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Holiday Inn Resort Orlando Lake Buena Vista is a family resort on State Road 535, outside Walt Disney World property and about 2 miles by road from Disney Springs. Its draw is simple: KidSuites with bunk beds, a $30-plus-tax resort fee that covers a scheduled shuttle to Disney, Disney Springs, Universal and Epic Universe, and Holiday Inn’s Kids Eat Free program.
The official name is Holiday Inn Resort Orlando – Lake Buena Vista, and it’s easy to confuse with two other Holiday Inns nearby. Holiday Inn Orlando – Disney Springs Area is the one on Hotel Plaza Boulevard with Disney’s Early Theme Park Entry, and Holiday Inn Resort Orlando Suites – Waterpark is on International Drive South. This review covers only the State Road 535 resort.
Quick answer: book it if your kids are under 12 and want bunk beds, you’re splitting days between Disney and Universal, and you’re fine with a fixed-schedule shuttle or a car. Budget for the $30-a-night resort fee plus tax and $20 a day for parking. Look elsewhere if you want Disney’s Early Entry, a walk to Disney Springs or breakfast in the rate.
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Holiday Inn Resort Orlando Lake Buena Vista at a glance
- Area and address: 13351 State Road 535, Orlando, FL 32821, in the Lake Buena Vista corridor south of I-4, outside Disney’s gates.
- Distances by road (our routing): about 2.3 miles to Disney Springs, 6 miles to EPCOT’s lot, 5.6 miles to Hollywood Studios, 7.6 miles to the Magic Kingdom lot, 7.5 miles to Epic Universe, 8 miles to Universal, 17 miles to the airport.
- Rooms: king and two-queen rooms of 336 to 394 sq ft, some with balconies; KidSuites with a king bed plus one or two sets of bunk beds (381 and 397 sq ft, for 4 to 6); two 642 sq ft suites.
- Pools and water features: one heated outdoor pool with two whirlpools, a splash pad and a poolside tiki bar, open 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. per the FAQ.
- Breakfast and dining: not included; a hot buffet runs from 6:30 a.m. at “Just Around The Corner” Sports Bar & Grill, where kids 11 and under eat free with a paying adult (the FAQ says 12).
- Parking: self-parking is $20 per day per vehicle, at the time of writing.
- Resort fee: $30 per night plus tax, covering the park shuttle, a children’s movie theater, pool activities, the business center and the in-room safe.
- Park perks: a Walt Disney World Good Neighbor Hotel (per the hotel) with a scheduled shuttle, but not on Disney’s Early Theme Park Entry list; Lightning Lane purchases open 3 days ahead, not 7.
- Best for: families with young children who want bunk beds, a low fee and one shuttle for Disney and Universal.
Check your dates for Holiday Inn Resort Orlando – Lake Buena Vista on Booking.com
Holiday Inn Resort Lake Buena Vista photos
A look at the rooms, pool, bar and arcade from the property’s own photo gallery. Tap any photo to enlarge it, or see the full gallery and current rates on Booking.com.
Where Holiday Inn Resort Orlando Lake Buena Vista is, and how far the parks are
The resort sits on State Road 535 just south of I-4’s exit 68, in the Lake Buena Vista hotel corridor, though the address is Orlando. Orlando Vineland Premium Outlets is about 1.5 miles by road.
The hotel’s own mileage claims don’t agree: the home page says “less than a mile from Walt Disney World”, IHG says “one mile from Walt Disney World’s four major theme parks”, and the FAQ says 4.5 miles and about 10 minutes. The short figures likely measure to Disney’s property line, not a park gate. We routed the drives to each parking lot.
| Destination | Road distance | Drive time | Shuttle? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Disney Springs garages | About 2.3 miles | About 6 minutes | Yes, 11:25 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. |
| EPCOT parking lot | About 6 miles | About 11 to 15 minutes | Yes, 8:00 and 10:10 a.m. |
| Disney’s Hollywood Studios | About 5.6 miles | About 14 minutes | Yes, 11:25 a.m. |
| Disney’s Animal Kingdom | About 6.8 miles | About 12 minutes | No direct stop |
| Magic Kingdom lot (TTC) | About 7.6 miles | About 14 minutes | No direct stop |
| SeaWorld Orlando | About 4.7 miles | About 11 minutes | Not on the current schedule |
| Epic Universe toll plaza | About 7.5 miles | About 14 minutes | Yes, 7:00 a.m. |
| Universal parking toll plaza | About 8.1 miles | About 13 minutes | Yes, 7:00 a.m. |
Walking to Disney Springs isn’t realistic (about 2 miles along busy roads), so drive (parking is free) or take the shuttle. For hotels you can walk from, see our guide to the best hotels in Lake Buena Vista.
