This spring, my family and I stayed at the Omni Orlando Resort for two nights. My husband, on a press trip, was golfing at Champions Gate, and we were able to tag along.
The first thing we noticed about the hotel was how nicely the property is laid out. When you arrive to see the large signs, you feel has if you are entering a special place. The hotel lobby also makes you feel right at home, with cold water bottles and fresh fruit, usually apples, to welcome you.
The main attraction for the kids, besides how bouncy the beds are, is always the pool. In this case, the Omni Orlando is a mini-oasis, with a family-friendly pool, waterslide, splash area, lazy river, hot tubs and adult pool, along with an outdoor restaurant.
When we went down to check out the pool, we were thrilled to find a chalkboard with daily activities listed, including Wii competitions and nightly movies by the pool.
For this mom, my favorite part of the trip was the warm pool. Usually, pools are slightly chilly and occasionally too cold for comfort. The Omni, however, had it just right, which allowed us to stay and play to our heart’s content.
The lazy river was longer than others we’ve been in and also had more features, such as a randomly shooting water cannon and an optional waterfall (you can go under it or behind it. The resort also has a basketball court and tennis courts. My son made some friends and found a pick-up game of boys who weren’t averse to playing hoops with an 8-year-old.
If you need activities during the day, Orlando is full of them. We found the drive to SeaWorld easy and convenient, and it was nice to come back to the hotel and unwind after a day in the sun.
And, we came back to a nature welcome – we spotted an alligator near one of the sand traps on the golf course – now that’s Florida!
Pros: Warm pool, activities for all ages, comfortable rooms, reasonable rates, shuttle service to Disney parks
Tonja's Travels 