For most families, planning a trip to Orlando is no small feat. Orlando isn’t called the “theme park capital of the world” for nothing and when your wallet hears where you are going, it runs away and hides in the corner. Kids see Mickey's ears, while parents see dollar signs.
What if I told you a trip to Orlando doesn’t have to be so scary and expensive? What if I told you there was a better, budget-friendly way for families to enjoy all that Orlando has to offer? Because there is. And it all starts at The Red Lion Hotel in Lake Buena Vista. This recently remodeled Red Lion Hotel is going to make you rethink how you perceive budget hotels from now on.
While prices fluctuate, of course, March and April are a great time to visit with nightly rates around $100 a night or less - and this is during the busy spring break season!
But the amazing thing at the Red Lion Hotel is that "budget" doesn't mean giving up quality. Instead, budget at the Red Lion Hotel in Lake Buena Vista means:
A large room with plenty of space for everyone in your family
Even the dog! This hotel, like most Red Lion hotels, is pet-friendly. The rooms have ample space to stow and unpack all your luggage while still having room for cozy chairs to sit and relax. My favorite feature of the room? An additional sink set right outside of the bathroom. My son’s favorite feature? The 55-inch TV!
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High-quality coffee and lattes every morning
The Red Lion brand decided to invest in making parents happy by offering hot and delicious coffee each morning. The coffee bar in the lobby offers custom cappuccinos, lattes, and coffees for FREE that are so much better than the quick coffee you would be making in the small hotel room coffee maker. And yes, it’s OK to show up in pajamas to grab your morning coffee!
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A full-service hotel to meet everyone's needs
Restaurants. Guest laundry. Concierge service. A gift and snack shop. A state-of-the-art fitness room. A playground and basketball court. A free theme park shuttle. Free bikes to ride around town. When you travel with a family, you want your hotel to have it all and most “budget” hotels leave a lot to be desired in this department.
Not Red Lion. They get it.
They understand the need for starting the day with a delicious breakfast and ending it with a late-night snack. And they understand that sometimes Fanta spills and can stain your favorite pair of shorts. And maybe you need to hop on a bike to ride to the nearby big box store for a replacement while you do laundry. (This may or may not be a true story.)
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A pool, jacuzzi, lazy river, and waterslide
On-site. Yup. No extra admission ticket required for hours of fun splashing in the pool, floating aimlessly along the lazy river, or enjoying a fun waterslide. Whether it’s hanging poolside after a day at Disney or hanging poolside instead of a day at Disney, you won’t want to miss floating around the lazy river on a tube. (Yes, they provide those too!)
Excellent wi-fi, even sitting poolside
I know we’d all like to imagine those perfect family vacations where we leave our phones and devices at the door and have quality family time. But I’m keeping it real and that means good wi-fi is a sanity saver. For kids and parents.
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A bed you can't wait to fall into after a day of adventures in Orlando
The Red Lion Hotel was designed with families in mind. You didn’t come to Orlando to spend three days at the hotel. You came for all of the area attractions and adventures. Red Lion wants you to go off and explore. But, they also want you to come back at the end of the day knowing you have a great place to rest your feet. After a long, hot, and humid day at Disney, we couldn’t wait for a shower and then to fall into the comfy beds in our hotel room!
A base camp you can afford in one of the most sought-out family destinations in America
Crossing the hotel expense off your worry list and knowing you’ll be treating your family to many hotel luxuries without the luxury price tag means you can use those savings to get out and take advantage of all Orlando has to offer. Which is a lot!
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In fact, here are our top non-theme park and affordable adventures from our Red Lion Hotel basecamp:
- SEA LIFE Orlando: This delightful aquarium is inside with air-conditioning. It is extremely kid-friendly with plenty of chances to get up close and personal with the fish and sea life.
- The Wheel at ICON Park: This 400-foot tall Ferris wheel gives you the most amazing views of Orlando. On a clear day, you can see the Kennedy Space Center! You can purchase a combo ticket for both SEA LIFE Orlando and the Wheel for even bigger savings!
- Florida Fire Frogs minor league baseball: Take in a game if you are visiting during the spring or summer. If for no other reason than to hang out with the Fire Frog himself! With ticket prices starting around $10 this is a very affordable family outing.
We were able to vacation in Orlando and stay within a reasonable budget because of the Red Lion Hotel. That means we will be staying at the Red Lion Hotel again. And again, and again, and again.
The author was provided a 3-night stay at the Red Lion Hotel along with most meals and activities in exchange for this review. All opinions are her own.
