Where to Stay in Orlando – Our Top 20 Orlando Hotels, Resorts and Vacation Homes
Visiting Orlando for the first time? Our guide on where to stay in Orlando features the best budget-friendly hotels, top family resorts and luxury holiday rentals.
After visiting Orlando on numerous occasions, I don’t think there is a destination that requires more thought and planning. With more than 20 theme parks and over 100 standalone attractions, deciding where to stay in Orlando is an important part of planning your trip. Before booking your accommodation, it is worth thinking about the type of holiday you want. Do you want to hire a car? Would you prefer a vacation home or a hotel? And, how much time do you expect to spend in the theme parks?
Each area of Orlando offers something slightly different, so understanding the pros and cons of each neighbourhood will help you choose the best base for your trip.
Deciding where to stay in Orlando
Walt Disney World alone covers a whopping 47 square miles, (it is the same size as Manchester), which gives you an idea of how vast Orlando is. The good news is that despite receiving 75 million tourists a year, it is quite easy to get around Orlando.
If you are planning on spending most of your time visiting Universal Studios and Walt Disney World, I recommend staying onsite at one the Universal and Disney hotels. This will give you early park access and a host of benefits, and prices can be more competitive than you might expect.
If, on the other hand, you are planning to skip Walt Disney World or Universal Studios, but still want to be close to Orlando’s main attractions, then International Dive is a great option. Alternatively, if you have plenty of time and want to include some relaxing days away from the parks, then consider a Lake Buena Vista or Kissimmee vacation rental with plenty of onsite facilities.
Read: How to plan a trip to Orlando in 10 easy steps
I have given a brief overview of the most popular areas below along with some of the best hotels in Orlando to help you decide the best places to stay in Orlando to suit your requirements.
International Drive | Lake Buena Vista | Kissimmee
International Drive
International Drive, or “I-Drive” as the locals call it, is often described as Orlando’s version of the Las Vegas Strip and is considered by many regular visitors to be the best place to stay in Orlando. Stretching for eleven miles, it is lined with hundreds of hotels, restaurants, shops and attractions. Major theme parks such as Universal Studios, SeaWorld and Aquatica are nearby, along with popular attractions including The Orlando Eye.
Getting around is easy thanks to the I-Ride trolley bus service, which runs from 8am to 10.30pm along International Drive, meaning you can comfortably explore the area without hiring a car. Many hotels here also provide free shuttle services to the main theme parks.
If you decide to take a taxi to Walt Disney World, what you spend on cab fares can be offset by the cost of parking at the parks, and bear in mind it is 11 miles long, so some International Drive Hotels are closer to Walt Disney World than others. Despite many people saying that you need a car in Orlando, I think that if you stay on International Drive, you can easily do without one.
There is a huge choice of accommodation on International Drive, from budget-friendly hotels to larger resorts. It is also worth remembering that when visiting Orlando you will likely spend most of your time exploring theme parks and attractions rather than relaxing at your hotel. For this reason, International Drive is an ideal location if you are looking for a cheap hotels in Orlando close to the theme parks.
I have selected a range of hotels to suit all budgets, from budget-friendly options to luxury resorts and Universal Studios hotels. All receive great reviews and centrally located.
1. The Avanti Resort $ ***
A firm favourite with holidaymakers, the Avanti resort is located in a prime position on International Drive. There is a large swimming pool, bar and restaurant on site and there are shuttle buses available to Disney, Universal, SeaWorld and Aquatica. The cost is included in the locally payable resort fee but make sure you book 24 hours in advance.
The Avanti also offers interconnecting rooms which are ideal for large families. The Avanti is a budget-friendly Orlando hotel that is ideally located for exploring the theme parks.
2. Westgate Palace $ ****
The Westgate Palace Resort is another great choice for families looking for a well priced central hotel in Orlando, close to theme parks. Its super location and offers spacious two-bedroom apartments and villas. It is located just off International Drive, five minutes drive from Universal Studios and 20 minutes from Walt Disney World.