Rooms and KidSuites
In a KidSuite, a king bed for the adults shares the room with a bunk-bed nook behind a partial wall, with its own TV and a small desk. The one-bunk version is 381 sq ft; the two-bunk version is 397 sq ft, with “two sets of bunk beds to accommodate four children” and two TVs.
The hotel’s rooms page and FAQ disagree on occupancy (see the table), so check before booking a fifth person. Both agree the two-bunk KidSuite sleeps 6.
| Room type | Beds | Size | Sleeps (rooms page / FAQ) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard King | 1 king | 381 sq ft | 2 / 2 |
| Standard Two Queen (Exterior) | 2 queens | 336 sq ft | 4 / 4 |
| Deluxe King with Sofa | 1 king + sofa | 381 sq ft | 4 / 3 |
| Deluxe Two Queen | 2 queens | 394 sq ft | 4 / 5 |
| Pool View (king or 2 queens) | Some with balcony | 378 to 380 sq ft | 2 or 4 |
| KidSuite, one bunk | 1 king + 1 bunk set | 381 sq ft | 4 / 5 |
| KidSuite, two bunks | 1 king + 2 bunk sets | 397 sq ft | 6 / 6 |
| Junior Suite | 2 queens, balcony | 642 sq ft | 6 |
| Presidential Suite | 1 king | 642 sq ft | 4 |
Every room has a mini refrigerator, microwave, Keurig, laptop safe, desk, 42-inch TV, free Wi-Fi and a granite-and-tile bathroom; cribs are available on request. For themed kids’ rooms, see our guide to Orlando hotels with kids suites.
Pool, splash pad and recreation
One large free-form pool fills the courtyard, called an “Over-Sized Heated Pool” on the amenities page, with two whirlpools (one with a pool lift) and a splash pad for small children. Pool hours are 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. per the FAQ, the resort fee covers pool games and daily activities, weather permitting, and IHG’s listing adds dive-in movies. Rocco’s Rockin’ Tiki Bar serves drinks, kids’ slushies and snacks (hours not published).
Indoors there’s an arcade (24-hour, per the home page), a game room with table tennis and billiards, and a children’s movie theater included in the fee. There’s no slide or lazy river; for those, see our Holiday Inn Resort Orlando Suites – Waterpark review.
Dining, breakfast and Kids Eat Free
The main restaurant is “Just Around The Corner” Sports Bar & Grill (the sign reads The Corner Sports Bar & Grill), serving breakfast and American bar-and-grill food. Breakfast isn’t free: the FAQ says the restaurant opens at 6:30 a.m. with a hot buffet option, price not published. A 24-hour market covers snacks and basics, and the dining page says a coffee shop is coming in late 2026.
The hotel’s terms page sets the Kids Eat Free rules: registered guests 11 and under eat free from the kids’ menu at breakfast, lunch and dinner in the restaurant, up to four children per family (two per parent) per meal, when an adult orders a full-priced main course. Room service and group or corporate rates are excluded. The hotel’s FAQ says 12 and under instead; with a 12-year-old, plan on 11 and ask. The Kids Eat Free terms don’t mention third-party bookings (the page’s package terms exclude them), so confirm at the desk. Our list of Orlando hotels where kids eat free compares the other programs.
Resort fee, parking and other charges
The resort fee is $30 per night plus tax at the time of writing. The FAQ says it covers the daily scheduled shuttle to Walt Disney World, Disney Springs and Universal Orlando Resort, the children’s movie theater, pool games and daily activities, the business center and the in-room safe. If your booking site’s total leaves it out, add it when comparing prices.
Self-parking is $20 per day per vehicle with in-and-out privileges. Pets stay in designated rooms for $35 a night for the first three nights and nothing after, plus $10 a night for a second pet; the limit is two pets and 150 pounds. IHG says dogs and cats only, the FAQ bars exotic animals, and service animals pay no fee. The home page advertises a dog park; the FAQ calls it a pet walking area.
Check-in is at 4 p.m. and check-out at 11 a.m., and IHG listed a minimum check-in age of 18 at last check (August 2026). The FAQ says most reservations can be cancelled up to 72 hours before arrival without penalty, while IHG says it varies by rate; on Booking.com, your rate’s conditions are what count.
