The Spa at Orlando World Center Marriott Resort
& Convention Center, Orlando Florida
Julie Register visited this resort spa in Florida in November 2003

Decisions, decisions! Be prepared to make a few at Orlando World Center Marriott Resort - and they won't be easy...

Stay on the property and enjoy all that the self-described landlocked cruise ship has to offer? - Hawk's Landing Championship Golf Course (18 holes; 6810 yards; 72 par) and Golf Academy, 4 heated swimming pools (1 indoor) with seasonal poolside activities (hair braiding, dive-in movies, face painting), 2 children's pools, 6 whirlpools, lots of fountains and waterfalls, 2 sand volleyball courts, 4 lighted tennis courts, basketball, sand play area, activity center, video arcade, shopping (News Network, Mangrove Emporium Retail Shops with Tommy Bahama, Brighton, Fossil, Hawk's Landing Pro Shop), restaurants, 24-hour fitness center and a full-service spa.

Or

Visit the many Orlando attractions less than 10 miles from the resort? - Disney's Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Animal Kingdom, MGM Studios, Downtown Disney, Cirque du Soleil, SeaWorld, Discovery Cove, Celebration, Gatorland, Wet N Wild, Universal Orlando, Islands of Adventure, CityWalk, shopping (Mall at Millenia, Downtown Disney Marketplace, Belz Factory Outlet World, Premium Outlet Mall), Orlando Museum of Art, Orlando Magic. Tickets to many of the attractions are available at right in the hotel lobby. Complimentary transportation is available to Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure, CityWalk, SeaWorld, Discovery Cove and Wet 'N Wild. Transportation is available to Disney for a fee.

During my two-day visit, I packed in a lot of fabulous activities on and off the resort - Cirque du Soleil - La Nouba (don't miss this!); a golf lesson at Hawk's Landing Golf Academy (I'm not as bad as I thought); Universal Studios (lots of new things since I was last there ten years ago - like The Hulk - which I did not go on - and Spiderman, Shrek and Men in Black - which I tried and loved; fabulous dinners at the World Center's Ristoranté Tuscany, Hawk's Landing Steakhouse & Grille, Mikado Japanese Steakhouse and breakfasts at Solaris; exercise at the fitness center and a relaxing spa treatment between everything else...

The Spa
I scheduled my spa treatment for the end of a long, busy and happy day at Universal Studios. Lots of walking and standing made my legs and feet extra tired. I walked past the spa pool and whirlpool and noted the spa music in the night air. I entered the spa and checked in at the reception desk and was escorted to the Women's changing room where I was given a locker, robe and sandals. The changing room had four showers, a steam room, locker area and a vanity area with two chairs. At the time of my visit, the spa was under construction to add a larger co-ed waiting area and three additional treatment rooms and a pedicure center featuring Murano pedicure stations. It will be a welcomed addition to the existing changing rooms and six treatment rooms. There were three of us waiting for our treatments and not enough chairs. Fortunately, the wait wasn't long. My therapist, Tiffany came to collect me for my Aromaceane Marine Mud Body Treatment shortly after I had showered and put on my robe. We entered a wet treatment room and she asked me to select an aromatherapy scent to be mixed with therapeutic marine mud. My body was coated in this and then wrapped. While I relaxed in the cozy cocoon, my therapist gave me a reflexive foot massage - a perfect touch considering the day's activities. When the wrap was done, I rinsed off in the shower and returned to the treatment table for an application of moisturizing cream. After changing back into my clothes, I slowly walked back to my room and collapsed into bed for a great night's sleep.

Other services offered at the spa include:

Massage Therapy: Swedish, All American Sports, Japanese Shiatsu, Egyptian Art of Reflexology, International Indulgence - the Executive Escape with two therapists as they simultaneously perform a deluxe Swedish massage.

Body Treatments: Mineral Rich Full Body Wrap with Vichy Shower, Aromatherapy Journey, Micronized Marine Algae Full Body Wrap, Toning Body Wrap, Aromaceane Marine Mud Body Treatment, Natural Sun.