3. Sonesta ES Suites $ ***
The top-rated Sonesta ES Suites Orlando is superbly located on International Drive, across the road from the famous ICON Park. It also boasts a free shuttle service to Universal Orlando and Walt Disney World Resort.
The heated swimming pool and Jacuzzi are welcomed during the winter months and the 24hr fitness centre will appeal to early risers. This all suite hotel has one and two bedroom suites with full kitchen and living area, which is the perfect place to relax after a day in the parks.
4. Holiday Inn & Suites Orlando I-Drive – Theme Parks by IHG $ ***
Located just off International Drive, and very close to Walt Disney World, the Holiday Inn & Suites Orlando I-Drive is listed as one of the best value hotels in Orlando on TripAdvisor.
Families love the modern rooms with mini-refrigerators, and microwaves as standard, as well as the heated outdoor swimming pool and fitness centre. A complimentary shuttle service is provided to the theme parks too.
5. Floridays $$ ****
Located on Southern International Drive, the top-rated Floridays Resort Orlando is one of the top Orlando hotels with shuttle service to Disney and Universal Studios, which is included in the locally payable resort fee.
There are poolside activities for children as well as spraying fountains, and a Jacuzzi and pool bar to relax in for adults. A big draw here is the large two and three bedroom suites that sleep up to eight, complete with fully equipped kitchens, making it a great choice for families and group stays.
6. Sheraton Vistana Villages Resort Villas, I-Drive $$ ****
The superb location and family-friendly facilities, such as the pirate ship pool with water cannons, make this a top family hotel in Orlando. Adults love the waterfall-fed relaxation pool and fitness center, and the choice of fully equipped one, two and three-bedroom villas make this a favourite with large families and groups too.
7. Villatel Orlando Resort Homes $$ ****
The Villatel Orlando Resort offers a unique luxury stay in the heart of Orlando. You can enjoy all the benefits of a private villa yet are located just minutes from Universal Orlando Resort and International Drive. And, you can avail of complimentary transportation both to Universal Orlando Resort and Walt Disney World Resort – advance booking is required.
Within the 77-acre resort there is a multi-slide water park, lazy river, basketball and pickleball courts, a playground and clubhouse, as well as an outdoor bar and restaurant. There are apartments, as well as luxury 4 and 5 bedroom townhomes that sleep up to 12 and come with a private splash pool.
Universal Studios Resort Hotels $$ – $$$$
If you are planning on visiting Universal’s four theme parks, then it makes sense to stay at one of their 11 hotels. There are three, four and five star Universal Hotels which range in price but some are very reasonably priced.
Read: 10 things to know about Universal Orlando Resort before you book.
8. Universal Endless Summer Resorts $$ ***
I had the pleasure of staying at one of Universal’s Endless Summer Resorts recently, which are their budget-friendly hotels. I loved its spacious 2 bedroom suites and massive swimming pool, but most of all its early park admission – so we could get to our favourite rides an hour before the park officially opened.
You can also enjoy complimentary shuttle buses to the parks and Universal’s City Walk, resort-wide charging privileges and free merchandise delivery to your hotel from shops across Universal Orlando Resort. Trust me, not having to carry around your purchases is such a treat!
9. Universal’s Premier Hotels $$$$$ *****
If you can afford to stay in one of Universal’s Premier Hotels – Lowes Portofino Bay, Hard Rock Hotel or Lowes Royal Pacific, you will get a FREE Universal Express Unlimited Pass, which lets you skip the regular lines at some the most popular attractions.
I stayed in Lowes Royal Pacific recently and Portofino Bay many years ago. Personally I preferred Portofino Bay but I would happily stay at either! Portofino Bay was designed by Steven Spielberg to replicate Portofino in Italy, this hotel has outdoor bars and cafes that are identical to the Italian resort. They even have tenors singing at various times during the day.
