Last Updated on April 1, 2024 by Katrina

Photo credit: Gaylord Palms Resort

Headed to Walt Disney World? Kissimmee, located just south of Orlando, makes a convenient and affordable home base for anyone visiting the Magic Kingdom or other nearby theme parks, such as Universal Orlando Resort, Legoland Florida, and SeaWorld Orlando. The Osceola County town of Kissimmee has its own charms too, from the Ferris Wheel and live entertainment in Old Town Kissimmee to fishing on Lake Tohopekaliga (aka “Lake Toho”). While Kissimmee has long been known for its budget-friendly stays, you’ll also find familiar large chains, as well as hotels that come with their own water parks. Here are the best hotels in Kissimmee.

Reunion Resort & Golf Club (7593 Gathering Dr.; 833-258-0472) Kissimmee

Travel+Leisure calls this condo-style resort with a 10-acre water park “perfect for a multi-generation vacation” with “five-star hotel-style amenities as well as free transport to all of Orlando’s major theme parks.” A Tripadvisor user liked the home-away-from home convenience. “Full kitchen, stocked with essentials, so we ate breakfast in the room. Restaurants and grocery stores are nearby too.” Some users write that you can see some of the Disney evening fireworks from the resort roof.    >> Book this hotel for less

Embassy Suites by Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista South (4955 Kyngs Heath Rd.; 407-597-4000) Kissimmee

Enjoy perks such as a pool, game room, and free breakfast at this 300-room Embassy Suites four miles from Walt Disney World. “For just a few bucks more than the budget hotels,” writes a Trip Advisor user, “you get a room twice the size, the best free breakfast you’ll find anywhere, and free drinks every evening.” While there is a shuttle to the park, a few online users note that it’s not an express route, and makes many stops. Still, one Google reviewer says, “the location was great—quality shops and restaurants were nearby.”    >> Book this hotel for less

Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center (6000 W Osceola Pkwy; 407-586-0000) Kissimmee

“A more affordable luxury option to Walt Disney World resorts” is how one Google reviewer describes this 1,718-room resort that is part of the Marriott family and features a water park with seven water slides and a surf simulator. A few users note that the resort’s public spaces are more impressive than the rooms. (“King room small, no real refrigerator or microwave, and no sofa or pull out,” writes one.) Travel+Leisure likes its “annual holiday events, incredible gardens, and animal habitats housed inside a 4.5-acre glass atrium.”    >> Book this hotel for less

Margaritaville Resort Orlando (8000 Fins Up Cir.; 855-995-9099) Kissimmee

Choose from rooms, suites, and cottages at this 300-acre resort with pools, a lagoon, and free shuttles to most theme parks. While the resort has its own nightlife and a big pool bar, a Tripadvisor user likes the all-ages ambience: “We traveled as a couple but we would also feel comfortable bringing our kids—it seemed very family-friendly. We spent a day at Epcot and it was about 15-minute drive.” One Yelper likes the “easy-breezy beachy feel,” while another says a “two-bedroom cottage elite was roomy enough for five of us. It had a small pool and attached jacuzzi, which we loved.”    >> Book this hotel for less

FantasyWorld Resort (5005 Kyngs Heath Rd.; 407-396-1808) Kissimmee

Even if your main destination is a theme park, you can “keep the kids entertained” at this condo-style resort four miles from Disney. Travel+Leisure likes the “sweet water park complete with a lazy river, two three-story waterslides, a splash pad, and more.” The family-friendly accommodations have two bedrooms, two bathrooms, and washer-dryers. A Google reviewer calls it a “good value for money. Yes, the decor is older, but the villa is spacious. They have good amenities, and the location is excellent. The resort also accepts pets.”     >> Book this hotel for less

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