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Hyatt Regency Orlando vs Hilton Orlando is a choice between two large convention resorts about 0.9 road miles apart in the International Drive convention district. Both connect to the Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) by pedestrian bridge. Both are Universal Partner Hotels with free scheduled park buses, and their headline resort fees differ by only $1 a night.
The Hyatt has bridges into two convention buildings, a waterfall grotto pool and pet-friendly rooms. The Hilton has an 892-foot lazy river, an adults-only pool and a Magic Kingdom and EPCOT shuttle that is included in its resort charge.
Quick answer: Book Hyatt Regency Orlando if your event is in the OCCC’s West building, you travel with a pet, or you want Pointe Orlando within walking distance. Book Hilton Orlando if your kids want a lazy river, you want an adults-only pool or you plan to use the included Disney shuttle. Before tax, the Hyatt’s $48 resort fee and $45 self-parking add $93 a night, against $85 at the Hilton ($47 resort charge and $38 parking).
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Hyatt Regency Orlando vs Hilton Orlando at a glance
| What matters | Hyatt Regency Orlando | Hilton Orlando |
|---|---|---|
| Address | 9801 International Dr. | 6001 Destination Pkwy. |
| Size | 1,641 rooms | 1,424 rooms |
| Bridge to the OCCC | Two: West and North-South buildings | One: North/South building, South Concourse |
| Standard room | 39 m² (about 420 sq ft) on Booking.com | 335 sq ft (Hilton) |
| Rooms for 5 or 6 | Family Suite, up to six | Two-queen one-bedroom suite, six |
| Pools | Grotto Pool with 100-ft slide; lap pool | 892-ft lazy river, slide, splash pad, 18+ pool |
| Resort fee | $48 a night | $47 a night + tax |
| Self / valet parking | $45 / $56 | $38 / $50 + tax |
| Disney transport | None listed | Magic Kingdom and EPCOT, in the resort charge |
| Pets | Up to two | Not allowed |
| Check-in / out | 4 p.m. / 11 a.m. | 3 p.m. / 11 a.m. |
Figures are at the time of writing (the Hyatt’s valet price is from August 2026). Confirm them when you book.
Hyatt Regency Orlando: two bridges and a grotto pool
Hyatt Regency Orlando stands at 9801 International Drive, across the street from the OCCC’s West building. It has 1,641 rooms, 315,000 square feet of its own event space, a full-service spa, five restaurants and a 24-hour market, according to Hyatt. Pointe Orlando’s shops and restaurants are about half a mile north on foot.
World of Hyatt points and member benefits apply to bookings made directly with Hyatt, not to Booking.com reservations. Our Hyatt Regency Orlando review covers its rooms, restaurants and spa.
These photos come from the hotel’s own gallery. Tap any photo to enlarge it, or see the full gallery and current rates on Booking.com.
See prices and availability at Hyatt Regency Orlando
Hilton Orlando: a lazy river and a Disney shuttle
Hilton Orlando sits on more than 26 acres at 6001 Destination Parkway, just off International Drive and next to the OCCC’s North/South building. Hilton lists 1,424 rooms, and the hotel has 249,000 square feet of meeting space, which it says is kept apart from the recreation areas.
Hilton Honors points and member rates apply only to bookings made directly with Hilton. Our Hilton Orlando review has the full room and restaurant details.
Check your dates for Hilton Orlando on Booking.com
Getting to the convention center halls
Both hotels connect to the Orange County Convention Center without a street crossing, but they do not reach the same places. According to the OCCC:
- Hyatt Regency Orlando: the International Drive Pedestrian Bridge links the hotel with the West building, near West Hall C (Level 2). The Oversight Pedestrian Bridge connects the North-South building to the Hyatt and the West building.
- Hilton Orlando: the Hilton Pedestrian Bridge connects the hotel to the South Concourse of the North/South building.
So the Hyatt is the more direct choice for West building events and reaches both buildings on foot. The Hilton suits North/South building events. Check your event’s floor plan.
Driving in from elsewhere costs $22 plus tax ($23.43) per car at the OCCC at last check on October 28, 2026, and the price can rise for some events. For every bridged option, see our guide to hotels near the Orange County Convention Center. Weighing a golf resort without a bridge? Read our Rosen Shingle Creek review and our comparison of Rosen Shingle Creek vs Hyatt Regency Orlando.
