Where’s the best place to stay in Orlando? When you’re visiting Walt Disney World or Universal Orlando, staying at one of the resorts’ on-site hotels offers multiple benefits that can help you get even more enjoyment from your theme park vacation. Here is a list of the best theme park hotels in Orlando.
1. Universal’s Portofino Bay Hotel
An authentic re-creation of the Italian village, the Portofino Bay was the winner of the 2002 and 2009 Theme Park Insider Awards for “World’s Best” on-site theme park hotel. It is connected to the Universal Orlando theme parks via either a pedestrian walkway or a short motorboat ride.
Add: 5601 Universal Blvd, Orlando, FL 32819, USA
2. Universal’s Hard Rock Hotel
Featuring rock n’ roll memorabilia throughout, the Hard Rock Hotel offers 650 guest rooms, and five bars and restaurants, but not a Hard Rock Cafe — that’s down the street at CityWalk. It also features a underwater sound system in one of the largest pools in Orlando.
Add: 5800 Universal Blvd, Orlando, FL 32819, USA
3. Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
The design of this Walt Disney World deluxe resort was inspired by National Park Service lodges like the Old Faithful Inn at Yellowstone and the Ahwahnee in Yosemite. Beyond the Lodge’s soaring lobby, the hotel’s 727 guestrooms feature Mission-style furnishings with quilted bedspreads.
Add: 901 Timberline Drive, Lake Buena Vista, Orlando, FL 32830
4. Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort
Considered Disney World’s top hotel, this Victorian-themed hotel’s look was inspired by the historic Hotel del Coronado in San Diego. The Grand Floridian offers a white-sand beach, a four-star restaurant (Victoria & Albert’s) and monorail access to the Magic Kingdom.
Add: 4401 Floridian Way, Orlando, FL 32830, USA
5. Disney’s Boardwalk Inn Resort
Located on the Boardwalk, a short walk from Epcot, the Inn offers 372 nautically-themed guestrooms, with French doors and wrought-iron headboards. Guests can also enjoy a water play area with 200-foot-long water slide, a marina with boat rentals and a full-service spa.
Add: 2101 Epcot Resorts Blvd, Orlando, FL 32830, USA
6. Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
The Lodge offers deluxe guestrooms with African-inspired decor and modern amenities, such as high-speed Internet access, coupled with views of exotic animals roaming the Animal’s Kingdom’s savannahs. Spa services and recreational activities are also available at this full-service resort, a multiple winner of Theme Park Insider’s Award for World’s Best Theme Park Hotel.
Add: 2901 Osceola Parkway Blvd., Orlando, FL 32821, USA
7. Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort
Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort opened March 31, 2014 at Universal Orlando Resort, on a 37-acre site adjacent to Universal’s Islands of Adventure – just off Hollywood Way and Turkey Lake Road. With a 1960s-vintage Googie look, the resort offers 1800 on-site rooms – including 900 family suites and 900 standard guest rooms.
Like Universal’s other three on-site hotels, Loews Hotels & Resorts operates the Cabana Bay. However, the Universal Express front-of-the-line benefit in the parks is not included at no extra charge to guests of the Cabana Bay.
Add: 6550 Adventure Way, Orlando, FL 32819, USA
8. Universal’s Royal Pacific Resort
This Universal hotel, with a tropical theme, is priced more moderately than the neighboring Portofino Bay and Hard Rock hotels.
Guests enjoy front-of-the-line access to almost all attractions at Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure, which stand just a short walk, or water-taxi ride, away.
Add: 6300 Hollywood Way, Orlando, FL 32819, USA
