and everything in between
Every year my husband and I visit the Disney parks but this year we also tried out Universal. A lot of people refuse to compare Universal to Disney because they are so different, but I am going to because with tickets being so ridiculously expensive, sometimes you have to choose one or the other.
We have stayed at other hotels in Orlando during our yearly visit to the parks, but I think the Drury Inn is such an amazing value that it doesn’t make sense to stay anywhere else.
The hotel is right off the highway which is great but also makes exiting the hotel difficult because of all the traffic. There are several fast food restaurants nearby and a Whole Foods across the street. Universal is just down the street.
The hotel is brand new and as you might expect, everything appears fresh and new. Check in was so quick and our room on the fifth floor was clean and spacious. We loved the floor to ceiling window that looked out onto the highway in front of the hotel. Our room was very quiet. We never heard anything from the highway or from other rooms.
Having never been here before, we were excited to try several things on the menu. We ended up being surprised at how the quality of the food varied from excellent appetizers to mediocre entrees. In fact, I would only recommend ordering appetizers so that you’ll have an enjoyable experience.
There were four of us at the table- my husband and I, and his parents. After being seated, I noticed water droplets falling onto our table and then they began dropping on my head and shirt. We mentioned this to our server who said they built the place so fast that they regularly get leaks in the ceiling, so we were moved to a different table.
To share amongst the table, we ordered the meatballs appetizer which came with a large sub roll and a single, sizable mozzarella stick. My father-in-law described the meatballs as the best he’s ever had in his life. In fact, they were so delicious that we all agreed we’d need to stop in for meatballs during every visit to Orlando. Our second appetizer was the soft pretzels which were accompanied by three dipping sauces and this was delectable!
My husband and I and my parents-in-law stopped here one afternoon and had a fun time for four hours which was much longer than we expected. It was a Thursday and there was no crowd at all. The parking garage was cheap and we found coupons for $2 off per person in a little magazine we got at our hotel in Orlando.
My husband and I, and my parents-in-law were staying in Orlando for a few days to visit the Disney parks. We knew we’d need two separate bedrooms with a shared living area and The Point was perfect for us not only because of the spacious accommodations but also the location. Near the hotel is the widely known I-Drive, or International Drive. This area has a plethora of dining options, shopping, and activities like Wet N’ Wild, CSI Experience, Wonder Works, SeaWorld, Universal Studios, and so much more. Plus, the Disney parks are a simple 20 minute drive away.
The Point likes to describe itself as a luxury property but I can tell you that is an exaggeration. In terms of quality, I would compare The Point to the Holiday Inn. I like staying at the Holiday Inn but would never in a million years call it as a luxury property!
The hotel is in the ideal location for visiting all the popular attractions Orlando has to offer. It’s about 15 minutes from the airport and is close to the highway so it’s easy on and off. Also, it’s only a 15-20 minute drive to Disney World and just down the street you’ll find Universal and the Orange County Convention Center. The immediate area surrounding the hotel is well maintained and appears upper class so safety is not an issue and if you get hungry, across the street from the hotel there’s a McDonald’s, Denny‘s, IHOP, Red Lobster, Olive Garden, and lots of other restaurants.