Location and drive times to the parks
The Hilton is slightly closer to Epic Universe, SeaWorld and the Disney parks; the Hyatt is closer to the main Universal garages. These are OSRM routes on public roads to each park’s guest parking, checked on October 28, 2026. Return trips can differ.
| Destination | Hyatt Regency Orlando | Hilton Orlando |
|---|---|---|
| Epic Universe (parking toll plaza) | About 2.4 to 2.9 mi | About 2 mi |
| Universal Studios / Islands of Adventure garages | About 3.5 to 5 mi | About 4.3 to 5.5 mi |
| SeaWorld Orlando | About 2.6 mi | About 2.2 mi |
| Disney Springs | About 6.5 to 7 mi | About 6 to 6.5 mi |
| EPCOT (parking toll plaza) | About 10.8 mi | About 10.3 mi |
| Magic Kingdom (TTC lot) | About 12.8 mi | About 12.4 mi |
| Orlando airport (MCO), Terminals A to C | About 12 to 14 mi | About 12 to 13.5 mi |
Without traffic, Epic Universe and SeaWorld are 6 to 8 minutes away, and EPCOT or Magic Kingdom 18 to 24 minutes. Hilton calls Epic Universe “less than one mile” away; by road it is about 2 miles.
Resort fee, parking and taxes: the real nightly difference
Rates vary by season, availability and how far ahead you book. The mandatory extras are published.
| Charge | Hyatt Regency Orlando | Hilton Orlando |
|---|---|---|
| Resort fee | $48 a night, “subject to change” | $47 a night + tax |
| Self-parking | $45 (US$45 a day on Booking.com) | $38 a night + tax |
| Valet parking | $56 (August 2026) | $50 a night + tax |
| Extra nightly line | US$6 “destination tax” (Booking.com) | $2.25 marketing tax (hotel); US$2 on Booking.com |
| Percentage charges | 12.63% tax + 1% service charge (Booking.com) | 12.5% tax |
With self-parking, the Hyatt adds $93 a night and the Hilton $85, before tax. Hilton adds tax to both charges; Hyatt’s pages do not say. Over four nights, that is $372 against $340 before tax. Without a car, the gap almost disappears: $48 at the Hyatt against $47 plus tax at the Hilton.
For a sample December 9, 2026 night, the Hyatt’s Booking.com price breakdown listed the US$48 resort fee, a US$6 nightly “destination tax”, a 1% “property service charge” and 12.63% tax; Hyatt’s own pages mention only the resort fee. The Hilton’s breakdown listed the US$47 resort fee, a US$2 “local city tax” and 12.5% tax, while the hotel’s policy page gives a $2.25 Destination Marketing Tax.
The fees cover different things. Hilton’s list includes in-room Wi-Fi, the fitness center, daily activities, the Disney shuttle, two I-Ride Trolley passes a day and discounts on dining, spa services and cabanas. Hyatt says only that its fee provides “services and amenities”, including its exercise and indoor cycling studios. Booking.com shows free Wi-Fi at the Hyatt but still lists Wi-Fi at US$14.95 per 24 hours at the Hilton, where the hotel says it is part of the resort charge. Our Orlando resort fee list compares these fees with other hotels.
Rooms and suites
On paper, the Hyatt’s standard rooms are larger: 39 m² (about 420 square feet) on Booking.com. A February 2026 capture of Hilton.com lists the Hilton’s at 335 square feet, and Booking.com shows 31 m². On our December 9 sample night, both Booking.com listings offered their two-queen rooms to two adults and two children.
The Hyatt’s restyled rooms have sleeper sofas, marble-accented bathrooms, minifridges and 65-inch streaming TVs, with pool-view, balcony and Regency Club upgrades. Hilton’s rooms have a 65-inch smart TV, a mini-refrigerator and a dual-cup coffee maker. Its upgrades are mostly about the view, including high-floor “EPIC Firework View” rooms that face the theme-park skyline.
For five or six people, Hyatt says its Family Suite with two queen beds “can sleep up to six”. At the Hilton, the closest match is the one-bedroom suite with two queen beds: 650 square feet with a queen sofa bed in the living room, listed for six guests on the hotel’s suite page on October 28, 2026. That page no longer lists the Family Suite shown on Hilton.com in February 2026. A two-bedroom suite (a suite plus a connecting room) sleeps up to eight.
Hilton’s suite page says a rollaway costs extra in its king suite, while Booking.com shows extra beds as free there; Booking.com says the Hyatt has no extra beds. Cribs are free on request at both, per Booking.com.
Pools: lazy river or waterfall grotto
This is the clearest difference. Hilton Orlando has an 892-foot lazy river with complimentary tubes and a zero-entry main pool that is “temperature-controlled year-round”, per the hotel. The waterslide has a 48-inch height minimum and runs on a limited daily schedule. Younger children get a splash pad next to Tropics Pool Bar & Grill.
Adults have an enclosed pool for guests 18 and older, with a whirlpool and cabanas. The Hilton also rents 24 cabanas plus ten boutique cabanas by the splash pad. Booking.com’s fine print says the pools, lazy river and cabana rentals are for registered guests only. However, ResortPass, which the hotel links for cabanas, also sold pool day passes on October 28, 2026, so expect some day visitors.
