Between tickets to Central Florida theme parks like Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando, plus admission to lesser-known attractions like Gatorland, the cost of an Orlando vacation can be high.
Add in hotels and the price of dining out and you can quickly find yourself well over budget.
One easy way to cut costs is by choosing a hotel where the room comes with its own kitchen or kitchenette. That way, you can save money by eating a quick breakfast in your room, and keeping snacks and chilled drinks on hand at all times.
I've called Orlando home for over a decade, and this is one hack I always recommend to visitors, especially because there are plenty of hotels in the area that offer this amenity.
Here are my five favorites that are close to Walt Disney World, Universal, and all of Orlando’s other attractions.
In this article
Universal Endless Summer Resort Surfside Inn and Suites
One of the most affordable hotels at Universal Orlando Resort is Universal Endless Summer Resort Surfside Inn and Suites, which has two-bedroom suites that come with their own kitchenette and picnic table.
Inside each room, you’ll find a microwave, refrigerator, sink, and coffee maker, as well as a seating area for enjoying meals.
This property is one of my family’s favorite places to stay in Orlando, since its suites are reasonably priced and there’s lots of room to spread out.
Other hotels at Universal also offer suites with kitchenettes including Universal Cabana Bay Beach Resort, which also boasts a lazy river in its pool area, and Universal Helios Grand Hotel, which has a dedicated guest entrance to recently opened theme park Universal Epic Universe.
Marriott’s Grande Vista
Marriott’s Grande Vista is part of the Marriott Vacation Clubs, a points-based timeshare and vacation ownership program, but it can also be booked by traditional hotel guests who aren’t members.
Choose from one, two, and three-bedroom villas, all of which have a full-sized kitchen with a microwave, stove, and refrigerator, as well as a separate dining area.
Outside of the room, the resort has pools, splash pads, a golf course, and is equidistant between Disney World’s Magic Kingdom Park and Universal Epic Universe.
With its central location, Marriott’s Grande Vista is the perfect spot to stay with your family for an Orlando vacation if you want to see both of the area’s most popular theme parks, and save some money on meals.
Villatel Orlando Resort
Villatel Orlando Resort is a resort where you could vacation all week and never leave, with a multi-slide waterpark, splash playground, a lazy river, pickleball and basketball courts, poolside dining, and complimentary theme park shuttles.
Those amenities are a major draw, but so are the villa accommodations, which come with between four and nine themed bedrooms and amenities like poolside mini golf, plus full-sized kitchens with all the major appliances, plenty of counter space, and a separate dining area.
The resort also houses a series of Bonvoy Apartments by Marriott, which are conjoined, apartment-style rentals that are a bit different from Villatel’s free-standing villas. These alternative options have full kitchens, themed rooms, and balconies with views of Orlando, and guests receive full access to the resort’s amenities, as well as a location that’s a bit closer to Universal Orlando.
Caribe Royale Orlando
Another resort my family and I love to stay at is Caribe Royale Orlando.
The property has an outdoor swimming pool with a 75-foot water slide, a kids’ splash pool, playground, arcade, and more, making it great for downtime when families need to relax at the hotel.
Caribe Orlando also has more than 100 two-bedroom villas with full kitchens, a separate dining area, and a screened-in outdoor area that’s perfect for morning coffee time or evening drinks.
Caribe Royale is also located close to both Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando and offers free shuttle service to the theme parks.
The Evermore Residences at Evermore Orlando Resort
If you’ve ever dreamed of renting a home in Orlando for a family vacation, Evermore Orlando Resort is a great option.
Houses in the Evermore Residences have between four and 11 bedrooms and can accommodate as many as 32 guests. These properties, which include full kitchens, are a great way to get the extended family or a group of friends together in one place.
Here, you’ll find a packed activities calendar with plenty of activities to occupy guests of all ages, as well as pools, waterslides, a fitness center and spa, and a schedule of seasonal events.
And, with the full kitchens offered inside each rental home, there’ll be plenty of time to cook meals together and enjoy each other’s company as you catch up around the dinner table over some delicious food.
The Shortcut
Between theme park admissions and restaurant bills, an Orlando family vacation can run well over budget before you've even checked in.
Booking a hotel with a kitchen or kitchenette is one of the most effective ways to cut costs, without cutting the trip short or sacrificing on activities.
The five properties here range from budget-friendly suites near Universal to large-group rentals that sleep up to 32 and include full kitchens.
