First Look at the Renovated Renaissance Orlando at Disney Springs
If you want to use your points to stay at Disney WorldThere’s a new player in town: the Renaissance Orlando Resort & Spa, located in Disney Springs.
Thanks to a recent $25 million rebranding and renovation that involved the lobby, guest rooms, and more, what was formerly known as the B Resort & Spa now has a fresh new look and feel and is returning to the Renaissance Orlando Resort & Spa name. This means there is now another option to use your Marriott points while staying on Disney property and enjoy some Disney-related perks, as the resort is an official Disney hotel.
As a Orlando As a local who is always looking for a convenient and value place to stay when I want to take a break from the park, I decided to check out this property a few weeks ago. Here’s what I saw.
Related: These are the best places to stay at Disney World
Location of Renaissance Orlando Resort & Spa
Your hotel may or may not be on Disney property, and with Orlando’s traffic, it’s best to stay in the parks. So it’s a good thing that the Renaissance Orlando is located on the aptly named Hotel Plaza Boulevard in the Disney Springs resort. The area is home to six other hotels from major chains, including Hilton, Drury Hotels, Holiday Inn, and Wyndham, so you can really pick up some budget-friendly, points-earning options here.
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 district. While convenient, I’m not sure I’d want to walk on the same day I’m doing a long hike in the park; you can always take the resort’s free shuttle.
What the Renaissance Orlando Looks Like Inside
During my stay a few weeks ago, it was clear that the Renaissance Orlando has really been renovated from what was previously a B resort.
Like most of the other hotels at Disney Springs, this one isn’t strictly Disney-themed, but it still has a distinctly Florida feel with palm leaves, wood accents, and a subtle tropical flair.
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SUMMER HULL/THE POINTS GUY
There’s a nice little cafe in the lobby where I was able to grab a quick breakfast of an iced latte and a pastry, and there are also plenty of grab-and-go options like fruit, cereal, and granola bars—perfect for a quick energy boost during long days in the parks. While I didn’t have time to dine here on this trip, I will note that the American Kitchen Bar & Grill is also open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner on-site.
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When it comes to the rooms, I was really 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 can fit the needs of anyone vacationing at Disney. The room has good air conditioning to keep the room cool, plenty of deep drawers for storage, plenty of standard electrical outlets to charge electronic devices, a portable fan, and a decent sized closet.
There’s also a small fridge and coffee maker, both basic but functional. The bathroom is also impressively sized for a budget hotel, with a large shower and refillable tubes of Aveda shampoo, conditioner and body wash that smell absolutely lovely.
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SUMMER HULL/THE POINTS GUY
The rooms look like they’ve just been decorated and furnished with new furniture — not a brand new building — and they’re perfectly comfortable and convenient.
Related: This affordable new Disney Springs hotel includes free hot food and drinks nightly
Disney-related benefits when staying at Renaissance Orlando
In addition to being close to Disney Springs and having shuttle service to the parks, staying at a Disney Springs hotel like the Renaissance Orlando means you get to enter four Disney World theme parks 30 minutes earlier each day. This can be a great way to get a head start on your day and hit a few rides while waiting in line for shorter hours.
The best way to book Renaissance Orlando
Since this is a Marriott hotel, you can easily earn or redeem points for your stay.
Standard base room rates typically range from $149 to $189 per night, with larger group suites costing $400 to $450. I was able to score my one-night stay in August at the lower rate of $159. It’s important to note that there is a $45 daily resort fee in addition to the room rate. This includes Disney perks like shuttle service to Disney Springs and the Disney theme parks.
Additionally, there is an overnight self-parking fee of $25. These additional fees increased the actual cost of my one-night stay from $159 to $256.14, including tax.
If you want to book with Marriott points, you can usually expect to spend 30,000 to 40,000 points, which is a pretty good deal for a Walt Disney World stay, in my opinion.
Plus, if you qualify Marriott Bonvoy Co-Branded Credit CardYou can also use things that are increasingly difficult to maximize Marriott 35,000 Points Free Night Card. You can Add up to 15,000 Marriott points to those certificatesThis means that most nights are eligible with just a certificate or a few additional Marriott points.
Related: How to use points to buy Disney tickets
The last line
My brief one-night stay at the Renaissance Orlando Resort & Spa in Disney Springs really impressed me.
If your idea of a Disney vacation includes waking up right in the heart of a themed resort, you may find the Renaissance’s lighter contemporary theme less appealing. It’s also not the best choice if you want super-luxurious accommodations or a spacious pool area for you or your kids to enjoy during your downtime (the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress is a top choice nearby with points for a great pool).
However, if you want to balance a hotel room with a points-earning location and early access to the Disney parks every day, the Renaissance Orlando at Disney Springs will give you the best of both worlds.
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