I've partnered with Lake Buena Vista Resort Village & Spa for this review.
One thing I love about living in Florida is having the ability to visit Orlando and all of its attractions on a fairly regular basis. At a minimum, we visit Orlando at least twice a year, so at this point I've stayed at quite a few hotels and resorts in the Kissimmee / Orlando area. In our younger years (read: before kids) we sought out luxury, 4 or 5 stars resorts and hunted for the best deals possible since we could drop in on a whim, but things are a bit different now that we have children. Now, we plan far in advance and search for family friendly resorts that offer awesome amenities while still offering some of the comforts of home, like plenty of space and a full kitchen. On our latest trip to Orlando, we had the opportunity to check out the Lake Buena Vista Resort Village & Spa for two nights and it really delivered on our wish list.
Upon pulling into the Lake Buena Vista Resort Village & Spa I noticed a few things: the property was large and inviting, and it was located directly next to the Lake Buena Vista Factory Stores. I quickly checked in and was assigned to a 1,080 square-foot, two bedroom suite in one of the buildings closest to the factory stores (there are 5 buildings; 3 around the large pool and 2 right across an access road with another pool shared between them). You can choose from 1-4 bedroom suites depending on how many people are traveling with you.
While making our way to our building I took note of Frankie Farrell’s Irish Pub & Grille and the Pizza Hut Café Express that were located on property and I saw a convenience store also located in the tower adjacent to ours. It's always great to have some place to grab a quick bite and a store to get those item you may have forgotten or find yourself in need of.
Our suite was on the second floor and we were really impressed when we entered the room. The rooms at the Lake Buena Vista Resort Village & Spa are more like condominiums and extremely spacious. The living area was large with plenty of seating and a large TV set and there was a dining table for meals. The suite featured a full size kitchen with granite counter tops and all the dishes, silverware and cookware you might need for meal preparation. To our surprise there was also a washer and dryer in the suite. Each suite also has a private balcony with seating so you can enjoy the atmosphere and Florida weather.
The kitchen and washer/dryer are truly amazing for families. We often find ourselves whipping up small meals for our toddler when he's in a picky mood, so being able to heat up some food or keep the food he likes on hand in the refrigerator is fantastic. I also like having the option to prepare some of our meals rather than eating out three times per day. This can save a ton of money if you're vacationing on a budget. You'll also be happy to know that internet access is included in the nominal resort fee.
The two bedroom suite was designed to accommodate 6 guests - our suite had a king bed in one room and two doubles in another, along with a pull-out sleeper sofa in the living room. As a parent, having a bathtub is key for washing little ones, so we were delighted to see a full bathtub in the bathroom and a huge jacuzzi tube in the master bathroom.
The rooms and bathrooms were very clean and totally functional for families. Having a separate bedroom for the kids is a major benefit in my book and means that everyone gets a better night's sleep. I hate being crammed into one room and tripping all over our belongings. We definitely did not feel this way at the Lake Buena Vista Resort Village & Spa. I didn't realize that housekeeping services were not included in the stay and we didn't have the foresight to hang our towels to dry. Luckily, we were able to grab a few from the other bathroom in the suite so it wasn't a big deal, but just know that towel service is additional fee (as are other housekeeping services like making the beds, cleaning the room, etc). If you've traveled with kids before, you know that unexpected things can happen and unfortunately our son got car sick during a short trip to the store on the morning of our departure. Luckily, I was able to visit the convenience store on the property to pick up Lysol wipes to clean his car seat, but this really put me behind on packing up. I called the front desk to see about a late check-out but was told it would be a $50 fee. I decided to forgo that and just packed a little hastily instead.
We visited the resort in December and the days we stayed were a little overcast and chilly, but we did check out the property's amenities like the Pirates Plunge Themed Pool and Lani’s Luau Poolside Bar & Grille. Simply put, the pool area is AWESOME. My son was so excited about the huge pirate ship and playing on the pool deck. I already promised him that we'd return when the weather was warmer so he could take full advantage of the pool and pirate ship. There's also a shallow play area for kids which is perfect for families traveling with small children.
Honestly, I wouldn't mind just visiting this hotel to hang out by the pool all day. I know our kids would be entertained for hours. There's even a tiki hut that designated just for kids with games and fun things to do for them.
The resort is also home to the Reflections Full Service Salon & Spa where you can get pampered during your visit. You can also take advantage of the 24 hour fitness center. During our visit we did some shopping and visited SeaWorld and were very pleased with the location of the Lake Buena Vista Resort Village & Spa. It's only 1 mile from the entrance of Downtown Disney and only about 6-12 miles from SeaWorld, Universal, and the Disney theme parks. We used our own car since we were traveling with kids and car seats, but visitors can take advantage of the complimentary shuttle service with regularly timed intervals between pick-up and drop-off to the parks and points of interest.
Overall, we had a great stay at the Lake Buena Vista Resort Village & Spa and would absolutely stay there again. It's a great value and the rooms are so spacious that it's truly a home away from home.
Disclosure: I was provided a complimentary stay to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own.
betty crawford says
Our family stayed a night there three years ago and it was really nice. We had a pirate themed room without a kitchenette because we were just staying one night and then going on to cruise on the Disney Dream. The kids loved the pool. Our room was spacious, clean and comfortable.
Elia says
This Hotel looks AMAZING! I think my kids would die just seeing the pirate ship. I am going to definitely check it out on our next trip to Disney 🙂
Deborah D says
What a beautiful place!
