Orange Lake Resort Review (A Holiday Inn Vacation Club Near Disney World)

Orange Lake is a Holiday Inn Vacation Club in Kissimmee, Florida, near the Walt Disney World Resort. This review of Orange Lake Resort shares details from our last stay, which lasted a full week (Saturday to Saturday). Below, we’ll discuss recreation, dining, amenities, and accommodations at Orange Lake. Given its vast size, you’ll want to consider a few things when planning your stay. The resort offers a variety of accommodations, from single-family homes (or villas) to studio rooms and suites.

An Overview of Orange Lake Resort

This was not our first time staying at Orange Lake. The popular vacation destination opened back in 1982. The resort quickly became “the off-property” place to stay when you went on a Walt Disney World vacation. A golf course was the bonus. Since I grew up in a family that took vacations centered around golfing, my first trip to Disney World was spent at Orange Lake. I had no idea tropical resorts like Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort existed back then.

At the time, Orange Lake was in a fairly rural area with a golf course amongst the orange groves and an 80-acre lake. Hence the name Orange Lake Resort. Today, the original portion of the resort remains reasonably similar on the exterior. But look how it has grown! The property comprises four villages spread across 1400+ acres! Sadly, most of the area’s orange groves are long gone.

Like every resort, Orange Lake has pros and cons, which we’ll discuss below. As far as location, we have no complaints. The resort’s proximity to the theme parks is exceptionally convenient. It takes 15 to 20 minutes to get between the resort and each theme park, with Disney’s Animal Kingdom closest. We’ve also updated this review to note that an additional entrance was added to Orange Lake near the North Village since our last stay. A street called Traveler’s Way now connects Orange Lake Boulevard to Hartzog Road by the Flamingo Crossings area. This is a short distance from the West Gate entrance of Disney World. So if you like, you can pass Highway 192/Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway. No tolls are required either way.

Orange Lake’s surrounding neighborhood has been on a transitional upswing over the past few years. We enjoy this area and lived fairly close for a couple of years. Since I’m familiar with the area, I’ll add some pointers for groceries, shopping, and recreation toward the end of this review. Everything you’ll need is within a short drive.

Upon arrival, we were assigned a studio room in the West Village section of the resort. A relative gifted me timeshare points for this stay. Briefly, I’ll touch on how the timeshare works at Holiday Inn Club Vacations. The hotel chain rents its properties to owners in exchange for points. However, anyone can reserve a room online. You don’t have to be a timeshare member or pay with points.

If you’ve stayed in a timeshare rental before, you’re probably familiar with the whole spiel at check-in. That’s where someone offers you an incentive for a few hours of your time. If you agree, the salesperson will schedule an appointment with you during the week. These presentations are the ones where they pump you full of all the amenities you can have for a meager price if you buy that day. These people are trained in the art of making hard-to-turn-down offers.

From my experience, two types of timeshare owners exist. One set is pleased with their membership, uses it, and even sells points to others. Some have no idea what they are getting into and never learn to use the points to their advantage. Before arrival, be prepared to accept their incentive or turn it down graciously but firmly. My response is, “I understand, but my family vacation time is important, and I do not have time for anything else.” Any other pushes: “No, thank you.”

It is annoying, but at the same time, these people are just doing their job. Again, some highly praise their vacation club memberships and use them to take more vacations. I mention this only to set expectations upon arrival. Don’t let a pushy salesperson start your vacation off on the wrong foot.

Arrival and Check-In

When I arrived, I noticed several guests parked outside the main lobby, also waiting to check in. Check-in begins at 4:00 p.m., so I was surprised to see so many guests waiting in their vehicles. It was almost 7:00 p.m. Maybe I’ve been spoiled by Disney’s text-to-room options over the years. However, an established resort like Orange Lake could develop a more accommodating way to settle guests into their rooms. I was past the point of frustration when I finally received my check-in text forty-five minutes later.

It was so aggravating that I made a mental note to see if it was like this every evening during my stay. Thankfully, these occurrences happened only on Friday and Saturday evenings. So I assume it’s because of the large number of guests coming and going on timeshare schedules. Other than that, I only had one other issue with the resort. You’ll begin to pick up on it pretty quickly as we continue. Thankfully, there are many positives to cover as well.

The West Village at Orange Lake

When you turn off Highway 192 onto Orange Lake Blvd, you’re greeted by a guard at the main entrance. After the initial check-in, you’ll get a card to use to enter and exit the various gates. As mentioned above, the North Village exit at Traveler’s Way will be convenient for visiting Disney World. If you need to run to Publix, there is another exit beyond the River Island area that practically adjoins the grocery store’s parking lot.

All guests check in at the West Village’s main lobby. You will be assigned a room, condo, or single-family home, depending on the type of accommodations you reserve. We had a clubhouse studio room in the West Village.

This room sleeps up to five guests. It has two queen-size beds and a sofa sleeper with an extra full-size bed. We also had a table with chairs and a full kitchenette with regular appliances.

