Best Hotels Near Horizon West When Family Comes to Visit – or You’re Thinking of Moving Here Yourself
Here’s Where Visiting Relatives (or Future Locals) Can Stay Without Taking Over Your House
When you live in Florida, family and friends always materialize just about the time it gets cold up north and “the kids” have a few days off. You love them all, but maybe you’d love them a little more if, after day six they weren’t parking in your driveway, sleeping on your couch and eating all the fudge flakes out of the Cherry Garcia.
Instead of turning the guest room into a construction site when the extended family pulls up, maybe suggest one of the many hotels in and near Horizon West as a home base instead.
This is also a great list if you’re thinking about making Horizon West your new home and want a comfortable spot to stay while you’re house hunting. Plus, you’ll be ready with hotel recommendations when you do relocate and your Omaha brother wants to check out Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party.
The Grove Resort & Water Park
As the name suggests, The Grove Resort & Water Park includes free access to the resort’s Surfari Water Park, including a 695-foot lazy river, dual water slides, zero-entry pool and surf simulator. You might worry Surfari would close on chilly (for Florida) days, but the hotel tells us Surfari has only ever shut down in advance of a hurricane.
Sitting on 106 acres along Lake Austin just south of Horizon West's Ovation village (Village I), The Grove’s two-bedroom (sleeps six) and three-bedroom (sleeps eight) condos include a full kitchen and full washer and dryer. One-bedroom (with a kitchenette) and studios are also available, and all resort rooms include access to the resort’s three swimming pools (separate from Surfari), fitness center and nature activities on Lake Austin Pier.
If you’re not travelling with kids, you might also consider The Terraces, an “adult-centric” hotel on property with studios and one- and two-bedroom suites that are quieter while still having access to the resort’s amenities.
Pets: Service animals only.
Theme park shuttles: The Grove is a Walt Disney World Good Neighbor Hotel, so there are free shuttles to Disney. The hotel also offers complimentary rides to Universal and SeaWorld.
On-site dining: Valencia is The Grove’s full sit-down restaurant, breakfast through dinner, with a weekend breakfast buffet and Elements bar next door (Thursday - Sunday). There’s also two bar and grills serving apps, sandwiches and salads and a market with coffee, pizza and quick groceries. The Terraces also has its own lobby market.
The Grove Resort & Water Park >>
14501 Grove Resort Ave, Winter Garden, Fla., 34787
Evermore Resort, including Conrad Orlando
If you’re a golfer or have one in the family, take a look at Evermore’s two Jack Nicklaus-designed courses. Together, the Cypress and Links courses total 36 holes of championship-level golf and Evermore guests get preferred rates and advance tee times. Folks not staying at the resort can only book two weeks out.
Evermore Bay sits at the center of the resort, surrounded by Orlando's only private 20-acre white sand beach. Private rental houses start at five bedrooms and go up to eleven. All are equipped with private heated pools, full kitchens, outdoor kitchen with grill, and washer and dryer. Evermore also has four-bedroom, four-bathroom flats in two- and -five story buildings that sleep up to eleven with full washer and dryer.
For folks who remember when this property was known as Grand Cypress, Evermore has reimagined and updated a classic of many ’80s vacations. The original villas, now called Cypress Villas at Evermore feature two or four bedrooms with individual patios and full kitchens.
If you prefer the luxury hotel experience, Conrad Orlando at Evermore Resort, a Hilton property, has rooms that sleep from three to six with plush robes, Frette luxury linens and 24-hour room service. Conrad Orlando also has a round-the-clock fitness center with classes and a spa offering massage, skin care and couples’ treatments.
Evermore and Conrad Orlando are located off of Winter Garden Vineland Road (535) a few miles south of Horizon West's Lakeside Village and the Village of Bridgewater.
Pets: Evermore only allows service animals for medical or disability needs, but no animals are allowed at Evermore Bay or other water areas. While on property, service animals must stay with their owner and always be leashed, harnessed or tethered.
Theme park shuttles: Conrad Orlando is a Walt Disney World Good Neighbor Hotel with free rides to Disney parks, but the rest of the resort does not offer free transportation. Instead, a partner service will take you to theme parks or the airport for a fee.
On-site dining: Evermore resort has one full-service restaurant at the central hub and three inside Conrad Orlando. The hub’s Twin View overlooks both the water and the golf course with a focus on Florida flavors. Inside Conrad, Sophia’s Trattoria looks out to Evermore Bay with a southern Italian menu including wood-fired pizza and handmade pasta. Papaya Club is also along Evermore Bay with a tropical menu of apps, salads and sandwiches. Ceiba is on Conrad’s roof with a sophisticated take on regional Mexican cuisine.
