The Budget Friendly Crowne Plaza Orlando Universal

Location Located at 7800 Universal Boulevard, the Crowne Plaza Orlando Universal has 400 rooms and suites from which travelers can choose.The hotel is a ten minute car ride from Universal Studios ( the property provides a free shuttle back and forth( and a twenty minute drive from Walt Disney World.

What makes it family worthy?

There are many different activities found within a short distance of the hotel. It is especially close to Universal Studios, and Disney World, as well as Ripley’s, Believe It or Not, Museum.  

Fellow Travelers

With its’ many amusement parks, Orlando is a top destination for families. Couples and business people those visiting on business are also well represented among the hotel’s guests.

Décor

The lobby was especially spacious, brightly lit and decorated in a modern style. In all areas of the hotel, neutral hues with the occasional splash of color seemed to be the preferred decor.Our room had red accent pillows and light wooden furniture.  

Rooms

Plentiful pillows and comfortable bedding made for a pleasant night’s rest. In between the two queen sized beds, there was also a nightstand with an alarm clock and a phone.Facing the bed area was a large, flat screen television so that travelers could comfortably watch their favorite shows before going to sleep.Though the vistas were not advertised as a selling point at this location, we still had a good view of the nearby green spaces and some of the other hotels. Also visible from our windows was the outdoor kidney shaped swimming pool. Our accommodations also contained a seating area with a comfortable green armchair with a footrest and a small side table that was ideal for holding beverages or snacks while one was lounging about. Supplies for making coffee and tea were likewise found in the rooms. The work desk area in our suite came complete with a second chair, another phone, and an overhead lamp. The spot made an excellent place to sit and surf the web. After all, complimentary wireless internet, a much-appreciated amenity, is available in all parts of the hotel. There was also a large chest of drawers and sizeable closet to store our belongings in. The closet further contained an iron, a safe, and clothes hangers for our use. The microwave and mini fridge were likewise good touches that rounded out the room’s furnishings. The bathroom area was sufficient for our needs. It contained the usual features of a sink, a toilet, and a bathtub. A silver rack filled to the brim with towels of all sorts could be found just above the toilet, along with the basic amenity kit of soap, shampoo, conditioner and body lotion bottles and a scale.The tub/shower combination with good water pressure did not have a hand held shower head and was separated with a shower curtain. Overall, we found the standard room to be an adequate budget friendly fit for our family of four.    

Facilities

Several cabanas and numerous lounge chairs can be found in the outdoor pool area which is located just outside the main lobby. Children who are making their way through the lobby will no doubt be fascinated by the large aquarium that is found there, but their parents may be more interested in the small dining and bar area. The dining section has some comfortable chairs where those staying here can relax and chat with their traveling companions even if they don’t plan on eating anything. I  met up with some of my friends at this spot, and we greatly enjoyed the sandwiches and drinks that we were served. However, there is another eating establishment in the back section of the ground floor that is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The menu provides a typical array of American foods including salads, hamburgers, and appetizers.

The Executive Lounge

The executive lounge area has excellent views of the nearby park. Although these vistas were not very different from what we could see from our room, they nonetheless provided a nice accompaniment to the meal. The buffet found here contained a small assortment of cereals including Rice Crispies, Kellogg’s Cornflakes, Raisin Bran, and Special K. There were also pastries, muffins, and bread provided along with cubed melons and yogurt. Bagels and a small selection of preserves served to complete the repast. Beverage choices here were limited to numerous types of Bigelow brand teas and also coffee.

Autism Travel Tips 

There don’t seem to be any safety handles in the tubs at this location, so travelers should be aware of that fact. Likewise, handicapped persons may also want to bring along a bath mat to provide traction if they need it as this is not supplied by the hotel. Like in all hotels families with autism should ask for rooms that are not facing the pool and away from the executive lounge and floor elevators. https://youtu.be/91iXwfIBS90 https://youtu.be/SwDysg33tqs [mappress mapid=”88″]  ]]>