If you’re planning your dream trip to the Land of Magic, you know that choosing the right hotel is strategic. Orlando offers thousands of options, but not all deliver on their promises. To help you decide, we’ve listed the 5 best resorts based on location, infrastructure, and value for money.
Avanti International Resort (Best Value)
Located in the heart of International Drive, the Avanti is unbeatable for those who want to be close to everything without spending a fortune.
Ideal for: Couples and young people seeking convenience.
Highlight: Strategic location allowing walking distance to various restaurants and ICON Park.
Avanti proves that you don’t need to spend a fortune to be well-located. The hotel has undergone recent renovations that have brought a much more modern feel to the rooms.
Dining Highlight: In addition to the lobby café, you’re just steps away from Shake Shack and Yard House. This saves a lot on Uber or restaurant parking.
Room Profile: The focus here is on practicality. The rooms are compact but very well designed, with tiled floors (easy to clean and great for allergy sufferers) and spacious countertops.
The “Tip”: Request a room that isn’t right next to the pool if you prefer complete silence, as the leisure area is quite lively during the day.
Floridays Orlando Resort (Perfect for Large Families)
If you’re traveling with a group of 6 to 8 people, the Floridays is the smart choice. Instead of cramped rooms, you have complete 2 or 3-bedroom apartments.
Ideal for: Families who want to cook at the hotel and have privacy.
Highlight: Master suite with whirlpool tub and fully equipped kitchen.
Floridays solves the biggest problem for group travelers: sharing bathrooms and lack of luggage space.
Real Savings: With a fully equipped kitchen, you can shop at the Publix supermarket (which is nearby) and save about 40% of your travel budget just by making breakfast and dinner in the apartment.
Home Comfort: Having a washer and dryer in your unit is a game-changer. You can travel with lighter luggage, knowing you can do laundry anytime.
Highlight: The whirlpool tub in the master suite is a dream come true after walking 15km at Epcot.
Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort (Immersive and Retro Style)
For those who want to stay within the Universal complex without paying luxury prices. It has a vibrant 1950s and 60s theme.
Ideal for: Those who want benefits at Universal parks.
Highlight: It has a lazy river and bowling alley inside the hotel, as well as exclusive transportation to the parks.
Staying at Cabana Bay is like stepping into a 1950s movie set. It’s Universal’s most fun hotel and offers exclusive park benefits.
Guest Benefits: You get Early Park Admission, allowing you to enter the Universal complex one hour before the general public. This is essential for the Harry Potter attractions.
Unique Structure: It’s the only one in this price range that has a lazy river and a professional bowling alley inside the hotel.
Transportation: Transportation to Universal is provided by themed buses that run every 10 minutes, dropping you off at the CityWalk entrance.
Wyndham Garden Lake Buena Vista (Disney Gateway)
Located in the Disney Springs area, this hotel offers the benefits of a Disney partner hotel at a much more affordable price.
Ideal for: Disney fans who want to be steps away from Disney Springs.
Highlight: You can walk to the shops and restaurants of Disney Springs via the exclusive walkway.
If your focus is Mickey Mouse, but your budget doesn’t allow for Disney’s luxurious hotels, the Wyndham is the perfect technical solution.
Disney Springs Access: The hotel has an exclusive walkway that crosses the street and takes you inside Disney Springs in 5 minutes. This means access to dozens of shops and the best restaurants in Orlando without needing a car.
Family Rooms: The rooms are clean, functional, and many offer partial views of the fireworks at Epcot or Magic Kingdom.
Convenience: As an “Official Disney Partner Hotel,” you can handle many ticket and transportation issues directly in the lobby.
Grove Resort & Water Park Orlando (The King of Leisure)
A little further away from the hustle and bustle, this resort is a destination in itself, featuring a complete water park within the property.
Ideal for: Those planning days of total relaxation (“hotel days”) between park visits.
Highlight: The Surfari water park, with a surf simulator and water slides.
Grove is for those who want a “vacation within a vacation” experience. It’s a bit further away (about 15 minutes from Disney), but it makes up for it with a monumental structure.
Surfari Water Park: Guests have access to a private water park with water slides, a surf simulator (FlowRider), and many pools. It’s perfect for alternating a day at the park with a day of relaxation.
Residential Suites: Like Floridays, here you’ll find 2 and 3-bedroom apartments with kitchens and gourmet balconies.
Lake and Activities: The hotel is located on the shores of Lake Austin, where you can rent kayaks or go fishing, offering a connection with nature that other Orlando hotels don’t have.
Which one to choose?
The choice depends on your goal: whether it’s economy and excitement (Avanti), family comfort (Floridays), or immersion in the parks (Cabana Bay or Wyndham).
Golden Tip: Always check the “Resort Fee” before finalizing your reservation to avoid surprises at check-out!
