Orlando World Center Marriott Resort & Convention Center

Orlando World Center Marriott Resort & Convention Center - Part 2: Dining and Accommodations

Pages:

1 2
Slideshow | Lightbox (101) Tags: florida hotels orlando resorts usa Posted: May 10, 2010 by Shekn

Orlando World Center Marriott Resort and Convention Center - layout
and floor plan

Let's now move on to things that are closer to more practical issues related to any traveling - food and accommodations. The most important observation in these areas is that Orlando World Center Marriott is self-sufficient in almost any life-related aspect. I mean literally, everything you may practically want or need during your several days of staying at this place can be found without leaving it.

Indeed, for food - with ten Orlando World Center Marriott restaurants, lounges and bars, serving everything from pasta, pizza and burgers to sashimi and USDA certified steaks, the choices are plentiful. What also good is that Center's management tries to offer a variety of specialty cuisine for different tastes in different environments. As far as entertainment is concerned, vast pool side areas with pool itself, excellent golf course, facilities for children activities, can certainly keep you and your family busy for several days.

As I mentioned in the first installment of my article, one of the factors that may have an impact on your staying at World Center is its size and, because of this, tendency to "assembly-line" approach to the service at the hotel. In my view, accommodations and related services are most affected by this circumstances. For example, guest rooms themselves are cookie-cut creations with low ceilings to accommodate as many guests as possible at a square foot of hotel's living space. You may find that at times room housekeeping is not what you would expect from the four-start hotel. Do not expect to find something that feels like your bedroom rather than a hotel room.

But do not get me wrong - guest rooms have everything you need to make your staying a good experience. Perhaps, I can mention only one area where hotel owners and management can do better - Internet access. I would expect to have it free at a place like this. Instead, three options are offered (from $15 to $17 - prices 2010) for high-speed access. Interestingly, two of these options include one liter of Evian water in room (and believe me, bottled water is at premium at this place) and one of the options - complimentary self-parking.

Before letting you enjoy our photo gallery, I would like to make some comments on several dining facilities. Personally, I found Hawk’s Landing Steakhouse & Grille the best at the World Center. It offers a straightforward American cuisine with char grilled USDA prime steaks with good cuts of Harris Ranch prime dry-aged beef. At this place they know what they do, and they do it well. I wish the restaurant offering meat had more extensive offering of good red wines; on the other hand we found that the restaurant management is more than happy to serve wines from another hotel's restaurant, Ristorante Tuscany.

We liked less two other main hotel restaurants, just mentioned Ristorante Tuscany and Mikado Japanese Steak House. Both are meant to offer authentic cuisine of respective regions. But that authenticity, as often the case in the U.S., sometimes lets them down. From that point of view, Ristorante Tuscany may be especially questionable. Some dishes were good, for example, Farfalle all’ aragosta ($34 - price 2010) and Bistecca alla fiorentina (22oz T-bone, $44 - prices 2010 - as we learnt from the same supplier as Hawk’s Landing Steakhouse). Whereas Risotto con porcini ($26 - prices 2010) was simply horrible; any restaurant somewhere like in Milan, Italy, would be out of business offering risotto like this.

As a good place, I would like to mention Solaris Restaurant where you can have breakfast and lunch (it is closed after 4pm). This place, with its typical American cuisine (you see what I mean?), offers a very good value. Excellent quick and friendly service at reasonable prices with quality food - sandwiches, salads and (limited) choice of entrees - what else you need during the day! And if it happens you want a traditional Margarita - they will serve it as well.

Finally (although the list of places where you can eat or drink at World Center Marriott does not stop here), I would like to mention High Velocity - a sport bar with its almost 30 TVs all over the place (with NFL Sunday Ticket, NBA Basketball, NHL Hockey, Major League Baseball etc.). This is the place at World Center where most people come to hang around and drink. With simple offerings on their menu and with pouring ten varieties of beer on tap (as well as other alcoholic drinks) - what else do need for an evening and night?

