Families in search of a boutique hotel experience in Orlando, with a desirable location near Downtown Disney, will find it at the B Resort & Spa.
And they'll get that experience at a midscale price, from about $135 to $395 per night. The hotel calls it "minimalist modern comfort," a phrase that rang true during a stay at the B earlier this year.
Entering the lobby, the first thing one notices is brightness: The floors, walls and ceilings are white, and the space is sparsely decorated. The hotel creates a striking contrast by dotting the lobby with brightly colored furniture and art pieces. A stark design, yes, but also invigorating. A help-yourself area with citrus ice water was a refreshing touch.
Throughout the resort, splashes of blue contrast with dazzling white. The 17-story tower is bathed in blue light at nighttime, making the hotel an identifiable landmark while driving along Interstate 4.
Guestrooms have a crisp and airy feel with the resort's signature blue-and-white color combo, with a splash of silvery gray. Every room has an Edifier Tick Tock alarm clock, which was retro-designed to look like an old windup alarm clock with classic twin bells. The clock looks old-fashioned, but these high-tech devices have a docking port for your smartphone.
Bathrooms feature glass showers and no tubs, so the resort might not be a fit for families with small children who are used to taking baths. Preteens and teens might feel more at home at the B Resort. After playing with the alarm clock, they may bug their parents to buy one.
Little ones will be drawn to the plush frog on the bed. The stuffed animal is meant to create awareness for the gopher frog, which lives throughout Florida but whose habitat is threatened by overdevelopment. A portion of proceeds from sales of the plush toy go to the Wildlife Foundation of Florida.
Standard guestrooms have a pullout sofa bed to accommodate families, but guests desiring more space may opt for a suite. Some of the suites open up onto the pool's terrace. Guests get a view of Downtown Disney (the shopping, entertainment and restaurant area to be renamed Disney Springs next year after an overhaul) from some of the suites.
The first thing one smells when arriving at the B Resort is barbecue. The resort's restaurant, American Q, gives diners the opportunity to sample several cuts of smoked meat with churrascaria-style service. Carvers arrive at your table with a variety of items, including pulled pork, beef brisket, turkey and pork tenderloin. It's a fun and unusual way to eat barbecue. Reservations are recommended.
The centerpiece of American Q is a 1950s-era, candy-apple-red Ford pickup truck. The "flatbed" is a buffet where diners can choose sides and salads to go with their barbecued meats.
The restaurant also serves a breakfast buffet, which is good, but the brisket hash (Yukon gold potatoes studded with cubes of smoky brisket, topped with two eggs), is an even better and heartier option.
The B Resort & Spa has been open for just over a year. Formerly the Royal Plaza Hotel, it opened last June after an extensive renovation.