Parks: For the parks, the Hilton/Waldorf run a substantial shuttle bus system (see below). If you ar

The Hilton alaska cruise holland america Waldorf Bonnet Creek complex is the un-Disney experience. While there is a small Disney store inside, you will not see Mickey Mouse anywhere else. If you are an adult looking for a bit of peace away from Disney for some time, this complex will give it to you. Though do note that it is a huge complex with either lots of families during the holidays or huge convention groups many other times.
The Hilton has approximately 1,000 rooms and the Waldorf has around 500. The 1,500 room complex would rank among the largest 100 in the world. It would be a bit bigger than the Grand Hyatt in New York City to put it in perspective. The conference alaska cruise holland america center that joins the Hilton to the Waldorf is about 250,000 square feet. Note that the 70-acre Bonnet Creek Resort alaska cruise holland america area also includes a 1,100-room Wyndham timeshare resort and a ~500-room Wyndham Hotel, but I don t know if there is any connection between the Wyndhams alaska cruise holland america and the Hilton/Waldorf.
If you are a HHonors Diamond member alaska cruise holland america and staying during a non-busy week, the Waldorf may be worth it (especially if you are comparing them on points since then the WA is only 25% more) since there would be a reasonable chance to get upgraded to a 1 bedroom suite. Otherwise, most people would be better off saving their money/points alaska cruise holland america and booking in the Hilton. Of course the WA is more elegant and refined, but they are both brand new and Hilton guests have substantial access to the WA amenities. Note that the hotels are connected indoors via the conference center. From pretty much the most extreme points alaska cruise holland america in the two hotels (a room on a high floor in bthe Hilton to the Gym in the Waldorf, it was about a 9 minute walk for me. I am somewhat fit, but was carrying a baby, so I would give a reasonably conservative estimate of 10 minutes for the average stroll between the properties. I certainly ran it a few times (those long straight corridors in the conference center scream out for racing) as well. You can also walk between them outdoors alaska cruise holland america and the hotel says that a circular sidewalk encompassing both properties is about 1 mile to give you some perspective.
Pools: The best pool for familes is located at the Hilton. It has a lazy river and water slide and is large. The WA has a smaller pool area that may be quieter. The Hilton pool specifically says it is for both Hilton and Waldorf guests. The Waldorf pool does say something about Waldorf guests and doesn t mention Hilton guests either way. It is not clear what the actual rule is, but the WA doesn t seem to complain about a Hilton guest using their pool
Fitness Centers: Each hotel has its own fitness center. The WA fitness center is significantly nicer. It is about twice the size (with the WA halving half as many rooms). The Hilton center is a 24-hour key access facility. It is basically at the highest end of 24-hour hotel fitness centers. The WA fitness center is maybe the nicest free hotel gym I have seen. They also have some extra amenities such as cucumber water (often empty), towels at each machine (some days), bottle of water at each machine (some days), bottles of water in the fridge (usually empty) and apples. The WA fitness center is accessed via the Spa with a sign in. It is not clear if Hilton guests are allowed though I interpreted the resort amenities card I got when I checked in at the Hilton to include it. I never had any issues signing into the WA fitness center with my Hilton room number (there may be a WA room wit the same number, I am not sure).
Rooms: See below for pictures, but a regular King room is pretty similar between the hotels. The WA may be a bit fancier, but in no way that matters. The size felt very similar. Of course, if you get the suite at the Waldorf, that is a whole different story.
In net, if you are the typical family alaska cruise holland america and won t be getting a suite upgrade, stay at the Hilton. If money is no object, are not bringing kids and like things quieter and more refined, alaska cruise holland america stay at the Waldorf.
Hilton charges $22/night as a resort fee on top of your room rate. Currently, the resort fee is included when you pay with points, however that wasn t the case in the past and they mentioned this was a bit of an emerging thing so re-check for yourself. Note that the Hilton alaska cruise holland america accidentally added the resort charge to my bill, but removed it without question as always, check you bill!
Access to the Waldorf Astoria Golf club practice facility (driving and putting alaska cruise holland america range) and complimentary equipmentrentals (they even let some little kids visiting us play on the putting green for a bit.)
The Waldorf Astoria Orlando has a $25/night resort fee on top of the room rate, but also waives it for people paying with points. alaska cruise holland america I believe the WA inclusions are similar, but I didn t look at their card.
