Orlando, Florida conjures up visions of Disney World, SeaWorld and Universal Studios. As you would expect, hundreds of hotels have sprung up around these mega tourist draws. A few properties have taken things a step further by creating their own water parks. You can have a wonderfully wet time without even leaving the hotel grounds.
Book a one- or two-bedroom villa at this Marriott resort and become pirates for a day, or a week. Climb on the Pirate Ship and zip down slides into a waiting pool. Get good and wet at the on-site WaterWorks interactive playground that includes the Pirate's Plunge for kids 42-inches tall or taller. If you get tired of the water, play a game of mini golf on the hotel's 22,000 square-foot course. These family friendly rooms offer full kitchens, bright bold furnishings and plenty of breathing space.
Marriott's Harbour Lake
7102 Grand Horizons Blvd
Orlando, FL 32821
407-465-6100
marriott.com
Spend a vacation with your kids at the Nickelodeon Family Suites and get slimed at the hotel's massive Lagoon Pool. Every day a Mass Sliming of green goop is poured on willing participants in the Lagoon Slide Tower by a 400-gallon water dump truck. Play water basketball, slide down the seven slides and climb nets and play cat and mouse with water jets. Children must be at least 40-inches tall to go down the slides in the Lagoon Pool. A special Kid's Play Area offers a smaller 5-foot slide and activities for smaller kids. The Olympic-sized Oasis Pool offers another series of slides and flumes for children at least 48-inches tall as well as adults. Parents, escape to one of the private cabanas or whirlpool tubs for a bit of quiet time. The resort theme is based on the Nickelodeon TV show and characters such as SpongeBob and Dora frequently wander the resort.
Nickelodeon Family Suites
14500 Continental Gateway
Orlando, FL 32821
407-387-5437
nickhotel.com
Offering hotel and water park packages, the CoCo Key Hotel and Water Resort is one of the more moderately priced resorts in the Orlando area. The water park has thrills and wet spills for kids of all ages. They include the Minnow Lagoon and Slides for the youngest kids to the Over the Falls and Surfer Splash Slides that are geared towards the older crowd. An especially challenging Boomerango Double Rider Slide is for those 48-inches and taller. If you become waterlogged, wander over to the Key Quest Arcade and explore the 6,500 square feet of computer games, basketball games, racing challenges and more. Rooms range from standard king rooms to special two room family suites.
CoCo Key Hotel and Water Resort -- Orlando
7400 International Dr
Orlando, FL 32819
407-351-2626
cocokeywaterresort.com
