Staybridge Suites Lake Buena Vista

The Staybridge Suites is well-kept if somewhat corporate, housed in a beige and cream building surrounded by small gardens and lined with tall palm trees. Numerous seating options throughout the two-story lobby invite guests to relax and recharge after busy days of exploring Orlando. Dark wood and cream walls dominate the decor, with several tables and chairs clustered around the lobby, along with a comfy sofa in front of a flat-screen TV. The guest services desk is directly across from the front desk with several high-back chairs. The ample breakfast dining room is within view of the front desk as well, and shaded tables in the lovely courtyard beckon diners with a fountain and tropical landscaping. But the pool complex is the hotel's main hub. Located in the heart of the complex with many rooms overlooking it, the pool is resort-quality and offers a whirlpool and adjacent games room. This is a place any traveler will find comfortable, though it's particularly suited to families with kids. 

The hotel is located just two to three minutes from Interstate 4 in Lake Buena Vista and less than one mile, about five minutes by car, from Walt Disney World Resort. The hotel runs a scheduled shuttle service to four Disney parks. SeaWorld and Epcot Center are eight and 13 minutes away by car, respectively, while Universal Studios (17 minutes), Orange County Convention Center (14 minutes) and Orlando International Airport (22 minutes) are reasonably close as well. The Church Street Station entertainment complex is 21 minutes by car; the Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center is a nine minute drive; and the Orlando Vineyard Premium Outlets is a six-minute drive. The hotel is a one- to two-minute drive to numerous restaurants, a drug store, and a grocery store -- and many of them can be reached in less than five minutes on foot.

Renovated in late 2012, all guest rooms are suites in one-bed or two-bath, two-bedroom configurations. One-bedroom suites each have a king-size bed. The Trio Suites each have two bedrooms, one with a king-size bed and the other with two full-size beds. Suites are roomy, each with an especially spacious living room with an upholstered sofa-bed, flat-screen TV with DVD player, dining table with leather-upholstered chairs, and an armchair. Each full kitchen also has plenty of room and comes fully equipped with full-size refrigerator with icemaker, stove, microwave, toaster, dishwasher, sink, coffeemaker, cookware, dishes, and utensils. Outside each bathroom is a long dark wood vanity with a beige top and plenty of counter space in front of a large wall mirror. Each bathroom itself is average-size with a shower/tub combo with curtain, white tile walls, and dark-brown tile floors. Bedrooms have flat-screen TVs with DVD players atop dressers, wood headboards, and corner work desks with office chairs and floor lamps. Furnishings and decor are tasteful but not luxurious by any measure, with dark-brown wood, cream and orange stucco-style walls, light-brown patterned carpets and drapes, and patterned bedspreads. Orange, brown, and gray upholstered chairs and sofas are in living areas. Suites on upper floors have balconies, some with pool views. Electronic safe, two-line phone with voice mail, and free Wi-Fi are standard in all rooms.

A free scheduled shuttle runs to four Disney parks—Epcot, Magic Kingdom, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom -- but not SeaWorld or Universal Studios. A hot breakfast buffet is included in the daily rate with each room. Outside dining tables are available. No lunch or dinner is offered, but a local provider offers room service during those meal times. While there's no on-site bar, a 24-hour market sells beer, wine, snacks, sundries, and frozen entrees. Meeting space for up to 50 people is available, and the 24-hour business center has three computer stations with Internet access and printer. The guest laundry facility has several coin-operated machines, and laundry and same-day dry cleaning services are available. The large heated pool has an adjacent whirlpool and kiddy pool. A games room next to the pool complex offers arcade-style games such as Ms. Pacman. The fitness center is small and harshly lit with florescent lights, but it offers the typical lineup of cardio machines and free weights. There's an evening reception Tuesday through Thursday with free wine, beer, and snacks. A book exchange gives guests free paperbacks to read. Free morning newspapers and free Wi-Fi throughout the property are offered. But the hotel has no elevators to take guests to the second or third floors. Free parking is on-site in front of guest rooms.