Home in Orlando for a Week – Hotel or Resort Condo?

The great thing about my husband driving to our vacation in Orlando, Florida is that he was able to check into the resort, unload our luggage into our Marriott Harbour Lake condo (yes, condo, not just a hotel room), unpack, and hit the grocery store before heading to pick up my daughter and me from the Orlando airport, which is huge and slightly confusing, by the way. Hubby doing all the prep work made my arrival at the Marriott Harbour Lake resort a breeze as all I had to do was unpack my things which he had transported down in our SUV.

So…I mentioned that he went out in Orlando to go grocery shopping. You may be thinking who goes grocery shopping for an Orlando, Flrorida vacation?!?! Well, we do because as we mentioned, we stay in a condo rather than a hotel. You may be thinking that an Orlando condo sounds expensive, right? Well it’s not really any different price wise than staying in any decent hotel. Even if you find a resort that is a bit more expensive than staying in an Orlando, Florida hotel, there are still a number of reasons to choose the Orlando resort condo over a regular old hotel room. Many of which will save you money in the long run.

Why stay in a resort condo as opposed to an Orlando hotel? Here are a few reasons:

A condo has a separate bedroom and living area so my husband and I don’t have to go to bed when the little one does. We are staying in a one bedroom Orlando Marriott Harbour Lake condo unit that has a bedroom, a large bathroom, a living room, a dining room, and a large kitchen. It is plenty of space for the three of us to stay out of each others’ hair when we need a break after hitting the Orlando theme parks all day.
A condo has a full kitchen allowing you to cook in a few nights which helps cut down food costs immensely because you don’t have to hit an Orlando restaurant every night. cook while on vacation in Orlando?!?! Yes. I’m not talking gourmet meals here, just quick to fix dinners: spaghetti, prepared frozen meals (many are healthy nowadays. I like the Bertolli ones), hot dogs (a kid favorite), fresh sandwiches, chicken tenders and fries,etc. You save money not going to restaurants, you can fix healthier dinners than hitting fast food joints every night, and you don’t spend an hour and a half in a restaurant. I’m traveling with a 2 year old here, remember? After a long day at the Orlando Disney Theme parks, she wants to play a little ans rest. AND…I need her to go to bed early so we can get up and go to another Disney theme park tomorrow. Cooking in allows you to move at the pace in which you desire, not the pace in which a crowded Orlando restaurant dictates to you.
Did I forget to mention that Orlando resort condos carefully stocked! Even the kitchen. They have all the amenities of an Orlando hotel, just more.
There is more space to play when your tot needs a break from the hot Orlando sun and Disney theme parks. The Grand Marriott Harbour Lake resort where we are staying even has screened in balconies on every unit so my outdoors loving daughter can go ‘outside’ to play and I don’t have to worry about buts, or about her dropping things over the side.
An Orlando resort condo feels more like home than a hotel does. We’re here for a week, we want to feel at home, not displaced in a cramped in a hotel room.
Orlando Resorts often offer great deals on cheap Orlando attractions and Disney theme park tickets. Oh, and on Orlando golf packages, my husband adds. You MAY, need to go to an ownership presentation to get the deals, but trust me, they’re worth it.
Orlando Resorts often have more than just the condos and a place or two to eat. Many family friendly ones will have a schedule of daily kid oriented activities, children’ play areas, multiple pools – some being more fun for kids than others.

Click on animage below to see the full photo and description of what there is for kids to do on site at the Orlando Marriott Harbour Lake resort where we are staying with our 2 year old.