Getting to the Disney parks, Disney Springs and Universal
Platinum Transportation runs the shuttle, which the hotel calls complimentary although its FAQ also lists it among the resort-fee inclusions (IHG’s FAQ even says there’s no complimentary local shuttle). The schedule effective October 5, 2026 is below; times change, and the front desk posts the current sheet.
| Route | Leaves the hotel | Returns | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Disney parks | 8:00 and 10:10 a.m. (EPCOT); 11:25 a.m. (Hollywood Studios) | 4:15 and 7:50 p.m. from Hollywood Studios (Lane 68); 10:30 p.m. from EPCOT (Lane 33) | No Magic Kingdom or Animal Kingdom stop |
| Disney Springs | 11:25 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. | 8:00 and 11:05 p.m. (Lane 2) | Free parking if you drive |
| Universal Studios and Epic Universe | 7:00 a.m. | 7:15 p.m. from Universal Studios (Lane 77); 7:35 p.m. from Epic Universe (Lane 67) | One run a day each way |
Seats are first come, first served and limited, groups of 10 or more may not ride, and you should be at the stop 10 minutes early with your room key. Only single umbrella strollers are allowed, wheelchair users should reserve 24 hours ahead, missed pickups aren’t reimbursed, drivers may switch your drop-off to another Disney park because of traffic or weather, and the hotel says to plan on 30 to 40 minutes per trip. It doesn’t run for ticketed events such as Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party.
For Magic Kingdom or Animal Kingdom, ride to EPCOT or Hollywood Studios and continue on Disney’s free transportation; Disney says park-to-park trips may combine bus, monorail, boat or walking, and its app plans the route; budget extra time. One more conflict: the amenities and local attractions pages still mention a SeaWorld shuttle, but the published schedule has none. See how this compares in our guide to hotels near Disney World with a free shuttle.
If you drive, standard theme park parking is $35 a day at Disney and $35 at Universal, both including tax at last check, while Disney Springs is free. There’s no free airport shuttle; the FAQ suggests a rideshare, taxi or a paid Platinum Transportation transfer, and puts MCO about 20 minutes away (IHG says about 12 miles; we route 17 miles and 27 minutes).
Amenities: movie theater, arcade, fitness, Wi-Fi and laundry
The hotel also lists a 24-hour fitness center, free Wi-Fi throughout, a 24-hour business center, self-serve laundry, a concierge with Disney ticket assistance and same-day luggage storage only. ADA-compliant rooms are available, and all rooms are non-smoking (smoking is allowed only in designated outdoor spots).
The movie theater is a small screening room, and the arcade has racing, shooting and basketball games; the hotel doesn’t say what play costs. There’s no kids’ club or spa. For the lake behind the resort, the hotel’s watersports page points to Buena Vista Watersports on Lake Bryan, a 7-minute walk, for jet skis, wakeboarding, tubing and kayaks, with a guest discount through the front desk (the FAQ instead names Paradise Cove, directly behind the resort).
Who it suits
This is a hotel for families with children roughly 4 to 11: the bunk beds, splash pad, movie theater and arcade are aimed at them, and Kids Eat Free takes the sting out of restaurant meals. Couples without kids will find it child-centered, and anyone who needs Early Entry should pick a hotel on Disney’s list.
Pros
- Bunk-bed KidSuites behind a partial wall, with a TV for the kids.
- A $30 resort fee, lower than many Disney-area resort fees, covering the shuttle and movie theater.
- One shuttle network for EPCOT, Hollywood Studios, Disney Springs, Universal Studios and Epic Universe.
- Heated pool with two whirlpools, a splash pad and a tiki bar.
- Kids Eat Free at three meals with a paying adult, and a microwave and mini fridge in every room.
Limitations to know
- Not on Disney’s Early Theme Park Entry list, and Lightning Lane purchases open only 3 days ahead.
- Three Disney departures a morning, no Magic Kingdom or Animal Kingdom stop, one Universal run a day and first-come seating.
- The 11:25 a.m. Hollywood Studios bus is late for rope drop, and the last park return leaves EPCOT at 10:30 p.m.
- Breakfast costs extra, and room occupancy differs between the hotel’s rooms page and its FAQ.
- Rooms are compact (336 to 397 sq ft outside the two suites), and no park is walkable.
What to check before you book
- Occupancy: if you’re five, get the hotel to confirm that the one-bunk KidSuite or Deluxe Two Queen takes five, since its pages disagree.
