Hotel/timeshare recommendations near Sea World

We'll be using our timeshare in Florida this year - and plan to spend time at Aquatica and Sea World. I'm looking for a resort that's great for 8-9 yr olds. Fun pool (slides, waterfalls) and activities at the resort itself. (Kids club, play ground, mini golf perhaps) We trade with Interval. Looking for something with 2 bedrooms, too.

What resorts would you recommend and what non-Disney things would you recommend we do while in Florida? THANKS, in advance!

Not sure which exchange company that you use but there are several quite nice timeshare resorts in the SeaWorld neighborhood. Hilton Grand Vacation Club at SeaWorld International is the closest (across Central Florida Parkway from SeaWorld) at Sea Harbor Drive. HGVC SeaWorld trades through RCI. Marriott's Cypress Harbour is separated from HGVC SeaWorld by part of a golf course. It's on Westwood Boulevard and trades primarily through Interval International. Marriott's Harbour Lake is across Westwood Boulevard from Cypress Harbour. It trades through Interval International. Marriott's Grande Vista is located on International Drive just to the southeast of the SeaWorld and Aquatica properties. It trades through Interval International. There are a few others further down International Drive but still within a reasonably short distance from the theme park. Sheraton Vistana Villages, HGVC Tuscany Village, and there's a Bluegreen Resort across International Drive from Vistana Villages but I can't remember the name of the resort. I think that any of these would be a good choice but your 8-9 year olds might like the Marriott Harbour Lake Resort with its pirate themed water features or the Galleon water feature at Vistana Villages.

Dick Taylor

would go with the Marriott's CH or GV - you can walk to it - now it is a long walk.

HGVC Seaworld is across the street from Seaworld. but it trades thru RCI.

Marriott HarBour Lakes is close and has 2 pools with water slides. They also have mini golf and activities. They trade through II.

The hilton properties don't trade through II.

we've stayed at both Harbour Lake and Grande Vista; both awesome pools but we like the rooms at GV a bit better. HL has a great pirate pool (very shallow areas), GV has a separate kiddie area so big kids don't overrun them. My inlaws stayed at SVV last year-great villas -didn't get to use the pools but there are a lot of them! We have a TS that only trades through II as well. Wish Disney accepted II as well as RCI...

We just returned from a stay at Marriott Lakeshore Reserve with our 6 year olds and 9 year old. We loved it...absolutely beautiful! It's very close to Sea World/Aquatica. We stayed in a 3 bedroom unit, but they also have 1 and 2 bedrooms. They have a very nice pool with zero-entry, a lazy river, and two water slides that the kids loved. They also had a nice playground (shaded), lawn games, and a kids' club called the Treehouse. The kids' club has video games, board games, movies, daily crafts (build-a-bear, tie dye, etc) and activities (make your own sundaes, etc). Another perk is that the JW Marriott and Ritz Carlton are on the same property and you can use their pools and amenities. We spent the day at the JW Marriott pool (a short walk)...they have an even longer lazy river with lots of waterfalls plus more activities for the kids.

My kids (8 and 11) and I really like Harbour Lake. We've stayed there three times in the last year for short (2-3 night) visits. We stayed as regular hotel guests, so I am not sure how a timeshare would work. I was always able to get some kind of deal, such as resort credits. My kids love the pools, the basketball courts, and the arcade (and all the other games and activities).

I have heard great things about the other Marriott Vacation Club properties in that area too, such as Marriott Lakeshore Reserve as the PP described so well. We will probably try one of these on our next trip, although my kids are definitely creatures of habit, and it will be hard to pull them away from Harbour Lake!