Nickelodeon Suites Resort – A Family Hotel with Amusements Galore (Part 1)

By: Colleen Lanin, The Travel Mama
February 21st, 2010

With onsite activities like an elaborate water park, miniature golf, and live audience-participation shows, the Nickelodeon Suites Resort in Orlando, Florida is a destination unto itself or an affordable hotel option for families who want to take free shuttles to nearby Disney World theme parks and other attractions. I recently spent four nights at the Nick Hotel with my daughter (Karissa, almost five), son (Leo, almost two), and mom (Grandma Ellen, 65). Read on to learn how you can win a two-night stay and other Nick-style fun for a family of four at the Nickelodeon Suites Resort!

All of the rooms at the Nick Hotel are suites. (As a light-sleeper, all I can say is, Halleluiah!) We stayed in a two-bedroom KidSuite, with bunk beds in a character-themed room, a king-size bed in the master, and a pull-out queen sofa bed in the living area. There was also a kitchen area equipped with a small fridge, sink, microwave, and coffee maker – making simple breakfasts and snacks a snap. A suite allows for better sleep, and therefore less cranky pants and a happier vacation for all!

After a long day of air travel (with a screaming toddler) from San Diego, we wanted to take it easy our first full day at the Nickelodeon Suites Resort. However, the overcast weather did not cooperate with our plans to explore the on-site Lagoon Water Park and Pool. I worried there wouldn’t be enough to keep us occupied, but there was plenty for us to do!

First we played a couple rounds of free miniature golf. Even my little guy got in on the action!

After lunch and naps, we headed to The Mall. From restaurants to entertainment and shopping, you can find all sorts of indoor fun here.

First, we checked out Nickelodeon’s 4-D Theatre. We sported 3-D glasses to experience stuff “jumping” out at us from the movie screen. The fourth “D” came in the form of misted water, scents (think flowers), and rumbling seats. You can pay per flick, or for a little more, get a wristband for unlimited viewing throughout your stay. My daughter was scared by the first movie, Deep Sea, about ocean creatures but she stuck it out nonetheless. Her brother, on the other hand, started crying less than one minute into the film so I had to whisk him away. I took Karissa back in for a viewing of Nick Jr’s The Wonder Pets: Save the Sheep! This show did not require the glasses and was more her speed.

Next stop? The Kid’s Spa. Karissa chose sparkly blue from a rainbow of colors for her finger nails. She’s quite the girly girl and loved the attention from her sweet nail technician. The spa also offered temporary tattoos (for both boys and girls), hair braiding, and pedicures.

Minding the pretty nails, we headed for The Arcade, where there were games for little ones (virtual bowling and mini basketball) to teens (ski ball, Guitar Hero, and air hockey). The kids earned points while playing, and redeemed them for little trinkets and toys.

Before dinner, we attended Nick Live Goes Wild, a high-energy audience-participation game show at Studio Nick. The losing team’s dad got a cream pie in the face, while the winning team’s tween son got doused with slime (which, apparently, was a really cool thing for a boy that age)! Late night shows included Family Improv, Who Knows Best?, and Karaoke.

Nick After Dark was also located in The Mall for children ages five through twelve. Alas, my children were too young to participate but backstage passes to the Nick Studio and hands-on slime-making would be enough to keep most kids happy for an evening while mom and dad slip out for some grown-up fun.

There was so much to do- I couldn’t squeeze all of the information about the Nick Hotel into one story! Check back next week to read about character dining and the resort’s fabulous water park in Nickelodeon Suites Resort – Part 2.

Want in on the fun? Enter to win a two-night stay below or book a two-bedroom KidSuite for just $99! That’s nearly 50 percent off the average standard rate! This awesome rate is being offered for a limited time to Travel Mamas readers only. The final date to book this deal has been extended to February 28, 2010. Learn more about this offer.

Enter to win a two-night stay in a two-bedroom KidSuite at the Nickelodeon Suites Resort! The winner will also be awarded one character meal (for two adults and two children), four 4-D Movie wristbands, 300 points for use at the arcade, and a gift basket of Nickelodeon goodies. Approximate value is $500. The contest ends on Saturday, March 6, 2010. The winner will be randomly selected using RANDOM.org and will be notified via email. If the prize is not claimed within one week, the winner will forfeit the prize and an alternative winner will be selected. Based on availability. Not valid during Holiday Weeks, Special Events and Expected Sell-Out Dates. Two Night Accommodations (Room and Tax) Resort Fee Not Included. THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED. The winner will be announced on Travel Mamas on Monday, March 8, 2010.

You can enter a total of four times. To enter now:

1) Make a comment below about why you would like to have the “slime” of your life at the Nickelodeon Suites Resort. All generic comments like, “Thanks for the contest” or “I want to win” will not count as entries.

2) Tweet this contest! Copy and paste the following phrase into Twitter. Be sure to post another comment with a link to your tweet!
I want to have the slime of my life with a FREE 2-night stay at @NickHotel on @TravelMamas   http://bit.ly/dfvn7h

3 & 4) Read Nickelodeon Suites Resort – Part 2 to enter the contest two more times now!

 

For more information on this topic see:

• Get a Good Night’s Sleep on Vacation with Kids

• How to Plan a Disney World Vacation          

• Nickelodeon Suites Resort: A Hotel & Water Park for a Splashing Good Time

• 10 Best Family-Friendly Hotel Pools in the World

A note from The Travel Mama: The Nickelodeon Suites Resort invited my family and me to stay at their resort for three nights free-of-charge. We also received a free character breakfast. It was so much fun - we booked an extra night at a discounted rate.

Orlando Hotel Review on raveable

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This entry was posted on Sunday, February 21st, 2010 at 5:00 pm and is filed under Family Vacations, Giveaways, Hotel Reviews, Theme Parks. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.