They both offers a unique way to get to Universal Studios – a free water taxi service! This is such a great way to get to the parks, the wow factor never goes away when you see the Universal Globe from the water.
The price of a Unlimited Express passes range from $175 per person, per day. So that €200 per night you think you are saving, by staying in a cheaper hotel elsewhere, may not be worth it, particularly you going to buy the express passes for a family. You will receive a complimentary Express Unlimited Pass for two days with a one-night stay, three days with a two-night stay etc.
Read: 35 Top things to do in Universal Studios plus Tips & Tricks
Top Tip: If travelling from Ireland or the UK, you may get a better deal booking Universal Hotels with Attraction Tickets – they offer hotel and ticket combos at discounted prices.
Lake Buena Vista
Lake Buena Vista is the ideal place to stay if you are planning on spending most of your time at Walt Disney World. There are four main Disney Parks as well as waterparks and Disney Springs, so if you are travelling with young children, you may spend a lot of time here.
Lake Buena Vista is also good for golf and outlet shopping. Choose to stay in one the Disney hotels or one of the many hotels, homes or villas in the area.
10. Disney Hotels $$$ – $$$$$
During our family trip to Orlando we wished we had stayed in a Disney Hotel. We queued for hours for rides in Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge – if we had stayed in a Disney Hotel we would have been able to take advantage of Disney’s Early Theme Park Hours and gain access to the park 30 minutes before it opens.
If you are staying in a Deluxe Hotel or Villa you can also enjoy Extended Evening Hours and stay in the parks until 11pm. Other benefits include Disney character encounters, priority for dining reservations and free transportation to the parks.
Read: 30 things to do in Disney World Florida with teens
There are 31 different Disney Hotels which range from Value to Moderate to Delxue. Disney’s Deluxe property Animal Kingdom lodge is the perfect choice for animal lovers, while families of five will find the popular Disney’s Port Orleans Resort the best value.
11. Wyndham Garden Lake Buena Vista $$ ****
Located next to Disney Springs, this is the perfect choice if you plan on visit Walt Disney World, and want to enjoy the wide selection of shops and dining options in Disney Springs. It is a preferred partner hotel of Walt Disney World so you can enjoy a host of benefits including early entrance to the parks and complimentary transport (local reservations required).
There is an expansive Oasis Aquatic Pool Playground here too, featuring two pools and an interactive splash area.
12. Rosen Inn Lake Buena Vista $ ***
If you are looking for a cheap hotel in Orlando close to Walt Disney World, this is a great choice. Located just 1 mile from Walt Disney World and 2 miles away from Disney Springs, and offers a shuttle bus service to the main parks, it is hard to beat for value.
There is a host of family friendly facilities on site, including three pools, three restaurants, a 24 hour game room and free WiFi in the rooms.
13. Sheraton Vistana Resort Villas $$$ ****
The luxury Sheraton Vistana Resort comprises of one and two bedroom villas in 135 acres of land. There are numerous facilities on site including seven swimming pools, a fitness centre, mini-golf, tennis courts and free WiFi. Let the kids enjoy the kids club or Wii tournaments, while you have a massage on your poolside cabana.
There is a wide selection of restaurants and bars within the grounds, so there is no need to venture out at night time. Highly rated on TripAdvisor and awarded a certificate of excellence, this is a great choice for a family holiday. The Sheraton Vistana is ideally located, only 10 minutes from Sea World, 15 minutes from Universal and only 5 minutes from Walt Disney World.
14. Evermore Orlando Resort $$$$ *****
The Evermore Orlando Resort is a fabulous 5 star Orlando hotel, and is the place that everyone is talking about – mainly due to being the only hotel in Orlando with a beach! And, its not just any beach, its a 20-acre white sand beach!
You will also find two Jack Nicklaus-designed golf courses here and a luxury spa, as well as superb family friendly activities including waterslides and rope swing.
