Top 10: The best family-friendly hotels in Orlando
An expert guide to the best family-friendly hotels in Orlando, Florida, featuring the top places to stay for access to Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando and SeaWorld; themed family rooms; amazing swimming pools; kids' clubs; character breakfasts and activities for all ages.
While this Four Seasons is clearly focused on delivering genuine five-star luxury to its upmarket guests, it also successfully conjures a sense of the Walt Disney World, making it a fab choice for children. The Kids For All Seasons programme is a free club for ages four to 12 open 9am-5pm, and boasts its own water-play area, water-slides, activity centre and organised games. Many rooms have inter-connecting doors. There is also a special Disney concierge for all theme park tickets and bookings.
• The best family-friendly hotels in Florida
Young people will love this safari-themed resort, set in a quiet corner of Walt Disney World on a 43-acre wildlife reserve, a short jaunt from all the fun while feeling continents away. Guests staying at Animal Kingdom Lodge can participate in a Sunrise Safari, and may enjoy Disney’s Extra Magic Hour perk, allowing children entry to a particular theme park an hour before opening or three hours after closing. There’s a large pool, and traditional storytelling takes place around the fire to help ease park fatigue.
This was the first big-name luxury hotel brand to open in the theme park capital of the world, ushering in a new level of resort sophistication. It remains extremely popular with families, who make up more than 50 per cent of visitors at peak periods. It comes as little surprise then that there are extensive children’s facilities and activities as part of the Ritz Kids programme, although it comes at a price: $17 (£11) an hour per child. The main pool is an absolute delight and the hotel is linked, via the central spa and convention centre, to the JW Marriott, which also offers tennis courts, boutiques and extensive pool areas, including an elaborate lazy river feature.
Watery fun is the name of the game here, with 14 water slides, separate teen, family and toddler pools, and a child-friendly Parrot’s Perch water-play structure. One section of the water park is covered, a thoughtful addition in Orlando’s sunny climate, while an expansive arcade with child-sized bowling lanes is ideal for the occasional rainy day. Non-resort guests can purchase day passes to the water park, making weekends busier, especially during summer and school holidays. Lifeguards are on duty daily. Coco Key is ideally placed for easy access to the theme parks: a free scheduled shuttle saves parking fees at Universal Orlando, SeaWorld, and Aquatica, while transport to Walt Disney World can be booked for a fee.
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Retro-themed Cabana Bay is a good choice for families: easy access to the theme parks is its big draw, but the resort itself has plenty to enjoy as well. The Cabana Courtyard section offers an enormous zero-entry pool with water slide and an interactive children’s play area, while you can tube in the Lazy River Courtyard. Family Suites sleep up to six people, and children can be given pre-arranged charging privileges on their room key. A 10-lane bowling alley and Game-O-Rama arcade are ideal for the occasional rainy day or an evening in. A complimentary shuttle moves guests between the resort and the Universal parks, and to SeaWorld and Aquatica.
With a gigantic pirate ship as the focal point of the Pirate’s Plunge themed pool, there is no doubt this resort has families in mind. The quieter relaxation pool takes the energy down a notch, especially after a hectic day in the theme parks. There is a games arcade with pool tables, a fitness centre and a convenience store and gift shop. Pampering can be found at Reflections Full Service Salon and Spa, including hair and nail treatments and the child-friendly Princess and Pirate makeovers. A scheduled shuttle to Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, and SeaWorld (reservations required) is included in the daily resort fee.
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An extensive resort in the heart of Walt Disney World, in an ideal location for those wanting the full theme park experience, but at a more moderate price than some of Disney’s grander options. There are plenty of children’s facilities, including Camp Dolphin (ages four to 12), mini-golf, tennis and paddle-boats, as well as five heated pools. When adults dine at any of the four signature restaurants they get two free hours for the children at Camp Dolphin.
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A big, family-oriented resort packed with amenities, formerly the Nickelodeon Suites. It is now less frenetic and features more grown-up choice, notably with a quiet pool area and Starbucks coffee shop. There's a huge range of facilities and organised activities; parents may struggle to get young children out of the water-park to visit Orlando’s other attractions!
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A wonderfully extensive family-friendly resort that is ideal for stays of a week or more if you want some self-catering with your Orlando holiday. The centrepiece is undoubtedly the Grand Pool Complex, a large lido area offering a huge main pool, splash pool, hot tub and ‘Playscape’ children’s water-play area complete with fountains and spray features. There's also a games room, craft sessions and a daily ‘Dive In’ family film by the pool.
The sister resort to neighbouring Waldorf Astoria, with a location in Walt Disney World that affords views of the Magic Kingdom’s fireworks while retaining a secluded, elegant feel. Families can enjoy a huge water play area, games arcade and exceptional proximity to the Disney parks. WA Kids Club (for ages five-12) is at the Waldorf Astoria, but open to all.
