If you like to use your points for Stay at Disney WorldThere’s a new player in town: the Renaissance Orlando Resort & Spa, located in Disney Springs.
Thanks to a $25 million renovation and makeover that affected the lobby, guest rooms, and more, what was formerly known as B Resort & Spa now has a fresh look and is returning as Renaissance Orlando Resort & Spa. This means there is now another option to use your Marriott points while staying at a Disney property and enjoy some Disney-related benefits since this property is an official Disney hotel.
As a Orlando I’m a local resident who is always looking for well-located and affordable places to stay when I want to stay in the parks. I decided to check out this property a few weeks ago. That’s right.
Related: These are the best places to stay at Disney World
Location of Renaissance Orlando Resort & Spa
Whether your hotel is on Disney property or not, and given Orlando’s traffic, it’s ideal to be on the park property. That’s why it’s especially nice that the Renaissance Orlando is located on the Hotel Plaza Boulevard, which is named after it, in the Disney Springs resort area. This area is home to six other hotels from major chains, including Hilton, Drury Hotels, Holiday Inn, and Wyndham, so you really have some budget-friendly, points-saving options to choose from.
If you plan to visit Disney Springs during your trip, the hotel is about a 15-minute walk from the Disney Springs shopping and dining area. While this is convenient, I’m not sure I’d want to do this walk on the same day I walked a long stretch through the parks – you can always take the resort’s free shuttle bus.
What the Renaissance Orlando looks like inside
During my stay a few weeks ago, it was clear that the Renaissance Orlando had indeed had a makeover from its previous life as a B Resort.
Like most of the other Disney Springs hotels, this one doesn’t have a fully immersive Disney theme, but it does have a noticeably Floridian vibe with palm leaves, wood details, and a subtle tropical character.
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There was a cute little cafe in the lobby where I was able to grab a quick breakfast consisting of an iced latte and a pastry. There were also other grab-and-go options like fruit, cereal, and granola bars, perfect for quickly refueling during longer days in the park. While I didn’t have time to dine here on this trip, I do want to point out that there is also the American Kitchen Bar & Grill, which is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
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As for the rooms, I was pleasantly surprised by the spaciousness and some of the bright, modern design elements of my room on the 11th floor, which overlooked the resort’s pool.
The room features would probably meet the needs of anyone going on a Disney vacation. It had a good air conditioning system that kept it fairly cool, deep drawers for storage, plenty of standard power outlets for charging electronics, portable fans, and a decent-sized closet.
There was also a mini-fridge and coffee maker, both basic but functional. The bathroom was also an impressive size for a budget hotel, with a large shower and refillable tubes of Aveda shampoo, conditioner, and body wash that smelled absolutely delicious.
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The room looked as if it had been recently fitted with new decor and furniture (rather than being a completely new build) and was perfectly functional and comfortable.
Related: This affordable new Disney Springs hotel includes free hot food and late-night drinks
Disney-Related Benefits of Staying at the Renaissance Orlando
In addition to proximity to Disney Springs and included shuttle service to the parks, staying at a Disney Springs hotel like Renaissance Orlando means you’ll have access to early admission to all four Disney World theme parks 30 minutes early each day. This can be a great way to get a quick start to your day and take advantage of some attractions while wait times are shorter.
The best way to book Renaissance Orlando
Because this is a Marriott hotel, you can easily earn or redeem points for your stay.
Base room rates typically range from $149 to $189 per night, with suites for larger groups running around $400 to $450. In August, I was able to stay one night at the lower end of the spectrum for $159. It’s important to note that in addition to the room rate, there was a $45 daily resort fee, which included Disney benefits such as shuttle service to Disney Springs and the Disney theme parks.
Additionally, there was a $25 overnight parking fee. These additional costs increased the actual cost of my one-night stay from $159 to $256.14, including tax.
If you want to book using Marriott points, you can often expect to use between 30,000 and 40,000 points, which is a pretty solid deal for a Walt Disney World vacation if you ask me.
Additionally, if you have an eligible account Marriott Bonvoy Co-Branded Credit CardYou may also be able to use those that are increasingly difficult to max out. Marriott Free Night Certificates for 35,000 Points. Can Add up to 15,000 Marriott points to those certificateswhich means most nights are eligible with just the certificate or a few extra Marriott points.
Related: How to use points to buy Disney tickets
In summary
My quick overnight stay at the Renaissance Orlando Resort & Spa at Disney Springs really impressed me.
If your idea of a Disney vacation includes waking up right in the heart of a themed resort, you might find the Renaissance’s more subdued contemporary theme less immersive. It’s also not the best choice if you want super-luxury accommodations or a spacious pool area for you or your kids to enjoy during your free time (the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress is one of the best nearby options that offers points for a fabulous pool).
However, if you want to balance booking a hotel and location that accept points and getting early admission each day to the Disney parks, the Renaissance Orlando at Disney Springs will give you the best of both worlds.
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