Picolo recommends · Hotel in Orlando, Florida
The Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes
Lakes, a lazy river and one of Florida's biggest spas, south of the city where the Everglades water system begins.
Away from the theme parks, Grande Lakes is a stretch of lakes and greenery south of Orlando, at the source of the waters that eventually feed the Everglades. The Ritz-Carlton shares the grounds with a sister hotel.
The days here revolve around the resort itself: a lazy river for floating, a golf course and a spa large enough to lose an afternoon in. Paths around the lakes give you a walk before breakfast.
Picolo’s verdict
Why we chose The Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes
Choose it when the holiday is the point and the parks are an extra. It gives multi-generation families room to split up, with golf for one, the spa for another and the lazy river for the children.
Disney and Universal are roughly half an hour away by car, so daily park visits soon feel like commuting. If the parks are the main reason for your trip, stay closer.
What you get
- Spa among the largest in Florida
- Lazy river
- Golf course
- Nature trails around the lakes
- Restaurants on site
A day at The Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes
- Morning
- A walk on the paths around the lakes.
- Midday
- Floating on the lazy river.
- Afternoon
- A long afternoon in the spa.
- Evening
- Dinner at the resort without driving anywhere.
Location
Grande Lakes, Orlando, Florida, USA
Open in MapsQuestions about The Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes
How far is The Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes from Disney?
Around half an hour by car to both Disney and Universal. It suits a trip with a few park days rather than daily visits.
Does The Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes have a spa?
Yes, and it is one of the largest in Florida. The resort also has a golf course and a lazy river.
Is The Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes good for grandparents?
Yes. It is calm, with golf, nature trails and a spa, and gives older travellers a quieter base than the hotels by the parks.
Other hotels nearby
Updated 6 Nov 2026All articles
How Picolo chooses
Our editors pick every hotel themselves, and most of them we have stayed at. No hotel can pay to be included or ranked higher. When you book through our links, Hotels.com pays Picolo a small commission. It never changes the price you pay, and it never decides what we write.
