Orlando World Center Marriott

Orlando World Center Marriott is a gargantuan conference chain hotel spread out over 28 floors and four connected towers. Guests enter into the East Tower, which feels a bit like an airport or a shopping mall due to its sheer size. Atrium skylights let in a ton of natural light. A mix of recessed lighting and suspended lanterns hang from partial ceilings, and blue and turquoise wall art adds color and light to the otherwise neutral decor scheme. At the center of the lobby sits a huge globe sculpture, and banks of elevators lead up to guest rooms. There's a ton of signage throughout the hotel, absolutely necessary given its size, and the overall vibe here is impersonal and corporate. Most guests are conference attendees at the hotel for meetings and events, though the property also gets its fair share of golfers and vacationing Disney families. 

This hotel is located just north of Lake Buena Vista, right off the Interstate 4 that runs through town. It's difficult to get around without a car -- there are no restaurants or attractions within walking distance -- and the nearest strip mall is about a five-minute drive away. The hotel has its own golf club, and is within a short drive from a few others, notably the Waldorf Astoria Golf Club (10 minutes away) and Falcon's Fire, an eight-minute drive from the property. It's a 10- to 15-minute drive to the various Walt Disney theme parks and about 20 minutes to a half-hour to Universal Studios, depending on traffic and routing. The Orange County Convention Center is about 20 minutes from the hotel, as is SeaWorld. Getting to downtown Orlando takes at least 30 minutes. Factor in 20 to 30 minutes to get to the Orlando International Airport, depending on the time of day.

This hotel offers a good variety of rooms and suites, with accessible options in most categories. Rooms measure 425 square feet (38 square meters) and have 50-square-foot (five-square-meter) balconies. All have views out over the resort or the sprawling main pool area, and for a little extra cash, guests can upgrade to rooms positioned for watching the hotel's poolside laser light show, staged every evening. The hotel also offers a number of suites, all of which have sofa beds and living areas -- the largest offer two bedrooms and living rooms with dining tables. As typical with business hotels, room decor is consistent across categories. Overall, the look is bland but pleasant with tan carpets and coordinating beige walls, medium-wood furniture, soft lamp lighting, and pops of color from turquoise sofas and framed wall art. Amenities include flat-screen TVs, safes, mini-fridges, coffeemakers, and ironing facilities. Bathrooms are simple, with shower/tub combos and large granite countertops, plus hairdryers and toiletries.

This hotel offers a ton of features, mostly geared toward its primary clientele of convention attendees. There are 74 meeting and event spaces in total, including the Cypress Ballroom, which at 105,000 square feet is the largest pillar-free ballroom in the United States. There are also a few outdoor function spaces with pool or lawn views. Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel and there's a 24-hour business center along with a station for printing boarding passes in the lobby. Valet and secure garage self-parking are available, but both are expensive for the area.While meeting space is the main draw for many, recreation facilities abound here, too. The hotel offers a variety of indoor and outdoor pools. The main Falls Oasis Pool is a sprawling lagoon pool flanked by lounge chairs and palm trees, with a small kids' playroom, Activity World, off to one side. There's also a zero-entry Splash Zone for kids and a slide tower with two waterslides and a plunge area right next to it. Tucked between two wings of the West Tower is a third adult-only option, the West Terrace Spa Pool. While all of the pools are heated, there is an indoor pool for those who prefer keeping extra warm during winter months (or who just want to avoid the sun). Other recreational amenities include an 18-hole golf course, Hawk's Landing, complete with its own pro shop. The hotel's fitness center is enormous, with all sorts of cardio and weight-training equipment, four lighted tennis courts, a basketball court, and a couple of sandy volleyball courts. Next to the fitness center, the hotel's spa offers scrubs, wraps, and beauty treatments, including nail services and waxes. The spa has its own lovely shop with oils and beauty products and a few apparel and gift items. There's a larger shop in the lobby with souvenirs and snacks. For kids ages 4 to 12, the hotel offers organized activities ranging from arts and crafts to movie nights. There's also a game room, The GRID, with air hockey and all sorts of arcade games and gaming consoles. 

Given the Marriott's massive size, it's not surprising that it offers a ton of dining options. The main restaurant, Latitude & Longitude, is open for all three meals, with pricey buffet, continental, and grab-and-go breakfast options plus classic American fare (think steaks and sandwiches) at lunch and dinner. All three daily meals are also available at Siro Urban Italian Kitchen, a casual option with pasta and pizza. The Falls Pool Bar & Grill serves lighter options and drinks poolside at lunch and dinner. Grab-and-go items such as salads and baked goods are available at the Central Pantry throughout the day. There's also a Starbuck's coffee shop in the lobby. For dinner service, there's a sports bar/restaurant, High Velocity, with pub food and sports played on flat-screen TVs. Mikado Japanese Steakhouse serves sushi and teppanyaki with an open show kitchen. There's also a steakhouse at the Hawk's Landing golf course with steak and seafood. Room service is available from early morning until late at night.