We had a full-size bath. Our unit didn’t have a washer or dryer, but a laundry room was available a few steps down the hall. Cleanliness throughout the room and the resort was impeccable during our stay. I am very picky and was impressed with the room and resort, given its age.

The West Village is a sizable area of the resort. It’s home to the check-in area and a building full of studio villas. They also had a convenience store in a separate building to the right of the lobby. Near the pool, which is behind the main building, Breezes Restaurant and Bar is available.

Breeze seemed like a popular stop. However, we either ate at Disney or prepared most of our meals in the room during this stay. Going into this stay, I planned to focus on staying off-property and saving money on meals. We also picked up a few fast food meals on the way home in the evenings. This routine worked well for our budget. I can see how families could save a tremendous amount on dining expenses by going this route.

Guests can use two pools at the West Village. The first is the primary pool with a zero-entry area. A second pool sits adjacent to it and is quieter.

A large fitness center is available on the ground level of the West Village.

It had aerobics machines, free weights, and anything else you could want for a workout.

Swampy’s Adventure Club sits near the gym. As I understand it, Swampy’s is not a drop-your-kid-off service. A sign indicates that an adult must accompany children at all times.

An arcade sits nearby.

Orange Lake has several putt-putt golf courses. They are an extra cost.

At check-in, we received a handout. It featured several packages with upgraded amenities we could purchase for an additional cost. For example, one package was a three-day pass that included a tube rental at the lazy river, Island golf, putt-putt golf, a rock-climbing wall, and access to The Hippo waterslide. At the time of our stay, this package cost approximately $42.00 per person, which sounded outrageous. (The Island golf mentioned above is a 36-hole mini-golf course.)

We didn’t upgrade and didn’t feel like we missed out on anything. However, if we had spent more days at the resort, we would have at least rented tubes for the lazy river. Looking back, when we revisit Orange Lake, we plan to spend a few days at the resort. It’s a gorgeous resort with wonderful places to relax.

Behind the pool at West Village, there is a beach area. A volleyball court is set up on the beach, and there are plenty of loungers nearby. A tennis court and multiple basketball courts are also available.

Water sports rentals were available, including a few swan pedal boats.

A sundries shop was available near the pool, with plenty of swimwear and other items you might have forgotten to bring.

Cabana rentals are available.

Here is one of many shuffleboard courts available at the resort.

Orange Lake has four golf courses. Two of them begin at the West Village, including The Reserve, an 18-hole course. Below is a photo of the number two fairway for Crane’s Bend, a nine-hole course.

Next, I want to discuss what to expect outside the West Village area of Orange Lake. We had one full resort day, and I spent most of it taking photos and exploring the different areas. This is also where my other main issue with Orange Lake, mentioned earlier, comes into play.

With the resort map in hand, I was ready to check out River Island. I had heard so much about the area and was excited to see it. A few days before, an employee told me I would need to drive or take the shuttle to the other end of the resort to see everything. She said I wouldn’t want to walk because it was too far. Thankfully, I took her advice because I soon learned Orange Lake isn’t walkable, and that’s coming from someone who walks anywhere she can.

North Village

On my way to River Island, I stopped at the North Village, assuming it was my destination. A sign indicated it was the Splash Lagoon at North Village, but I didn’t notice it until after the fact.

When I got to North Village, I began to photograph the area.

An arcade sat near the pool area.

Here we have another sundry shop. Each village, with one exception, offered these types of amenities.

North Village is where Paisan Pizzeria is located. From what I was told, this is supposed to be decent pizza. Room delivery is available if you order it.

Remember, I thought I was at River Island. It even looked like an island with a river around it.

The area was pristine.

It was also a decent drive to get here. I couldn’t imagine the resort being any larger. But I was wrong.

A waterfall cascades over rocks toward the end of the pool. This end has two water slides and a hot tub.

A few kids had a pretty intense game of water volleyball going.

Here’s a look at the cabana rentals in this area.

A kiddie pool offered a fun water feature.

A splash pad was also available.

River Island

While I had no complaints about the North Village, I couldn’t help but think it didn’t live up to everything I had heard about River Island. When I returned to the car, I looked at the map and realized I hadn’t gone nearly as far as I thought.

So, when I left the North Village, I drove under the Highway 429 overpass to get to River Island. You might notice there’s a sidewalk. However, most of the sidewalks end near shuttle stops. If you visit Orange Lake, you need a car. There are no ifs, ands, or buts about it. I wouldn’t want to rely on the free shuttle to get around the resort.

Think about it. You’ll have swimming items, towels, sunscreen, books, etc., in tow. You do not want to get ready for the pool, drag your items to the bus stop, and then wait in the heat for a shuttle. Thankfully, each village has a recreation area. But if you’re not staying at River Island, you will probably want to spend at least one day there. So I get through the little traffic jam in the picture above, and the road curves into a turnaround. That’s where I encountered this signage and what looked like an entrance to an entirely new resort.

To the far right was a fairly busy parking lot and ta-da, River Island. I was a little relieved to find it.