1590 Evermore Way, Orlando, Fla., 32836
Conrad Orlando at Evermore Resort >>
1500 Eastbeach Way, Orlando, Fla., 32836
Magic Village Yards & Magic Village Views — Trademark Collection by Wyndham
Companion properties in the same neighborhood, both Magic Village Yards and Magic Village Views are both Trademark Collection by Wyndham properties, and they sit just minutes from the front gate to Disney’s Animal Kingdom with three-bedroom villas that sleep six and four-bedroom villas for eight. Villas for both properties include full kitchen, washer and dryer and upgrades available for outdoor grill and (in most cases) a hot tub.
Both Views and Yards also have clubhouses with a heated pool and hot tub with volleyball, tennis, and fitness room on property. The resorts also feature a paid concierge service to handle housekeeping services, grocery shopping, private chef, massage therapy and more.
Pets: Service animals only.
Theme park shuttles: Transportation to theme parks and other areas is available for a fee.
On-site dining: Villaggio at Magic Village Yards serves apps, Brazilian-style pizza and pasta in the style of an all-you-can-eat churrascaria steakhouse with servers roaming the tables carrying fresh dishes from the kitchen. Reservations are a good idea and Villaggio is closed on Mondays. American Japa Sushi at Magic Village Views serves a fusion of Japanese and Brazilian cuisine, including that Brazilian-style all-you-can-eat tableside service.
Magic Village Vacation Homes >>
Magic Village Yards, 3151 Pantanal Lane, Kissimmee, FL 34747
Magic Village Views, 7430 Brooklyn Drive, Kissimmee, FL 34747
Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World Resort
Earlier this year, the Four Seasons Orlando was named “#1 Best Hotel and Best Resort in Walt Disney World” by “U.S. News & World Report.” Sitting inside the Golden Oak luxury residential neighborhood that is just a few miles south of Horizon West's Lakeside Village, Four Seasons Orlando’s 17-story Spanish Revival structure includes 375 guest rooms and 68 suites. Being so close to Walt Disney World, some rooms offer views of evening fireworks at Magic Kingdom and EPCOT. Another property highlight is the private Explorer Island water park – five acres with lazy river, two water slides, splash zone and more.
Standard guest rooms can sleep three adults or two adults and two children. Suites offer more living space. The four-bedroom presidential suite includes a wrap-around terrace, dining room with fireplace, pantry kitchen and fitness studio. For folks with plenty of family and plenty of money, you can buy out the full 16th floor with the presidential suite, a nine-bedroom royal suite and eight more guest rooms.
The resort also features an 18-hole, par-71 Tom Fazio signature golf course as well as pickle ball, tennis lessons, fitness center, basketball court, rock climbing wall and complimentary camp for kids ages 4 to 12.
Pets: Four Seasons Resort Orlando is a pet friendly hotel with a maximum of one pet, up to 25 pounds, at no charge, although pets can’t be left alone in rooms. There’s even a room service menu including poached salmon and scrambled eggs for cats and scrambled eggs, rice and veal stock for dogs.
Theme park shuttles: Four Seasons Orlando offers free rides to all four Disney Parks by motor coach, usually once an hour. Shuttles to Universal Studios Florida and SeaWorld Orlando are also available, but for a fee.
On-site dining: Four Seasons Orlando has two Michelin-recognized restaurants — the Michelin-starred rooftop steakhouse, Capa, and the Michelin-recommended modern Italian Ravello. (On Thursdays and Sundays, Ravello hosts a breakfast buffet featuring Goofy, Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse.) Other dining options include Plancha with a menu combining Latin-American cuisine and clubhouse favorites with lakeside views and Lickety Split, the lobby café with breakfast items, sandwiches, salads and house-made gelato and pastries.
Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World Resort >>
10100 Dream Tree Blvd., Lake Buena Vista, Fla., 32836
Orange County National Golf Center and Lodge
Another one for the golfers, Orange County National Golf Center and Lodge features two championship courses (Panther Lake and Crooked Cat) as well as a nine-hole short course (The Tooth) and a golf academy offering private and group lessons, golf schools and clinics and junior camps.
The Lodge at Orange County National Golf Center keeps it simple with hotel-style rooms offering double beds, queen or king beds. Aside from being in Horizon West, between Summerlake Groves Street and Avalon Road, the big selling point is sleeping only steps from first tee if you want to avoid the commute for an early tee time. Hospitality suites are also available where groups can meet with TV, sitting area, two bathrooms and full-size refrigerator.
Pets: Service animals only.
Theme park shuttles: No shuttle service.
On-site dining: The Orange 83 Pub and Grill is both a restaurant and banquet facility with indoor and patio seating. The bar area features eight TVs, and the menu covers burgers, salads, sandwiches and wraps.
Orange County National Golf Center and Lodge >>
16301 Phil Ritson Way, Winter Garden, Fla., 34787
Walt Disney World Resort Hotels
The hotels on Walt Disney World Resort property range from “Value” motel-style properties with exterior corridors (ex. Pop Century, Art of Animation) to “Deluxe” resorts such as Animal Kingdom Lodge that overlooks a savanna of 30+ species of African wildlife or the Grand Floridian Resort & Spa.