Orlando World Center Marriott - Dining

Entrance to Ristorante Tuscany - one of several restaurants at Orlando World Center Marriott Resort and Convention Center. I could never understand why part of its name is an Italian word but the second word is in English.	Ristorante Tuscany (Orlando World Center Marriott Resort and Convention Center) has many tables right in the hotel lobby area.	Inside Ristorante Tuscany (Orlando World Center Marriott). This unique and picturesque mosaic table is in the middle of the restaurant's dining area.	An example of light fixture in Ristorante Tuscany (Orlando World Center Marriott) - quite an Italian style.
Some walls in Ristorante Tuscany (Orlando World Center Marriott) are painted with simulated bricks to add some character to the environment.	Typical scene and table arrangement at Ristorante Tuscany (Orlando World Center Marriott). Judge for yourself how Italian it is. As far as food is concerned, it is uneven - some dishes are good, some not. Cuisine itself is Italian-American. Primi are between $22 - $30, secondi - between $30 and $40. Wine list is not very extensive but offers some decent wine like Ceretti Barbareso 2005 at about $100 (all prices are 2010).	Another photo illustrating ambiance at Ristorante Tuscany (Orlando World Center Marriott).	Entrance to Solaris Restaurant at Orlando World Center. Open for breakfast and lunch (6:30am - 4:00pm), Solaris offers typical American homestyle cooking. Sandwiches and Salads are around $15, entrees are between $20 and $30.
Inside Solaris Restaurant at Orlando World Center Marriott.	Solaris Restaurant (Orlando World Center Marriott) has a bar where you can find Margaritas, Mojitos and many other things.	At night - entrance to Hawk's Landing Steakhouse & Grille at Orlando World Center Marriott Resort and Convention Center	Same entrance to Hawk's Landing Steakhouse & Grille (Orlando World Center Marriott) during daytime. This restaurant is located in an outbuilding overlooking golf course.
Interior design in Hawk's Landing Steakhouse & Grille (Orlando World Center Marriott) is rather eclectic. This hallway is conservative, but you will see that main dining area is more contemporary.	Reception desk at Hawk's Landing Steakhouse & Grille (Orlando World Center Marriott). The steakhouse offers the cuts of Harris Ranch prime dry-aged beef and fresh local seafood. I did not find its wine list particularly appealing, but I was pleasantly surprised by staff willingness to serve wine from Ristorante Tuscany wine list.	Decor at Hawk's Landing Steakhouse & Grille (Orlando World Center Marriott). The dominant lines and shapes are contemporary with rather subdued colors.	Table arrangements at Hawk's Landing Steakhouse & Grille (Orlando World Center Marriott). Again, contemporary theme dominates the decor.
Bar at Hawk's Landing Steakhouse & Grille (Orlando World Center Marriott). It is located in a separate area with all usual for an Orlando resort hotel stuff.	The layout of the dining area at Hawk's Landing Steakhouse & Grille (Orlando World Center Marriott) allows to see its kitchen. It certainly adds to the atmosphere, and good ventilation system keeps most of kitchen smells from the dining area. Prices are mostly the same as in other hotel' restaurants; however, steak dishes can be more expensive. For example, 20 oz dry-aged bone-in New York Strip is $58 (2010 price).	Outside veranda at Hawk's Landing Steakhouse & Grille (Orlando World Center Marriott).	Hawk's Landing Steakhouse & Grille (Orlando World Center Marriott) is overlooking the golf course. If you sitting on restaurant's veranda you can view the action.
The World Center Orlando Golf Resort is par 71, 6,600+ yards, slope rating 131 architected by Robert E. Cupp Jr. Resort offers various "Stay & Play" golf packages. Kids 15 years and under play golf free.	The World Center Orlando Golf Resort can host golf events gold classes at the Bill Madonna Golf Academy.	Interiors of yet another restaurant, High Velocity, at Orlando World Center Marriott Resort and Convention Center. Actually, the official name of this establishment is High Velocity Sports Bar open daily from 4:00pm to 1:30am. This is a popular place among Orlando World Center visitors especially their adult part. I would not recommend this place for kids - strangely, children's menu is offered as well.	Bar area in High Velocity Sports Bar (Orlando World Center Marriott) is attraction for many sport bar aficionados. It is a place to meet new people and drink. As far as drinks are concerned - there is nothing special that High Velocity can offer - rather poor choice of wines and mostly vodka based cocktails. A lot of vodka is drunk here.
Dining area in High Velocity Sports Bar (Orlando World Center Marriott) is rather funky. It is divided all in various spaces and corners, also at different levels. Decor is very basic and contemporary. Food menu is also limited and not expensive (mostly sandwiches and burgers). I think 20 dollars is the most expensive dish which helps make sure that patrons do not drink on empty stomach.	Orlando World Center Marriott Food Court - opened daily from 7:00am to sunset. The food court offers brick-oven pizzas, burgers, fresh salads, subs, beverages and ice cream. It is self-service - you pay for what you want to eat and wait and pickup your food when it is ready.	Food Court (Orlando World Center Marriott) is convenient and very affordable. For example, small pepperoni pizza is $7.50, large - $12, various chicken sandwiches are $6.75. Bottled water is at premium with prices almost two times more than the same amount of coke.	Food Court (Orlando World Center Marriott) decor is very simple and functional. Gators are one the favorite themes here.