- Shuttle times: ask for the current schedule at check-in; Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom need a transfer or a drive.
- Kids Eat Free: confirm the age cut-off (11 or 12) and that it applies to your Booking.com rate.
- Pets: designated rooms only, so declare them when you book.
- The right Holiday Inn: the address on your confirmation should read 13351 State Road 535.
Nearby alternatives
If Disney’s Early Theme Park Entry matters more than bunk beds, the Holiday Inn Orlando – Disney Springs Area is the closest swap, with Kids Eat Free, a walk to Disney Springs and an hourly, reservation-only park shuttle for a $39-plus-tax fee. The Wyndham Garden Lake Buena Vista is another Disney Springs Resort Area hotel with Early Entry, and the Drury Plaza Hotel Orlando adds free hot breakfast, free evening food and a free Disney park shuttle with no resort fee. See our comparison of family suites near Disney World and our hub of the best hotels near Disney World.
More IHG options: compare all 11 Holiday Inn hotels near Disney World.
Frequently asked questions
Does Holiday Inn Resort Orlando Lake Buena Vista have a free shuttle to Disney World?
Yes, a scheduled shuttle run by Platinum Transportation and covered by the $30 resort fee. On the schedule effective October 5, 2026, buses leave at 8:00 and 10:10 a.m. for EPCOT and 11:25 a.m. for Hollywood Studios, returning at 4:15, 7:50 and 10:30 p.m. There’s no Magic Kingdom or Animal Kingdom stop, and seats are first come, first served.
How much is the resort fee at Holiday Inn Resort Orlando Lake Buena Vista?
The resort fee is $30 per night plus tax at the time of writing. The hotel’s FAQ says it covers the scheduled shuttle to Walt Disney World, Disney Springs and Universal Orlando, the children’s movie theater, pool activities, the business center and the in-room safe. Parking is a separate $20 per day, and breakfast isn’t included.
How many people can sleep in a KidSuite at Holiday Inn Resort Lake Buena Vista?
The two-bunk KidSuite (397 sq ft) sleeps six: two adults in the king bed and four children in the bunks. The one-bunk KidSuite (381 sq ft) is listed as “Sleeps 4” on the rooms page, but the hotel’s FAQ allows five guests. Ask the hotel to confirm before you book five people; the bunks are sized for children.
Do kids eat free at Holiday Inn Resort Orlando Lake Buena Vista?
Yes, under Holiday Inn’s Kids Eat Free program at the on-site sports bar and grill. The hotel’s terms cover registered guests 11 and under at breakfast, lunch and dinner, up to four per family per meal, when an adult orders a full-priced main course. The FAQ says 12 and under, so check if you have a 12-year-old.
Does Holiday Inn Resort Orlando Lake Buena Vista get Disney Early Theme Park Entry?
No. Disney’s list of eligible non-Disney hotels names only the Swan, Dolphin, Swan Reserve, Shades of Green, Four Seasons, Signia, Waldorf Astoria and the eight Disney Springs Resort Area hotels, including Holiday Inn Orlando (the Disney Springs Area one). Guests here enter at regular opening and can buy Lightning Lane passes 3 days ahead rather than 7.
Is Holiday Inn Resort Orlando Lake Buena Vista the same as Holiday Inn Disney Springs?
No. Holiday Inn Resort Orlando – Lake Buena Vista is at 13351 State Road 535, outside Disney property, with KidSuites and a $30 fee. Holiday Inn Orlando – Disney Springs Area is at 1805 Hotel Plaza Boulevard inside Walt Disney World, with Early Theme Park Entry and a walk to Disney Springs. Holiday Inn Resort Orlando Suites – Waterpark is on International Drive South.
Bottom line
Holiday Inn Resort Orlando Lake Buena Vista gives families with young kids bunk beds, a splash pad, a movie theater and free kids’ meals a short drive from the Disney lots, for a $30-plus-tax fee lower than many nearby resorts charge. The trade-offs are no Early Entry, a thin shuttle timetable and extra charges for parking and breakfast. Rates vary by season, availability and how far ahead you book. See available rooms at Holiday Inn Resort Orlando – Lake Buena Vista.
Sources checked in October 2026: Holiday Inn Resort Orlando – Lake Buena Vista FAQ, Hotel shuttle schedule, Hotel rooms and KidSuites, Kids Eat Free terms, Walt Disney World: Early Theme Park Entry