Which Orlando Resort for Families?

[JoeWilly]

Friends are headed to Orlando in mid-January. They are not planning on going to Disney but would like a nice family resort. There will be four adults and 3 children ages 2, 4, 10. Based on the following exchange availability, which resorts would you choose? They want a three bedroom. Please tell me your top three choices. For some reason, I can't get in to the Tug resort reviews so I'm asking here.

* Grand Beach
* Star Island Resort
* Westgate Town Center Cypress
* Liki Tiki Village
* Mystic Dunes
*The Fountains at Champions Gate
*Tuscan Resort
*Villas at Regal Palms

Ideally, the chosen resort would be or have:

* 3 bedrooms
*On-site restaurant/bar
* Larger hot tubs
* Reasonably close to restaurants (maybe shopping)
* Nice pools/waterpark
*Playground
*Activities for children

Suggestions from the experts?

Thanks.

 

[Sea Six]

HGVC Sea World. I think EVERY resort in that area is kid friendly, you'd have to be way more specific. I suggest the resorts in the Marriott World Center, but that is very close to Disney. Once you get into the International Drive or Kissimmee area, it gets really crowded, so I'd need to know more about what you want. I tend to stay away from those areas.

 

[JoeWilly]

HGVC Sea World. I think EVERY resort in that area is kid friendly, you'd have to be way more specific.

Thanks Sea Six

Since they are all kid friendly, of the ones listed what would be your top three choices for nice resorts? I'm used to Marriott, Hyatt's, etc., so in terms of the nicest/updated resorts what would you choose?

 

[pharmacistking]

I have not stayed at any. But I have done extensive research on the area. I have a toddler so Orlando is our go to place.

My choices from my research would be

* Mystic Dunes property seems well maintained and pretty huge. Good videos available on youtube to see the scope. Seems more laidback could be on the same level as some of the majors.
* Westgate Town Center Cypress . Huge resort. Huge waterpark. The drawback is an hefty resort fee for non owners. Good videos available on youtube to see. Owners seem better taken care of the exchangers but the property looks nice.

 

[Bmatrose]

Orange Lake

 

[silentg]

Orange Lake

I agree

 

[JoeWilly]

Thanks everyone for your help. I managed to score two, two bedroom units at the Marriott Grande Vista. As long as the units are fairly close together, everyone should be happy.

Thanks again,
JoeWilly

 

[Sea Six]

Good choice. CALL THE FRONT DESK and ask them to assign you next to each other. If you don't do this, they have no idea who you are or what you want. This is a simple arrangement. DON'T EXPECT anyone from TUG to make this happen for you.

 

[JoeWilly]

Thanks Sea Six. I planned to call the resort again and make that request. The resort said to call at the 21 day mark and ask for the units to be close together as that's when they get the information from Interval.

 

[sfwilshire]

I see that you have already made a selection, but here are my comments.

We own a 3-br at Mystic Dunes and find the units well appointed. We have taken a party of 11 there multiple times and have been comfortable. Hard to beat the location. Not sure of the status of the restaurant during the pandemic.

It's been years since we've been to Orange Lake, but the extra driving I remember doesn't seem to be an issue for you. We didn't like the fact that the resort was so spread out.

We were very disappointed in our single Liki Tiki stay. Again, several years ago.

We've been to Grand Beach, but it has been many years. I recall that there were two master suites but that the kitchen and living room seemed small.

Sheila