Pets: A few Disney World hotels do have dog-friendly accommodations (Art of Animation, Port Orleans Resort - Riverside, Yacht Club Resort, The Cabins at Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort) for an extra fee. Only two dogs are allowed per room with restrictions including having vaccination records available and not leaving dogs alone in your room for more than seven hours.
Theme park shuttles: Walt Disney World provides complimentary bus transportation for all guests staying at on-property Disney hotels. That includes to and from theme parks, water parks and Disney Springs. Depending on the resort, other free transportation includes the monorail and gondola-style Skyliner.
On-site dining: All Disney World hotels have at least one restaurant – from food courts or quick-service counters to full-service restaurants. Many have more than one. For example, the Grand Floridian includes one quick service option and five table service restaurants, including the Michelin-starred Victoria & Albert’s, which usually requires reservations made several months in advance.
Flamingo Crossings Hotels
If you have a favorite hotel chain or brand, here’s a list of those in the FLAMINGO CROSSINGS development, which is close by for residents in Hickory Nut village (Village H) and Ovation village (Village I).
Popular restaurants in and around the neighborhood include the upscale Italian spot Simply Capri, Ellie Lou’s Brews and BBQ, Hash House A Go Go, Skyline Chili, and, of course, Starbucks and Dunkin’.
SpringHill Suites by Marriott Orlando at Flamingo Crossings Town Center / Western Entrance
13279 Hartzog Road, Winter Garden, Fla., 34787
Pets: Service animals only.
Theme park shuttles: As a Walt Disney World Gateway Hotel, daily scheduled shuttle service to select Disney theme parks is available to guests at no additional charge.
On-site dining: The hotel offers free hot breakfast in the lobby with coffee bar nearby open until noon. Flamingo's Bar & Grille is open for lunch and dinner with pizza and burgers.
TownePlace Suites by Marriott Orlando at Flamingo Crossings Town Center / Western Entrance
13295 Hartzog Road, Winter Garden, Fla., 34787
Pets: One pet allowed per room with a nonrefundable $150 fee per stay.
Theme park shuttles: As a Walt Disney World Gateway Hotel, scheduled shuttle service to select Disney theme parks is available to guests at no additional charge. The pick-up spot is next door at the Springhill Suites.
On-site dining: The hotel offers free hot breakfast in the lobby with coffee bar nearby open until noon. Flamingo's Bar & Grille is open for lunch and dinner with pizza and burgers.
Residence Inn by Marriott Orlando at Flamingo Crossings Town Center
2111 Flagler Ave., Winter Garden, Fla., 34787
Pets: No cats, but up to two dogs are welcome per room for a nonrefundable $150 fee per stay.
Theme park shuttles: As a Walt Disney World Gateway Hotel, daily scheduled shuttle service to Disney theme parks is available to guests at no additional charge.
On-site dining: The hotel offers free hot breakfast buffet. Open 12 – 5 p.m., Featherstones Poolside Bar & Grill serves casual American food. The Lobby Bar has pub food for dinner, 5 – 10 p.m. The 24/7 Market offers prepackaged snacks and salads.
Fairfield by Marriott Inn & Suites Orlando at Flamingo Crossings Town Center
631 Flagler Ave., Winter Garden, Fla., 34787
Pets: Service animals only.
Theme park shuttles: As a Walt Disney World Gateway Hotel, daily scheduled shuttle service to Disney theme parks is available to guests at no additional charge.
On-site dining: The hotel offers free hot breakfast buffet. Fieldhouse Outdoor Cabana Bar offers hot food for lunch on Friday and Saturday as well as dinner seven nights a week.
Homewood Suites by Hilton Orlando at Flamingo Crossings Town Center
411 Flagler Ave., Winter Garden, Fla., 34787
Pets: Cats and dogs only are allowed with a maximum number of two and maximum weight of 75 pounds. The fee is $75 for up to four nights and $125 for five nights or more.
Theme park shuttles: As a Walt Disney World Gateway Hotel, daily scheduled shuttle service to select Disney theme Parks is available to guests at no additional charge.
On-site dining: The hotel offers free hot breakfast buffet. Pool Bar and Grill Bar offers appetizers, sandwiches, pizza from noon – 10:30 p.m.
Home2 Suites by Hilton Orlando at Flamingo Crossings Town Center
341 Flagler Ave., Winter Garden, Fla., 34787
Pets: Cats and dogs only are allowed with a maximum number of two and maximum weight of 75 pounds. The fee is $75 for up to four nights and $125 for five nights or more.
Theme park shuttles: As a Walt Disney World Gateway Hotel, daily scheduled shuttle service to select Disney theme Parks is available to guests at no additional charge.
On-site dining: The hotel offers free hot breakfast buffet. Pool Bar and Grill Bar offers appetizers, sandwiches, pizza from noon – 10:30 p.m.
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