CELEBRATION – The old school hotel is back. You know the old school hotel. It has a spiffy coffee shop by the pool, with attentive waiters. Quiet corridors with maids in sensible uniforms greet guests, in English, as they make up breezy clean rooms, with minimal furniture. It is smiling staff, who gives a whiff if you get a second set of linens.
Luckily, this hotel is located just off Interstate 4 in Celebration. It is the closest hotel off of the western end of Walt Disney World, and its a world away. Rooms are sleek and minimalist, with a smattering of IKEA. Actually, they aren’t rooms but suites; the project is also meant to be condos that are rentable.
While visiting Disney, being in Celebration allows the convenience of proximity to theme parks, but lets the family stay in a quieter area where the ticky-tack strip of Orlando is far away. While it is technically in Celebration, its a bit away from the actual town; you either have a long jog, or you can bike or rent one of their eco-friendly electric cars.
Being on the west side of Orlando in Kissimmee has another benefit. You don’t have to pass through Orlando to get to Gulf Coast beaches and Busch Gardens. In fact, if you book a week at the hotel, you can use the hotel as a hub to explore central Florida (Cypress Gardens and Bok Tower), the Tampa area (Busch Gardens, Ybor City), Sarasota (Ringling Museum, Siesta Key) and Weekie Wachee (those famous mermaids).
It’s out by the highway, and would be a long walk into the town Celebration, but by car its just a few minutes. The rooms are decorated in modern style, and bathroom amenities include L’Occitane shampoo, lotion and soap.
The dining room is a tad pricey, but well worth the money as the buffet breakfasts at The Galerie includes a full menu. The circular hotel overlooks a semi-circular pool; one end of the pool has a child-friendly “beach” slope that makes it easy for toddlers.
Mona Lisa Suite Hotel, 225 Celebration Place, Orlando, 888-404-6662 or www.monalisasuitehotel.com.
