Captain Dale was a great guide. Got to see a mother and her babies as well as another gator back…read morein the low tide. Very knowledgeable and was able to take us to areas where bigger boats couldn't go! Spirit of the swamp offers 6 man boats. This helps with getting into tighter areas and low water areas! It was very fun to slide around the marsh!

This was one of our best stops on the trip, by far. We toured with Captain Ryan, who was…read moreknowledgeable, friendly and skilled. Before going out, we got a comprehensive safety brief and were informed of an area to keep our belongings. As we were cruising, we wore headsets with speakers in which captain Ryan was speaking about the surrounding environment. The headset also had microphones in which we would reply to him. As we got into the swampy area, the ride was smooth and as someone who is scared of water, I felt completely safe. Captain Ryan brought us to some wonderful hidden gems such as a few alligator nests where he explained their structure in detail and answered any questions with complete answers. We got very close to alligators and baby alligators (freshly hatched the day before) and it was an amazing experience. Captain Ryan made us feel confident that we were not in danger and if we were, he would be able to handle it. As we were finishing our tour it started to pour and we switched our headset out for a water friendly version. Rather than bringing us directly back to the docking area, we sat under an overpass to prevent getting completely drenched and possibly hurt. We made it back and Captain Ryan made sure we were all safe getting off. Overall, a truly wonderful experience. More than worth the price. It was beyond what we expected in the best ways.

I can honestly say that visiting this place and riding an airboat were among the most enjoyable…read morethings I have done in many years. Wow! My family, friends, and I had such a great time and wish that we could have remained on the airboat much longer. This place is located at the end of a very long road. The drive to the property is very quiet and relaxing. The property itself was well-maintained, everything was clearly marked, and the venue itself was fun. There is a gift shop, a snack shop, a food trailer offering hot food, a beverage hit, clean bathrooms, gold mining, and so much more. The employees went out of their way to make everyone feel welcome and comfortable. The real reason why you would visit this place is the airboats. Each guest boards the large boats, which can seat 12-15 people at a time. To the rear of the boat sits this huge fan, which controls the boat. Each guest is required to grab a headset or ear protection, as the boats are noisy and loud, and I mean LOUD once they get going. The purpose of the boats is to have fun, of course, but the objective is to look for alligators as you speed through the swamps. During our visit, we spotted nine alligators, and the boat operator stopped so guests could see and experience them up close. The alligators are never disturbed, and they do not seem to mind being watched. Back to the airboats, these things are FAST! The boat operator will have you going so fast on the water, then pull into a complete 360-degree turn when you least expect it. The first time the boat operator sped away from the dock at the start of the tour, you were a tad nervous, similar to riding a roller coaster. After this initial nervousness, you could not get enough of this airboat and only wanted to go fast on the water. I might add that there was a group seated in front of us with a boy between 8 and 10 years old and a young tween girl, and they appeared to enjoy the airboat ride just as much as we adults. This is definitely a fun place for all ages

The place itself was clean and organized, and the airboat ride was okay overall, but we were still…read moredisappointed with the experience. We were a group of 7 people, and unfortunately it did not meet our expectations. We only saw one alligator swimming in the water during the entire tour. Instead of wildlife, the driver mostly showed us horses and cows from a farm across the resort, which was not what we came for. What made the experience worse was that the driver kept intentionally driving us into thick grass areas several times. He also stopped the boat in an area full of mosquitoes/gnats, and we kept getting bitten until we asked him to move immediately. Unfortunately, he repeated this more than once, which made the ride very uncomfortable. Overall, the experience was not worth the money for us. We would not return and would not recommend it.

What a fun experience! We took our daughter, her husband and our 3 grandkids (3 year old and twin…read more11 year olds). We all loved it. The kids couldn't stop talking about it. Captain Chad was great - we saw many alligators, turtles, lotsa big water birds and had a blast scooting around in the Airboat. Getting to hold the baby alligator was so cool. Special shout out to Anji, who took excellent care of our group and answered all our questions. She was so knowledgeable. We spent about 2 hours there in total . . . a great value for our money.

Captain Chad did not disappoint. We saw more than 20 gator and turtles, fish and birds. The ride…read morewas amazing and the location beautiful. Captain Chad was very knowledgable ! Highly recommend!!

I recently went here for a stay-cation and it does live up to its reputation…read more Its all in the details! From higher end bedding, to sparkling clean and well maintained everything, to the fresh lobby flowers, it all says high end and was much appreciated. Check in took a few minutes of waiting around noon and we were accommodated to an early check in. There was no availability for a room upgrade but the standard one was beautiful regardless. The bed was very comfortable, the bathroom was beautiful and very clean with a separate shower and tub. The toiletries were a nice touch since my husband forgot to bring his toothbrush. The soaps, shampoo, body wash and conditioner all seemed like a higher quality with muted, natural scents. The grounds a very pretty, they shared amenities with the JW next door which created a fun day going from their lazy river then back to the Ritz pool for some R&R. The Ritz pool area has complimentary water, fruit, sunscreen, towels floating mats. The pool server was attentive as well. The lobby bar is large with friendly wait staff. I had probably the best charcuterie board I've ever had, featuring really decent gluten free toast in lieu of regular crackers, fresh honey comb, and high quality meats and cheeses. Fruit and electrolyte water was waiting in my room after a long day at the pool, which was a pleasant surprise. The breakfast buffet was inside Highball&Harvest, which was packed full of options, including gf muffins, toast, and waffles which were made in their kitchen area away from the buffet. There are a lot of amenities that I walked by but didn't utilize, like mountain bikes for their wood path, canoes, pool tables, ping pong, foosball, giant chess, soccer goals and a bunch of kids activities. Overall, I had an excellent stay at the Ritz Carlton and would love to return soon!