Orlando World Center Marriott - Children Activity Center

I think the official name for this space at Orlando World Center Marriott is Children Activity Center. It is located in West Tower first floor.

Kids enjoy many games available at Activity Center (Orlando World Center Marriott). Among the games offered are Guitar Hero, Ghost Squad, various car racing games.

NASCAR auto racing at Activity Center (Orlando World Center Marriott).

Orlando World Center Marriott - Accommodations

Accommodation premises and quarters at Orlando World Center Marriott Resort and Convention Center are less glamourous than everything else. Here is a typical elevator hall at the hotel.	Long and boring hallways and corridors are another example of the architectural style related to accommodations at Marriott World Center Orlando Hotel. The hotel is huge - about 2000 rooms. Is there any way to make this huge hotel less impersonal - I do not know. Anyway, one area of improvement is to maintain and clean better all premises.	Typical guest room at Marriott World Center Orlando Hotel. Room prices depend on view - "pool view" is considered better and is offered at $210 where as "resourt view" regular price is $190 (prices 2010).	Guest rooms at Marriott World Center Orlando Hotel are equipped with everything necessary for you to stay as long as you need. But it seems that for a US resort hotel they are rather small - 425 sq. ft or 38 sq.m. Ceilings are low by any standards including the ones used in 1986, the year when the hotel was built.
Marriott World Center Orlando Hotel was renovated in 2003 and probably needs another one (as of 2010). There are many things that point to poor maintenance (dirty spots on walls, stained carpets). Generally speaking there is a big disconnect between the grandeur of the Orlando World Center Marriott Resort and Convention Center main premises and modest living quarters.	Furniture and furnishings in guest rooms at Marriott World Center Orlando Hotel include sofa, chair, alarm clock, safe (see picture), coffee maker, desk, iron and ironing board, hairdryer. High speed wireless and wired Internet are available for a fee of about $17. The closet is very small as you can see.	On the home page of Marriott World Center Orlando Hotel Web site, you will see a nice flat screen TV. Well, reality can be a bit different as this photo shows. Entertainment offered is similar to what you can find in many hotels - all major channels including some premium movie channels, pay-per-view.	Guest rooms at Marriott World Center Orlando Hotel have mini-bars. That's the tray with snacks - judge for yourself if the selection is good. Prices for mini-bar are very high as in most hotels. Bottled water is always at premium in Marriott World Center.
Typical guest room at Marriott World Center Orlando Hotel - ice bucket with glasses on a small console table.	Typical guest room at Marriott World Center Orlando Hotel - nightstand with alarm clock.	Typical guest room at Marriott World Center Orlando Hotel - view on the room hall way and entrance.	Typical guest room at Marriott World Center Orlando Hotel - inside bathroom. Bathroom is rather spacious.
Typical guest room at Marriott World Center Orlando Hotel - bathtub inside bathroom.	Typical guest room at Marriott World Center Orlando Hotel - "Spartan" simplicity in bathroom is similar to the one found in the whole guest room.	Toiletries in Marriott World Center Orlando Hotel. By the way, this hotel is a "green" one; towels are not changed unless you specifically request so by throwing them on the bathroom floor. Not without sarcasm I should mention that perhaps hotel's infatuation with "green" resulted in rather poor cleanliness of rooms.	To the best of my knowledge, all guest rooms at Marriott World Center Orlando Hotel have balconies. They are not as large as one might think reading hotel's marketing brochures about "oversized" balconies or patios in "most" rooms. This guest room (located in South Tower) has a view on a golf course and Hawk's Landing restaurant.
Guest room balcony at Marriott World Center Orlando Hotel.