Hyatt Regency Orlando has no lazy river. Its centerpiece is the Grotto Pool, which the hotel’s page on SeaWorld’s website describes as a 10,000-square-foot, heated, zero-entry pool with cascading waterfalls, a 100-foot-long water slide, a children’s splash pool and private cabanas. The nearly Olympic-size Terrace Pool, above International Drive, is the quieter option for laps. Cabanas and daily poolside activities are offered here too.
We found no published height rule for the Hyatt’s slide, so ask at the pool. For other resorts with long rivers, see our list of Orlando hotels with lazy rivers.
Dining and breakfast
Neither hotel’s own pages include breakfast in standard rates. On Booking.com, both sold some rates with breakfast included and others with breakfast as a paid extra on our sample night, so read the rate name.
The Hyatt’s venues include B-Line Diner for breakfast, lunch and dinner, Fiorenzo Italian Steakhouse, ICHARO for sushi, the Descend 21 bar and games lounge, the Rocks lobby bar and Coconuts Poolside Bar & Grill. The Market sells grab-and-go breakfast items, sandwiches, pizza, sushi and Starbucks coffee 24 hours a day.
The Hilton has Trabucco for coastal Italian food, TodoVos for Mexican cantina dishes, FastBreak for sports-bar food with an outdoor biergarten, Tropics Pool Bar and Grill, the Bar Tela lobby bar and Scratch Market, a 24-hour marketplace with coffee, pastries, sandwiches and pizza.
Both also have a Topgolf Swing Suite simulator, in Descend 21 at the Hyatt and in FastBreak at the Hilton.
Theme park transport and perks
Universal Orlando and Epic Universe
Each hotel has a Universal Vacation Planning desk in the lobby that sells tickets and books the free scheduled buses. At both, you reserve in person, and the buses do not serve groups or special events. Neither hotel publishes bus times online.
- Hyatt Regency Orlando: buses leave from the convention center entrance. Hyatt’s homepage (October 2026 capture) says you book from one day ahead, seats are limited, and the buses do not run continuously or serve Early Park Admission. Its Universal page (August 2026 capture) mentions “all three” Universal theme parks.
- Hilton Orlando: buses leave from the front drive. On October 28, 2026, the hotel’s transportation page said “all three” Universal theme parks, while its Universal page said “all four”, including Epic Universe.
Ask the desk whether the bus serves Epic Universe on your dates. Neither hotel lists Universal Express or Early Park Admission among its partner benefits. Universal’s standard parking was $35 a day including tax at last check.
Walt Disney World
The Hilton’s resort charge includes a daily scheduled round trip to Magic Kingdom and EPCOT, run by Fabulous Buses. You book up to 48 hours ahead with a promo code from the front desk. Seats are first come, first served, and the bus does not run if nobody has booked that time.
On the operator’s calendar for November 4, 2026, buses left at 7:30 a.m. for Magic Kingdom and 10:25 a.m. for EPCOT; the trip description still lists 7:35 and 10:05 a.m. Returns leave at 5:20 p.m. from Magic Kingdom’s Transportation and Ticket Center and at 10:20 p.m. from EPCOT. A May 2026 Hilton.com capture said the service is for two guests, so ask about the rest of your party.
Hyatt Regency Orlando lists no Disney transport, so plan on driving or a rideshare; Disney’s standard parking was $35 a day at last check. Neither hotel is on Disney’s Early Theme Park Entry list. For other hotels in this area with Disney buses, see International Drive hotels with a free Disney shuttle.
SeaWorld and the I-Ride Trolley
SeaWorld lists both hotels as Hotel Partners, not Official Hotels, so neither gets SeaWorld’s shuttle. Hyatt’s homepage still lists SeaWorld and Aquatica in its scheduled transport, while its Universal page does not, so confirm at the desk. At the Hilton, a SeaWorld benefits card from the front desk gives priority entry on select dates, 10% off dining and 10% off merchandise purchases of $50 or more, per the hotel; SeaWorld’s own partner chart says 20% off merchandise.
The Hilton’s resort charge includes two I-Ride Trolley passes a day, and its stop (#23) is at the bottom of the front drive. At the Hyatt, the OCCC lists trolley stops in front of its West and North/South buildings.
Families, pets and house rules
- Young kids: both hotels list daily activities, such as arts and crafts at the Hilton. Neither lists a supervised kids’ club.
- Pets: the Hyatt accepts up to two pets, 50 pounds each and 75 pounds combined, for $150 per stay of up to six nights. Tell the hotel at least three days before you arrive. The Hilton does not allow pets, but service animals are welcome.
- Check-in: 4 p.m. at the Hyatt and 3 p.m. at the Hilton, with 11 a.m. check-out at both. The Hilton requires guests to be 18 to register; the Hyatt’s Booking.com listing shows no minimum check-in age.
