Waldorf Astoria Orlando - An Official Walt Disney World Hotel — Restaurant in Kissimmee

We arrived in Florida at a different hotel, before hurricane Helene hit a few days later. Our VIP suite on 12th floor sustained damage - no alternative suites were available so we checked out early & moved to the Waldorf Astoria, having spent several vacations with them over the years. Waldorf Astoria WAS a brand we trusted along with Hilton, Hyatt + the Ritz-Carlton. Our checkout was supposed to be Wed 9th Oct. Arriving in the room, everything looked new, modern, refurbished (room 320), but I immediately noticed a horrendous smell coming from the bedding on one of the two queen beds, specifically from the pillows & the comforter. The hairdryer was broken (could only plug in/out to operate it - dangerous for very obvious reasons!) & looked 20 years old. As we were heading out for the evening, we reported this to the front desk who were nonchalant at best but we trusted all would be sorted. That night, beds were turned down, a ‘new’ hairdryer had been left but the smell remained. On getting into bed, I can best describe the smell as dried urine - disgusting. Another call to front desk, again nothing was done. Next morning the ‘new’ hairdryer was dead, no power. Two broken hairdryers & bedding that stank of who knows what. On leaving next day day we reported the hairdryer & bedding AGAIN - we left shortly after 9am. That evening, our room hadn’t been cleaned at all, no water, no towels & the bedding still stank. We left for dinner & reported our room not being made & the dirty bedding again. At this point the attitude front from desk was shocking (and believe me I was VERY polite) - we were told rooms are cleaned at the hotels’ convenience (?!) - we would need to be out of our rooms by 9am every day otherwise we would need to request a room clean (pardon?!)! So I requested a room clean next day (?!). Following day the cleaners again left the rancid bedding on the bed so I left it all on the floor with a note detailing that I needed clean, fresh bedding. But they put it all back again. So this time I took it all downstairs, pillow cases & covers removed, which now showed deep yellow stains ALL OVER EVERYTHING. The manager, astonishingly, said he couldn’t see any stains but made a very deliberate effort to stand back from the very obvious putrid smell! He apologised profusely & insisted applying a $200 credit to our account by way of apology for the inconvenience. Finally, the bedding was changed & I was able to use the bed. The eve of Monday 7th October, British Airways contacted us to inform that Orlando airport would be closing due to hurricane Milton arriving but they had already offered alternative flight back in business per original booking, zero quibble. We immediately tried to extend our stay at the Waldorf to ensure we would be safe when the hurricane hit. I don’t even know what to say about what happened next. The hotel DID have rooms (we checked booking.com) but refused to allow us to extend, telling us our checkout was Wed 9th Oct, period (but we would be welcome to use the facilities for 1 day after we checked out - are you kidding me?!). They refused to budge, despite us literally being kicked out into a HURRICANE with nowhere to go - their answer? “look on booking.com, maybe you can find somewhere?”). We weren’t expecting free accommodation - we were quite prepared to pay for an extension & insurance was already in progress. We found a private villa in Celebration for Tue 8th pm checkin & packed our belongings post-haste. On checking out, we received a $600 incidentals bill & it took us over an hour to get these charges clarified & resolved, along with demanding to speak with the manager who had - evidently - lied about the $200 apology credit as there was no record (?!). Once we paid what we ACTUALLY owed for parking & incidentals, we headed to the villa where we took shelter & got home Saturday morning (thank you BA). We’ll NEVER use the Waldorf Astoria again, & while they as a brand won’t blink an eye about it, I think its important for other guests to be very aware of what I’ve...

4.3/5

Beautiful hotel, needs a little fine-tuning to truly be a 5-star experience.

Location: Tucked away in Bonnett Creek, right outside of the parks, the hotel is its own oasis outside of the hustle and bustle. Shuttles take guests to and from the action, but plan accordingly as there are gaps in service. That said, they run on time and are perfect if traveling with kids, as strollers and large items are stowed in the hold.

Property: Expertly manicured grounds, as one would expect from a Waldorf. Lobby was spacious and relaxing, although I would recommend more seating. The pool area was quiet as poor weather kept people away. Kids may find more activities on the Hilton side. There is an 18-hole golf course on site, but I'm not certain on pricing. I believe guests get complimentary access after 2pm, but this was not communicated to me at check-in.

Dining: Oscar's puts together a quality breakfast spread at $40/adult. Not the very best I've seen at a Waldorf, but close. The croissant bar is the standout. There are outdoor restaurants both here and at the Hilton, which is about a 5 minute walk. The true gem is the Bull & Bear, which pays homage to the original Waldorf Astoria. Having been to dozens of steakhouses, this was a top ten in our book. The best lobster mac and cheese we've ever had! Also, their Delmonico (ribeye) was phenomenal.

Rooms: Large, but not opulent. Can be difficult if traveling heavy. We had an unexpected view of EPCOT, which was a nice touch! Smart TV has Netflix access. Cable choices are limited. Plenty of USB outlets and comfortable lighting. Thermostat was easy to control and the the air quality never seemed musty or stale which means it's properly maintained. The bathroom was exquisite with marble trim and a full size bath. High-end Aesop bath and body products are provided. We also appreciated the motion activated floor lighting, because having to search for a switch at 3am in an unfamiliar room can often be a clumsy exercise!