I attended the Ritz Carlton Orlando Spa After Dark Fourth of July Event…read more I was looking for something to do close to home and low key for the Fourth of July and stumbled upon the Spa After Dark event. I had been to the Ritz several times either to visit the spa and spa restaurant or to enjoy the pool using resort pass so I was familiar with the Ritz. I was expecting a small, quiet event but to my surprise many other people had the same idea that I had and decided to come to the Spa After Dark Fourth of July Event too! There were quite a few people attending the event but it didn't feel over crowded. There was great music playing setting the vibe. Plenty of seating but the seats did fill up as more and more people arrived. There was a bar servicing cocktails and mocktails. The evening included mini chair massages and pressotherapy but unfortunately I didn't get to partake in these services because they were being adjacent to the pool area and I really didn't want to leave the pool area and because there was a long wait. I really wish I could have been able to enjoy these services. There was food or light bites but since it was the Fourth of July I was expecting a little more. I would have loved to have maybe some mini burger sliders, bbq meatballs, or bbq chicken wings. These items would have been great for the Fourth of July. Instead we had about 4 to 5 types of hors d'oeuvres that were all you can eat. The hors d'oeuvres included cheese, hummus/pitas/vegetables, red and blue chips with salsa, fruit cup with yogurt, and 1 mocktail. The food was ok, with the best item being the hummus. The staff were friendly and helpful and kept the food coming. It started to drizzle (just temporarily) so one of the staff members came over and opened the umbrella to shield me from the rain. So thoughtful! The best part of the night was the fireworks! The fireworks were absolutely phenomenal!! The fireworks were so close! The finale was so memorable and the best fireworks that I have seen!

Well, this hotel was fabulous. I literally only have two small-ish negative things to say, and it…read moreprobably doesn't affect everyone. PRO's: -Nicely sized rooms - not huge, but not small either. I was assigned to a room with two queen beds, but it was just me, so I had an extra bed to put luggage, etc. on. -HUGE bathrooms, including a separate shower and separate bathtub, and nice amenties. -Excellent customer service - I had some ice packs I needed them to hold on to, in their freezer, and they were able to do that at the bell hop desk for me. -Ridiculously nice pool area - I was staying here for a conference and brought a swimsuit just in case, but as soon as I got to my room the first day - which they upgraded me, to a pool/lake room view, even though I don't have status with Marriott - I knew I had to try out the pool and waterslides. Luckily I had a spare hour before my conference started so I literally ate lunch and then jumped on a water slide, ha. ----There are three water slides: one you require an inner tube for, and the other two you just lay back while on it. CONs: -The area between the toilet and the toilet paper roll is super small. I am not a small person so this is probably why I had an issue, but I ended up just taking the toilet paper off the roll, because it kept hitting my thighs when I unrolled it. -The shower has a handheld area you can use or just the regular shower top (? I forget the name for that). The regular top doesn't have great water pressure, so I ended up using the handheld thing and just keeping it pointed towards me. They have a sign up in the lobby saying that Forbes chose them as one of the nicest properties in the world, I believe, and I can see why. They also have a few restaurants on site, as well as a Starbucks, but most of my meals were included at my conference; I did get Doordash the first day I was there, though. Be aware that for the Starbucks you cannot order ahead on the app, though, and the lines are often long (especially with conferences going on, and there were two while I was staying there, including ours!). I would definitely stay at this hotel again - I wasn't paying for the bill this time but I believe it is rather pricey normally, though.

The JW Marriott definitely looks and feels like a high-end property. The hotel is polished,…read moreattractive, and has the upscale atmosphere you expect from the brand. That said, the price point is definitely on the high side, so expectations naturally go up with it. For me, the biggest disconnect was the service level, which felt more fair than exceptional. Nothing was terrible, but it did not really match the luxury pricing or the overall image of the property. When you are paying premium rates, you expect service that stands out, and this felt a little more average than memorable. Overall, it is a nice hotel, but at this price level I was hoping for a stronger service experience.

10/10 experience. Captain John, aka The Swamp Shepard, knows the marsh and the gators know him…read more Great wildlife sightings, top-tier gator action, and fire Marsh Beast merch. Would follow this man into the swamp any day.