There is a host of rooms and residences to choose from, depending on your party size. Couples can enjoy the luxurious Conrad Hotel, while families and groups can choose from two bedroom villas right up to luxury houses with private pools.
15. Four Seasons Orlando at Walt Disney World $$$$$ *****
What is considered by many to be the best hotel in Orlando, the five-star Four Seasons Hotel has a lakeside setting within 26 acres of landscaped gardens.
This is an official Disney partner hotel, so as well as luxurious accommodation and superb onsite facilities you can enjoy early park access and luxury shuttles to the four main Disney Parks. There are six restaurants including the Michelin Star Capa Steakhouse, three tennis courts, a Tom Fazio designed championship golf course, as well as an adults-only infinity pool with cabanas, and a luxury Spa.
Kids will love the resort’s private water park, complete with lazy river, water slides, a splash zone, and complimentary kids club. This is one of the best luxury hotels in Orlando for families.
Kissimmee
If you fancy something away from the hustle and bustle of the parks, Kissimmee is a good choice. Although only a twenty minute drive to International Drive and even less to Disney, there are many resorts with spacious townhomes as well as villas with private pools here, creating a country feel, which is ideal for large or extended families.
There are many different neighbourhoods within the Kissimmee area and each have a good selection of shops, bars and restaurants. Here are some of the best Kissimmee vacation rentals.
16. Regal Oaks Resort Vacation Townhomes by IDILIQ ****
Regal Oaks Resort have super two, three and four bedroom vacation homes in Kissimmee. Set in a secure gated community all homes are well equipped and boast a private patio with a hot tub. Facilities onsite are great too and include a lagoon-style pool, a kids pool with waterslides, a pool bar and grill, and Zac’s Sports Bar
Disney World is only 5 miles away and Old Town Kissimmee is just a few minutes’ walk.
17. Magic Village Yards Trademark Collection by Wyndham $$ ****
If you want to stay beside Walt Disney World but still want the comforts of you own home, then look no further than the Magic Village Yards. These luxury three and four bedroom house rentals in Kissimmee close to Walt Disney World. The Club house offers activities for children, an outdoor heated pool, a play room and free WiFi.
There is also a restaurant on site where you can dine or order food to your villa. If you don’t want to drive to the Disney Parks, take the free shuttle bus available and save on the parking.
18. Margaritaville Resort Orlando with H2O Waterpark
This luxury resort offers spacious rooms, suites and villas in Kissimmee Florida, situated in massive landscaped grounds. Although only 30 minutes from Universal Studios and 15 minutes from Walt Disney World, you will feel a million miles away!
You will find lagoon style swimming pools, a luxury Spa, kids club, an entertainment program and a choice of restaurants. There is also a waterpark next door that children will love. The resort also offers complimentary transportation to Walt Disney World and Universal Studios.
19. Reunion Resort & Golf Club
Reunion Resort & Club is a top rated resort offering family suites and villas in Orlando. With 11 outdoor pools, 7 restaurants, a children’s water park, golf courses, golf academy and tennis courts, it is no surprise it is one of the best family resorts in Orlando.
20. The Grove Resort & Water Park $$ ****
I had the pleasure of staying at the Grove resort a few years ago and loved the spacious well equipped condos and onsite facilities. The Waterpark with lazy river, slides and kids splash area was a big hit with the kids, and we loved the tasty breakfast served in the cafe each morning.
Note the website states its only a 10 minute drive from Walt Disney World, it was more like 20, and the resort is quite isolated, so car hire is necessary.
Top 10 Tips when visiting Orlando:
1. Get your ESTA in advance
We have become so accustomed to flying to Europe without restrictions, we tend to forget that there could be entry requirements for other countries. An ESTA is required for all visitors, and in some cases a visa may be required.
Please check the Ireland.ie website before you book flights to ensure you know the latest entry requirements.
