AC Hotel by Marriott Orlando Lake Buena Vista

We arrived at the AC Hotel just before Christmas, choosing it for its proximity to the Disney Springs area and reasonable price — ideal for a one-night stay after attending Cirque du Soleil’s Drawn to Life, a creative acrobatic production exploring the principles of animation. Since we’d already spent on show tickets for the family, we wanted comfort without breaking the bank. The AC Hotel, part of the Marriott brand, described its hotel as having “intuitive design.” After booking online, the hotel sent a series of emails encouraging us to download its app — a sign of its tech-forward, intuitive approach. We downloaded the app expecting to enjoy keyless entry and app-based check-in. But we quickly discovered, there's a fine line between forward-thinking and frustrating when poor UX (user experience) gets in the way. The app felt like airline software trying to pass as hospitality. It encouraged early check-in — like a flight — but we didn’t want to risk being charged extra for early room check-in. When we were just an hour out, we finally attempted to check in on the app, but the early window had closed. We ended up checking in the old-fashioned way: at the desk. Inside the room, the "intuitive design" felt more like a user experience beta test than thoughtful hospitality. Sure, we used a smart key (likely RFID), but everything else felt algorithmic rather than accommodating. Everything was square. Square lamps. Square toilet and sink. Square shower head. Even the tufted headboard was a grid of tight squares, echoing the cold geometry of the space. It was hyper-geometric and square — emotionally dull, almost unnatural. This was not a room inviting you to unwind. It was a room for tasks, a modern workspace not meant for romance or tenderness. More productivity pod and not as intuitive as claimed. Fortunately, the “Drawn to Life” show we saw was pure magic — a full-color sketchbook comes alive with flips, spins, and storytelling. Good thing too, because it gave us enough emotional warmth to make up for the square shower head waiting back at the hotel. The lobby embraced the season with an unattractive white Christmas tree decorated in black poinsettias. We joked that hidden somewhere in the design were 0 and 1 ornaments for those who enjoy a binary system. We didn’t stay for breakfast, though it was offered — for a fee. A bar in the lobby had a bartender for the business traveler who still prefers a human bartender over a QR code. In the end, the hotel served its function. It checked the boxes: location and value. But we wouldn’t stay here for more than a night — two, max. Despite the company’s slick “intuitive design” branding of AC Hotel, we even questioned our privacy. Kind of surprising that the Marriott brand took the technology and modern design concepts this far. What’s next — a hotel for robots?

For the price, the experience was great. The hotel is calm, clean and really easy to access. The check in process was really fast and the transportation to Magic Kingdom was very convenient (just a couple of quick stops at other hotels and we arrived in no time). Would definitely recommend

Excellent hotel. Modern, clean, fine service, nice rooms. Very comfortable and great location. Modest charge for parking. Rooms are basic but comfortable. The staff is friendly and accommodating. Like that AC is part of the Bonvoy Marriott family