Orlando may immediately bring to mind visions of fireworks, spinning tea cups, and costumed characters, but there’s so much more to this Central Florida destination, with a breadth of hotels and resorts to prove it. Want to have breakfast with Mickey and the gang without leaving the hotel? They’ve got that. Looking for on-site water parks, golf, and spas? Orlando more than has you covered.
Many of the best hotels in Orlando—especially those at Walt Disney World Resort and Universal Orlando Resort—cater to family vacations with special perks for theme park entry and free transportation—some even offer up lush and sprawling outdoor areas for guests to bask in the year-round glow of the sunshine state. Whether your activity priorities include dawn-to-dusk park hopping, relaxing by the pool, basking in the state’s year-round sunshine, or a mix of the three, our list of the best Orlando hotels will help you plan your own magical vacation.
FAQ:
What are the best places to stay in Orlando?
A top destination for family travel and a bustling city in its own right—with the traffic jams to prove it—you’ll be best served by selecting a hotel based on where you’ll be spending most of your time. When planning days at both Universal Orlando Resort and Walt Disney World, consider a split stay with nights near each theme park area to spare yourself the rush hour crawl along the I-4 corridor. If theme parks aren’t your thing, the Winter Park area is a refuge with plenty of green spaces, museums, and boutiques to explore.
Should you stay on property at a Disney or Universal Resort?
Staying in the middle of the magic comes with a hefty price tag. The perks of official Disney and Universal resort hotels—early theme park access and, at Disney World, availability to book attraction return times a week in advance—will save you time and hassle, but many of these properties with a “luxury” classification may leave you wanting when it comes to comfort and amenities. Be sure to run your own cost-benefit analysis and determine your priorities before booking.
Can you get around Orlando without a car?
When staying at a Universal Resort or Disney World hotel, an Uber or Lyft from the Orlando International Airport and the free on-site transportation will be all you need for getting to the theme parks and any on-site restaurants or shopping. But if you’re leaving that resort bubble and traveling with young children, car seats can be hard to come by in rideshare vehicles. A rental or privately booked car will be the best way to guarantee your family can get around town safely and without delay.
Every hotel on this list has been selected independently by our editors and written by a Condé Nast Traveler journalist who knows the destination and has visited that property. When choosing hotels, our editors consider properties across price points that offer an authentic and insider experience of a destination, keeping design, location, service, and sustainability credentials top of mind. This gallery has been updated with new information since its original publish date.