The Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes

We stayed at the Ritz for one night before going on a cruise. We traveled from out of town and chose this hotel for predictability, as the Ritz Carlton hotels have always been a hotel of good standard. The night vibe was spectacular with live music offered in the lounge. The musician was interactive and chatted with us on his breaks. The food at lounge was delicious…. I had the steak and fritas. Getting right to the point, the room was fairly appointed in size, comfortable bed with crisp and what appeared to be brand new linens. However, the bathroom was dated and lackluster. It appeared the shower and sink areas were renovated in the past but the caulk was dated and washing off as the water hit it. In particular the shower tile was grungy and showed wear with black lines in between the cracks. The caulk peeling in the shower was simply disgusting. This was extremely disappointing since my primary reason for choosing this hotel was for predictability. I predicted at this price point of $700 a night, the shower experience would at minimum be comfortable. Wow, I was wrong. In this day and age where work and family life balance are important, I want to spend my money for the total package and this significantly failed short. I know the hotel has quality control staff who are paid to pay attention to things like this. I guess they overlooked this room. We didn’t mention it to management because in reading other reviews they want to apologize and promise to do better in the future. For reference, we stayed in room 251. If you visit the Ritz Carlton in Orlando, enjoy the hotel’s ambience, and nightlife but beware you can find cleaner, more updated bathrooms at much lower price points.

I stayed at the Ritz-Carlton earlier this month for a business trip. My room was spacious and the bed was very comfortable. I appreciated the soaking tub in the bathroom and utilized it a few times to soak after a long day of meetings. The shower was a bit small given the overall bathroom size, however. My room was cleaned daily and the turndown service was a nice touch. There was always plenty of water provided. The conference center was well appointed and the staff throughout the property were very attentive and eager to assist. My only complaint is that I was charged an astronomical amount of money to my room from the HonorBar, the in room mini bar. I did not utilize the mini bar at all during my stay and the majority of my food and drink (including alcohol) was catered by my company during our meeting. I had no need for it. I have been trying to no avail for almost 2 weeks to get this charge removed from my account. When I call the hotel directly, they send me to a customer service call center and the call center can't remove charges directly and needs to send me back to the hotel, and again they won't help me. My last resort is disputing the charge with my corporate credit card account provider, which is my next step if this situation isn't resolved soon. I'd expect better from such a highly rated brand, in this regard.

Guest Services staff, during check-in and check-out, were approachable and genuinely helpful. I deeply appreciate the "Welcome back!" tangibly expressed at each encounter. After experiencing effortless In-Room Dining ordering, there was no turning back. The basic process was scan the bar code (displayed on a side table), click a choice, then submit. Less than 20 minutes later, my meal and Server were at the door. J'adore! Friendly housekeeping staff checked on my needs twice every day, leaving water and Ritz chocolate in their wake. Arguably, my increased water intake was influenced by its being supplied in sexy black cartons. The suite was pristine and sleep was unbroken, enhancing my Ritz ritual of rest, eat, and repeat.

From the moment we pulled up, the Ritz-Carlton Orlando Grande Lakes made our whole family feel genuinely welcome. The valet greeted us with big smiles, and that same warmth hit us again at check-in with Auriane, who took such great care of us. We were lucky enough to upgrade to the Club Level, and Sheila was fantastic. She walked us through all the perks and really made us feel at home. The whole Ritz Club team, especially Trish, Brooke, and Jaime, treated us like we were part of their family. The attention to detail was next level, and the food all weekend was straight-up spectacular. The property is stunning too, with the beautiful pool, lazy river, and so many great amenities to enjoy. Our daughter loved the Ritz Kids Club and all the interactions with the pets, learning about them and doing the different activities. That Mother’s Day weekend was so wonderful. She had the absolute best time. As we were pulling away she had tears in her eyes telling us how special it was and how much fun she had. My wife also had the time of her life, feeling so recognized and appreciated as a mom, from the flowers to all the little thoughtful touches throughout the weekend. In a world that often feels so rushed, this place has a way of pausing everything and letting you just breathe, connect, and make memories that stick. There aren’t enough stars in the world for the amazing staff here. We left feeling refreshed and truly cared for. This hotel really knows how to do a family vacation right. I can’t recommend it enough!

Service, food, decor, rooms and outdoor setting were outstanding. Will be hard to stay at a lesser hotel