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Starla B says
What an awesome hotel. I love how it looks exactly like a full furnished home! The master bath is so pretty with the white columns!
rochelle haynes says
This is nice love to travel here
nice rooms and clean too
Nicole Opfer says
This resort looks amazing! We will definitely look into it for our next Disney trip!
Linda Mannst says
This looks so nice. It would be fun just hanging out at that neat pool. We like going to Orlando once in a while to enjoy some of the many activities. Thank you so much for sharing
Gretchen Luper says
The suites look clean and the bright yellow color scheme is awesome. I love the layout also but don't like the $50 late checkout fee, things happen and that's a very stiff fee.
Jennifer odom says
The pool looks amazing! My kids would love the ship!
Kimberly Kenny says
That pirate ship is so cool! And that suite is huge - the size of my entire house! We don't have to travel with kids any longer so we tend to opt for cheaper places because we'll only be at our hotel when we're sleeping. But that resort is definitely the way to go when traveling with family.
Susan Hartman says
My daughter and I stayed there a number of years ago. It was nice and reasonble. You could n;t beat the location. Easy to get around.
Mary.m. says
Beautiful scenery and love the views. .
Sally Gearhart says
We own at Orbit One right down the road from there & I've stayed at this resort also. It really is a gorgeous resort & worth every penny to stay there! Plus that place is growing still & they add more adminities constantly. Owning makes us take a vacation, we wouldn't just find time to vacation lol. Great read, thanks for the info!
Tom Bellamy says
I live about 30 minutes from here and I can tell you that this place is nice.
Rebecca Yahrling says
Awesome review! This looks like an awesome resort.
Margaret Smith says
This looks like a wonderful resort. My kids would love the pirate ship. What fun.
Cynthia C says
I stayed at this resort a few years ago and it was really nice. It was roomy and convenient for our group. I liked that it was right by the outlet mall.
Ashley Chassereau Parks says
I love that there's a full kitchen option in the rooms! That would be such a money saver on a family trip with little ones! That pirate ship is amazing!! This is definitely on the table for our next Florida trip!
Marti Tabora says
This looks like such nice place to stay, I would love having the kitchenette because I'm not one to eat out all the time.
Susan Hartman says
i love Orlando. So much to do.
Mia says
Having the pirate ship and a shallow pool would certainly make this a super location for families. Being so close to the factory stores would also be a major plus.
Deborah D says
beautiful room
Evans B says
Thank you for the review! Been looking for a place to stay when we go see Disney hopefully this year. I really want something like this, with kitchenette so I can cook as well. My girl has special diet needs so I cook her food all the time. It's hard to trust restaurant food nowadays.
Amber Ludwig says
Omgosh how awesome is that pirate ship!?!? Too cool!! My son would freak out!! And that bathtub!! So regal!! Id feel like a queen bathing in that!
Elizabeth Doble says
Thank you for this review. We plan on going to Seaworld in June for our son's 8th birthday. He liked it there the first time. This time we are thinking about staying in the area. We used to live in Kissimmee, but now live near Tampa.
We will definitely keep this place in mind.
Elaine Powell says
I would like to visit here. we haven't been to Disney or Orlando area in a long time.. we will have to check this out.
Beverly Guajardo says
Awesome Hotel! Love the master bath with the white columns. I think the late fee is too high. Some time things happens out of your control.
Amy Turnbull says
I need a vacation and this place looks awesome
Sarah L says
Neat looking place with lots of amenities. Like the pirate ship.
jennifer peters says
We usually try to stay on property. But this is an amazing looking hotel. I would love to stay here
Sue E says
This is nice to know, if we decide to go to Orlando again. Last time, we went with our kids. This time, we are empty-nesters. But I pinned this, because we would like to stay in a beautiful place like that!! It looks like going to the bathroom would even be a vacation!!
Kasey B says
Based on your review, I would definitely consider staying here with my girls whenever we get the chance to travel there. The pool area and lounge look like fun for both adults and the kids. And I know I would LOVE how close it is to the outlet mall!
Terri S. says
What a wonderful place to stay at on our next visit to Disney with our daughter, SIL and 2 granddaughters! I love the spacious rooms, kitchen with washer/dryer, and balcony. I would check out the factory stores and I know the kids would explore the pirate ship.
penny harris says
love to win
Julie Lundstrom says
This is a really nice resort. I like that they have balconies so you can sit outside and enjoy the weather.
sheila ressel says
What a beautiful resort! I love that there is so much to do all in one place. Hopefully our family can stay there some time in the future. I know we would all love it!
Rebecca Yahrling says
Love that there's so much to do at the resort itself.
polly says
Looks awesome! The bathtub looks so inviting!~ The rooms are beautiful!
Sarah L says
Someday I'll get back to Orlando and this would be a nice place to stay.
Stacy says
I grew up in Kissimmee and my Mom still lives there, so we are fortunate enough to stay with her when we visit, but we are always looking for great resorts for other family members. My niece and her family stayed here two years ago because of the pirate ship and the kids loved it, spent almost all day at the pool. It's a lovely resort and one that I would recommend to other families as well.
DENISE LOW says
This would a beautiful place to visit Thank you for sharing
Victoria says
I've never heard of a hotel where housekeeping was extra. Ususlly that and the fact that they charge for a late checkout would turn me off, but this looks so amazing that I might be able to overlook that. I really love a kitchenette in the rokm for snacks and drinks. We are picky about breakfast and I don't like skipping it or eating out day after day. I decided I loved it when I saw the hot tub but the pirate ship pool is unreal. Definitely something to keep in mind when we plan our Disney trip!