* We visited The Grove Resort in February 2020, right before Covid-19 forced lockdowns and shutdowns. Happily, The Grove is open again, and we've made note of what has changed and what is offered as of August 2020 but as always, please consult their website for the latest info. And of course, traveling right now to Disney World is not for everyone, so this article is meant to serve you for when you are ready to make that trip.
Orlando is always at the top of the list for family vacations, thanks to Walt Disney World and other awesome theme parks. Yet the amount of accommodations to choose from is absolutely staggering. In fact, the Central Florida area has more than 450 hotels and over 120,000 hotel rooms. How can you decide where to stay?
The easiest filter to begin with is proximity to the parks. For some, this is non-negotiable as they want to spend the most amount of time during the waking day at the park and/or would like to go to and from the parks relatively easily throughout the day.
The second filter is price, with the hotels that are closest to the park asking premium prices and those that are futher out generally more affordable.
The third filter, especially for families, is space. Do you want to cram everyone in a room with two queen beds or do you want to have separate spaces to unwind in after a long day at the parks? If you're a firm believer in having more space, The Grove Resort should definitely be on your list for your Orlando trip.
WHERE IS THE GROVE?
The Grove is located about 45-minutes from Orlando International Airport and about 15-20 minutes from the theme parks. Technically it's six miles. They do have an occasional shuttle service to and from the Walt Disney World Transportation Center but not very often. The ride is free and it's included in your resort fee but you need to obtain a voucher and it's a first-come, first-serve service. You're better off ridesharing over there or just driving your own car.
WHAT IS THE GROVE?
This is not your typical resort. Yes, there's a lobby hang out and a check-in area but it's almost akin to a college campus with three buildings of various-sized units ranging from one, two and three-bedroom suites. You can see how these are laid out here in comparison to a typical Orlando resort. The Grove also has its own mini-water park, several pools, a spa, an arcade (more on this below), a market and three restaurants. So when you're taking a day off from the park, you'll have so much to do right here.
WHAT ARE THE ACCOMMODATIONS?
As we mentioned, the resort has one, two, and three-bedroom suites. These feel more like apartments than your average hotel suite. All have modern kitchens, balconies, and laundry. The fixtures and appliances are all also new, although the decor is just a little ho-hum. Yet we loved the big white comfortable beds and spacious bathrooms. These were absolute joys to walk into after a day at the park.
Peek this three-bedroom suite below!
THREE-BEDROOM SUITE WITH THREE BATHROOMS
WHAT IS THERE TO DO?
There is a ton of things to do on the property which is why most families staying here usually tack on one or two days extra to their trip to take advantage. (Typically, families will do 3-4 days at the parks, and then 1-2 days just chilling at The Grove.)
Flip Flops Arcade: My kids could not get enough of the arcade. They spent hours (and lots of dollars) in here but they were in heaven. It was like having a private arcade practically! This is actually still open, although the Family Fun Activity Center (sort of like a kids club is closed.)
Glow-in-the-Dark Mini-Golf: Attached to the arcade, is a miniature mini-golf course that glows in the dark. Super cute, fun, and quick.
Surfari Water Park: Here's where The Grove really stands out—with its own water park! There's a lazy river, two water slides, a smaller kids pool with a splash pad/activity center, plenty of chairs and also cabanas for rent (for $170 during the week and $200 on the weekends.) But entrance to the water park is complimentary for all registered guests. There are some new requirements due to Covid-19, largely temperature checks at the entrance and physical distancing.
Flow Rider: Another awesome part of the Surfari water park is the Flow Rider. This is available for a fee but it's well-worth it for your kids (or you!) to surf some waves. The sessions start at $30 for 30 minutes.
Lake Austin Pier: When you're sick of the pools, you can venture out to the Lake Austin Pier for paddle boats, kayaks, fishing poles and other water sport activities.
Dining: There are three restaurants on site, two of which are by the pools, and are great for casual poolside fare (i.e. fried items and chips and guac.) Yet the main restaurant, Valencia, serves Mickey waffles in the morning and makes martinis at night. 😊 The Grove also has the Alfresco market where you can pick up grab and go stuff or ingredients to make a meal in your suite. Remember, you have full kitchens here so you can do a little grocery shopping beforehand and make your own meals. Another convenient aspect of staying here!
WHAT ABOUT THE DISNEY EXPERIENCE?
The Grove is a Walt Disney Good Neighbor Hotel which means that The Grove meets the Disney standards for quality and service. They also can assist with booking tickets via a special Guest Services desk in the lobby. But other than that, the Disney experience is minimal, offering you a nice respite from Mickey and Co.
BOTTOM LINE:
There are people who want to be surrounded by Disney all the time during their Disney vacation. The Grove isn't for them. But this is where you can truly unwind after hectic days at the theme parks and have plenty of space to do so without blowing your budget. Yes, the distance from the parks is further but with the savings on the room, you can afford to splurge on a few more souvenirs.
A two-bedroom suite in early November is just $165 a night while a three-bedroom, three-bath suite like the one shown above is $295 a night. The hotel does have a $35 a night resort fee ($45 for the three-bedroom suites.) This fee includes access to the transportation to Disney World, pool access, WiFi, in-suite coffee and tea, fitness center, business center, and some scheduled family activities. Parking is also $18 per vehicle per night.
One tip: If you're keen on being close to the water park, request to be in the building closest to the water park. The Grove is a huge property and walking around it can take some time. It's not uncommon to walk for 5-10 minutes before reaching the pools.
**Disclosure: We stayed at The Grove while on assignment yet these opinions are our own and we'd never endorse anything we didn't truly love or find valuable for families. Indeed, we are planning a trip to Orlando in the coming months and the kids are begging to stay here again.
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