Top 10 Orlando Hotels to Stay When Visiting the Theme Parks
Staying at Orlando Hotels would provide great access to the best attractions in Central Florida. On top of that, each hotel also provides one-of-a-kind experiences for guests. Below are 10 Orlando Hotels that will wow theme park guests!
1. Gaylord Palms Resort
One day, when I was driving around the Kissimmee area, I stumbled upon this ginormous building that resembled both a greenhouse and a castle. I immediately felt like I was daydreaming because the structure looked like something straight out of a fairy tale. I later learned that this placed was called the Gaylord Palms Resort and Convention Center.
As said before, this Orlando Hotel is a marvel to look at! The most notable part to me was the giant greenhouse center. This center resembled a small town hidden inside a palace. You truly feel like you are outside although you are technically indoors.
This Resort is located next to Disney World. So if you are paying the mouse a visit, this would be a great location to stay!
2. Hyatt Regency International Drive
If you want to stay in the center of all the Orlando Chaos! This mighty hotel is situated in the perfect location as it is super close to Univeral Studios and Sea World. It is also situated right next to International Drive’s biggest attractions, restaurants, and nightclubs/bars. It’s even attached to the Orange County convention center where they hold Central Florida’s biggest events!
This Hotel is one of the tallest in the area. It is the highest in all of International Drive and gives you some of the best views of Orlando. To give perspective, I live 20 miles away, and I can still see the Hyatt tower from my house. That is how tall it is.
3. Cabana Bay Beach Resort (Universal)
If you are staying at Universal Orlando Resort, this hotel will give you one of the best values you could ever get for an on-site Resort. The price, location and theming are unbeatable!
This Orlando hotel is themed around the nifty fifties. It is top-notch and it truly makes you feel like you are time traveling to a different era. This resort is also under the value hotel category. Meaning that you would not pay as much as the other Universal Hotels. And the best part is that you get to access the theme parks one hour before they open. One of the best lodging bargains in my opinion!
4. Portofino Bay Hotel (Universal)
If you want a more luxurious stay when visiting Univeral Orlando, Portofino Bay will offer some of the best high-end experiences!
This Hotel will instantly transport you all the way to the Italian Riviera. Univeral has done an incredible job recreating one of the most iconic Mediterranean Ports in Orlando. It is incredible how they have successfully authenticated every detail of this lovely European city! You’d have to see it to believe it!
If you want to go to the parks, you can take a short boat ride to get to your destination. It will be a super luxurious ride!
5. Renaissance Orlando at SeaWorld
If you are planning on taking a dive at SeaWorld, the Renaissance hotel will offer you great accommodations. The hotel even pops out at the parking lot for the theme park.
This Orlando Hotel, like Gaylord Palms, is pretty massive. It even resembles a greenhouse and palace. The only difference is that this Hotel is slightly smaller. There are many restaurants, shops, and activities to do in the resort. It even has a SeaWorld gift shop inside so you don’t have to buy merch at the theme park!
6. Disney’s Pop Century Resort
Want to have an affordable yet amazing experience housing with the mouse? Pop Century delivers all of this and more!
First of all, this hotel is themed for past decades. You would see giant versions of different objects respective of each decade. There are 60’s, 70’s, 80’s, and 90’s themes all around the resort. It is so much fun to observe each time period and learn about the past.
Another bonus of staying here is the unmatched Gondola service called the Skyliner. This service gives you a picturesque cable car ride to EPCOT, Hollywood Studios, and other resorts. A transportation method that you cannot find anywhere else in Orlando!
7. Disney’s Port Orleans Resorts
Want to visit New Orleans without leaving Disney? That’s right! Disney World houses a New Orleans-themed hotel that enchants you with that Southern Charm!
I was completely blown away by how gorgeous this hotel is! The decor, the food, and even the rooms are spot on. There is a French Quarter section that sells beignets! Beignets! I, of course, had to try them and I instantly fell in love with them! There is also a Riverside section that resembles the mansions outside of the city. Absolutely magnifique!
This Resort is also a short boat ride away from Disney Springs. Perfect for anyone who wants to shop and dine!
8. Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
Want to hang out with Lilo, Stitch, and Moana? The Polynesian Village Resort will transport you to the best of what the South Pacific offers! The mise en scene is so well done that it truly makes you feel like you are on a faraway island! The food is also authentic to the real Polynesian Islands. I even tried some of the best food I’ve ever had over there!
This hotel is right across the lake from the Magic Kingdom! That’s right! You can even see the Cinderella Castle from your own room. This is how close the hotel is to the Most Magical Place on Earth. It has even become a tradition to watch the fireworks from the Resort.
9. Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort
This Orlando hotel is located right next to the Polynesian Village Resort. So hotel guests would also get those amazing location perks. And they get to say hello to the Cinderella Castle from the distance!
This time, you would travel back in time to the Victorian Era of lodging. So expect everything to be super elegant! The decor again is unmatched and never-before-seen! This comes to show how far Disney goes to truly make their guests feel like they are in a movie. And in this case, I feel like I am a character living in a Jane Austen novel!
10. Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
I saved my personal favorite for last.
This Lodge truly immerses you in the Wilderness. Although it is situated in the Magic Kingdom area, it feels like it is in a remote area thousands of miles away. And once you walk inside the lobby, your jaw would instantly drop. It is one of the bests sights to see in all of Disney World. If not, Orlando! You would have to see it to believe it!
