Proposals and weddings: venues, capacities and planning tips
Holiday Inn Resort Orlando - Lake Buena Vista can host proposals, small ceremonies and receptions on-site using its Ballroom (3,720 sq ft) and six smaller meeting rooms, plus poolside party options around the heated outdoor pool and Rocco’s Rockin’ Tiki Bar. The largest indoor space (Ballroom) fits up to 300 guests theatre-style; the resort also supports wedding room blocks and group rates for rehearsal dinners and overnight guests.
In this guide
Event spaces and capacities
The resort’s event inventory includes a 3,720-square-foot Ballroom and six meeting rooms with a combined meeting space of around 8,592 sq ft (official meetings page). The Ballroom can be formed by combining smaller rooms and has a stated capacity up to 300 guests.
Smaller ground-floor rooms are intended for intimate ceremonies, rehearsal dinners or welcome receptions and have published capacities suitable for social layouts and banquet-style events.
- Ballroom — 3,720 sq. ft.; Capacity: 300 Guests
- Discovery Venue — Capacity: 194 Guests
- Vista Venue — Capacity: 125 Guests
- Adventure Venue — Capacity: 111 Guests
- Magic Room Venue — Capacity: 100 Guests
- Wonder Venue — Capacity: 80 Guests
| Room | Square Feet / Notes | Capacity |
|---|---|---|
| Ballroom | 3,720 sq. ft. (combinable) | 300 Guests |
| Discovery Venue | Ground-floor meeting room | 194 Guests |
| Wonder Venue | Renovated small meeting room | 80 Guests |
Poolside proposals and parties
The resort offers poolside party options around its heated outdoor pool, splash pad and Rocco’s Rockin’ Tiki Bar. Pool hours and food/drink service are published separately; the pool is open daily from 7:00 AM to 11:00 PM.
Poolside celebrations are weather dependent (Rocco’s operates 11:00 AM–11:00 PM weather permitting) and are suitable for casual welcome parties, cocktail hours or smaller receptions that can use the tiki bar and pool deck.
- Pool area includes a heated main pool, kids’ splash pad and two whirlpools/hot tubs.
- Rocco’s Rockin’ Tiki Bar serves lunch, dinner and tropical drinks and can support poolside dining and drinks service.
- Weather may affect poolside setups; coordinate with the sales team for backup indoor space.
| Feature | Notes |
|---|---|
| Pool hours | 7:00 AM – 11:00 PM (daily) |
| Tiki Bar hours | Rocco’s: 11:00 AM – 11:00 PM (weather permitting) |
| Splash pad | Child-friendly; useful for family daytime events |
Ceremony and reception logistics
Indoor ceremonies and receptions are typically held in the Ballroom or one of the ground-floor meeting rooms. The Ballroom can be subdivided to create ceremony and reception areas or used as a single large reception space.
For poolside ceremonies or small outdoor gatherings, plan for weather contingencies and ask the sales team about sound restrictions, set-up time and rental items (chairs, aisles, signage). The resort has a pre-function area useful for guest arrival, registration and check-in for event attendees.
- Confirm load-in/load-out times with the events team for decor and vendors.
- Ask about available tables, chairs, linens and AV packages (microphones, projectors) — these are typically arranged through hotel sales.
- Reserve a backup indoor room if you plan an outdoor pool ceremony; the Ballroom or a meeting room can be used.
| Item | What to check with hotel |
|---|---|
| AV | Microphones, speakers, projectors; availability and pricing |
| Setup time | When vendors can arrive and when the room must be cleared |
| Catering service | Which on-site outlets will serve and what menu options are available |
Catering, bars and menus
"Just Around The Corner" Sports Bar & Grill provides American breakfast and dinner service and participates in the hotel’s Kids Eat Free program; it may be used for plated or buffet-style welcome meals depending on the hotel’s event offerings.
Rocco’s Rockin’ Tiki Bar is the poolside dining outlet and serves tropical cocktails, beverages and food throughout the day. For plated receptions, buffets or specialty menus, plan and contract these through the resort’s sales or catering team.
