ORLANDO AND THE SPACE
COAST
BAY LAKE Disney’s Animal Kingdom
Lodge
2901 Osceola Parkway,
32830 Tel (407) 938-3000 Fax (407) 939-4799
Rooms 1293
A stay at Disney’s Animal
Kingdom Lodge will make you feel as if you are staying on a thrilling African
game reserve. The rooms are arranged in a semicircular layout, overlooking a
vast savanna that allows for random sightings of birds, giraffe, and other
wildlife. A fun spot for animal lovers. www.disneyworld.com
CELEBRATION Celebration
Hotel
700 Bloom St, 34747 Tel
(407) 566-6000 Fax (407) 566-6001 Rooms 115
In a picture-perfect town,
this three-story wooden-framed hotel is straight out of 1920s Florida.
Beautiful rooms have cozy beds and great views of the man-made lake. A very
romantic atmosphere prevails, and it is fascinating to see how people live in
such a harmonious community. www.celebrationhotel.com
COCOA BEACH Hilton Cocoa Beach
Oceanfront
1550 N Atlantic Ave, 32931
Tel (321) 799-0003 Fax (321) 799-0344
Rooms 296
Though only 16 rooms
actually face the beach, this place attracts conventioneers, business
travelers, and people who would rather stay at a Hilton than any other
beachfront hotel in the area. Typical Hilton accommodation is provided. The
excellent staff will help arrange dinners, tours, or guides to the main sights.
www.hilton.com
COCOA BEACH The Inn at
Cocoa Beach
4300 Ocean Blvd, 32931 Tel
(321) 799-3460 Fax (321) 784-8632 Rooms
50 Road map E3
This seaside B&B is
great for a romantic stay. All rooms are furnished with a mix of pine,
tropical, and French country pieces. Other units open to a courtyard with
swimming pool. There are honor bars from which you can pour your own drinks, as
well as nightly wine-and-cheese socials and afternoon teas. www.theinnatcocoabeach.com
COCOA BEACH Doubletree
Hotel Cocoa Beach Oceanfront
2080 N Atlantic Ave, 32931
Tel (321) 783-9222 Fax (321) 799-3234
Rooms 148
A small, modest, six-story
hotel on the ocean, the Cocoa Beach has rooms with pretty views from the
balcony. There are also 10 Suites with living rooms and sleeper sofas. A lovely
beachfront dining room, serving Mediterranean fare, opens onto a brick patio
with a waterfall cascading between two swimming pools. www.cocoabeachdoubletree.com
DOWNTOWN ORLANDO Grand
Bohemian
325 S Orange Ave, 32801
Tel (407) 313-9000 Fax (407) 313-9001
Rooms 250 Road map E2
Reputedly the best hotel
in Downtown Orlando, the Bohemian caters mainly to business people. The
interior boasts more than 100 pieces of 19th- and 20th-century American fine
art and attracts art aficionados who love the museum-like ambience here. www.grandbohemianhotel.com
KISSIMMEE Gaylord Palms
Resort & Convention Center
6000 W Osceola Pkwy, 34747
Tel (407) 586-0000 Fax (407) 239-4822
Rooms 1406
Gaylord Palms has its own
restaurants, recreational facilities, shops, and the Canyon Ranch Spa Club. The
glass dome-topped Grand Atrium surrounds a replica of the Castillo de San
Marcos from St. Augustine. Waterfalls, foliage, and a rocky landscape add to
the vibe. An elegant hotel, Emerald Bay, is also on site. www.gaylordpalms.com
LAKE BUENA VISTA Disney’s Pop
Century Resort
1050 Century Drive, 32830
Tel (407) 938-4000 Fax (407) 938-4040
Rooms 2880
More for adults than
children, this homage to pop culture features everything from oversized Rubik’s
Cubes to eight-track tapes. No frills here, just a lot of kitsch. The Pop
Century Resort joins Disney’s other inexpensive themed hotels, the All Star
Movies Resort and All Star Music Resort. www.disneyworld.com
LAKE BUENA VISTA Best
Western Lake Buena Vista Hotel
2000 Hotel Plaza Blvd,
32830 Tel (407) 828-2424 Fax (407) 827-6710
Rooms 325
This lakefront hotel,
housed in an 18-story tower, has lovely rooms with balconies that more than
make up for the lack of frills. There are marvelous views from the eighth
