This resort feels like a place that was once incredible but has slowly lost its shine. The best…read morecomparison I can think of is an old theme park that used to be the place to visit--now only a couple of the rides are running, yet admission still costs the same.
Would I stay here again? Probably, depending on the circumstances. However, it wouldn't be my first choice.
Biggest Issues:
-Cleanliness
Unfortunately, our room did not feel clean when we arrived. There were cobwebs hanging from the ceiling, a dead cockroach on the floor, dead moths, and noticeable dust buildup along the baseboards and behind the TV. I know some of the rooms have been renovated, but we weren't fortunate enough to receive one of those.
- Resort Size & Getting Around
This resort is huge, which can be either a positive or a negative depending on where you're staying.
One of the biggest disappointments was that the canal boats were not operating. I found out they had been out of service for over a month for maintenance with no estimated reopening date. My kids would have absolutely loved riding them, so that was a letdown.
The tram system also needs improvement. If you happen to miss one, expect to wait around 45 minutes for it to come back. It makes several stops across the property, and there really should be two trams running at all times. We had a heavy stroller, and lifting it onto the tram often felt like more work than simply walking.
** Choosing the Right Tower Matters
We stayed in the Ocean Tower, which is the farthest from the lobby and most of the restaurants. The upside is that it's closest to the pool with the lazy river and smaller water slides. There's also a pool bar, a coffee shop with pastries and açaí bowls, a small gift shop, and laundry facilities (although every laundry rooms we checked was out of order).
Even though we didn't pay for an ocean-view room, we could still see the ocean from our balcony, which was a nice surprise. If I stayed in this tower again, I'd request either a renovated room or a ground-floor room with direct access to Buddha's Point and the pool area. Even getting from our room to the nearby pool felt like a trek.
The Palace Tower has the nicest appearance and reminds me of the Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas. It's centrally located, so nothing is excessively far away. I also heard these rooms have been renovated, making it a good choice if having a nice room is your priority.
That said, it's not particularly close to the main attractions besides the Italian restaurant, which is only open for dinner. Personally, I don't think I'd choose this tower.
If I came back, I'd most likely stay in the Makai Tower. It's closest to the lagoon, the major pools, and several dining options, making it much easier to get around. It's still not directly next to everything, but there's an elevator that makes getting to the pools and restaurants much easier, especially for anyone using a stroller or wheelchair.
Traveling with a stroller made this resort more challenging than I expected. While there are accessible routes, they're often indirect and time-consuming. For example, walking from our room to the Lagoon Grill took over 30 minutes. For families with young children or anyone with mobility limitations, that's something to seriously consider when choosing a room location.
Dining
Having multiple restaurants on-site was convenient, but the operating hours weren't.
The three main restaurants--the fine dining restaurant, Italian restaurant, and Tap Room--only opened for dinner. The breakfast buffet was expensive, although there were less expensive plated breakfast options available until around 10:00 a.m.
Between breakfast ending and dinner restaurants opening, it sometimes felt surprisingly difficult to find food late in the morning or early afternoon.
The good news is there are several restaurants and shopping centers just a few minutes away, and the resort offers a paid shuttle service if you don't have a car. You could easily spend your entire vacation without leaving the property.
Overall, we still had a good trip. The staff was consistently friendly and helpful, and there are definitely things to enjoy about this resort. However, it feels like a property that has enormous potential but could really benefit from better maintenance, improved transportation, and more attention to cleanliness.
With a little extra care and investment, I think this resort could become a truly great destination again.