- Just Around The Corner — serves breakfast (6:00 AM–10:00 AM) and dinner (6:00 PM–10:00 PM).
- Rocco’s Rockin’ Tiki Bar — poolside service 11:00 AM–11:00 PM (weather permitting).
- Breakfast is not included in room rates; buffet breakfast is available for a surcharge.
- Discuss children’s menu options and the Kids Eat Free program for family events.
| Outlet | Typical hours | Use for events? |
|---|---|---|
| Just Around The Corner Sports Bar & Grill | Breakfast 6:00 AM–10:00 AM; Dinner 6:00 PM–10:00 PM | Yes — breakfasts, dinners, family-friendly gatherings |
| Rocco’s Rockin’ Tiki Bar | 11:00 AM–11:00 PM (weather permitting) | Yes — poolside cocktails and casual receptions |
Room blocks, room types and guest stays
The resort offers group rates and can create wedding room blocks for guests. Room types include standard and premium rooms as well as KidSuites and suites with multiple beds; some rooms have balconies and pool views.
When creating a room block, specify needed room types and any accessibility requirements — the hotel has 15 accessible rooms and roughly 503–532 total guest rooms depending on source listings.
- Room types include Standard Room, 1 King Bed; Standard Room, 2 Queen Beds; Standard Room, 1 King Bed, Balcony, Pool View; Suite, 1 Bedroom, Balcony, Pool View; Suite, Multiple Beds (KidSuite with bunk bed).
- KidSuites and family-friendly layouts (bunk beds, sofa beds) are useful when many guests travel with children.
- Confirm check-in (4:00 PM) and check-out (11:00 AM) times with the front desk; early check-in/late check-out are request-based.
| Room name (exact) | Notes |
|---|---|
| Standard Room, 1 King Bed, Balcony, Pool View | Pool view, balcony; listed at 381 sq. ft.; 2 Guests |
| Standard Room, 2 Queen Beds, Balcony, Pool View | Pool view; family option |
| Suite, 1 Bedroom, Balcony, Pool View | Suite option with balcony; sleeps larger groups |
Planning timeline and practical tips
Reserve event space and room blocks early, especially during peak Disney season and holidays. Provide the hotel with a guest-room cutoff date and a point of contact for rooming-list changes.
Include logistics in your timeline: vendor load-in, rehearsal time, ceremony start and a plan for weather-related changes for any outdoor or poolside events.
- Ask the sales team about mandatory resort fees and what the fee includes (shuttle service, children’s movie theater, pool activities, business center access).
- Confirm parking arrangements for guests and any vendor vehicle surcharges; self-parking is available on-site for a published daily fee.
- Verify pet policy if any guests bring service animals or pets (hotel allows dogs and cats with fees; service animals exempt).
- Plan group transportation — scheduled shuttles to Disney and Universal are included in the resort fee, but check schedules for timing around ceremony times.
| When | Action |
|---|---|
| 6–12 months out | Reserve Ballroom/meeting rooms and room block |
| 2–3 months out | Confirm menu, AV needs and wedding-day timeline |
| 2–4 weeks out | Provide final guest counts and vendor arrival times |
Costs, fees and what to confirm
The hotel charges a mandatory resort fee; this fee covers shuttle service, pool activities and other amenities. The resort also has standard charges for self-parking and pet fees which can apply to wedding guests staying at the property.
Ask for a written contract that lists room rental fees, minimum food-and-beverage spend (if any), parking costs, any security or event staffing charges, and cancellation or attrition policies.
- Mandatory resort fee (amount varies; check current rate) — includes scheduled shuttles, children’s movie theater and pool activities.
- Self-parking is available for a published daily fee; large vehicles and buses may incur separate charges.
- Pet fees: a nightly fee applies for pets (the property publishes a fee structure and exemptions for service animals).
| Fee | Notes |
|---|---|
| Resort fee | Covers shuttle service, pool games, business center access (amount varies) |
| Self-parking | Published daily fee; includes in/out privileges |
| Pet fee | Applies to dogs and cats up to published limits; service animals exempt |