- Spa and fitness: both have a full-service spa and a 24-hour gym. The Hilton’s eforea spa treats guests 18 and older only.
Choose Hyatt Regency Orlando if…
- Your event is in the OCCC’s West building, or you need to reach both buildings on foot.
- You are traveling with a pet (up to two, 75 pounds combined).
- You prefer a waterfall grotto pool and a separate lap pool, and a lazy river does not matter.
- You want a larger standard room and Pointe Orlando within walking distance.
- You book directly with Hyatt and want World of Hyatt points.
Choose Hilton Orlando if…
- A lazy river, a splash pad or an adults-only pool is high on your list.
- You want an included shuttle to Magic Kingdom and EPCOT, plus two daily I-Ride passes.
- Your sessions are in the North/South building, near the South Concourse.
- You will drive: self-parking is $38 plus tax, against $45 at the Hyatt.
- You book directly with Hilton and want Hilton Honors points.
Both hotels are on our list of the best hotels on International Drive.
Frequently asked questions
Which is closer to the convention center, Hyatt Regency Orlando or Hilton Orlando?
Both are connected by pedestrian bridges. The OCCC says the Hyatt’s International Drive bridge leads to the West building near West Hall C, and its Oversight bridge connects to the North-South building. The Hilton’s bridge leads to the South Concourse of the North/South building. For West building events, the Hyatt is the more direct walk. For the North/South building, both work; check your event’s hall.
Which hotel is cheaper once the resort fee and parking are added?
Before tax, the Hyatt’s $48 resort fee and $45 self-parking come to $93 a night. The Hilton’s $47 resort charge and $38 self-parking come to $85 a night, plus tax on both. Without a car, the fees are almost equal. Booking.com also showed a US$6 nightly destination tax at the Hyatt and US$2 at the Hilton, so compare the full totals for your dates.
Does Hyatt Regency Orlando or Hilton Orlando have a lazy river?
Only Hilton Orlando. It has an 892-foot lazy river with complimentary tubes, a zero-entry main pool, a waterslide with a 48-inch minimum, a splash pad and an adults-only pool. Hyatt Regency Orlando has no lazy river. Its heated Grotto Pool has waterfalls, a 100-foot water slide and a children’s splash pool, and the hotel also has a separate lap pool.
Do Hyatt Regency Orlando and Hilton Orlando have a free Disney shuttle?
Hilton Orlando does. Its resort charge includes a daily scheduled round trip to Magic Kingdom and EPCOT, booked with Fabulous Buses up to 48 hours ahead. On the operator’s calendar for November 4, 2026, departures were at 7:30 a.m. and 10:25 a.m. Hyatt Regency Orlando lists no Disney transport. Neither hotel is on Disney’s Early Theme Park Entry list.
Do their Universal shuttles go to Epic Universe?
It is not confirmed at either hotel. Both run free scheduled buses that you book in person at the Universal desk in the lobby. Hyatt’s Universal page mentions “all three” Universal theme parks. Hilton’s pages disagree: one says three parks, another all four, including Epic Universe. Ask at the desk, or drive: Epic’s parking is about 2 to 3 road miles away.
Which hotel is better for families with young children?
For pool time, the Hilton offers more: a lazy river, a splash pad, a waterslide and daily activities. The Hyatt’s Grotto Pool has a 100-foot slide and a children’s splash pool, and its standard rooms are larger on paper. Families of five or six can look at the Hyatt’s Family Suite or the Hilton’s one-bedroom suite with two queen beds. Neither hotel lists a supervised kids’ club.
Bottom line
Hyatt Regency Orlando vs Hilton Orlando comes down to your event hall, your pets and your pool wish list. The Hyatt suits West building events, pet owners and guests who want Pointe Orlando nearby. The Hilton wins on its lazy river, adults-only pool, included Disney shuttle and cheaper self-parking. The resort fees are close, so compare full totals.
Compare rates for Hyatt Regency Orlando or see available rooms at Hilton Orlando on Booking.com.
How we checked this guide: We read Hilton Orlando’s pages live on October 28, 2026 and Hyatt’s through web.archive.org captures of August 30 and October 19, 2026 (hyatt.com blocks automated requests). We also used the convention center and SeaWorld partner pages, Booking.com price breakdowns for December 9, 2026, the Fabulous Buses calendar for November 4, 2026 and public-road routes from OSRM. More on how we research our guides.
Sources checked in October 2026: Hilton Orlando hotel policies and resort charge, Hilton Orlando pools and lazy river, Hyatt Regency Orlando (hyatt.com, archived October 19, 2026), Orange County Convention Center: Getting Here, Fabulous Buses: Hilton Orlando Disney shuttle