The Magic Castle Inn is a well-known hotel located in Kissimmee, Florida. It is situated just minutes away from the famous Walt Disney World Resort, making it a prime choice for tourists visiting the area. The inn offers a range of accommodation options to cater to different needs. Guests can choose from a variety of rooms, including standard rooms, suites, and even large apartments for families or groups. All rooms are comfortable and equipped with modern amenities to ensure a pleasant stay. One of the highlights of the Magic Castle Inn is its convenient location.
One of the highlights of the Magic Castle Inn is its convenient location. Being in such close proximity to Walt Disney World Resort means that guests can easily access the theme parks and enjoy all the fun and excitement they have to offer. The inn also provides shuttle services to and from the parks, making it even more convenient for guests.
In the shadow of Disney, living life on the margins
T hese days, Tommy Delgado barely notices the helicopter flights full of affluent tourists coming and going just across the street from the Magic Castle Inn and Suites. After living in the same poky hotel room for five years, and now sharing it with his fiancee, their 19-month-old son, two dogs and a cat, he has become immune to the existence of the helipad and the windows rattling from every lift-off of another aerial tour of Disney World’s theme parks, a few miles to the west.
Delgado and his family are part of Kissimmee’s hidden homeless, those living paycheck to paycheck, or in many cases on no paycheck at all, in cramped and semi-permanent accommodation in cheap motels behind the neon-lit, tourist attraction-laden facade of Highway 192, the pathway to Disney. Most will never be able to afford the price of theme park tickets, far less a helicopter ride above it.
Tommy Delgado. Photograph: Richard Luscombe/The Guardian
It is a dark existence brought vividly into focus by director Sean Baker in his gritty movie The Florida Project, which tells of the day-to-day struggles of two residents of the Magic Castle, a six-year-old livewire named Moonee and her mom Halley, a single mother who turns to prostitution when waitressing falls through.
The story is fictional and the real-life Magic Castle, a shabby, bright pink, low-budget hotel where Baker shot the film, is nowhere near as seedy as its big-screen portrayal. But the scenes of poverty, depression and deprivation it conveys, and the juxtaposition of living in the direct shadow of Disney World, the self-proclaimed happiest place on earth, are all too real to Delgado. He has been a stay-at-home dad to his toddler, Mason, since leaving his last job as a trucker three months ago.
“Some of the stuff in the movie, this really does happen,” he said. “There’s a lot of people who live in these rooms with their kids, there’s a lot of drug addicts that need help, they don’t get that help here.
There was a woman living here with five kids in a small room, that was pretty toughTommy Delgado
“This area is good in certain parts but there’s still crime, there’s prostitution and that happens a lot. There’s guys that will come from Disney and rent a room for just 45 minutes, that’s a part of it, you’ll see it in the movie. People will call social services if they see something going on. It’s happened.
“There was a woman living here with five kids in a small room. That was pretty tough. You look at those places, you know where you should be and you know where you shouldn’t be.”
The stigma attached being a permanent hotel-dweller is one of the hardest obstacles to overcome, Delgado said.
“I tried to finance a car and they didn’t want to give me the loan because I live in a hotel, they called me homeless. They said, ‘You can’t show that you pay rent so why should we give you a car?’
“When you go for jobs and you tell them you live in a hotel they look at you like, ‘Why should we hire you?’ So the people out here, they don’t want to try.”
Willem Dafoe and Brooklynn Prince in The Florida Project. Photograph: AP
Things are improving for Delgado, 30, who says he moved into the Magic Castle five years ago when he fell victim to a property scam. A fake landlord rented him a foreclosed apartment with a bogus lease and he was evicted. He begins a new job driving trucks across the country this week, although it will take him away from home for six weeks at a time.
That will leave his fiancee, Dilma, to look after their child, with help from his mother Gladys and 22-year-old brother Christian, who works at a fast-food restaurant nearby. Between them, the family share two tiny rooms at the Magic Castle. They make ends meet by helping out the owner at the front desk.
“The owners are really nice,” Delgado said. “I fell behind on rent a couple of times and they came up and said, ‘Do you want to work here?’ and I said OK. If you’re backed into a corner they’ll lend you money or let you have money and let you work it out another way.”
In addition to its location, the Magic Castle Inn offers various amenities and services to enhance the guest experience. The inn features a swimming pool and a hot tub where guests can relax and unwind after a long day of exploring the nearby attractions. There is also a game room for entertainment, as well as a gift shop where guests can purchase souvenirs. The staff at the Magic Castle Inn is known for their friendly and helpful nature. They are always ready to assist guests with any queries or requests they may have. Whether it is providing information about the local area or recommending nearby restaurants, the staff is dedicated to ensuring that guests have a memorable stay. Overall, the Magic Castle Inn in Florida is a great choice for travelers looking for comfortable accommodation near Walt Disney World Resort. With its convenient location, range of amenities, and friendly staff, it offers everything needed for a fantastic vacation experience..
Reviews for "Discover a World of Fantasy at the Magic Castle Inn in Florida"
1. John - 1 star
I had a terrible experience at the Magic Castle Inn in Florida. The room was dirty and smelled musty, the beds were uncomfortable, and the bathroom was in desperate need of renovation. The Wi-Fi was virtually non-existent and the TV had very limited channels. The staff was unhelpful and unfriendly, and I found them to be completely indifferent to our concerns. Overall, I would not recommend staying at this hotel unless you want a subpar experience.
2. Sarah - 2 stars
I was disappointed with my stay at the Magic Castle Inn in Florida. The room was in need of maintenance - the walls had visible cracks and there were stains on the carpet. The air conditioning unit was loud and kept turning on and off throughout the night, making it difficult to get a good night's sleep. The breakfast options were limited and not very appetizing. Additionally, the location of the hotel was not ideal, as it was far away from most attractions in the area. I would recommend looking for other accommodations if you're planning to visit Florida.
3. Michael - 2 stars
I had high hopes for the Magic Castle Inn in Florida but was ultimately disappointed. The room we were given was not as advertised - it was much smaller and outdated. The shower had very low water pressure, and the towels provided were old and worn out. The overall cleanliness of the hotel was below par, with uncleaned common areas and a lack of attention to detail. The pool was small and not well-maintained. I would not choose to stay at this hotel again.