The welcome
Part of a pair of two Hilton properties, the 14-storey, 500-room Waldorf Astoria is still half the size of the neighbouring Hilton. The entrance to the hotel is quite grand, with plenty of staff on hand to help. The lobby features Waldorf Astoria’s signature clock and an attractive domed ceiling. Check-in staff are young, polite and clean-cut and seem on top of things.
The neighbourhood
Half an hour by road from downtown Orlando, the hotel is situated in a pleasantly secluded patch of land close to Walt Disney World. The area has an air of affluence, if not much of a sense of place. The hotel is surrounded by a golf course, landscaped gardens and, at times, surprisingly deep forest. It’s nice not to be looking at roads or other hotels, as is the case with so many Orlando properties.
The scene
As with Orlando generally, most of the guests come from elsewhere in the United States, though there are also some European and Latin American guests. Most come for the theme parks, and there is a relaxed, convivial atmosphere. Some guests have children, but the place is not overrun with them.
The room
My room is an 87-square-metre deluxe suite on the seventh floor. It’s very comfortable and well-designed, and because of the separate living area, the bedroom is extremely quiet. There’s a nice big bathroom with a fast-filling bath and two sinks. There’s also a balcony with a view out over treetops. Everything works and is easy to operate. The only negative is that three dresses I left in the wardrobe after checking out went missing. The items were not covered under my travel insurance and the hotel eventually reimbursed me.
The food
The buffet breakfast is appetising – a choice of five fresh juices, berries, hot items including good, freshly made crepes, bagels and cream cheese – just what you need before a long day at a theme park. The steakhouse Bull & Bear, a copy of the flagship restaurant at Waldorf Astoria New York, is the hotel’s fine-dining restaurant. The Florida farms corn soup (US$16; Dh59), served with truffle and a miniature cheese sandwich, was surprisingly tasty. The classic Caesar salad is prepared on a trolley in front of you; it’s $28 (Dh102) for two but could be enough food for a meal. For a main course I had a surf ‘n’ turf of barbecued bison and lobster. I found the bison a bit tough and too rare – if I was having it again I would ask about cooking styles and texture. This particular dish was a special, but meat courses start at $48 (Dh176). The signature desert is “The Lemon”, a hollowed-out lemon where the inside is used to make lemon sorbet, cream and curd and then refilled. It’s a standout ($14; Dh51).
The service
Helpful and cheerful, though not exactly snappy at breakfast. There’s the customary: “Hi, how are you doing today?” And “any plans for the day ahead?”.
Loved
Returning to my room every night to find the TV playing relaxing jazz music.
Hated
The public areas of the hotel, including the lobby, bar and hallways, reek of a very strong air freshener, which is apparently pumped through the building’s air-conditioning system. The loss of my three dresses was very disappointing.
The verdict
A good base for Disney, and a retreat from it.
The bottom line
Double rooms at the Waldorf Astoria Orlando cost from $290 (Dh1,065) per night, including taxes.
rbehan@thenational.ae
