Theme_Park_Insider
05-15-2009, 12:00 AM
By Robert Niles: In preparation for the announcement of this year's Theme Park Insider Awards (http://www.themeparkinsider.com/awards/) on July 4, we're looking at some of the top contenders in the four award categories. Today, we start our look at the top five hotels to date in the Theme Park Insider reader ratings. (By the way, both these and the restaurants that Scott Joseph's reviewing (http://www.themeparkinsider.com/flume/200905/1198/) are being profiled in no particular order, so don't read anything into that.)
This week, we spotlight Disney's Grand Floridian Resort (http://www.themeparkinsider.com/reviews/hotels/walt_disney_world/disney's_grand_floridian_resort/) at Walt Disney World in Lake Buena Vista, Florida.
http://www.themeparkinsider.com/photos/images/GrandFloridian03.jpg (http://www.themeparkinsider.com/reviews/hotels/walt_disney_world/disney's_grand_floridian_resort/)
Disney says that the Grand Floridian "conjures the splendor of the Sunshine State's golden era." West coasters know, though, that the Grand Floridian borrowed its look not from a Florida landmark, but from San Diego's Hotel del Coronado. Of course, the Hotel del Coronado earned its fame as the setting for the classic Marilyn Monroe flick "Some Like It Hot," where the hotel stood in for... a Florida seaside resort. So it all evens out, I guess.
Architecture aside, the Grand Floridian earns raves from many readers for its service, its fine dining and not least for its proximity to the Magic Kingdom. It's the closest hotel to the world's most popular theme park. As with other Disney hotels, guests get free transportation to and from the Orlando airport, as well as admission to Extra Magic Hours at the Disney theme parks. But the Grand Floridian is one of just three Disney resorts with monorail service.
No, it's not cheap, but none of the top hotels vying for the Theme Park Insider Award are. But a once-in-a-lifetime splurge can be worth the expense if it delivers a once-in-a-lifetime thrilling experience.
Does the Grand Floridian deliver to justify its price? Is it the best theme park hotel around? If you've stayed at the Grand Floridian in the past 12 months, please click over to its TPI listing page (http://www.themeparkinsider.com/reviews/hotels/walt_disney_world/disney's_grand_floridian_resort/) and submit a rating and review. We'd love to hear what you think.
More... (http://www.themeparkinsider.com/flume/200905/1202/)
This week, we spotlight Disney's Grand Floridian Resort (http://www.themeparkinsider.com/reviews/hotels/walt_disney_world/disney's_grand_floridian_resort/) at Walt Disney World in Lake Buena Vista, Florida.
http://www.themeparkinsider.com/photos/images/GrandFloridian03.jpg (http://www.themeparkinsider.com/reviews/hotels/walt_disney_world/disney's_grand_floridian_resort/)
Disney says that the Grand Floridian "conjures the splendor of the Sunshine State's golden era." West coasters know, though, that the Grand Floridian borrowed its look not from a Florida landmark, but from San Diego's Hotel del Coronado. Of course, the Hotel del Coronado earned its fame as the setting for the classic Marilyn Monroe flick "Some Like It Hot," where the hotel stood in for... a Florida seaside resort. So it all evens out, I guess.
Architecture aside, the Grand Floridian earns raves from many readers for its service, its fine dining and not least for its proximity to the Magic Kingdom. It's the closest hotel to the world's most popular theme park. As with other Disney hotels, guests get free transportation to and from the Orlando airport, as well as admission to Extra Magic Hours at the Disney theme parks. But the Grand Floridian is one of just three Disney resorts with monorail service.
No, it's not cheap, but none of the top hotels vying for the Theme Park Insider Award are. But a once-in-a-lifetime splurge can be worth the expense if it delivers a once-in-a-lifetime thrilling experience.
Does the Grand Floridian deliver to justify its price? Is it the best theme park hotel around? If you've stayed at the Grand Floridian in the past 12 months, please click over to its TPI listing page (http://www.themeparkinsider.com/reviews/hotels/walt_disney_world/disney's_grand_floridian_resort/) and submit a rating and review. We'd love to hear what you think.
More... (http://www.themeparkinsider.com/flume/200905/1202/)