Is a stay at Holiday Inn Resort Orlando - Lake Buena Vista worth it? Pros and cons
Yes — for families and travelers who want close access to Walt Disney World and on-site kid-focused amenities, a stay at Holiday Inn Resort Orlando - Lake Buena Vista is worth it. It’s family-oriented (KidSuites, splash pad, kids’ movie theater, arcade) with useful resort services and scheduled theme-park shuttles, but budget-minded guests should factor in the mandatory resort fee and parking charges.
In this guide
Location and getting around
The resort sits at 13351 State Road 535 in Lake Buena Vista, a short drive from major Orlando attractions. IHG and other listings place Walt Disney World about 1 mile away and Disney Springs roughly a 5-minute drive.
The property includes scheduled shuttle transportation to Walt Disney World, Disney Springs and Universal Orlando as part of the resort fee, which is convenient if you prefer not to drive.
- Nearest airport: Orlando International Airport (MCO) — the hotel lists approximately 12 miles.
- Orlando Vineland Premium Outlets: about a 2-minute drive (1.5 miles).
- Lake Bryan (watersports) is roughly a 5-minute walk from the hotel.
| Nearby | Typical time |
|---|---|
| Walt Disney World | About 1 mile / minutes by hotel shuttle or short drive |
| Disney Springs | About 2–3 miles / ~5-minute drive |
| Universal Orlando | About 9 miles / ~20–30-minute drive |
Rooms and family options
The resort offers a range of room types aimed at families and groups. Options include Standard Room, 1 King Bed, Balcony, Pool View; Standard Room, 2 Queen Beds, Balcony, Pool View; Standard Room, with Sofa bed; and several suites.
Kid-focused layouts are available: Suite, Multiple Beds (1 King Bed and 1 Twin Bunk Bed) and Suite, Multiple Beds, Pool View (Kid) (1 King Bed and 2 Twin Bunk Beds). These KidSuites give children separate bunk areas while keeping the family in one room.
- Room features commonly listed: microwave, refrigerator, Keurig coffee maker, granite bathrooms, in-room laptop safe and free Wi‑Fi.
- Accessible options: the property has 15 accessible rooms and accessible-path features.
- Room count: listings show roughly 503–532 guest rooms (figures vary by source).
| Sample room name | Bed configuration (as listed) |
|---|---|
| Standard Room, 1 King Bed, Balcony, Pool View | 1 King Bed |
| Standard Room, 2 Queen Beds, Balcony, Pool View | 2 Queen Beds |
| Suite, Multiple Beds, Pool View (Kid) | 1 King Bed and 2 Twin Bunk Beds |
Pool, activities and kid-friendly amenities
The property centers on a large heated outdoor pool with a kids’ splash pad and two whirlpools; pool hours are listed as 7:00 AM–11:00 PM. The resort runs supervised pool activities and daily family programming as part of the resort experience.
Indoor and dry-weather entertainment includes a 24-hour Cyber Arcade, a children’s movie theater, table tennis and outdoor games like giant chess and checkers.
- Pool features: heated pool, splash pad, two hot tubs, lounge chairs, towel service and umbrellas.
- Family entertainment: kids’ movie theater, arcade, supervised pool activities, dive-in movies.
- Nearby watersports: Lake Bryan is a short walk for kayaking, paddleboarding and tubing.
| Amenity | Notes |
|---|---|
| Heated outdoor pool | Open daily 7:00 AM–11:00 PM |
| Kids’ splash pad | Located in pool courtyard |
| Cyber Arcade & children’s movie theater | Included in on-site activities |
Dining and on-site bars
On-site dining is centered on Just Around The Corner Sports Bar & Grill (breakfast and dinner) and Rocco's Rockin' Tiki Bar at the pool (open weather permitting 11:00 AM–11:00 PM). Breakfast is not included in standard room rates; a buffet breakfast is available for a surcharge and the hotel runs a Kids Eat Free program.
Menus focus on American favorites — burgers, wings, tacos — and the tiki bar offers tropical cocktails and kid-friendly slushies. A new coffee shop is planned to open in late 2026.
- Just Around The Corner: Breakfast 6:00–10:00 AM; Dinner 6:00–10:00 PM.
- Rocco's Rockin' Tiki Bar: poolside service, weather permitting; serves meals, desserts and drinks 11:00 AM–11:00 PM.
- Kids Eat Free program applies when children dine with a paying adult at the resort restaurant.
| Venue | Hours (as listed) |
|---|---|
| Just Around The Corner Sports Bar & Grill | Breakfast 6:00–10:00 AM; Dinner 6:00–10:00 PM |
| Rocco's Rockin' Tiki Bar | 11:00 AM–11:00 PM (weather permitting) |
Fees, parking and practical details
The hotel charges a mandatory resort fee (the property’s FAQ and other sources list this fee; amounts vary by source and may change). The resort fee includes scheduled shuttle service to the theme parks, access to the children’s movie theater, pool activities and business center PC/internet access.
Self-parking is available on-site for a daily fee (the hotel FAQ lists $20 per day on some pages); parking is uncovered and includes in/out privileges. The hotel has a 24-hour front desk and standard check-in/out times: check-in from 4:00 PM and check-out by 11:00 AM.
- Resort fee covers shuttle service, pool activities, children’s movie theater and business center access.
- Self-parking: typically $20 per day (charged by property; verify at booking).
- Check-in/check-out: check-in begins at 4:00 PM; check-out is by 11:00 AM. Minimum check-in age: 18.
| Item | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Resort fee | Mandatory; includes shuttles and activities (amount varies by source) |
| Parking | Self-parking onsite, daily charge, in/out privileges |
| Wi‑Fi | Complimentary in rooms and public areas |
Events, meetings and weddings
Holiday Inn Resort Orlando - Lake Buena Vista offers multiple meeting rooms and event spaces. The Ballroom is listed at 3,720 sq. ft. (the resort can combine rooms) with a theater capacity up to 300; total meeting space is reported in different sources as approximately 8,592–11,000 sq. ft.
The hotel mentions poolside party options and can accommodate group events and wedding blocks, making it an option for modest-size gatherings close to Disney.
- Key rooms: Ballroom (3,720 sq. ft., up to 300 guests), Wonder, Adventure, Discovery and Vista meeting rooms.
- Event uses: conferences, incentives, social events, wedding receptions and pre-function registration space.
- Catering and group rate options are available through the resort’s sales team (contact hotel for current details).
| Meeting room | Capacity (as listed) |
|---|---|
| Ballroom | 3,720 sq. ft. / theater capacity up to 300 |
| Discovery Venue | Capacity about 194 |
| Wonder Venue | Capacity about 80 |