Skin Care: Aromatherapy Essential Escape Facial, Gelatin-Verbena Facial, Oxygen Marine Facial, Executive Gentleman's Facial.

Nail Services: Express Manicure, Spa Manicure, Spa Pedicure, French Polish.

Spa Packages:

• Executive Gentleman's Getaway: 50 min. Executive Escape Massage, 50 min. Gentleman's Facial, 50 min. Marine Algae Wrap

• Relaxing Rain: 45 min. Revitalizing Rain Body Polish & Vichy, 50 min. Gelatin-Verbena Facial, 50 min. Swedish Massage

• A Quick Escape: 25 min. Manicure, 25 min. Facial, 25 min. Swedish Massage

• Aromatherapy Essential: 50 min. Aromatherapy Facial, 25 min. Express Manicure, 80 min. Aromatherapy Treatment

• Roses and Lavender: 50 min. All Natural Facial with Floral Mask, 50 min. Aromatherapy Massage, 50 min. Toning Body Wrap

• Custom Package: You will receive a 10% discount on all treatments of 3 or more, enjoy!

The spa also is planning to upgrade the pool area, add spritzers, add water treatments, add an outdoor spa grill featuring nutritional food, and an outdoor yoga area.

Fitness Center
The 4,000 square-foot Fitness Center is open 24 hours a day and offers 21 cardiovascular machines, an array of Cybex circuit training stationary equipment, Cybex Smith and pulley machines, free weights up to 65 pounds, guest day lockers, personal fitness trainers, nutritional consultations, body composition monitoring, yoga, tai chi, water aerobics, circuit training classes, water and towels provided.

Hawk's Landing Golf Club
This 18-hole, Robert E. Cupp II-designed, championship course (par 72, 6810 yards, slope rating 134) is right outside the resort door. There's a full-service pro shop, driving range, and golf school.

Guest Rooms
The Orlando World Center Marriott is the largest Marriott hotel in the world with 2000 guest hotel rooms. Guest rooms were renovated in 2001 for $17 million. $6 million was invested in renovating the 110 suites in 2003. Room amenities include work desk with lamp, 2-line speaker phone, voice mail, data port on phone, high speed internet access, cable TV with remote control, in-room movies, newspaper delivered (Mon-Fri), mini-bar, coffee maker, iron and ironing board, hairdryer, safe, individual climate control, balcony or patio and sofa bed.

Restaurants
There are ten restaurants and lounges, serving everything from pizza and burgers to sashimi and USDA prime beef. I dined at:
Ristoranté Tuscany...true Tuscan cooking presented by chefs trained at Antica Posta Restaurant in Tuscany, Italy.
Hawk's Landing Steakhouse & Grille...overlooking the championship golf course, this contemporary restaurant offers great beef and seafood.
Mikado Japanese Steakhouse...great Japanese food along with exciting live entertainment as your meal is prepared tableside by skilled teppan-yaki chefs.
Solaris...Open all day, every day for home-style breakfast, lunch or dinner. Great breakfast buffet (don't miss the almond-crusted French toast!) and an incredible Friday night seafood buffet.

Click HERE for photos of The Spa at Orlando World Center Marriott Resort & Convention Center	Click HERE for photos of a Guest Room at Orlando World Center Marriott Resort & Convention Center
Click HERE for photos of  Orlando World Center Marriott Resort & Convention Center	Click HERE for photos of things to do at and near Orlando World Center Marriott Resort & Convention Center
Contact  Orlando World Center Marriott Resort & Convention Center • Address:  8701 World Center Drive, Orlando, FL, 32821, USA • Spa: 407-238-8705 • Phone: 407-239-4200 • Fax: 407-238-8777 • Reservations: 800-621-0638 • Email • Web Site	FYI Cancellation Policy Should you need to cancel a reservation, a 4-hour minimum notice is required. Appointments cancelled in less than this required time are billed at full price. Gift Certificates Gift Certificates are available and valid for one year after purchase. Gift Certificates are non-refundable.