Orlando Spring Break: 4 Ways To Do It As A Family

Spring Break in Orlando doesn't look the same for every family.

Some families want to be in the heart of the action from the moment they wake up. Others need slower mornings, pool afternoons and space to properly reset between park days. And many want a blend of both.

For travel photographer and journalist Lauren (@aretheyeverhome), finding that balance isn’t just personal - it’s part of her work. Based in Scotland, Lauren tells stories for the travel and hospitality world, with bylines in Good Housekeeping, Country & Town House and The Standard, and collaborations spanning brands like Four Seasons and Marriott. But when she travels with her husband Colin and their two boys, Cole and Carter, the lens shifts.

“Becoming a parent changed how I experience travel,” she says. These days, she looks for places that are not only beautifully designed, but genuinely work for real family life.

After a recent spring break in Orlando — staying across four very different resorts — Lauren came home with a clear takeaway: the best family trip isn’t about squeezing everything in. It’s about choosing the right style of stay for the kind of experience your family actually wants.

These are her family-tested recommendations for four distinctly different ways to do Orlando.

📍Stay: JW Marriott Orlando Bonnet Creek

For families who want proximity without pressure, Lauren recommends JW Marriott Bonnet Creek.

Describing it as “a bit of both, which is what JW does really well,” she loved how it struck “a great balance between luxury travel and family travel without overdoing either.”

This is the stay that works best for in-between days... when you want to dip in and out of the parks rather than commit to sunrise-to-fireworks marathons. “Being so close meant slower mornings and the option to stay later at the parks without it feeling like a mission to get back to the hotel,” Lauren explained.

The two bed loft suite was a standout for the boys. Carter called it “the best hotel room ever.” With double bed bunk beds, a hidden cubby hole and space to spread out, it felt like part of the adventure rather than just somewhere to sleep.

One particularly special moment? Watching Disney fireworks from their suite in pyjamas — “one of those quietly magical moments that felt really special.”

Lauren recommends this for: Families who want a polished, comfortable base that feels calm but keeps you close to the magic.

📍 Stay: Four Seasons Resort Orlando

For families who know they need breathing space between park days, Lauren points to Four Seasons Orlando.

After busy days, it became what she described as “a soft landing.” The lazy river quickly turned into a ritual, but the spontaneous water polo game at the end became the highlight. “The boys absolutely loved it. It felt spontaneous and playful, the kind of moment you do not plan but ends up being the thing everyone talks about later.”

Connection came naturally here. “Movies by the pool in the afternoons were such a lovely moment of connection… still in swimwear and a bit sun tired.” It was downtime without guilt.

Mornings were noticeably calmer — “more relaxed.” Small details like the lemonade stand in the afternoon added to the gentle pace. And the beds? “The beds and linens at the resort were a treat in themselves,” Lauren said. Resting felt intentional. She even managed a spa massage, calling it “the ultimate reset button in the middle of a very full on family trip.”

📍 Stay: Margaritaville Resort Orlando

If Four Seasons is refined restoration, Margaritaville is carefree fun.

“What surprised me most was how quickly it transported you somewhere else,” Lauren said. From the Caribbean-inspired decor to the oversized flip-flop in the lobby, “the tone is set straight away.”

Live music by the pool created a holiday-within-a-holiday feeling. “It felt like a little escape within the escape.”

This is the kind of stay where you can genuinely let the day unfold. Sunset swims, volleyball games, and relaxed afternoons made it easy for everyone to switch off. “It’s the kind of place where you can let the day unfold without overthinking it,” Lauren explained - “relaxed without ever feeling dull.”

Lauren recommends this for: Families who want space to reset, reconnect, and enjoy Orlando beyond the queues.

📍 Stay: Loews Royal Pacific Resort at Universal Studios

Universal is their favourite set of parks, so staying on-site felt “exciting and energising.” With water taxi access straight into the parks and Volcano Bay just a short walk away, everything felt immersive from the moment they stepped outside.

Interestingly, being so close made the days feel “shorter, because you pack so much into each day without the faff of long journeys back and forth.” It was exhilarating “without tipping into being overwhelming.”

The boys especially loved this chapter of the trip. They woke up “buzzing for the day ahead,” particularly with early entry perks and Express Pass access adding to the ease.

Evenings balanced the intensity. “Watching movies by the pool and warming up in the hot tubs at the end of long park days was the perfect wind down.” Despite being in the heart of the action, the resort’s French Polynesian theming gave it “a calmer feel than you might expect.”

Lauren recommends this for: Families who thrive on energy and want to feel completely immersed in the park experience.