Best hotels in Orlando: where to stay for Disney, Universal and a break from both

The Victorian flagship

The Grand Floridian is Disney's most upscale hotel, built in Victorian style with white facades and red roofs on the shore of the Seven Seas Lagoon. The monorail stops in the lobby, and from many rooms you can watch the fireworks over Magic Kingdom at night.

It is made for families who want the best of Disney and a short hop to Magic Kingdom. It is expensive even by Disney standards, and the mood is more formal than relaxed. Small children will not notice the chandeliers, but the spa is a fine place to send the adult who needs a break.

Giraffes off the balcony

Animal Kingdom Lodge is built like an African safari lodge around a savanna where giraffes, zebras and antelope roam. From many rooms you see the animals from the balcony, and in the evening the hotel's guides lead night-vision viewings.

It takes our family pick: children remember the animals as vividly as the rides. The lodge is further from Magic Kingdom than the others, so expect bus journeys. Ask for a savanna-view room or you miss the point.

Luxury in the middle of Disney

Four Seasons sits inside Walt Disney World but is not run by Disney. It has a lazy river, water slides and a kids' area, and the rooftop restaurant looks across to the fireworks over Magic Kingdom.

It is ideal for families who want to be close to Disney with the calm and service of a luxury hotel. It is among the most expensive places to stay in Orlando, and you rely on the hotel's shuttle or a car to reach the parks. In return you get big rooms and a pool where there is space for everyone, even at Easter.

An Italian harbour with a boat to the park

Portofino Bay recreates the Italian fishing village of Portofino, with colourful facades around an artificial harbour. A boat from the hotel takes you to the entrance of Universal, and unlimited Express Passes are included.

It is right for families and couples who want Universal by day and some calm at night. It is Universal's most expensive hotel, but the Express Passes can offset much of the cost in peak season.

Closest to the gates

Hard Rock Hotel is the closest of Universal's hotels to the parks, with a rock'n'roll theme, music piped underwater in the pool and a collection of guitars and stage costumes in the lobby. You can walk to the park in minutes, and Express Passes are included.

It earns our value pick among the hotels with Express access, and suits families with teenagers and groups of friends. The pool area is lively and the music plays all day. Rooms are modern but not large.

Golf and spa at Bonnet Creek

Waldorf Astoria is in Bonnet Creek, a wooded enclave surrounded by Walt Disney World, with its own golf course, a large spa and a pool area with cabanas. The hotel runs a shuttle to the Disney parks.

It is a strong pick for couples and families who want Disney within reach and a calmer hotel to come back to. It is large and fairly formal, and most of the restaurants are on site. Check shuttle times before planning early park entry.

Lazy river and a big spa

The Ritz-Carlton is in Grande Lakes, a natural area south of the city at the headwaters of the Everglades. It shares grounds with a sister hotel and offers a lazy river, a golf course and one of the largest spas in Florida.

It appeals to travellers who want a resort holiday with a few park days. Disney and Universal are around half an hour away by car, so it is not for those who plan to be in the parks every day. Grandparents travelling with the family will appreciate the calm.

An art hotel in Winter Park

The Alfond Inn is a small hotel in Winter Park, a green town north of Orlando with lakes, oaks hung with Spanish moss and a main street of cafés and shops. The corridors double as a gallery for the hotel's own art collection, and the pool sits in a courtyard garden.

It is our romantic pick, for couples who want to see Florida beyond the parks. Disney and Universal are a long drive away, so it works best as the end of a trip or for adults travelling without children.