Lansdowne Resort Celebrates Radio Disney
Four people. Three meals. Two days. One night. Fifteenth birthday celebration. Put that all together and you get one great weekend of fun.
Lansdowne Resort is an easy drive from home. It's almost a straight shot down the beltway. Just a few minutes away from Dulles Airport, it's the perfect place to stay if you're looking for convenience and a bit of luxury. It's quite hard to spot from a distance because the resort is tucked away and not easily visible from the road.
We had the option to of valet parking, but there were ample spaces available to self-park. The boys were anxious to check in and get the day started. We checked in at the front desk with Alex. I normally ask quite a few questions when I stay at a hotel. Call me lazy, but i hate reading through the literature given in each room that outlines the services and amenities. I much rather cut through all that and ask about the things I need to know. Common questions I ask are: "What's the access code for Wi-Fi?", "What time does the pool close?", "What are our food options?", "What time is check-out?". Most of the questions I know beforehand, but it's always a great idea to ask again, in case there has been a change in policy. Fortunately, all of the attendants were very knowledgeable when it came to answering my questions. Alex even called me by name when I approached the desk. I thought that was a very personal touch.
Lansdowne Resort played host to Radio Disney's 15th Birthday Celebration. For one day, families took part in scheduled events in the hotel's ballroom as part of a package deal. Only families who purchased the November 19th Radio Disney Family Fun package could participate (red VIP tags were handed out). For an affordable $199 per night, a family of four was able to eat, sleep, and be merry.
We arrived just in time for lunch at Riverside Hearth. Lansdowne Resort has five restaurants and lounges to choose from. Choices range from fine dining to casual, buffet-style dining with affordable and expensive price points. Located inside of the hotel, these restaurants are very convenient for guests who do not want to leave the resort. They vary in setting and menu choice to meet the needs of families or couples.
Before heading to the festivities, the boys wanted to enjoy a quick swim. Lansdowne Resort has an amazing aquatic complex during the warmer months. We were not able to take advantage of the outdoor slide, but still managed to go swimming in the indoor pool. The water depths range from 3.5 ft. to 4 ft, making it perfect for children to enjoy. There is a divide for those who want to take a lap or two. A hot tub is also included in the indoor facility. There is no life guard on duty. Swim at your own risk.
After the pool, we explored a bit of the hotel. I noticed immediately the amount of lounging areas and seating at Lansdowne Resort. This is perfect for socializing, meeting up, reading a book, or even getting a little work done in a cool atmosphere. The chairs were big enough to fit two people in them, in case you wanted to snuggle up. There was even a fireplace to add to the coziness of the resort.
Sharkie, the Lansdowne Resort mascot, greeted guests around the hotel during the afternoon.
We took part in the afternoon activities that were planned. There was a Flashback dance party in the 2-4 pm time slot. It gave the children another reason to dance, as if they really needed one. The Muppets movie, which recently hit theaters, was apart of the theme during the party. Characters resembling the Muppets took part in the activities.
During our next break, we headed back to the pool, took showers and grabbed dinner. Then, we headed to the ballroom for the final activity of the night. Here is what happened at the pajama party:
Dancing machines! It was fun seeing all the children, and adults, get down to some of the hottest music on the charts. Of course they had to play a little Bieber. I even took a picture with him. He wasn't very talkative though, which caused me to be standoff-ish. Oh well! His lost.
In less than 24 hours, we had accomplished a lot. With a pre-determined schedule, we were able to eliminate a bunch of boring moments. It was a non-stop day, and it showed on my face by the end of the night.
I was only able to sneak in a 45 minute nap as the boys played a game in the room that day. Needless to say, I needed a drink by the time the night rolled around. Mommy deserved it. Stonewalls Tavern, a restaurant and lounge located in the Lansdowne Resort lobby, took care of all my needs that night. And Robin, our server, provided the best service I've had in a long time.
On the way out, I noticed something quite insane on the menu. A $550 martini. I kept reading it over to make sure there wasn't a misprint on the paper. There wasn't! This drink was way too expensive for my taste. I did get a chuckle out of seeing this, hence the picture I snapped. I'm sure someone can afford this drink, but I'd much rather buy closet full of shoes with that money. Just think of how much that tip would cost you.
Overall, Lansdowne Resort was great. We didn't have a lot of time to explore because of our short stay, but here is the resort at a glance.
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| There is ample seating in the Lansdowne lobby. Very sophisticated and cozy. Great meeting spot or place to chill. |
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| A television screen with updates on local flight information at Dulles International Airport. |
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| Showers include pumps of body wash and shampoo. You won't be taking these bottles home. They cannot be removed. |
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| I loved the fixtures in the bathroom. |
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| Simple, clean decor. The earth tones with hints of colors was a great color scheme. |
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| There was a desk in our room, complete with free bottles of water, magazines, a phone, and a charging station. |
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| A flat-screen television housed in a sturdy armoire. It rested on a swivel base that was could also be pulled out. Small coffee maker as well. |
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| Our room (deluxe two double beds) shown above. Simple and efficient. |
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| The view from our room, over-looking the aquatic complex and golf course. |
- NO refrigerator in the room. This is a must for families, especially for nursing and non-nursing mothers who need to store their child's milk. There may also be other snacks and food needed to store for smaller children. I light to have beverages available and snacks for those late-night cravings.
- NO microwave in the room. This play s off of what I mentioned above. Guests may want to heat up their food taken from the restaurant to eat later on. Or, there may be something a child needs to eat at a later time. We purchased microwavable popcorn to watch a movie with and found out there was no microwave. I guess that's one question I failed to ask.
- The streets leading to Lansdowne Resort are not well-lit. Not everyone uses a GPS and knows exactly where they are going. Heck, if you have poor vision, you could totally miss the sign that points you to the resort. I would suggest more lighting.
- The televisions should be gaming compatible. Although the equipment was nice, we found it difficult to hook-up the Wii. The system they used was a bit too sophisticated. This might sound like a silly complaint, but a lot of families bring along entertainment for times when there isn't much to do. Luckily, we were techy enough to figure it out.
- Ample, free parking
- Very quiet atmosphere. Not a lot of noise in the hallways.
- Clean. Simple. Sophisticated decor.
- Very spacious. Not a lot of clutter. Easy to move around in the hallways.
- Very inviting lobby with tons of seating options. Perfect for conversation.
Disclosure Information
My family and I received complimentary accommodations for the Radio Disney Family Fun package event at Lansdowne Resort. Some additional activities & dining were paid out-of-pocket. There was no monetary compensation for writing this post. The opinions and views are my own.
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