Captain Jeff took us on a wild ride to hunt (search) for the mighty alligator. He knew exactly…read morewhere to go and we saw so many!! His knowledge and experience really shined through and this adventure went beyond our expectations. He also pointed out so many other works of nature and told elaborate stories. Ohh he navigated us away from the rain, but when it found us he gave me his raincoat. Such a gentleman. We had an awesome experience.

Had a pretty great stay at this hotel. The staff was friendly, the room was clean, and the service…read morewas excellent. A special thank you to Sophia at the front desk. She was professional, welcoming, and attentive throughout my stay. Her dedication and positive attitude made a lasting impression. 'ppreciate you, Sophia!

The plus: Staff, location, free cookies, $10 credit on food at the Market, and 2 free bottles of…read morewater. The minus: Found puddle of water in my room by the AC. Had to call twice to get it fix. It has something to do with the outside temperature. I stayed in the Villa, so I had one of those AC system that sticks attached to outside. Used towels every time I came back in. Also, they are forgetful about the water bottles and when you ask the front desk, they call Housekeeping and sometimes they still don't bring them. I stayed 5 nights there.

Rosen Shingle Creek 9939 UNIVERSAL BLVD,…read moreORLANDO, FLORIDA 32819 There's something about arriving at Rosen Shingle Creek that immediately sets the tone for a refined yet welcoming stay. Rising gracefully against the Orlando skyline, this property feels less like a typical hotel and more like a thoughtfully designed retreat where comfort, elegance, and service come together effortlessly. The first thing that stands out is the architecture--rich Spanish revival influences that give the entire space a warm, timeless character. It's grand without feeling overwhelming, and every corner feels intentional. As you step into the guest rooms, the experience only gets better. Spacious, quiet, and beautifully maintained, the rooms offer sweeping views of the lush greens of the Shingle Creek Golf Course. Waking up to that serene landscape feels like a reset button for the day. What truly elevates the experience here is the level of hospitality. The service feels genuine, not scripted--attentive without being intrusive. It's clear why they've earned a reputation for exceptional customer care. The dining options are equally impressive, offering a variety of well-executed menus that cater to different moods, whether you're in the mood for a relaxed bite or a more refined evening. Add to that the expansive meeting rooms and conference spaces, and it's easy to see why this property is a favorite for both leisure travelers and business guests alike. Location-wise, it's hard to beat--tucked along Universal Boulevard, just minutes from major attractions and conveniently close to the Orange County Convention Center, yet it still manages to feel like a peaceful escape from the buzz. Overall, Rosen Shingle Creek delivers a complete experience--beautiful surroundings, thoughtful design, excellent food, and service that leaves a lasting impression. It's one of those places you don't just stay at--you genuinely enjoy being there. One small but somewhat surprising detail--access to the hotel gym comes with a $10 daily fee. It's not a dealbreaker by any means, but it does stand out, especially in a property of this caliber where you might expect fitness access to be included.

The Rosen shingle creek is absolutely massive so you need a map to get around. Everything screams…read moreluxury. Theres even lotions in the restrooms :) the convention center is enormous and can host large events, everything looks very beautiful. The lobby is large and hosts a sushi restaurant. There is valet or paid self parking.

Orbit, the restaurant was extremely disorganized, slow, dirty, and some older hag behind the…read morecounter was really unprofessionally reprimanding overwhelmed shorthanded staff. I felt completely aghast and disgusted that the staff is treated as such. After waiting 45 minutes, once I finally got my food, there wasn't a clean table to be found. this ruined what was a great experience we were having otherwise.

Always a great experience. So many things to see and do, you definitely need 1 full day just to…read moreview all of the videos and do the experiences. Then you go back to see all the artifcats. Of course, you want to do all of the outside stuff early in the morning when it is not raining or too hot. Recommend the KSC Explore Tour to add to the adventure. You do get some experiences that you don't get on the normal bus tour. Ken and Melanie were great with the bus ride and the stories to tell.

Grand Floridian is worth the hype! It is the quintessential…read moreresort vibe in Disney World. With our Disney Vacation Club contracts, everything is much more affordable and accessible.. even the Grand Floridian. Just gliding by it on the monorail, we always knew that this was the pinnacle of WDW resorts... and Disney knows it too! With so many dining options from Michelin Star restaurants, to character dining, to just an elegant cafe, to now even a lobby bar.. Grand Floridian has amazing dining options for everyone!! The pool is epic with a great Alice in Wonderland theme. The main lobby is massive and just exudes elegance. It's the wedding go-to with the nearby chapel. The rooms have been updated and are just breathtaking with views and accommodations. They have numerous retail shops too. If you don't like Grand Floridian, it's probably because you haven't tried it or you are just lying to yourself.

Wonderful spa afternoon. Loved my facial and massage. The…read morespa was empty when I arrived and basically had the waiting service to myself, unfortunately it was not the same I between services when the spa was PACKED. There was not enough relaxation space chairs for all guests to have a solace to sit. Groups of women were talking and laughing loudly in the changing room which could be heard in the waiting area. Disappointing to pay so much for a mediocre experience- it felt overbooked and rushed and could not enjoy the pre/post allotment relaxation time. For the price, there are spas with better experiences at a similar price point in the area.