I had been putting Disney off for years. Does that make me a bad mom? I had my reasons. First off when I think of a vacation I want to relax. Think swimming, laying in a lounge chair with a fruity drink. It’s also really expensive to go to Disney. The parks, the food — it all adds up. My last reason for putting it off is the fact that Summer wasn’t exactly blessed in the height department. Me being 5’2 and Erik 5’7 on a good day (sorry Erik) — well let’s just say she hasn’t been tall enough to ride most rides. BUT when we got the opportunity to partner with The Grove Resort Orlando it seemed like the perfect time to take that trip to sunny Orlando. I’m giving you my top 5 reasons that make The Grove Resort Orlando a great choice for your next Florida trip.
#1 THE ROOMS ARE MASSIVE
I know we are in the minority being just a family of 3. Most families have 2-3 kids. And when going to Disney, especially, many times the grandparents will tag along to help out. The Grove Resort Orlando is ideal for large families.
You can choose from a 1 bedroom, 2 bedroom or 3 bedroom suite. We had a 3 bedroom 3 full bath suite. Hands down the largest room we’ve ever stayed in. Every room in our suite had a big screen TV, ceiling fans and huge walk in closets.
A typical Orlando room is approx 330 square feet but at The Grove Resort Orlando the rooms range from 975 to 1544 square feet. You are getting SO much value for your money here.
Our room had a full kitchen, washer and dryer plus a separate living and dining area plus a huge balcony. Honestly, it was like having a luxury apartment.
No need to get a connecting hotel room for the grandparents when staying here. The suites provide so much room for everyone to stay comfortably together.
#2 IT HAS A WATERPARK AND MASSIVE POOLS
So back to my 1st reason for putting off a Disney trip. I want to relax. Well The Grove Resort Orlando answered that problem!
The Surfari Waterpark, located right at the resort, gave Summer a ton of fun in the sun. A kids activity pool, a 695 foot lazy river, a zero entry pool and dual water slides kept her busy for hours.
There is also a FlowRider Double surf simulator that Summer and Erik went surfing and boogie boarding on.
As for me? I found my relaxation in a personal cabana that you can rent for the day. I was able to get work done while still sitting out in the sun.
The setup at The Grove Resort is great for kids looking to swim and have fun as well for adults looking to relax and soak in those vacay vibes.
#3 TONS OF DINING OPTIONS
There were quite a few dining options at The Grove Resort Orlando. For dinner we ate at Valencia Restaurant which was kid friendly but had a somewhat upscale feel to it. They also serve breakfast and lunch.
Most lunches we enjoyed poolside but there is also Longboard Bar & Grill located right inside the waterpark and The Springs Bar & Grill which is a cute spot for dining alfresco for light bites and appetizers.
But let’s be honest — if you are staying here you are going to want to utilize that massive kitchen in your room. Alfresco Market, located right off the lobby, was a full service market that had wine and liquor, coffee, groceries to cook full meals and tons of sweets such as gelato, pastries and more. We stopped in here everyday so we could make meals in our room.
#4 LOTS OF ENTERTAINMENT
We covered the waterpark but the entertainment doesn’t stop there! The Grove Resort Orlando is a huge property with tons to do.
Flip Flop’s Family Fun Center was probably Summer’s favorite. An arcade with lots of games and glow-in-the-dark mini golf.
Lake Austin is also a beautiful nature setting for sitting and enjoying coffee or renting swan paddle boats, kayaks, Go-Float Electric Boats, fishing poles, guided pontoon tours or guided pontoon fishing tours.
And right up my alley is the Escape Spa, a full service spa offering massages, spa treatments and more.
#5 IT’S CLOSE TO THE DISNEY THEME PARKS
While there really isn’t a reason to leave The Grove Resort Orlando considering everything the hotel offers — odds are you will be tempted to take some time to visit the happiest place in the world. Disney World!
The Grove Resort Orlando is located just 6 short miles to all the theme parks. The hotel offers a complimentary shuttle to the parks at set times of the day. Personally, we just took an Uber and the cost was under $15 one way to the parks.
I loved the location of The Grove Resort Orlando to the parks. We were out of the hustle and bustle of the parks but still close enough to get there within a few minutes.
While this wasn’t a “Disney” trip where we were planning to do all things Disney we still were able to take advantage of all the things the resort had to offer yet still have time to get some Disney action in.
During the day we stayed at the resort being there was so much to do and we wanted time to relax but during the evening we got tickets to Magic hours at the park. This was ideal for us! The rates were less and the parks were less crowded being it was after hours. Honestly, if we ever go back to Disney I would do it this way again. The park crowds during the day are so crazy and we felt we were able to see everything we wanted to at night. The parks let you in as early as 4pm and you can stay till midnight with magic hours. 8 hours at a park is plenty for us!
Going to Disney during Christmas and for Summer’s first time there was absolutely magical. To me this is hands down the best time of year to go! The weather is in the 70s during the day (warm enough for the water park), chilly at night (pack winter clothes) and it’s not overly crowded. Plus seeing the parks decorated for Christmas is like nothing I’ve ever seen!
ORLANDO’S BEST KEPT SECRET
We absolutely loved staying at The Grove Resort Orlando. It had that home away from home feeling but with all the amenities you want in a luxury resort. There’s a reason they call it Orlando’s best kept secret! You can 100% make a vacation staying here without needing to leave, but in the event you want to add some Disney into your trip the location is ideal! I personally feel you get the best of both worlds staying here.
The rooms give you so much space. You save so much money when comparing to Disney properties, and you are able to relax and feel pampered. This massive property has so much to offer.
Summer is already asking when we can go back. I told her she just needs to add a few inches so she can get on those water slides and Space Mountain! #shortgirlproblems
So have I convinced you to take that Orlando vacation? Pack up the kids and the grandparents. The Grove Resort Orlando is waiting for you. Click here for booking details!
**Thank you to The Grove Resort Orlando for sponsoring this post. As always, all statements and opinions are my own.
My son Gavin Enjoyed every minute of his stay. The most exciting thing for him was learning how to surf on the Flowrider. The 2 instructors Hernan and Brooklyn were so patient, courteous but most importantly professionals. Gavin talked about the both of them all the way home. He talked about how safe he felt with doing what they told him to do and tricks they explained to him. He was so excited about them both he actually said that he can’t wait to come back but only if those 2 are there to teach him some more. Thank you all for the experience at the Grove.
I’m so happy you had a great stay! The Flowrider was my daughter’s fav too! Def a special resort.
Best place ever! The heated water park pool is so nice. They upgraded us to a three bedroom so we didn’t have to wait for a room. This is our third time here and would not go anywhere else.
So happy to hear! It’s def a top notch resort!
Just returned from our stay here and it was fantastic. With a full kitchen and store close by it was really a very affordable stay. We thoroughly enjoyed it and plan on goi g back next year.