Ideas for Post-cruise stay in Orlando? No theme parks!

[buzzsmom]

We are doing the Dream 4-night Bahamas cruise in March, with a few days at Universal before the cruise. We won't be returning home until Sunday and wanted to do something a little lower key when we got off the ship on Friday.

Any ideas for a good resort in Orlando with fun pools and kid/teen activities for 8 & 13 yo boys? We've only stayed at Disney and Universal resorts before and would like to try something new that may also be a bit more affordable and extend our "cruise mode" for a couple more days. Thanks!

 

[Quellman]

Sea Worlds Acquatica and Dolphin Cove are good ideas. There's also a host of Ripley's and Touristy type things all up and down International Drive. Not sure if Old Town is still a thing or not worth checking out. Also try the Fun Spot.

 

[LizGirl]

Have you checked out the Gaylord Palms or Hilton Bonnet Creek? I don't have personal experience but they look like nice properties.

There are some timeshare resorts by Marriott along International Drive that look really nice as well.

 

[kj2mom]

Some family is headed down for a convention in a few weeks and I found them a great rate at the hotel that used to be the Nickelodeon hotel that has a waterpark. The rate I got them was pretty good and the resort fee and parking fee were both waived for the length of their stay. It sounds like a pretty cool place, I hope they enjoy it as much as I think they will! It is now called Holiday Inn Resort Orlando Suites.

 

[buzzsmom]

Have you checked out the Gaylord Palms or Hilton Bonnet Creek? I don't have personal experience but they look like nice properties.

There are some timeshare resorts by Marriott along International Drive that look really nice as well.

These are some good ideas, I will check them out. It has always been too stressful to do any park after the cruise. Bonnet Creek might be just the right fit for us.

 

[DVC Doc]

These are some good ideas, I will check them out. It has always been too stressful to do any park after the cruise. Bonnet Creek might be just the right fit for us.

Hilton Bonnet Creek and Gaylord are excellent options. JW Marriott Grande Lakes also has nice pool and amenities, but may be slightly pricier. If money is no object, the Four Seasons has an absolutely incredible kid’s club and mini water park with lazy river and slides.

 

[NC Mountain Cruiser]

The Fountains by Bluegreen has great pools and a few water slides.

 

[koala1966]

We love Gaylord Palms, though I wish they had better quick service options for food. Pool and water slides are fun, rooms are comfortable, and the kids love exploring the atrium. In some seasons they have scavenger hunts and other activities that span the whole resort.

 

[LeiaOfAlderaan]

I can’t personally vouch for this hotel since we aren’t staying there until April, but the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress looks really nice, with beautiful landscaping and pools.

 

[DietCokeMommy]

We've stayed at Reunion a couple times and like it. There's a ton of individual pools and they also have a small waterpark that's included.

 

[Anchors Away 2016]

I can’t personally vouch for this hotel since we aren’t staying there until April, but the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress looks really nice, with beautiful landscaping and pools.

We stayed at this Hyatt for one night after the cruise.

It had fantastic swimming pools, open 24 hours a day (exercise room open 24 hours too), some of them heated, plus a slide, and from 8AM to 7PM they had free bicycle (including 2 and 4 person Surry bikes), and free boating options (Canoes, Kayaks, paddle boats, Aquabikes, etc.) Plus, (At no extra charge) we got a room facing the pool on the 11th floor where we could even see the Disney Fireworks at 9PM. (The ones at 10PM didn’t happen for some reason.) They even let us check into our room at 11:00 AM when we arrived! It was such a relaxing alternative to trying to cram in a day that the theme parks. We swam, we biked, we boated, and we swam at night. Did I mention that we relaxed? We also had a chance to repack our bags, since what goes in your carryon/checked bag at the cruise ship is very different from what goes into the carryon/checked bag at the airport.