Spa/fitness: My wife used the spa, and she said it was amazing. We both used the gym. Certainly nice enough with a quality range of equipment. Pelotons available too. We liked that cold bottled water was offered.

Service: This is where the resort falls slightly short. Number one, at a 5-star property, guests shouldn't be pulling doors open to enter the building, and especially with bags in tow. That's not luxury, and it's not the ideal first impression for a $750/night experience.

Number two, management needs to step up and protect staff in the event of unruly guest behavior. There is a bartender at Peacock Alley who was as stoic and professional as they could be in the presence of a guest who had clearly overconsumed before arrival. Not only did this guest bring a child to the bar (not illegal, but inappropriate for the space), they were also uncomfortably loud, hostile, and created a tenuous scene for guests and staff alike. At a high-end bar where patrons are paying for the elevated ambiance and listening to the comforting sounds of live piano, the house manager absolutely needs to intervene. I love a dive bar as much as anyone, but this isn't some hole in the wall with $4 Fireball shots. This is the Waldorf Astoria with $25 cocktails. Me and other guests left early as the situation was uncontrolled. Protect your staff and protect the brand!

Housekeeping gets 5 stars. Rooms were attended on demand and so well, in fact, we left extra gratuity upon checkout.

Diamond benefits: Status was acknowledged at check-in. F&B credits were applied. Would like to see water delivered daily to the room, but like I said, these are small details that they can improve upon. Spa was gorgeous, but they've done away with discounts on services for hotel guests and elite members. That is a devaluation that leaves those with earned status feeling let down.

We would stay again, no doubt, but we would like to see some small improvements. Otherwise, we...

Disastrous Stay at Waldorf Astoria Orlando During Hurricane Milton

I am currently staying at the Waldorf Astoria Orlando, and it has been nothing short of a nightmare. The quality of service, front desk etiquette, and overall experience have drastically declined, to the point where I deeply regret choosing this hotel. If I had known about the chaotic dog policies in place, I would never have stayed here.

To start, the hotel feels more like a dog pound than a luxury resort. Dogs and other animals are allowed to roam the halls, lobby, and event spaces freely, barking constantly, disturbing guests, and creating an environment that is anything but relaxing. The worst part? These animals are even allowed in the restaurants, on long leashes controlled by children, doing whatever they want. It’s beyond unacceptable that this is tolerated in a supposedly high-end establishment. The staff are indifferent to the chaos, and the hotel is blaming this ridiculous policy on the hurricane. But what about guests like me, who expect peace and quality during our stay? I don’t want to hear dogs barking outside my room or shedding in the restaurant while I try to enjoy a meal. Either position yourselves as a pet-friendly hotel or cater to guests seeking an upscale experience without this nonsense, because you’re alienating people like me who don’t want to deal with it.

The situation only worsened when housekeeping invaded my privacy. I booked my first night through AMEX Travel, which guarantees a 4 PM checkout. However, when I returned at 3 PM, housekeeping had already entered my room, moved my personal belongings, and acted like they didn’t know what was going on. To make matters worse, the housekeeper didn’t even speak English, making it impossible to get an explanation. When I took this up with the front desk, the supervisor (who clearly didn’t want to be there) brushed it off as a "mistake," claiming they thought they were cleaning a stayover. No apology, no effort to fix the situation, just a dismissive attitude that only added to my frustration.

And then there’s the spa debacle. With Hurricane Milton approaching, we had two spa treatments scheduled for Wednesday, but received an email suggesting that the spa might close and urging us to reschedule. The only times available were on Tuesday, hours apart, which was completely inconvenient. When we visited the spa in person, we were told everything was operating as usual and that they were now fully booked. The entire process was handled poorly, with confusion over appointment times and a coordinator who couldn’t care less. We canceled because it was clear this hotel has no interest in accommodating its guests.

To make matters worse, we had planned to use the $100 AMEX credit on the spa, but since that was a disaster, we opted for room service instead. For $104 (plus a server tip), all we received were 2 jumbo shrimp, a mezze dip with pita bread, and a charcuterie board. If I had been paying cash, I would have sent it back immediately. The value for money here is absolutely insulting.

The hurricane isn’t an excuse for poor service, terrible attitudes, and overall incompetence. The Waldorf Astoria is fully booked year-round for events and high-traffic periods, yet they are using the hurricane as a crutch to justify their failures. Guests deserve to be treated with respect, no matter the circumstances. This stay has been one failure after another, and I can’t imagine the next two days being any better.

If you're considering booking a stay at the Waldorf Astoria Disney in Orlando, I strongly advise you to reconsider. You’ll get better value and service elsewhere, at a hotel that actually cares about resolving issues and providing a luxury experience—not one that acts like a glorified dog kennel with subpar service and zero accountability. We are going to have dinner tonight to forget about the hotel and pray the hurricane makes the stay at this hotel...