fun resort with great pools, not Bonnet Creek

[Jenny-momof3]

Looking for a fun resort for a New year's trip. I've been unsuccessful in getting Bonnet Creek. We've stayed there several times anyways so wouldn't mind someplace new.

My kids LOVE to swim so great pools are a must! Slides, lazy rivers, zero entry,etc.

Suggestions for a fun family friendly resort close by? TIA!

 

[Itinkso]

Gaylord Palms? They even have character (non-Disney) type of entertainment and some fun-looking pools.

 

[mrsp1030]

Check out Orlando world center Marriott. Closest Marriott to WDW and an awesome pool complex.

 

[dancin Disney style]

Orange Lake and the Fountains

 

[swilshire]

Just be aware that there is a good chance it will be too cold for the pools at New Years.

Sheila

 

[greenclan67]

We booked Orange Lake for our xmas/new years trip. First looks great for kids.

 

[jeff968]

The Marriotts are great. Check out Cypress Harbour, our favorite. Depending on the age of your kids Harbour Lake would be worth looking at too. Our current favorite is Hilton Parc Soleil, a fantastic resort with a great pool. We did a week at Orange Lake and I was not impressed.

 

[JeRmS]

I'm a big fan of Orange Lake ... we are semi-local and go over to Orlando often and I've tried different places and always come back to Orange Lake.

They have everything you are looking for ... Zero Entry Pools, Slides and a huge Lazy River. When you book, ask for a room at the River Island complex and this will put you right by the main pool area. All of the rooms in the River Island complex have been renovated recently so everything is nice and new.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Gaylord Palms? They even have character (non-Disney) type of entertainment and some fun-looking pools.

I will second the Gaylord Palms recommendation. They have a great little waterpark area for kids, and their holiday events can't be beat. They usually offer a "Christmassy DreamWorks Experience Package" .... here's the link to the 2012 info:

http://stage.gaylordhotels.atomz.co...ndex.html?intcmp=gp-pl=lNav-cid=CAGP-packages

Last year's package included:

• Two night room accommodations at Gaylord Palms Resort
• UNLIMITED visits and front of line access during your stay to ICE! featuring DreamWorks' Merry Madagascar
• ShrekFeast Interactive Character Meal
• DreamWorks Character Holiday Meet & Greets
• Scavenger Hunt  Theme of Rise of the Guardians, DreamWorks' latest film
• DreamWorks Welcome Amenity with Package Check-In
• and even Special Wake-Up Calls by DreamWorks Characters!
• Souvenir Family Photo

While we didn't stay at Gaylord last Christmas, we did take in many of their events (ICE!, ShrekFeast, cookie decorating with Gingy, tour of the indoor atrium, etc.) and fell in love with the resort. So much so, we tried to get reservations for our August vacation at Gaylord Palms but they were sold out for our dates. For pics and a write up of our experience of the holiday events, check out my trip report (see the link in my signature).

As for the waterpark, these two videos give a nice overview:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMpN7_WGcZg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xlw4RDDPWCI

 

[pigletto]

I will second the Gaylord Palms recommendation. They have a great little waterpark area for kids, and their holiday events can't be beat. They usually offer a "Christmassy DreamWorks Experience Package" .... here's the link to the 2012 info:

http://stage.gaylordhotels.atomz.co...ndex.html?intcmp=gp-pl=lNav-cid=CAGP-packages

Last year's package included:

• Two night room accommodations at Gaylord Palms Resort
• UNLIMITED visits and front of line access during your stay to ICE! featuring DreamWorks' Merry Madagascar
• ShrekFeast Interactive Character Meal
• DreamWorks Character Holiday Meet & Greets
• Scavenger Hunt Theme of Rise of the Guardians, DreamWorks' latest film
• DreamWorks Welcome Amenity with Package Check-In
• and even Special Wake-Up Calls by DreamWorks Characters!
• Souvenir Family Photo

While we didn't stay at Gaylord last Christmas, we did take in many of their events (ICE!, ShrekFeast, cookie decorating with Gingy, tour of the indoor atrium, etc.) and fell in love with the resort. So much so, we tried to get reservations for our August vacation at Gaylord Palms but they were sold out for our dates. For pics and a write up of our experience of the holiday events, check out my trip report (see the link in my signature).

As for the waterpark, these two videos give a nice overview:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMpN7_WGcZg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xlw4RDDPWCI

WOW!! Thanks for this Gina. I was very much considering a trip over to Gaylord Palms for ICE this December. Maybe I'll book this package on to the end of our trip instead. It will be a chance to do something totally new to us. We were thinking Universal at the end of the trip too, but we'd prefer to wait for the new HP to open so this is going to be the winner I think!!

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

WOW!! Thanks for this Gina. I was very much considering a trip over to Gaylord Palms for ICE this December. Maybe I'll book this package on to the end of our trip instead. It will be a chance to do something totally new to us. We were thinking Universal at the end of the trip too, but we'd prefer to wait for the new HP to open so this is going to be the winner I think!!

If you are not super-stuck on a suite with a separate bedroom, you can request an atrium view room (which I think would be awesome). You can check out the kind of view these rooms have in this video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E6BZaycgxZM

You would have a spectacular view of the 54' Christmas tree that's the centerpiece of the atrium during the holidays:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EOjZD4Jf8IA

and could probably enjoy the musical performers right from your balcony .

Okay, now I soooooo want to book a trip for Christmas again!!! Boo hoo for me!

 

[pigletto]

If you are not super-stuck on a suite with a separate bedroom, you can request an atrium view room (which I think would be awesome). You can check out the kind of view these rooms have in this video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E6BZaycgxZM

You would have a spectacular view of the 54' Christmas tree that's the centerpiece of the atrium during the holidays:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EOjZD4Jf8IA

and could probably enjoy the musical performers right from your balcony .

Okay, now I soooooo want to book a trip for Christmas again!!! Boo hoo for me!

If you book a Christmas trip your hubby won't let me talk to you anymore I bet

Not stuck on a suite at all. We fit fine in a regular room. I will watch the videos. The place just looks breathtaking!!

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

If you book a Christmas trip your hubby won't let me talk to you anymore I bet

He has threatened to hide my laptop from me on more than one occasion . So has my mom ..... she gets lonely when I'm gone. She misses being able to call me 6 times a day .

Actually, it might be the right time to "innocently" suggest another getaway for the holiday season. We just spent Saturday at DH's family's summer reunion and he's had a nice dose of reality where the relatives are concerned .

 

[jeff968]

I'm a big fan of Orange Lake ... we are semi-local and go over to Orlando often and I've tried different places and always come back to Orange Lake.

They have everything you are looking for ... Zero Entry Pools, Slides and a huge Lazy River. When you book, ask for a room at the River Island complex and this will put you right by the main pool area. All of the rooms in the River Island complex have been renovated recently so everything is nice and new.

I know Holiday Inn is managing them now so maybe they improved but we found the resort very dirty and the food at the restaurants was not good. One problem that even Holiday Inn won't be able to help with is the size of the resort. It is TOO BIG. We had to get in the car to go to the pool. I guess if you like golf then maybe it wasn't a bad thing but we are spolied by the Marriotts and Hiltons where all your needs are just outside your door. Also, I feel that Marriott and Hilton do a better job ensuring that quality standards are met. orange Lake was the only time we did not go to a name brand and we won't go back.