We stayed in early March (with wife and two kids), and the rate was much less than what you'd pay in summer. I think that colors my impression. For what we paid for an ocean-facing room on the atrium, we got a great value. In summer, with more people, more noise (I presume) and a much higher price, I may not be as happy, but I can only comment on what I actually encountered.
We're on a budget, and the kids haven't learned to be snobs yet. I teach them what to expect for the money paid, and what's necessary, rather than preferred, to have a good time. They don't care if it's the Ritz. They enjoyed it and felt comfortable. I care about what I'm paying for, and I got a good deal. The place is over 40 years old and shows it. On the other hand, it appears well-maintained, well run, and clean.
The room was as depicted, clean, and comfortable. The door overlooked the indoor skating rink, the balcony overlooked the ocean. Right below the balcony was the outdoor bar, but it was closed for the season, so nobody was down there. In any case, we heard nothing from outside nor from the atrium, even when the Stromboli was occasionally grooming the ice on the rink. The atrium is four stories high and seems to absorb the noise well. The TV was about a 42-inch flat screen, and the WIFI worked fine in the room and in the atrium using my laptop.
We skated about 90 minutes. Cost is $6 per person per occasion, including skate rental. At least 30 other people were skating, and we had plenty of room. It was well supervised by staff. The game room is small and not impressive. The soda machines all worked and for $1. The snack bar in the atrium was very convenient, serving soda, coffee/latte, cotton candy, ice cream and milkshakes, nuts, hot dogs, hot pretzels, popcorn, etc. Prices were no more than equivalent places off site but much more convenient. The indoor pool was at least half Olympic size (though I may be wrong there) and also well supervised. Off the pool was a locker room and saunas (separate for men and women), which we used, and a modest but well maintained gym. Lots of towels by the pool, probably inadequate poolside seating, and two ping-pong tables that we also used.
We didn't use the restaurant. It's fare and prices looked like any other restaurant in the area. We brought our own food to serve up in the room (using the in-room microwave and refrigerator) or ate snacks at the snack bar.
The elevators are only slow because the door stays open forever after everyone is in. If you push the "close door" button, it closes immediately, and off you go. If management would shorten the timer on that door-closing thing, it would make everyone happier. But I don't mind a slow elevator (not in a hurry while on holiday), and the glass-enclosure let me look down into the atrium as I waiting).
So, for the money, the place was fine. The kids are making us go back in June. I've been to nice hotels, and I've been to dumps. The Carousel works hard with what they've got. There were lots of kids, but they were well-behaved. There was lots of room, no noises I'd find unexpected or objectionable, plenty of conveniences to meet modest expectations. They let me check in at noon when normal check in is 4:00 PM, so I believe they do work to accommodate you when they can. The front staff was fine.
I think if I'd paid twice the rate I'd still be OK because the wife and kids liked it, and I couldn't find much to complain about. Many people look around for things to whine about -- to show their superior breeding and exquisite sensitivity, or they sometimes actually have bad experiences. I don't look for misery, and I had a good experience.
(For instance: what does "oodles of flies in the atrium" mean? Is that 6 flies in the atrium or 6 flies per cubic foot of air in the atrium? It's a meaningless complaint and the kind of review I'd just toss in the trash).
Another way I look at it is this: I can (and have, last year and the year before when I was single) paid the same rate for essentially the same type of room (a kind of efficiency or kitchenette overlooking the beach) at two other beach-front properties along that same OC strip (one was a Holiday Inn, can't name the other), but they didn't have all the stuff in the atrium. Unless i just don't like kids in public areas, why would I pay the same price for a property that's not better maintained and has fewer in-house amenities? And the indoor skating rink is just too cool not to have around even if you're just looking at it.