Best Orlando Resorts for Families

If your family loves to float along a lazy river, you'll be spoiled for choice in Orlando. Of course, you'll find fabulous lazy rivers at many of the area theme parks and waterparks. Or you can up the ante by staying at one these resorts where you can relax in an inner tube and let your cares drift away.

Open since 2014 at Universal Orlando Resort, the Cabana Bay Beach Resort offers value-priced rooms and moderate-priced family suites with separate sleeping areas and mini kitchenettes.

Check rates at Cabana Bay Beach Resort

Open since 2014 inside Disney World, the Four Seasons Orlando at Walt Disney World offers 444 rooms and suites, many of which deliver spectacular views of the Magic Kingdom's nightly fireworks display. The lakeside resort is located inside the gates of Disney World in a residential setting minutes from the Magic Kingdom and Epcot.

Check rates at Four Seasons Orlando at Walt Disney World

Looking for ways to cut back the cost of a Disney World vacation? Consider choosing one of the five hotels in Disney's value category or staying at Disney's campground. No matter which property you choose, you'll get the same resort benefits as you would at the pricier hotels at Disney World, but at a fraction of the cost.

The most luxurious of the four one-site hotels at Universal Orlando Resort, Portofino Bay Hotel is a very plush slice of Italy, complete with cobblestone streets, Cypress trees, a charming piazza, authentic Italian restaurants, and three spectacular pools, including one that looks like a Roman aqueduct. 

Check rates at Loews Portofino Bay Hotel

For families with three or more kids, the typical standard room just isn't big enough yet ponying up for two rooms is pricey and inconvenient. Luckily, larger families have plenty of options at Disney World. Here's a range of solutions for families of five or more, and for every budget.

Another great choice at Universal Orlando, the Hard Rock Hotel has a large freeform lifeguarded pool with sand beach, "Camp Li'l Rock" with kids' activities, and convenient access to the two theme parks by a free water-taxi shuttle or a garden walkway. Guest get front-of-the-line access to popular rides. 

Check rates at Hard Rock Hotel

Many in-the-know families love this resort because of its wonderful location. Part of Westin Hotels & Resorts, which in turn is owned by the Starwood Group, the Swan and Dolphin sister properties are situated inside Disney World between Epcot and Hollywood Studios. Guests can take advantage of Disney World's complimentary water taxi service to nearby Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios and bus shuttles to the Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom, as well as to Downtown Disney and the water parks. 

Check rates at Disney World's Swan and Dolphin Resorts
 

The Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress Resort sits on a gigantic 1500 acres where features include nature trails, horseback riding, golf, lake watersports such as kayaking and paddleboats, and a half-acre pool with waterfalls and waterslides. This property also has a Camp Hyatt kids' program and a child care center.

Check rates at Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress

Gaylord Palms is a giant property with over 1400 rooms and 2 million square feet, set on 63 acres just a few minutes from Disney World. A signature feature is a 4.5-acre glass-covered atrium with three themed sections on different regions of Florida. Guests at Gaylord Palms will also find an outdoor recreation park., a large kids' club, and more.

Check rates at Gaylord Palms Resort

- Edited by Suzanne Rowan Kelleher