floor, and if you’re on the west side, the Magic Kingdom fireworks look
stunning. Reserve a room with views of fireworks. www.downtowndisneyhotels.com
LAKE BUENA VISTA Disney’s
Caribbean Beach Resort
900 Cayman Way, 32830 Tel
(407) 934-3400 Fax (407) 934-3288 Rooms
2112 Road map E3
Fabulous value for
families who aren’t impressed by over-the-top frills. The comfortable rooms are
grouped into five island villages surrounding a duck-filled lake. Parrot Cay
Island, where the main pool is located, re-creates a Spanish fort complete with
water slides, cannons, and waterfalls. www.disneyworld.com
LAKE BUENA VISTA
Nickelodeon Family Suites by Holiday Inn
14500 Continental Gateway,
32821 Tel (407) 387-5437 Fax (407) 387-1489
Rooms 770
This popular family hotel
offers suites with a second bedroom for children, with either bunk or twin
beds, and full kitchens. It has themed activity nights and recreational
services, and has teamed up with the Nickelodeon Channel. www.nickhotel.com
LAKE BUENA VISTA Disney’s
Port Orleans Resort
2201 Orleans Drive, 32830
Tel (407) 934-5000 Fax (407) 934-5777
Rooms 3056
Disney continues its
obsession with turn-of-the-20th-century design with this ode to old New
Orleans. The location, landscaping, and ambience are great. The Doubloon Lagoon
pool is popular with kids. Rooms can sleep up to four guests. www.disneyworld.com
LAKE BUENA VISTA Disney’s
Boardwalk Inn and Villas
2101 N Epcot Resorts Blvd,
32830 Tel (407) 939-5100 Fax (407) 939-5150
Rooms 371
This 1940s-style property
provides an array of clubs, restaurants, shops, and carnival-type entertainment
on the boardwalk behind the resort and overlooking the water. Some of the Cape
Cod-style rooms have balconies, and some overlook the pool with children’s
favorite, the Keiser Coaster water slide. www.disneyworld.com
LAKE BUENA VISTA Disney’s
Grand Floridian Resort and Spa
4401 Floridian Way,
32830 Tel (407) 824-3000 Fax (407) 824-3186 Rooms 867
At the Grand Floridian
Resort, with its opulent five-story domed lobby, high tea is served, while a
band plays music from the 1940s. All rooms have views of the garden, pool,
courtyard, or Seven Seas Lagoon. Conveniently located directly on the monorail
system for a quick trip to the Magic Kingdom. www.disneyworld.com
LAKE BUENA VISTA Disney’s
Polynesian Resort
1600 Seven Seas Drive,
32830 Tel (407) 824-2000 Fax (407) 824-3174 Rooms 853
South of Magic Kingdom,
the Polynesian is one of the original resorts of Disney’s bygone era. The
Hawaiian theme is best realized at the nightly dinner show, complete with fire eaters
and hula dancers. There are play areas and themed swimming pools for children.
Lush landscaping gives it a true island feel. www.disneyworld.com
LAKE BUENA VISTA Disney’s
Wilderness Lodge
901 W Timberline Drive, 32830 Tel (407) 824-3200 Fax (407) 824-3232 Rooms 909
Surrounded by tall
timbers, spouting geysers, and mammoth stone hearths, the Wilderness Lodge is
great for children looking to “rough it” in bunk beds. An old national park
vibe and views of beautiful woods transport you to Yosemite. A perennial
favorite, this one does not seem like Disney was trying too hard. www.disneyworld.com
LAKE BUENA VISTA Disney’s
Yacht Club Resort
1700 Epcot Resorts Blvd,
32830 Tel (407) 934-7000 Fax (407) 924-3450 Rooms 630
An enormous lake with
white sandy beaches almost convinces you that you are at a posh yacht club
until you see the life-sized shipwreck with water slides, and the sand bottom
pool. Rooms are a bit more upscale than other Disney resorts. The theme is
turn-of-the-20th-century New England, complete with lighthouse. www.disneyworld.com
LAKE BUENA VISTA Walt
Disney World Dolphin
1500 Epcot Resorts Blvd,
32830 Tel (407) 934-4000 Fax (407) 934-4884 Rooms 1509
Antonio Gaudi meets Dr.
