These resort hotels are conveniently located close to Central Florida's theme parks and many offer complimentary shuttle service.
Enchanted Land
You won't have to make believe you're having a good time at one Central Florida hotel, because life is a fairy tale at the Howard Johnson EnchantedLand Resort. Located just three miles from the entrance to Disney World, this very affordable hotel features special kid-themed rooms and supervised activities. As a guest you can choose a standard room with two double beds, or opt for a special themed family value room – one of three designs – with an area converted into kid-pleasing accommodations.The Treehouse room easily sleeps five without a cot and is the hands down favorite of all children. It provides a cozy private bunk area anchored by a realistic tree and branches and its own television and VCR. A small staircase leads to the upper bunk where birds nest and siblings can spy on each other through a tiny window. This cozy nook inspires inventive play and adventuresome dreams under painted stars and a moon. Guests can also choose from other specially themed rooms based on the resorts own EnchantedLand characters – girls will love the fairy-princess inspired EnchantedLand room, and boys the Stunt Action Hero room.
One-of-a-kind decorations and visits by life-size characters are just the beginning at EnchantedLand. Just steps away from the courtyard's heated pool is the Stunt Action Arcade offering a small selection of video games. The nightly poolside ice cream adventure is a particular hit among youngsters after a tiring day at the area theme parks. Stay in a special themed family value room and enjoy the complimentary Adventure Club which offers supervised activities for kids Thursday through Saturday from 6:00 to 8:30 p.m. These activities begin with arts and crafts and include ice cream sundaes and movies. This is just the break parents can use to enjoy a quiet dinner together or rest from an exhausting day at the attractions.
EnchantedLand is the perfect place for families. It's just a short distance from Orlando's theme parks, and it offers all those amenities needed for longer stays as well – guest laundry, picnic area, barbecue grills, and babysitting services. There is bar and grille just off the pool area for a casual or eat-in-your-room dinner. The Storybook Cottage will open Christmas week offering a sit-down breakfast with the "faery guardmother" presiding over the EnchantedLand characters who will take center stage.
Rates are just $49.99 a night and up. Supervised Thursday to Saturday activities are $5.00 per night for those not staying in the special themed family value rooms. Complimentary shuttle service is available to the Walt Disney World Resort theme parks, SeaWorld and Universal Studios.
FamilySuites
Holiday Inn Family Suites Resort in Lake Buena Vista offers seven unique layouts that cater to everyone from the business traveler to families. KidsSuites and CinemaSuites are big with families.The two-bedroom KidSuites offer children semi-private quarters designed as cubbies and decorated in children's themes: Jungle, Camp Kellogg, Manatee, A&W All American Food, Edy's Ice Cream, and The Magic of Disney. Kids enjoy their own bunk bed, TV, video game player, CD player and phone. Parents enjoy a private bedroom with king-size bed and television. The parlor features a kitchenette with mini-refrigerator, microwave, coffee maker, pull-out sleeper sofa and rocking chair. Rates start at just $99.00 per night.
Popular with teens are the CinemaSuites featuring a Cinema Room with a 60" television, dual recliner and two bean-bag chairs. A private bedroom features a king-size bed, television and work station with modem, and the parlor has the same features as the KidSuites. Rates start at $119.00 per night.
The railroad theme is carried throughout the resort from the caboose registration desk where the kids pick up their bag loaded with goodies to the large, specially-designed playground for children under 12. You'll be carried there and around the resort daily by a train which departs the lobby and tours the entire hotel. Other activities include an arcade, computer games, poolside live entertainment, ping pong and much more for the kids. Parents will enjoy the bar & lounge with TV sports, the fitness center, bingo, karaoke, and more.
The Holiday Inn Family Suites Resort is just minutes from Disney World and the Central Florida attractions. A hot all-you-can-eat American breakfast is available to all guests each morning. Children 12 years of age and younger eat free for lunch and dinner at one of two on-site restaurants.
