The Ritz Carlton Orlando Grande Lakes - Orlando, FL Review

Selecting an Offsite Hotel During a Disney Visit

On a recent trip to Disney my husband and I decided we wanted to stay offsite from the main Disney compound. Our kids are little (2.5 and 4) and a full day at Disney is about all they can handle. For nearly half the price of the Disney properties (I AM NOT KIDDING!), we were able to stay at the Ritz Carlton, Orlando Grande Lakes. And, what a wonderful decision! (note: The Grand Floridian was $500+/night and the Ritz $250/night)

Why we loved the Ritz Carlton, Orlando Grande Lakes
The Ritz takes care of everything that you can possibly need! They had robes for the kids, little slippers, night lights, kid toiletries, and even had a birthday present for my son (since they knew we were celebrating his 4th bday on this trip!) The Ritz in Orlando also offers a kids club so on site there was a kids playground, a kids check in and fun activities for all ages. While we didnt enjoy most of what the hotel had to offer (great outdoor restaurants, golfing, the beautiful pool, etc), we did use room service for dinner (delicious!) and took a long walk along with the grounds with the kids. The staff is impeccable, the rooms spacious and the grounds beautifully kept.

Is there a downside to the Ritz? Not really, but if I must be petty...
The only downside (which sounds so stupid) is that I have a hard time with adults calling my son MISTER FLEMING. Stupid, I know. But seeing him in his Ritz robe, fluffy slippers and being called Mister makes me chuckle for a minute. Then reality sets in and I demand that everyone call him by his name. :) Gotta keep the little ones grounded...

• The Ritz, Orlando is located about 20 minutes away from Disney and just down the block from Sea World. It is very conveniently located near the expressway
• The Hotel is across a boardwalk from the Marriott and they share some common space and amenities- although I did not check them out
• When making a comparison on price consider: Parking at the Ritz is valet only and costs $20/day; parking at Disney is $10 per day for visitors (so add $30 to cost)
• The Ritz is a full service, 5 star property. So, it should be compared with other 5 star hotels on the Disney compund
• The Ritz has a dress code; so, while it is kid friendly, it isnt for those that want to walk around in their cut offs and tank tops. Plan on bringing collared shirts and slacks for night time.
• The Ritz in Orlando has a great selection of childrens movies that you can borrow. They also have strollers and other things to "borrow". Call ahead if this is important to you.