Orlando fun

Our first trip to Orlando as a family a few years ago found us delighted to stay in this beautiful and luxurious resort. The unit we were assigned was actually two units - a full one-bedroom with a full kitchen/living room and dining room, plus a studio with a full bath and a mini-kitchen adjoined by a connecting door. The entire unit was huge and absolutely gorgeous, with a porch off both bedrooms and the living room, nighttime views of the lights at Sea World, and clean baths with a large Jacuzzi tub.

The grounds were impeccable, with occasional encounters with shore birds near the unit or pool, a pool that is to die for, and large reception areas. We would definitely stay here again; it feels so luxe.

We had heard mixed reviews and were quite anxious going in. However, our stay here a couple of years ago was delightful! We must have been in one of the newer areas, as we saw nothing of the complaints some had. Our unit was large, laid out well, and clean. Our view overlooking a pond was great, and we could see one of the many pools from our porch.

We spent a lot of time at the pool and were thrilled to see the fireworks from Disney in the distance at night as we swam. Many of the nightly poolside activities were canceled due to the many thunderstorms that rolled through, a major bummer in this area in late summer, but not the fault of the resort. My husband and son greatly enjoyed the bicycle for two they rented to ride around the resort, and the many pools and the on-site restaurants make this a great family resort.

Best Things Nearby:
There is easy access to theme parks at Disney and Universal.

Best Things About the Resort:
The resort was roomy, there was easy access to the theme parks, and there had nice pools.

Resort Experience:
They had very roomy units, with all the amenities needed for a family; however, the furnishings could definitely be updates. We were near the back of the resort, near new construction, which was not a bother.

The layout of the unit is good, but the bedspreads and blankets seemed old and somewhat stained - I would not let my child lay on the bedspread to watch TV. The furniture is a bit rundown.

The lake is okay- don't be pulled in by the climbing area you have to pay to get your child or yourself into, only the small and lithest of climbers will have any success actually climbing these, and it will annoy and frustrate many adults and preteens. The pools are very nice and open late, making it a nice place to cool down after a day at the theme parks, but watch out for the mosquitoes and yellow flies, especially in the smaller pools - they will eat you alive.

• Unit Type: 2 Bedroom
• Activities: Fair
• Amenities: Fair
• Unit Satisfaction: Fair
• Family Friendliness: Good
• Service: Fair

Oh My God, do NOT miss this absolutely fun restaurant! There are frequently long waits for the tables inside, but opt to sit on the outside deck and you are frequently seated in minutes at a table with a view of the Citywalk and possibly of the fireworks dispay during the closing of Universal Studios for the night.

The food is great, though a bit spicy for some tastes, and the atmosphere is fun and enjoyable for all ages. Often you will find balloon artists on stilts, live music on the deck, and the wait staff to match the enjoyable surroundings. Stop by the Margaritaville shop on your way out.

We ate here again for my husband's birthday while on vacation, and it was more wonderful than ever. Our waiter was extraordinary: very attentive and informative. Our seats next to the huge aquarium wall were beyond comparison, made especially delightful when Mickey himself appeared in scuba gear to feed the fish and wave to the diners who giggled with wonder and joy. Even the adults were charmed when Mickey signalled "I Love You" to the children nearby, and though our quiet table suddenly became more crowded as many flocked close to see Mickey, it was not unenjoyable.

The food is beautifully presented, wonderfully prepared, and the desserts are dreamy. Mention that you are celebrating a bithday or anniversary, and the birthday boy may get a free dessert! This is one spot in the theme park worth the money.

The magic of Disney is waning - the attractions have not been updated in years, and you will soon realize you have seen it all too many times. Lines remain long for the best attractions, and the FastPass works for some but is not so great for others. It can be very hot and very crowded, and it continues to be very expensive. Forget most of the dinner buffets at night in the summertime - you can walk from one to the other only to find that the good ones are all booked for the whole night. Disney is in serious need of some major overhauls and new ideas or it is in danger of losing many to newer and more family-friendly attractions.

We toured the main areas of the space center and skipped the bus tours due to time constraints. It is difficult to choose one over the other to do in a single day, but we were given the option of a second day for free, which is a great budget saver if you have the time. Plan for 2 days here for any space enthusiast: the memorial wall to lost astronauts will take time to reflect on, the rocket garden is fun, and the other history and exhibits are well-done. There is, of course, the usual shop on site, and it is pretty large, but it needs more staff.

Getting to the space center is not a bad drive from Orlando, but directions into the center get a bit difficult to discern as you get close and you may lose tour time riding in circles. There are a couple of opportunities for a sit-down talk with an astronaut, though frequently a lesser known one, and it is usually during the day, with limited time for questions and pictures, but this is a HUGE hit for any true space enthusiast. It would probably be worth the time and money to opt for the lunch with an astronaut on our next trip. I will probably have to leave my space-crazy husband there for a few days.