Right inside the gate, another convenience shop was available.

As I moved forward, I saw a large pool with a water slide.

A few fun poolside activities were available for an extra charge.

Then I ran into the lazy river!

The River Island lazy river is 1200 feet long!

It’s surrounded by scenic and lush landscaping.

You can’t tell how large the area is from the photos, but I can assure you it’s extensive.

I walked the entirety of the lazy river and ran into several private green lawns. It’s hard to imagine a nicer place to spend a resort day.

A waterfall runs through the center of the lazy river. Ledges let guests sit and take in the surroundings.

Several hot tubs are nestled along the river.

The building in the background has a restaurant, cafe, burger joint, fitness center, and another arcade.

You can probably tell why so many people prefer this area of the resort. It has all the bells and whistles. (It’s also considerably more expensive.)

Here is Tradewinds Bar and Grill.

A wading pool sits on the opposite end of the lazy river.

An additional recreation area extends beyond the pool area. This large sand area has a playground.

A soccer field sits right behind it.

This area is where that 36-hole Island mini-golf course is located.

Several pool bars sit around the pool.

When I walked back up the opposite side of the lazy river, I noticed a few areas were fenced off with signs that said reserved seating. These areas were for guests staying in this portion of the resort. Considering how many guests come from other areas to use the amenities, I thought this was a nice touch.

Several bridges cross over the lazy river, making both sides accessible.

One other complaint was that the inner tubes cost $9.00 per day. If you are going to offer a lazy river, you might as well provide the tubes. But nobody asked me.

Here are a few more pictures of the area before we wrap things up.

Since we first wrote this review, we added a separate, more detailed look at River Island.

Orange Lake Resort’s Location

Before we wrap things up, I wanted to touch on Orange Lake’s proximity to the resort, the parks, and other nearby amenities. I was baffled that Orange Lake didn’t provide bicycle rentals, which would have been ideal for getting around the large property. A bicycle rental company is available in Celebration. They will deliver and pick up bicycles.

If you drive to Celebration (about 15 minutes away), you might enjoy their self-guided bike tour of the town. It’s one of my favorite things outside of Disney. You can read more about it here. As far as the surrounding area, there’s a Super Target less than a mile from Orange Lake’s main entrance. It’s located in the Rolling Oaks shopping center. A Flipper’s Pizza is in that same shopping center. Flipper’s is my preferred pizzeria in the area. Call the Rolling Oaks location. It is the closest. Publix is across the highway from Target. I call this location the tourist grocery store, but I do shop there from time to time. If you are close, use the resort’s back entrance to access this area.

As for proximity to the theme parks, Animal Kingdom is the closest. If you take the 192 route, you can take Sherberth Road (shortcut) off 192 to Osceola Parkway. From the entrance of Orange Lake Resort to Animal Kingdom, it’s about an 8-minute drive. However, Florida traffic lights are long, so if you get stopped a few times, it can add a few more minutes to your commute. (I haven’t timed the Traveler’s Way route, but I would probably take it for Epcot, Magic Kingdom, and Hollywood Studios.)

Once you get on Disney property, it’s pretty smooth sailing. But remember to drive the speed limit. The area is heavily patrolled, and with so many unfamiliar tourists driving in it, it can get a little crazy. If you ever accidentally drive up to a theme park’s entrance, don’t worry about turning around. Tell the cast member at the parking gate, and they will give you a pass and directions to get out. (This is very easy to do at Animal Kingdom.)

Before we wrap up, here is a look at the resort’s villa section in the East Village. The villas range from two to three bedrooms.

The best thing about the villas is that you can pull straight up to the entrance. So, they are ideal for bringing luggage, groceries, and worn-out kids at the end of a long theme park day. Here is a street view of the main road that runs through the resort.

Regarding extra costs, Orange Lake charges a resort fee and a cleaning fee. These fees will be stated up front when reserving your room.

Final Thoughts

Overall, we enjoyed our stay at Orange Lake Resort. We found it family-friendly and a great place to relax. While it can be a challenging resort to get around, we would happily return here in the future. Again, we’d consider staying at River Island. But if you’re looking for budget-friendly amenities, the studio villa is an excellent option.

As for amenities, the resort’s pools and extra recreational activities are hard to beat. You could enjoy Orange Lake for a whole week without going anywhere else. But of course, that’s only if your family enjoys spending time at the pool or golfing.

We hope you enjoyed this Orange Lake Resort Review. For other off-site hotels we’ve reviewed, you might like the following:

• Home2 Suites by Hilton at Winter Garden Review

• Residence Inn by Marriott at Flamingo Crossings Review

• Drury Plaza at Disney Springs Hotel Review

• Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress Review

If you’re considering other off-site hotels, see our guide to off-site hotels near Disney World. Make sure to check back with Resorts Gal for more resort reviews and updates.

In the Comments

We hope this review of Orange Lake helped you plan your stay. What do you think of the resort? Have you ever stayed here? We love hearing your feedback, opinions, and any questions you might have. Please share your thoughts with us in the comments below.