The coupons only cover the cold items such as bagels, scones, bananas, oranges, apples, cut pineapple, cut other fruit, mini pickles, sliced tomatoes, onions, hard boiled eggs, some type of good olive garlic dish, various cold cereals and some things I am forgetting
If you want hot items, alaska cruise holland america it is a $6 up-charge on the Diamond certificates (the difference between the $16 continental and $22 full breakfast). Hot items include made-to-order omelets (note that there can be a line), pancakes, sausages, bacon, scrambled eggs, potatoes, waffles, and another thing or two I am forgetting. Other than the made-to-order omelets, the hot items aren t very good. Think the free bulk hot buffet items you get at a Hampton.
You can also use the coupons at the coffee shop. The coffee shop says 2 items but the certificate says you should get the menu price of the continental breakfast ($16) toward other breakfast items, so YMMV. The coffee shop is mostly pastries with one breakfast sandwich option.
Personally, I think they are being a little alaska cruise holland america stingy not just giving the full breakfast to Diamonds, especially given that the hotel seems to never give suite upgrades alaska cruise holland america and there is no executive club, but no big deal.
The Hilton Bonnet Creek / Waldorf Astoria Orlando alaska cruise holland america hotels will nickle and dime you on certain alaska cruise holland america things. These aren t really enough alaska cruise holland america to avoid the hotels since they can usually be handled, but management should really alaska cruise holland america reconsider some of these.
if you get a package delivered to the hotel over 1.1 lbs, they will charge you a handling fee based on its weight. They will charge even more if it is delivered to the room. They claim this is due to the complex primarily being a conference center and having two FedEx stores onsite. That is fine, but if you have a room and aren t hosting a conference, alaska cruise holland america why should you have to deal with this when most every hotel I have ever stayed alaska cruise holland america at accept packages. I am constantly leveraging my Amazon Prime membership to have things I need shipped right to the hotel (sunscreen, a hat I forgot to buy for my daughter, etc.).
A bike rental is $15/hour. That is right per hour , not per day. Yes, a bike, not a car (no motor at all). And these are nondescript beach cruisers we are talking about. alaska cruise holland america I would guess we are talking $300 retail at the local bike shop. Oh, the fond memories of SPG s Phoenician that includes free use of bicycles. If you are going to use the bike for more than a few hours, give your money to the airline instead and BYOB or check out Craigslist Orlando to buy a used cruiser for a few hours of rental. You can donate alaska cruise holland america it to your favorite hotel staffer on your way out and still be ahead. Oh wait, there is no where to go on the bike anyone, so scratch all that. The roads around Disney are very pedestrian and bicycle unfriendly.
For the day, you can park for free at Downtown Disney alaska cruise holland america and take the Hilton/Waldorf Shuttle back to the hotel (see shuttles below), but I assume alaska cruise holland america you can t park there overnight (feel free to check for yourself though).
Airport: From the airport, we used the Mears Shuttle which is about $22 per person (50% discount alaska cruise holland america available to travel agents), free for infants. Cab estimates ranged from $50-75, so the shuttle makes sense for 2 people but by 3, I would go for a cab. The local bus route appeared to be difficult to get to the Disney area from the airport (seemed like multiple connections), but if any reader had sucess using the Lynx busses, please comment below.
Parks: For the parks, the Hilton/Waldorf run a substantial shuttle bus system (see below). If you are looking to go to non-Disney parks, or anywhere else, you will pretty much need to have a rental car or take a cab. Disney is very anti-walking outside alaska cruise holland america its pre-determined areas. To get from the road that services the Hilton/Waldorf (and Wyndham) you have to get on Lake Buena Vista Drive which has no sidewalk anywhere near the hotel. We did walk one-way alaska cruise holland america from the hotel to Downtown Disney. It took less than an hour, but involved some time hugging alaska cruise holland america a tight shoulder over a bridge, jumping over a sewer ditch and other fun stuff. Certainly alaska cruise holland america don t expect crosswalks or anything else pedestrian friendly. Personally, I would probably choose to walk it if I didn t have children with me and it was the middle of the day. Way too dangerous to do in the dark or to subject kids to. Also, various alaska cruise holland america people around have said that Disney security will collect you from the roadside. Upside: you can get a free ride. Downside: private police forces are always a downside.
There is a Hertz Local Edition at the Hilton Bonnet Creek. Note that is a one man shop, but has wonderful service. I arrived by shuttle and used the free shuttles to get around, but needed a car at check out to drive to my mother in law s house near West Palm Beach after our Orlando trip. There were two of us plus an infant, so the rental ended up being cheaper than the bus services that do that route, but consider looking at both options. Since there was Hertz in the hotel, that meant that I didn t need to cab to the car rental location making any additional cost for Hertz irrelevant. I also have access to a corporate rate at Hertz which made it a no brainier. Hertz seems to keep a separate set of cars for one-way rentals and the car t