Imagine taking the kids on an Orlando vacation without telling them where the family will be staying. And then imagine the looks of wonder, the squeals of joy and recognition, as you pull up to a child’s fantasyland made real — Holiday Inn’s Nickelodeon Family Suites.
That’s exactly what we did on a recent family excursion to Orlando, and the expressions on the children’s faces were priceless. And it only got better from there. In fact, it was hard to tell what they enjoyed more – the various theme parks we visited over the next several days or the time spent at the hotel.
From the bright colors every which way you look to an array of beloved Nickelodeon characters pictured everywhere and even walking around, lifelike as can be, Nickelodeon Family Suites was designed for families from start to finish; indeed, our younger son asked whether we could move from New York and, as he put it, “live forever at the Nick Hotel.”
It’s no mystery why he felt that way. If you like the water — and water-related fun — you’ll also never want to leave. Children (and those of us adults who never really grew up) experience a wet and wild wonderland of multiple slides, climbing nets, water jets, flumes, and a 400-gallon water dump at two pool complex-style pools.
The fun hardly stops at poolside – not when you’ve got attractions like a Kids Spa, where girls are pampered with manicures and boys inked with temporary tattoos; a netted basketball court, with multiple-height hoops for kids of all ages; a nine-hole mini golf course; a shaded kids’ play area, offering wet and dry attractions like slides and squirt games games; Studio Nick, a million-dollar state-of-the-art theater with live nightly entertainment; The Mall, complete with a food court and great places to shop; The Lounge, where adults can relax with a cocktail, frozen drink, or afternoon coffee; and The Arcade, a 3,000-square-foot game room.
And then there’s the highlight of the day – Slime Time. We’re talking a mass sliming every day at the Lagoon Slide Tower. If you’re unfamiliar with the term, check out www.nickhotel.com for more details. Suffice it to say that kids, strange creatures that they are, just love getting covered in the green globs.
In short, this is no ordinary Holiday Inn. With Nickelodeon-branded activities, a Nick-trained staff, and Nick-inspired expectations, the entire family is in for a real treat. Parents can kick back, relax, and let the kids have more fun than they ever dreamed possible — with close staff supervision, of course.
And speaking of parents, they’re sure to love the many adult-style services and amenities offered by Nickelodeon Family Suites. There’s high-speed Internet access to help them stay connected in their suites and a guest-services desk staffed by extraordinarily friendly and helpful people who assist with tickets, reservations, and information ranging from what kind of weather to expect later in the week to directions to nearby shopping venues.
There are shuttles to Orlando attractions — Disney theme parks, Universal Orlando, SeaWorld, Wet n’ Wild, etc. – as well as Nick After Dark kids’ activities, great for when parents need a break from the youngsters; a business center, just in case parents need to fax or print while away; and gated access and wristbands, ensuring parents peace of mind about their children’s safety.
Located within a few miles of all the great Central Florida attractions – Epcot (2 miles); La Nouba-Cirque du Soleil (4 miles); MGM Studios (5 miles); Animal Kingdom (5.5 miles); Magic Kingdom (6 miles); and SeaWorld Orlando (6 miles), to name just a few – Nickelodeon Family Suites offers quick and easy access to everything that makes Orlando and its environs the family-fun capital of America – while at the same time providing a complete vacation experience in its own right.
Nickelodeon Family Suites features One-Bedroom Kitchen Suites (private master bedroom and full kitchen); Two-Bedroom Kidsuites (semi-private bedroom with twins or bunks, a master bedroom, and a kitchenette with mini refrigerator, sink, microwave and coffee maker); and Three-Bedroom Kidsuites (semi-private bedroom with bunks, two master bedrooms, two baths and full kitchen).
Kashruth-observant families will especially appreciate the kitchens or kitchenettes, and there are plenty of area supermarkets carrying a nice selection of kosher products.
Nickelodeon Family Suites will give you an Orlando vacation you and your kids will remember for more than just the theme parks. Our son still asks when we can move in for good.
For further information, visit www.nickhotel.com or call 1-877-NICK-111.
