One of the largest properties in Orlando and in the entire Hyatt system is the Hyatt Regency Orlando. This sprawling property is well-located, has excellent entertainment options, and treats World of Hyatt elites very well.
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Location
Connected to the Orange County Convention Center, the Hyatt Regency Orlando is located close to everything in the city. SeaWorld’s theme park and water park are very close, Universal Studios is a ten-minute drive; Disney World Resorts vary. Our journey to Orlando International Airport was a brisk 19 minutes in five-o-clock traffic. The infamous International Drive is just five minutes from the hotel’s front door and travelers to Orlando, regardless of their purpose will find the hotel convenient.
For those driving, there are valet options ($45/day plus tips) and self-park ($35/day) available. The parking garage is on the other side of the pool fence, about a five to seven-minute walk from the hotel lobby. Of note, I would have gladly utilized valet for the small difference and convenience (we were traveling as a family at the tail end of a long vacation with lots of luggage). Still, there were no visible signs in the driveway. Pricing was only displayed on the valet window well away from where guests initially arrived.
Address: 9801 International Dr, Orlando, FL 32819
Phone: +1 407-284-1234
Property
The Hyatt Regency Orlando offers an unbelievable 1,641 rooms spread across a number of towers. Every room type imaginable is available for booking including some with walk-out balconies, others with full patios. Connected internally, there are a number of hallways, shops, restaurants, and bars (too many to mention) that connect throughout the property and onto the convention center.
There is an on-site cafe listed (on Google Maps) as a Starbucks, but it should be noted that this is not a Starbucks location, they merely serve some Starbucks products as do most of the mega hotels in the area.
Pool
The Grotto pool with a mini waterfall, waterslide, hot tubs, and zero-entry pool has plenty of distractions for business visitors and traveling families alike. During our visit, we intended to go to Universal Studios for the day but looking at the wait times and the pool below we opted to work on our tans and let our daughter make new friends. We accomplished both goals and it was enough entertainment in a city that specializes in diversions that we spent the entire day there before flying out.
For adults who prefer a more reserved experience, there are adult-friendly areas away from the in-pool basketball hoop, and volleyball net that offers a more relaxing environment. There are a number of hot tubs, a single waterslide, and plenty of seating including cabanas.
Poolside service for those who wish to eat or drink at the pool is offered by friendly staff. My family ordered a fish sandwich and fries to share (we intended to eat a proper meal later.) Before I comment on the food, I want to mention for new readers that each year I spend a significant amount of time in Florida, usually in Fort Myers, but throughout the state. I have eaten fish sandwiches at many coastal venues and shockingly, this is maybe the best fish sandwich I have ever had in my life. It could have been the sauce, maybe it was the fish, I can’t say but it was exceptional.
Fitness Center/Spa
Suitable for a property this large, the fitness center was expansive. Broken up into a series of different rooms, each specializing in a different area of exercise. One was dedicated to cardio with a bank of treadmilles, eliptical machines and bikes. Another for weight lifting with a variety of machines, free weights and barbells. Yet another was dedicated as the “Core” training room with weighted balls, and mats, and still another offered a variety of other miscellanous exercise equipment.
In the locker room, lockers, multiple showers (including with handicap accessibility) and steam rooms awaited those finishing a workout. Each locker offers the ability to create a code for visitors like an in-room safe to secure valuables.
Spa
I wasn’t able to utilize the spa on our short stay but the menu offered was extensive. It occupies a separate area on the same lower level as the fitness center.
World of Hyatt Benefits
While I am no longer a Hyatt Globalist as I have been for nearly a decade, I am currently on a challenge that grants me Explorist status on my way back to Globalist. Honestly, I had kind of ignored this status level among hotel elite programs because the Globalist benefits are so significant. I usually find anything short of the top tier to be full of undelivered promises, but to my delight, Hyatt went above and beyond.
