schedule and more… a mental vomit of what might happen. And if it’s a mess, well, that's life, right?
Day 1: Arrival, Reality Checks, and Pool Panic
1:00 PM: Arrive at Orlando International (MCO). Oh. My. God. The airport is a swirling vortex of stressed families, screaming toddlers, and the faint scent of desperation. My flight was delayed, obviously. Already running late, which sets the tone for the whole damn trip. Grab the rental car (hopefully it's not the clown car I requested – a minivan. Praying to the car gods for something less… mom-mobile-y).
2:30 PM: Check-in at Royal Palms. Okay, the lobby is pretty. Picture-perfect. But the line to check-in… good lord. The lady in front of me is arguing about her room view (apparently, she demands a view of the pool with an umbrella). Remind myself: Breathe. This is vacation. Eventually, I get my key card. The room? Surprisingly spacious. And clean. Score one for Marriott.
3:30 PM: Room reconnaissance. Unpack (or shove things haphazardly into drawers. Who has time to fold?). Scope out the balcony. Okay, the view is NOT the pool with the umbrella, more like a… parking lot with some landscaping. Sigh.
4:00 PM: POOL TIME! This is the part I was most looking forward to, the escape from life. But… the pool is packed. Like, sardine-in-a-can packed. Kids are screaming, inflatable swans are battling, and the only available chair is next to a screaming kid who's lost his/her ice cream… I find a shady spot, but immediately battle it out with the shadow - is the sun ever going to hit my face and give the perfect tan I need?
5:30 PM: Give up on the pool. Head back to the room, feeling slightly defeated. Order a mediocre pizza from room service. The pizza is awful.
7:00 PM: Contemplate going to the hotel restaurant (which boasts a, wait for it, American Cuisine) but the thought of more… people… is overwhelming. Opt for a bag of chips and Netflix. My inner introvert sighs in relief.
Day 2: The Disney Delusion (and the inevitable meltdown)
8:00 AM: Wake up. The alarm didn’t go off. Of course. Grumble, grumble. Attempt a quick breakfast in the room. The coffee is weak. This is a bad omen.
9:00 AM: Head to Disney World (sigh). I told myself this was a good idea. I promised myself I'd embrace the magic. Now, I'm stuck in a parking lot the size of a small state, surrounded by sweaty, grumpy tourists.
9:30 AM - 4:00 PM: Disneyland. Okay. I tried. I really did. The lines? Abysmal. The crowds? Like being crammed into a giant, sweaty hug. The heat? Unbearable. The sheer amount of stuff to see and do is overwhelming. I spent a fortune on a Mickey Mouse shaped pretzel. I got stuck on a ride with a shrieking animatronic parrot. I lost my temper. I nearly lost my cool. I saw a dad screaming at his son who was having a meltdown. Do I also have a meltdown? Yes.
4:00 PM: Escape Disney World. I emerge, blinking and shell-shocked, into the afternoon sun. My optimism is completely shattered. I need a stiff drink, a quiet room, and a very long nap.
6:00 PM: Back at the hotel. Order a strong cocktail by the pool. It tastes extra good. Watch everybody still in the pool, smiling. I get a pang of envy, the pool looks fun.
7:30 PM: The hotel restaurant. This time, I brave it. Food is actually not completely horrible! (Still American cuisine). See a family trying, unsuccessfully, to get their toddler to eat broccoli. Sympathize. Realize I'm not the only one surviving the insanity.
Day 3: Recovery and Reflections (and maybe, just maybe, a little bit of joy)
9:00 AM: Sleep. Glorious, uninterrupted sleep. Wake up feeling (slightly) less like a zombie.
10:00 AM: Pool time! The crowds seem to have thinned out. I find a decent chair, apply sunscreen, and actually… relax. Read a book. Watch the clouds drift by. The sun is hitting my face.
12:00 PM: Lunch. The hotel restaurant again. Salads. I feel human. Or, at least, human-adjacent.
1:30 PM: I go to the arcade. I remember wanting to go to the arcade when I was a kid. I play all the games. The prizes are awful.
3:00 PM: The spa. I get a massage! It feels amazing. I feel all the stress melting away, but it's quickly replaced with the sad realization that I'm going home tomorrow
5:00 PM: Pack. Try to shove everything back into my suitcase. Fail. Accept the fact that I'll probably need to buy a new one.
6:00 PM: One last drink at the pool bar. Watch the sunset. The sky is beautiful. Think about how you felt yesterday, in the park, and how you felt today.
7:30 PM: Dinner. Find a local restaurant. It's not fancy, but it's good. And the service isn't strained. Chat to the waiter. He's seen worse. He says there's always a meltdown or two.
Day 4: Departure… and the lingering scent of chlorine
8:00 AM: Wake up. The alarm, thankfully, goes off this time.
9:00 AM: Check out. The line is manageable. Success!
9:30 AM: Head back to MCO. Wish I had brought more food for the airport.
10:00 AM: The airport. Chaos. But… I survived. I actually survived Orlando.
1:00 PM: Home. Collapse on the couch, smelling faintly of chlorine and slightly burnt sunscreen.
And Now? The most important question: Would I do it again? Knowing what I know, probably. Next time, though, I am bringing a therapist. And maybe a better suitcase. And definitely more snacks.
Marriott's Royal Palms: Paradise? Maybe… Let's Get Messy!