2. Travel Off Peak
Travel off peak if you can, prices will be lower and temperatures will cooler. If you have to travel during school holidays, Easter can be a better option to summer, as American schools only have one week off at that time. Check the Spring Break dates here.
3. Make a Daily Plan
Before you book your hotels, decide which theme parks are a priority. It is impossible to see all 20 theme parks during one holiday, so you need to select the theme parks that suit your needs best. Plan to visit them first, when children’s energy levels are at their best, and the time difference is in your favour – you will automatically rise early if travelling from Europe.
As the days go on, children will naturally have less enthusiasm for the parks, so it is a good idea to plan some rest or pool days during your stay.
Read: How to plan a trip to Orlando in 10 easy steps
4. Book Theme Park Tickets in Advance
Theme parks will surely be a huge part of your Orlando holiday so its important to plan well in advance and pre book the right theme park tickets. Not only will this save you money, but also valuable queueing time.
Combination tickets are the best tickets to buy, the Disney and Universal Combo being the most popular. The Orlando Freedom Ticket includes unlimited access to Disney and Universal parks, as well as SeaWorld, Busch Gardens and Aquatica for 14 days. There are many more options available too.
5. Stay in multiple hotels
If you plan on spending four days visiting the four Universal Parks and the same visiting the four Disney parks, it makes sense to split you time and spend time in each resort hotels. This is something I wish we did during our visit to Orlando, and would definitely do during my next visit.
Alternatively choose a hotel with a free shuttle bus to the parks, or one that is close to the iRide – International Drive’s affordable public transport option. A spacious place to relax after a long day in the theme parks is a huge bonus, so if a larger room isn’t much more expensive, I suggest you pay the extra.
6. Book Restaurants in Advance
Orlando is not renowned for having a great food scene, but there are some good restaurants all the same. Make sure to book them in advance because you will inevitably get tired of the basic theme park restautants.
7. Plan Alternative Activities
Remember there is more to Orlando than theme parks. Take time to shop the outlets, see the aligators on an airboat ride in the Everglades, spend a day at Daytona beach, and visit the famous Wonderworks and Orlando Eye which are easily accessible on International Drive.
8. Book Express Passes, Lightning Lanes and make use of Single Rider Lanes
Orlando’s theme parks are renowned for queues, and the only way to avoid them is to pre book Universal’s Express Pass and Disney’s Lightning lanes. Another top tip is to use the single rider lanes, if you don’t need to ride together, these can save hours of queueing time.
9. Visit Kennedy Space Centre
A must do in Orlando is to take a trip to the Kennedy Space Centre – it is one of the top things to do in Orlando apart from theme parks, and we loved our visit.
You can visit the actual control centre that was used in the Apollo Space program and see the Space Shuttle Atlantis on display, as well as experience what it is like to take off and fly a shuttle through the simulator. I highly recommend a visit, the tour is great for kids, both big and small.
10. Allow down time
Queueing in hot temperatures, as well as the increased adrenaline can leave children exhausted. You could easily spend 12 hours in a theme park on any given day, especially if you want to see the closing fireworks displays – this is not sustainable for two weeks.
Try to plan some quiet days to laze by the pool between visits to the park. I suggest a rest day every three to four days – I wish I had followed this advice! My children were 12 and 15 when we visited and as much as they love theme parks, after 7 days the enthusiasm definitely started to wane – early morning wake up calls became a lot harder!
Pool or Spa days are the ideal way to relax, but retail therapy is a good alternative too – especially if you have teens with you. We visited when the Dollar was on a par with the Euro, and Orlando’s Premium Outlets still proved excellent value.
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I hope this insiders guide to where to stay in Orlando will help you plan a trip there soon. While every effort is made to insure accuracy, please note information is subject to change. Some of the links in this post contain affiliate links, where I receive a small commission if a booking is made, but at no additional cost to you.
