The Other Orlando
View from the room at the JW Marriott Grande Lakes, with the Ritz Carlton in the distance
If you like sun, leisurely walks, and adventure-filled pools, but want to save the costly expense of Disney with the kids, I have some recommendations for you! You can go to Orlando and have a great short vacation without doing a single theme park. Keep your kids entertained with careful selection of a hotel with either a good pool or kid-friendly nearby entertainment, and discover the parts of Orlando you don’t usually hear about that are well worth the flight and much easier on the wallet.
Places to stay
Two properties, double benefits: The JW Marriott and Ritz Carlton Grande Lakes are side by side hotels, each with great amenities and you have access to both when you stay at either! The kids will enjoy the lazy river at the JW Marriott, but you can walk over to the spa pool to have quiet time at the Ritz Carlton. There’s an abundance of food options here and a lovely lakeside walking path with plenty of access to nature (see photos below, all from on property).
If you want a similar double hotel property where you can get the benefits of a kid-focused pool area at one hotel and luxurious options, like a spa and elevated dining at the other, then try the Signia by Hilton Orlando (great lazy river) and the Waldorf Astoria next door (great spa and quiet pool) - these are alternatives to the JW and Ritz Carlton if you are loyal to Hilton, not Marriott.
Largest Marriott in the world: With 2,000 rooms, 500,000 square feet of meeting space, and 28 floors, the Orlando World Center Marriott is the worlds’ biggest Marriott. Despite the size, the customer service at this hotel made it feel intimate and personalized on a recent trip where we added days to a conference. The staff at this hotel offer outstanding customer service - they were all genuinely kind and their energy really made the experience of the classic ‘conference hotel’ a memorable one.
Unexpected charm of downtown Orlando: After decades of visiting Orlando, we finally visited the actual downtown area and it was great! Stay at the Grand Bohemian Autograph Collection. The property has a small rooftop pool with a bar and restaurant that opens in the evenings and a great breakfast (included for Bonvoy Platinum and higher, to go option shown below).
Grand Bohemiam breakfast options
Where to eat
In the Four Seasons: Capa (one of 9 Orlando restaurants with two Michelin stars) has a raw bar, tapas, and extensive list of steaks. It also uniquely has options of sophisticated kids menu items, in addition to the typical mac and cheese and chicken tenders, in case your kids have a more cosmopolitan palette. Get a reservation time that allows you to view the Disney fireworks from the restaurant’s balcony.
Fireworks display from the balcony of Capa at the Four Seasons
In Disney Springs: Summer House is outstanding and the “Martini Hour” at the bar from 3 to 6 pm is a great place to fill up on outstanding food at ridiculously low prices ($5 burger - and it was impeccable, $6 wine, and bites of crab or tuna tostadas for $10 truly fit for a foodie.) The Boathouse is a great alternative if you love seafood and has nice water view of the lake. Finally, Jose Andres’ Jaleo, the original of which can be found in Washington, DC, offers Spanish tapas - dine here to not only have a great meal, but also support one of the world’s most generous humanitarians.
In the Orlando World Center: The breakfast buffet at Latitude and Longitude is great and included (continental, $10 upgrade for full) with Bonvoy Elite status, the short rib and branzino at Siro, the Italian restaurant were tasty, and sushi in the Lobby Lounge (similar to the menu in the hotel’s Japanese steakhouse Mikado) was outstanding.
Things to do
Visit Disney Springs for shopping, dining, and entertainment. There are great meal options (see above), an AMC movie theater, and a bowling alley, Splitsville, with friendly service and good drinks.
Sunset over the lake at Disney Springs
Explore downtown Orlando. This overlooked area is walkable and friendly, with Lake Eola nearby to take stroll and stop at cafes adjacent to the lake. Try experiencing downtown through the Orlando Art and Food Tour.
Visit Winter Park and take a boat or kayak tour on Lake Osceola, see art at the Rollins Museum of Art, stroll through the Kraft Azalea Garden, or shop the boutiques in the Park Avenue District. If you decide to make Winter Park your home base, the Alfond Inn is an artsy and reasonably priced hotel option, with small rooftop pool and spa.