Okay, so what *is* this place, really, at a glance? Forget the brochure.
Alright, alright, Royal Palms. Think… kind of like a really nice, sprawling, very green apartment complex that *just happens* to be smack-dab in the middle of Disney World's orbit. You get a villa – think two bedrooms, a kitchen you could actually live in (unlike those hotel "kitchenettes"), and a balcony. It’s got all the Marriott bells and whistles; pool, bar, all that jazz. But the *real* secret sauce? It feels… home-y. Not sterile-hotel-y. At least, that's the *hope*. (More on that later, trust me.)
Is it ACTUALLY a "hidden gem" or just another timeshare grind? Spill the tea, friend!
Okay, here’s the deal. *Hidden* gem? No. Not exactly. It's a well-known, sought-after timeshare. Now, the "grind" part… that depends on you. Yeah, there's a sales pitch if you take the "tour" (which, let me tell you, is VERY tempting when you're tired and the free breakfast smells AMAZING). But if you go in knowing that's the deal, you can usually politely decline and still enjoy the heck out of the place. If you avoid the tour altogether? Bliss. Pure, unadulterated bliss. *Mostly.*
The Villas… what's the actual living situation like? I'm picturing a cramped motel, am I wrong?
WRONG. Mostly. Okay, look, the rooms are *nicer* than a Motel 6, obviously. But seriously, the villas are *spacious*. My first thought when I walked into ours? "Whoa, I could LIVE here." Seriously. A fully equipped kitchen? Check. Two bathrooms (thank GOD)? Check. That balcony I mentioned? Perfect for morning coffee and plotting world domination… or just avoiding the screaming kids by the pool for five glorious minutes. BUT, and this is a big BUT, some units feel a *little* dated. The decor isn't exactly cutting-edge. Think… comfort. Neutral comfort. And maybe the shower pressure is a little "meh." Minor quibbles, though, in the grand scheme of things.
The Pool scene! Is it the screaming-kid-hellscape I dread, or actually relaxing?
Okay, the pool. This is where things get… complicated. See, it's *gorgeous*. Tropical vibes, a cool little bar, plenty of loungers (usually). BUT, and I'm gonna say it again, it *is* Orlando. And Orlando = kids. Now, I love kids. Really, I do. But sometimes, after a long day at the parks, all you want is a little peace and quiet. This isn't always guaranteed. There are definitely moments of screaming, splashing, and inflatable-toy wars. But, the pool is so well designed, so big, that it usually absorbed this chaos and I could even find a spot where I could just... chill. That is until some kids almost drowned in the pool and the lifeguard got them out and the whole scene was pretty much ruined by this incident.
Dining? Is it just overpriced burgers, or are there actually decent options?
The on-site dining is decent, at least for hotel food. There's a bar that serves pub grub. Think: burgers, quesadillas, fries… the usual. Not exactly gourmet, but perfectly acceptable after a day of theme park madness. The real win? That full kitchen in your villa! Stock up at a local grocery store (Publix is your friend), and you can save a *ton* of money on meals. Plus, hello, late-night pizza in your pajamas! I love how it's close to everything, so close to the parks but far away from the chaos.
Okay, you mentioned the location being near Disney. How close are we really talking, and is it easy to get there?
Oh, the location is GOLDEN. Legitimately, you're practically *on* Disney property. You can see the fireworks from some of the villas (a serious bonus). The shuttle service is… okay. It gets you there. It gets you back. But be prepared for some waits. It also means that you're within easy driving distance to all the parks. Parking is *expensive* at the parks, though, so factor that in. Uber/Lyft are readily available and often a good option if you have a larger group or want to avoid the shuttle shuffle.
Anything I should REALLY be aware of before booking? Like, hidden fees or sketchy stuff?
Okay, here's the lowdown. Timeshares, right? So, there's usually a resort fee. It’s not *hidden* exactly, more like… subtly implied. Check the fine print. It’s a common practice. And, um… be prepared for the aforementioned sales pitch. They’ll promise you the world (free breakfast! Discounted park tickets!). Just be firm. You can do the tour and just say no. They’ll get the point eventually. The biggest thing? Manage your expectations. It's not a 5-star resort, but it's comfortable, convenient, and generally a great value. And if you happen to get a good deal... SCORE! It's a real money saver.
Would you actually recommend Marriott's Royal Palms, or are you just saying nice things for the sake of it? Come on, be honest!
Okay, fine. HONESTY TIME. Would I recommend it? YES. With some caveats. If you want a SUPER luxurious, ultra-pampering experience, go somewhere else. But if you want a comfortable, spacious, convenient base for your Orlando adventures, Royal Palms is a solid choice. ESPECIALLY if you’re traveling with a family. The extra space alone is worth it. And having that kitchen? Game changer. It's not perfect, sure, but it’s got a charm and convenience that I've found makes me want to come back. It's a win, in my book. Just… be prepared to dodge a few screaming kids and armed with your own snacks. You'll thank me later. And maybe bring some earplugs. Just in case.
So, what about the staff? Are they helpful or just trying to sell me something?
Ah, the staff. The staff is, generally, very friendly and helpful. They are definitely trained. But, yeah, they're also trying to sell you something. Okay, the front desk is always friendly, really nice staff, very helpful. But the concierges are a different ball game. They'Hotel Hop Now
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