Hilton Garden Inn Orlando At Sea World {Review}

This summer seems to have a recurring theme for my family, and that theme is FUN! We have been enjoying the warm weather and spending time together as a family. Now that we are out of diapers and cribs, we are taking more multi-day trips with the kids, which they absolutely love. They get so excited when we take off to stay a night or two in a hotel!

Last week I posted about our Magical Getaway at the Hilton Garden Inn Orlando at SeaWorld and our first night at the super fun Slumber Party, and now I want to tell you about the hotel itself and everything it has to offer.

When we travel, it is usually for the purpose of visiting family or friends, or checking out a new city or theme park. Therefore, we don't spend a whole lot of time at the hotel, and we don't usually look for one with resort-style amenities like water parks or golf courses. Instead, I just want a clean room, a soft bed, an on-site restaurant in case we need a quick meal and some of the luxuries of home like a refrigerator and a coffee maker. The Hilton Garden Inn Orlando at SeaWorld had everything I look for in a hotel.

Located just one block from SeaWorld, four miles to Universal Studios and five miles to Walt Disney World, the Hilton Garden Inn Orlando at SeaWorld is a great place to stay if you are going to be visiting Orlando! You can actually walk to SeaWorld from the hotel, or you can take the complimentary shuttle to all three theme parks. There is even a free shuttle to Busch Gardens Tampa if you need a little more fun. The I-ride Trolley, which will take you anywhere you want to go on International Drive, has a stop across the street.

The hotel offers 224 guestrooms, including 7 suites. We stayed in a room with two double beds, which was perfect for our family of four. The room was very nice and clean and had everything we needed for our weekend. We even scored a couple bags of Hilton Garden Inn and SeaWorld swag upon our arrival!

We had a great view of the SeaWorld roller coasters from our room. You can see from this picture just how close it is. The parking lot was literally right down the street.

Our room included a microwave, coffee maker and a refrigerator, which we definitely used! I enjoy a cup of coffee first thing in the morning, and we were able to store cold drinks in the refrigerator to quench our thirst after being in the hot sun all day.

The bathroom was so clean that it sparkled, and I loved the large granite counter top and mirror. It was stocked with products from Bath & Body Works and Neutrogena, which was definitely a nice touch.

Even the shower had decorative tile in it. I love hotels that go the extra mile to make you feel at home. The curved shower rod made the shower nice and roomy, and I was glad that the shower head wasn't one of those that pounds your back in one spot while you shower like many hotels have.

The Hilton Garden Inn is great for business travelers. All Hilton Garden Inn rooms have a large work desk with convenient desk level outlets, adjustable lighting, and ergonomic chairs, along with complimentary wired and wireless high speed Internet. It makes a great space to work, even if that work is more artistic in nature, like coloring a masterpiece.

The self-adjusting Garden Sleep System beds were probably the most comfortable beds I have ever experienced in a hotel. I often wake up with a sore back after sleeping in a bed that isn't my own, but not this time. Between the super soft sheets and pillowcases, and the comfortable mattress, we all slept wonderfully!

The in-room amenities are not all that the Hilton Garden Inn Orlando at SeaWorld has to offer. After a day of playing at a theme park, exploring other Orlando attractions, or attending a business conference, you can cool off in the large outdoor pool, or unwind with a cocktail at Sting Ray's lounge.

Photo by Ed Sills

Guests can grab a bite to eat at the Great American Grill, where kids under 5 eat free with a paying adult. When you travel as a family, that right there can save you a ton of money! A fresh, cooked-to-order breakfast is offered daily, including their signature waffles.

Photo by Ed Sills

We enjoyed breakfast at the hotel one morning during our stay, and the food was delicious! We had eggs, bacon, sausage, corned beef hash, breakfast potatoes, waffles, donuts, pastries and fruit. There was so much food available that we totally forgot to take advantage of the cook-to-order omelets. Coffee and juice was served at our table, along with a little extra fun in the form of balloons.

My brother, his girlfriend and her son joined us for breakfast before our trip to SeaWorld on Sunday, and the kids all received balloon animals from "The Balloon Lady". Grayson's alligator and Bryce's dinosaur had some battles during breakfast...

...and Rylie's monkey sat up on her shoulder while she ate.

If you can't make it to the restaurant during operating hours, room service is available, along with the 24-hour Pavilion Pantry where you can purchase healthy snacks, sweet treats, cold beverages and meals to cook up in your in-room microwave. It is also stocked with convenience items to suit many travelers’ needs.

Photo by Ed Sills

If you are one of those who never takes a vacation from your fitness routine, you can take advantage of the complimentary Fitness Center that features the latest cardio and weight training equipment. Also available for check out from the front desk is the Stay Fit Kit for in-room workouts. This includes a Pilates band, yoga mat, strap and blocks, 8 lb abs ball, 3 lb hand weights, resistance rope and instruction cards.

Photo by Ed Sills

The best part about the Hilton Garden Inn Orlando at SeaWorld is that it is an official SeaWorld hotel. All guests receive exclusive benefits at SeaWorld such as:

• Complimentary transportation to SeaWorld, Aquatica and Discovery Cove (along with Universal Orlando and Disney)
• Complimentary Quick Queue Unlimited (front-of-the-line access) at SeaWorld
• Exclusive access to the "Sea World Rescue Tour" at SeaWorld on Early Entry dates and every Saturday all year long
• Early Entry to SeaWorld and Aquatica on select dates in peak season
• Discounts on dining and select merchandise purchases at SeaWorld and Aquatica

We definitely took advantage of some of these perks, and especially loved the Quick Queue Unlimited passes! Brian and I took turns with my brother and his girlfriend and rode the roller coasters while the others watched the kids. We never once waited in line. It was awesome!

If you are going to be visiting the Orlando area, I highly recommend staying at the Hilton Garden Inn Orlando at SeaWorld. The rates are reasonable, the hotel is very nice, and the perks are great!

Disclosure: All opinions are my own. Our hotel stay, attraction tickets and trip expenses were provided by Hilton Garden Inn. However, I was not required to write this or any other posts about our Magical Getaway.