We stayed at SpringHill Suites, Marriott Village Buena Vista for three weeks, booked through Virgin Atlantic, and overall had a really positive experience.
The rooms are clean, comfortable, and very spacious, with a small kitchenette. There’s no kettle, but there are coffee-making facilities and we were able to make tea using those. The room also comes with an iron and hairdryer, and was more than adequate for a longer stay.
The staff were friendly throughout, and the breakfast team deserve special mention. A lovely Spanish lady called Delia was the absolute highlight of our mornings, always greeting everyone with the biggest, warmest smile. She is a true asset to the hotel. Breakfast itself offers a good mix of hot and cold food, plenty of drink options (including chocolate milk), and the Mickey Mouse waffles were a big hit with the children. Do arrive early though, as it gets very busy.
The location is excellent and very central. We found it cheaper and easier to use Uber and Lyft, as nothing is too far away. There’s a Golden Corral nearby, plus Applebee’s, Chick-fil-A, and lots of fast-food options. The Vineland Outlets are walkable and highly recommended. The Disney Store there is far cheaper than in the parks, well worth the queue for souvenirs.
A lovely little touch for families: if children ask reception if there’s anything for them to do, they’re given a fun scavenger hunt around the village, with a prize at the end from the shop. It’s a brilliant idea and kept the kids entertained.
You can use the facilities and pools across all the hotels in the village, including an indoor pool and hot tub, which is a great bonus. Download Uber Eats too, it’s incredibly handy for late-night essentials like headache tablets or aftersun, with no minimum order and lots of choice.
The only real downside was the shuttle system. Booking was confusing, the times didn’t match the printed sheet, and you must make sure you book under “Marriott Village” rather than “SpringHill”. You do need to show proof of booking, so keep it handy. Once we got used to it, it was fine, but it could be much clearer. It’s also a shame there are no shuttles to Universal or SeaWorld, as they’re not far and it would make this an even more convenient hotel for families.
The on-site shop and food court are expensive, so I’d recommend popping to Dollar Tree for snacks, it’s far cheaper, even compared to Walmart.
This was my seventh trip to Orlando, and a few extra tips: always look for coupons before visiting attractions, WonderWorks was brilliant, Ripley’s Believe It or Not was disappointing this year, and Celebration and Old Town Kissimmee are always worth a visit, especially at Christmas.
A great hotel, particularly for families, with space, comfort, and a brilliant location.