Seuss at this resort that centers around a 27-story pyramid with two 11-story
wings crowned by twin dolphin sculptures. There is a grotto pool with
waterfalls, water slides, and whirlpools. The beach next to the pool offers a
great view of Epcot’s fireworks. There is also a gym. www.disneyworld.com
NEW SMYRNA BEACH Riverview
Hotel
103 Flagler Ave,
32169 Tel (386) 428-5858 Fax (386) 423-8927 Rooms 18
Road map E2
On the Intracoastal Waterway
in New Smyrna Beach, this stunning hotel was formerly a fishing and hunting
shack. The 5,000-sq ft (465-sq m) spa, featuring a mineral pool, is spectacular
as is the restaurant, Riverview Charlie’s.
Charming country-style
rooms come with modern amenities, private patios or porches. www.riverviewhotel.com
ORLANDO Amerisuites/Universal
5895 Caravan Court,
32819 Tel (407) 351-0627 Fax (407) 351-3317 Rooms 151
Great bargain for families
looking for proximity to Universal’s theme parks without having to pay the
price to stay on park property. All suites are generously proportioned and come
with kitchens that are a better option than the overpriced eateries found in
the area. Free transport to local parks is a bonus. www.amerisuites.com
ORLANDO Hard Rock
Hotel
5800 Universal Blvd,
32819 Tel (407) 503-2000 Fax (407) 503-7655 Rooms 650
Although there is no
casino here, this California mission-style resort and its rock‘n’roll theme is
a blast. Rooms are fairly soundproof and the pool keeps with the hard rock
tradition. Hard Rock Live is an on-site music venue that features popular headliners,
and draws a mostly young crowd. www.loewshotels.com
ORLANDO Marriott’s Orlando
World Center
8701 World Center Drive,
32821 Tel (407) 239-4200 Fax (407) 238-8938 Rooms 2111
A massive resort with
almost as much to do as Disney World itself, this place caters to everyone from
business travelers and families to couples. One of the five pools here feature
water slides and waterfalls. An 18-hole golf course, eight tennis courts, a
children’s pool, health spa, and several restaurants are on site. www.marriott.com
ORLANDO Peabody Orlando
9801 International Drive,
32819 Tel (407) 352-4000 Fax (407) 351-9177 Rooms 891
Like its sister property
in Memphis, Peabody Orlando is famed for the five ducks that march into the
lobby fountain like clockwork every day at 11am and 5pm to the tune of John
Philip Sousa’s “King Cotton March”. With its excellent service, the hotel
appeals to adults, although children love the duck show. www.peabodyorlando.com
ORLANDO Portofino Bay
Hotel
5601 Universal Blvd,
32819 Tel (407) 503-1000 Fax (407) 503-1166 Rooms 750
Not to be outdone by
Disney, Universal teamed up with Loews Hotels to create this magnificent
resort, designed to look like the Italian village of Portofino, complete with a
harbor and canals. The beach pool has a water slide, and the villa pool offers
several cabanas with wireless access. The Mandara Spa is state-of-the-art. www.loewshotels.com
ORLANDO The Villas of Grand
Cypress
1 N Jacaranda, 32836 Tel (407) 239-4700 Fax (407) 239-7219 Rooms 146
Road map E2
With a remote location,
this Mediterranean-inspired resort has junior suites featuring Roman baths,
while bedroom villas come with kitchens, dining rooms, and patios. The
landscaping is gorgeous and the resort shares facilities with its sister
property, the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress. It caters mostly to adults. www.grandcypress.com
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