There’s no secret that Orlando is the #1 vacation destination throughout the world for families. Many families choose to travel to Orlando to hit up the mega theme parks such as Disney and Universal Studios. However, there is so much more to Orlando than the theme parks. Orlando has some of the best vacation resorts that are filled with activities and amenities for the entire family.
Disclosure: We were hosted on this trip by Exploria Resorts however, all opinions are true and are my own.
The Houses at Summer Bay Orlando by Exploria Resorts- is by far one of my favorite vacation destinations when traveling to Orlando. We have had the luxury of staying in a three-bedroom three-bath home for two weeks straight during the quarantine pandemic. Our family wanted to get away and thought that Summer Bay would have been the best destination.
We have stayed at Summer Bay Orlando in the past for a week.
Previously we stayed in a two-bedroom two-bath condo which was amazing. Therefore, this was our first time staying in the Houses at Summer Bay Orlando. The houses sleep up to eight people comfortably. They have three bedrooms, three baths, a full living room with a pull out sofa bed, an eat-in kitchen, a dining area, a laundry room, garage, and a pool and Jacuzzi.
The reason why we were so eager to go back to Summer Bay Orlando was that they are the epitome of great customer service. They provide such awesome customer service to families that it is truly unbelievable. Their customer service is outstanding. When I think about Summer Bay Orlando, I immediately think about the great customer service all of the staff provides. They truly appreciate their guests and it shows through their actions and communication with their guests.
When we typically travel to Orlando which is quite often since we live in Florida, we typically do not visit the theme parks. We have done that already and we much rather explore Orlando and the surrounding cities instead. Therefore, this makes Summer Bay Orlando the perfect destination.
The location is very convenient as they have a local Publix on-site. Target and Walmart are both within a 2-mile radius which makes grocery shopping convenient. Let’s be honest, I typically cook every night while on vacation because I am frugal and love the idea of saving money. Since it was during the pandemic many restaurants were closed anyway. Therefore, cooking was definitely a necessity.
This resort does have an on-site pizzeria that serves pizza, sandwiches, and other Italian dishes. There are also two bars and grills that provide great fish and chips, burgers, and other sandwiches. During the pandemic, this resort has taken extra precautionary measures as well as followed the CDC recommendations by closing the restaurant’s dining in options. However, they were still taking orders for take- out and deliveries.
Here is why you should consider Summer Bay Orlando
Spacious Enough For The Whole Family
Summer Bay Orlando is a timeshare Resort and they offer up to three-bedroom condos or homes. They’re one of the very few timeshare rentals that offer houses in Orlando. All of their condos are very spacious and allow privacy for families. I don’t know about you, however, I have stayed in a cramped hotel room and I’ve vowed to my family that we will not do that any longer. Therefore, spending two weeks in this 2800 Square Foot home was a game-changer for us.
Children Have Their Separate Bedrooms
The house Summer Bay Orlando provided three bedrooms for my large family of seven. My children were able to stretch out in their own bedroom just like at home. It literally felt like a home away from home. They had their own bathrooms. I did not have to wait to use the bathroom because I had a little people occupying my space. It felt truly amazing being able to wake up and have the bathroom to myself. As a mom, you know how important this is.
Separate TVs
This is another big deal in my family. Not everyone likes to watch the same thing on TV. Having four TVs in this home was truly a blessing. My children were able to watch their own TV shows and I was able to watch them have a great time without arguing over the TV. In a regular hotel room, this is not something that is offered. A typical hotel room is approximately 356 square feet. This home was literally 7 times that size.
Dining Area for Family Meals
In a multi-bedroom condo or home, Having a full-size kitchen with a full refrigerator, stove, coffee maker, toaster oven, kitchenware, and silverware is truly the way to travel. You can only eat so much outside dining. Especially during situations like the pandemic that stricken your ability to go out to eat, you need a resort that provides you with these types of amenities. If you think about it, dining out every night on vacation can truly add up. When we typically check into a resort because we do not travel to hotels, our second stop after checking is to the grocery store. This is what we did and we filled the fridge with our favorite foods and wine, of course.
Washer and Dryer
Summer Bay Orlando provides washer and dryer in all of their condos and homes. This is truly a convenience for families especially large families. For two weeks we have stayed at Summer Bay Orlando. That is a lot of clothes for my size family. However, we were able to literally cut those outfits down in half which made our suitcase lighter. We were able to wash our clothes after a hot humid day of fun. Summer Bay Orlando also provide you with laundry detergent. This is absolutely insane! Although they provide us with complimentary laundry detergent, we have bought our own for our preference. This is the way to go because who on earth likes to travel home with dirty clothes? Not me!
Private Pool and Hot Tub
All of the houses at Summer Bay Orlando come with private pools. There are some that come with both private pools and hot tubs. We have stayed at one of the houses that have both. The outside deck was also furnished with outdoor patio furniture. This truly made our vacation so special. Our children are able to stay in the pool late. I was able to enjoy late nights and early mornings with my hubby in the pool and hot tub. It was absolutely an amazing experience.
Best Orlando Resort Entertainment
This resort literally has a ton of activities for families. They have a free interactive waterpark. My kids literally loved the waterpark especially my baby boy. There are several pools and hot tubs. We typically stayed at the Big Khulna pool became it is where the activities such as bingo and karaoke take place. There are two playgrounds on-site. We spent some time there just hanging out.
They have Buccaneer Bay which is an outdoor mini activity park. This is where you can go rock climbing, zip-lining, and bungee jumping all for $28 for the entire stay for your family. Last but not least, they have a marina which provides all water sports. Some of the water sports include jet-skiing, inflatable water slides, and other water activities rentals. They also have a water bay where you can go fishing and rent fishing poles. We went to Walmart and brought our own fishing poles and bait.
Summer Bay Orlando also has an outstanding activity center that provides a ton of free activity as well as those that cost a nominal fee. The activities are literally endless. Therefore, my children stayed well entertained during our visit to this resort. They also have a theater that seats up to 50 people that play recent movies. What a great way to stay cool inside, just bring your popcorn and drinks!
This resort is not technically located in Orlando however it is approximately 20 minutes away in Clermont. It is approximately eight minutes away from Walt Disney World and Disney Studios.
How to Book Summer Bay Orlando
Summer Bay Orlando is a vacation club that is very similar to a timeshare. However, they do have a hotel and have rentals for their condos and homes. If you are interested in booking a vacation, you can book directly through a travel website such as Reservations or through their direct website Exploria Resorts.
Once you begin traveling to Resorts- and staying in condos and homes it will change your entire perspective of vacationing. We no longer travel to hotels because it is outside of our lifestyle. With a size family of 7, it is truly difficult for us to stay in a one-room hotel. We love Summer Bay Orlando and will definitely be returning in the near future. Don’t forget to check us out on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest. If you have any questions about this Destination or any other family destinations in Orlando, please feel free to comment and let us know. DON’T FORGET TO SAVE THIS PIN!