We received an upgraded room view (not room type), 20% off food and beverage, a late checkout of 2:00 pm, comped parking (we were on an award certificate redemption), and priority service at the reception desk. It doesn’t seem like much, but the late 2:00 pm checkout wasn’t rushed (I was actually in my room packing up a bit beyond that) when we told our plans to the front desk, they made arrangements with our key card to allow us continued access to the property so that we could swim, shower, and change before our flight not due to leave until 7:30 that night. They didn’t have to do that at all. The hotel was very busy, and walking by a line of 30-40 guests waiting to check out, they respected the World of Hyatt elite lines, professionally called me forward when they were available to answer my question and make arrangements.
Because I am no longer a Globalist, I can’t comment on the included breakfast amenities nor a suite upgrade and unfortunately, this is not a Hyatt Privé location where access to those benefits can be included in a rate sold by an approved travel agency. However, based on my experience I have no doubts that benefits will be honored and that guests will be exceedingly pleased with their treatment.
Room
Our room on the 23rd floor of tower (2) overlooked the pool. For our family, a two-queen bed room made the most sense. It follows the standard US hotel rectangle design model with a bathroom to our left as we entered, a closet, and a mini fridge to our right. Into the room, the two beds were to the left, opposite was a desk, drawers, and TV. At the window, a couch large enough for an adult to sleep on.
Two waters were waiting in our room, another Hyatt benefit that was well appreciated facing the hot Orlando sun.
Bathroom
The bathroom was larger than expected. A bright ring light in the middle of the mirror hosted a TV screen which my daughter loved. The bathtub was larger than expected though I prefer a full shower rather over tub. My daughter disagreed on this occasion.
Pharmacopia is the supplied brand for Hyatt Regency properties and these were mounted to the wall as opposed to smaller toiletries that can be taken away. These were fine but I still like the little bottles as an introduction to the brand and if I like them enough, an added reminder if and when I take them home.
Value
Sample room rates were between $280-325 per night and that seems a little steep for a business hotel. However, the property is frequently busy due to the near nonstop convention traffic and year-round visitors to Orlando for entertainment purposes. The hotel is a Category 4 which allows for the use of award certificates whether a result of credit membership or perks earned from elite hotel membership. The cost of a points stay is 15,000/night which does align with Live And Let’s Fly’s valuation of about $0.02/point. If night rates are above $300, use points or a certificate for your stay, if it is below $300 per night, cash is the better value.
From my family’s experience, we loved this hotel, found the service to be exemplary, and will absolutely return on future visits.
What do you think? Have you stayed at the Hyatt Regency Orlando? How was your experience?
I have Hyatt Globalist, Hilton diamond and Marriott Gold. Globalist is the only status worth anything. Probably because you have to earn it and not just get it via a credit card. The confirmed suite upgrades are awesome. I just wish the category 7 free night can have a longer expiration date and be eligible for the suite upgrade.
The fact that this property isn’t utter chaos is really impressive. It’s a testament to the Hyatt brand. Globalist treatment is indeed good, but the lounge is a dump. They sell access and lots of families buy it. You couldn’t dream of getting any work done up there.
@Kyle Stewart, I get that you were on an award stay, but it’s really disingenuous of you to not even mention the resort fee. If you’re going to write a detailed review of a hotel, that’s the least you could do. Any sort of “value” goes right out the window when you add in ~$38+tax/night/room.
“Two waters were waiting in our room, another Hyatt benefit…” Actually, these seem to be part of the resort fee inclusions…
Also, while this post had fewer errors than normal, here are two that stood out: “treadmilles, eliptical machines”
Just to clarify,their spa can’t be accessed unless you have a paid treatment. The lounge breakfast closes at 9 am. The afternoon spread doesn’t reflect the quality of what is served for pay. On checkout review your bill folio carefully in writing before leaving front desk. Every single stay there’s been numerous mistakes and it’s time consuming to reach a manager to fix errors.
Great review, Kyle. Always enjoy your posts.
Do you think perhaps that fish sandwich was good because it consisted of 2% fish and 98% dressing, sugary bread, and cheese? 😀
This place looks grim. Dark rooms, yellow/beige walls…