It’s Spring, Time For A Little Staycay – Doubletree Orlando At SeaWorld

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Do all kids love hotels as much as my daughter?

I am not sure, but K LOVES hotels. When I announced that we were headed to a hotel for the night, she didn’t pause for a moment. She leaped out of her seat, ran to her closet and pulled out her suitcase. She was ready to pack up and go before she even heard where we were going. Apparently we all needed to get away.

Living in Orlando, there is never a shortage of things to do although we don’t always take advantage of everything around us. So we decided to have a little staycay, act like tourists and enjoy some of the local fun. After all, people come from all over the world to vacation here.

For our mini staycay we choose the Doubletree by Hilton Orlando at SeaWorld. Located on International Drive (I-Drive to us locals), it is centrally located for the theme parks and our weekend plans.

Doubletree Hilton Orlando SeaWorld

K’s love for staying in a hotel was sent over the top when I emerged from check in with a special Doubletree treat. The warm cookie welcome (before dinner) was one of the highlights of her weekend. Yum… have you ever had a DoubleTree cookie? They are soooo good. And served fresh from a warming drawer under the front desk, genius!

Doubletree Hilton Cookie

Besides the cookies, which really are delish, the most impressive thing to be about this Doubletree are the grounds. Lush and tropical with a quaint feeling of old Florida smack in the middle of touristy Orlando, somebody got it right when they designed the landscaping, decor and water features for this hotel. It is very inviting. I nearly wanted to scrap our plans and take up residence poolside. If it had been warmer, I might have.

DoubleTree Orlando SeaWorld Hilton

The hotel is a combination of old Florida-style, two-story buildings that surround the resort grounds and a sixteen-floor hotel tower in the middle. We stayed in the hotel tower and had a fantastic view of SeaWorld and Aquatica. That part was so tempting to K who immediately professed her desire to see the dolphins at SeaWorld. So if you plan to stay here with kids, you might want to plan a day at SeaWorld. You are so close, there is even a walkway from the Doubletree right to SeaWorld’s main gate.

Inside the room, K discovered her second favorite thing about staying at a Doubletree – Crabtree and Evelyn bath products in Citron Honey & Coriander.

“Mommy, I smell like lemons!!!”

Doubletree Crabtree and Evelyn

For a kid who loves lemons, it was a big deal and earned her stamp of approval. After checking out the room, we were off to explore Downtown Disney (just one interstate exit west). Amazed by the crowds this time of year. We had dinner, a little shopping and enjoyed the evening. Then it was back to the hotel.

In the morning, we enjoyed a buffet breakfast at the hotel restaurant, the Bamboo Grill. It was quick, convenient and yummy with something for everyone. If you ever have a chance to eat there, I highly recommend the breakfast potatoes. Everything was good, but they were especially notable.

As we left breakfast, look who we ran into in the courtyard! Oh my girls were thrilled.

Doubletree SeaWorld Shamu Orlando

Then it was time to say good-bye to the Doubletree by Hilton Orlando at SeaWorld. The last stop on our little trip was the Mall at Millienia (aka the fancy mall) for spring photos of the girls and a bit of shopping. Then back home to reality.

Before we left K had this to say, “Mommy, tell the people you work with this hotel is awesome.”

We had a great little stay, and recommend this resort to travelers and locals alike. Find a Doubletree for your next trip so you can enjoy a yummy cookie welcome and a refreshing  Crabtree and Evelyn shower. It’s the little things, right?

Doubletree Hilton Orlando Room

Giveaway

One lucky reader will win a voucher valid for any one-night stay at any Doubletree.

To enter – Please use the Rafflecopter form below to take advantage of your entry opportunities.

MANDATORY ENTRY MUST BE LEFT AS COMMENT ON BLOG POST BELOW– then you can check off in Rafflecopter that you did it. Otherwise, all other entries will be invalid. *** PLEASE be sure to read instructions in Rafflecopter form as to what to comment about.***

Contest ends April 4, 2013.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This post is brought to you by Doubletree by Hilton and The Motherhood, however, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

172 thoughts on “It’s Spring, Time For A Little Staycay – Doubletree Orlando At SeaWorld”

  1. I love staying at hotels too! 😀 Glad your family had a good time in visiting Doubletree Orlando. Looking forward to stay there soon… Thanks for sharing!

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  5. MMM a cookie welcome! This hotel looks wonderful and I love that K loves to stay in hotels and was ready to pack. I need a vacay so much right now.

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  6. Thank you for all the details. We just booked our trip for this coming weekend and chose to stay at the Doubletree at SeaWorld in part because of your awesome and informative review.

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  8. Rafflecopter asked if I have ever been to a Lowe’s build it kids shop..no, but sounds like fun. Also, have never stayed at a Double Tree but would LOVE to check out the one at Sea World!

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  12. We would love a staycay at the Double Tree. We are from Orlando as well and do not take advantage of the hotels, but I think it would be fun!

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  15. I would not mind staying at this one by Sea World. We have annual passes to Sea World and it would be a perfect staycation for us. I would also look in to find one at or near the beach 🙂

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  22. I’ll be in Chicago in May and would love to stay at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Chicago – Magnificent Mile

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  31. My GRANDCHILDREN love to visit Orlando!!!! They really enjoy staying in hotels and vacation rentals.
    It has been almost 10 years since I have stayed in a Double Tree hotel. The last 6 years have been filled
    with lots of health issues. I have had heart surgery 3 times and had kidney cancer. To win a trip to Orlando
    and get to stay in a Double Tree Hotel would be such a blessing for my family. Thanks for the chance to
    win.
    God Bless you,
    Suzanne G

    Reply

  32. I would probably stay at the DoubleTree on North Redington Beach. I was just telling a friend today how I need to plan a beach weekend!

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  38. We don’t have the money to travel far, so if I could find a Doubletree in the metro Detroit area, or somewhere southeast Michigan. A night away from my 7 month old sounds nice!

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  84. i would stay at the one in tampa, we are going to be visiting family this summer and it would be nice to stay at a hotel instead of family

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  89. We’re driving up to Maine this Summer to see my nephew who hiked the Appalachian trail and has made Maine his home now….we miss him!! We would stay somewhere off of rte 95 on our way there maybe Boston?

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  101. I am going to the beach next month and since we will be traveling with a large group, we would like to stop in Atlanta and stay the night! It would be great to have a room already paid for!!! Thanks for the giveaway!

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  105. We have a very beautiful and historic hotel in Roanoke, Va which is now owned by Doubletree and I’ve always wanted to spend the night there

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  155. I would stay at the Doubletree by Hilton Hotel in Rochester, Minnesota. I would visit my niece, who is expecting twins.

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  158. I would love to stay at the exact same location as you! I live in the Tampa area and love taking short trips to Orlando… The hotel looks nice and it looks like you had a blast! Thanks for sharing! 🙂

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  166. We’re driving across the country this year, so any Doubletree on the way there would be appreciated…’cuz I’ll need a cookie at some point along the way. For sure!

    Reply

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