Spending a Weekend in Orlando, Florida

The last time I was in Orlando, Florida,  I was 18 years old. So it is safe to say it has been a long time since I was there and I'm sure a lot has changed. But since I am now 30 years old (gasp! Thank you for thinking I still look under 21!) I wanted my visit to Orlando to be different. I was not interested in going to Disney or any of the other major theme parks. I wanted a weekend to relax by the pool and still be able to do some Orlando-type activities. So while searching for hotels to stay at, I was so glad I came across the Hilton Orlando and as you continue reading this article you'll find out why!

Staying at the Hilton Orlando

The Hilton Orlando is a leisure resort, which is surprising to most because it is also attached to the Orlando Convention Center. Usually, when a hotel is associated with a convention center, you expect it to mostly appeal to the business traveler, but not the Hilton Orlando. This Hilton breaks that mold by appealing to more than just the business traveler, with their resort style amenities, they attract families and couples just as much. 

The size of this property is huge, which works out perfectly for social distancing. The resort style pool is everything you could have dreamed of, and more, and it doesn't stop there. Besides there being a resort-style, zero entry pool (which means it feels as if you are at the beach and walking into an ocean, although it is a pool), there is a lazy river, a slide, an adult-only pool, plenty of hot tubs, and even a children's water play area. When they say there is something for everyone, they weren't kidding.They also have a pool bar/restaurant so they make it convenient for you and you never have to leave your lounge chair. If you want to elevate your pool day even more, you can book one of their private cabanas, that comes with a TV, a refrigerator, fruit-infused water and some snacks!

There is also a full equipped gym at the Hilton Orlando and it's actually the largest fitness center in Orlando. They also have a spa, but unfortunately due to Covid it was closed while I was there, but they still made sure to have plenty of activities available to keep you busy while staying on property. 

Let's talk food at The Hilton Orlando

The Hilton Orlando usually has 5 dining options at their hotel. However, due to the pandemic, there were a few changes when I stayed with them in December of 2020. 

David's Club Bar and Grill is open! I went here for dinner one of the nights of my stay and it is an elevated pub dining experience. It does have the sports bar appeal to it, but also has space for regular dining. I ordered from their prix-fixe menu, which I thought was of a great monetary value and a good way to try multiple dishes. I would highly recommend trying the Brisket Poutine, the Big Boy Burger & the Chocolate Cake! 

A great new feature the Hilton Orlando currently has, is there Family Style Meals-to-go from their 24-7 Scratch Market. Everyone has different comfort levels during the pandemic, so with these meals-to-go, you can have a fulfilling meal in the location of your choosing; your hotel room, the lobby, outside, wherever you feel most comfortable. And let me tell you, you really are getting your money's worth with this meal, there is so much food! You can choose a meal for either 3 or 5 people and with the main course and all the sides you get to choose from, I'm sure you will have left-overs, which is why it's a good thing you have a refrigerator in your room!

The Tropics Pool Bar and Grill is still open, so you can get food and drinks by the pool, which I mentioned above. The Hilton Orlando's two other dining options; Spencer's and The Bistro were unfortunately still closed when I visited but I'm sure they would have been exquisite dining options. 

To get an inside look of my stay at the Hilton Orlando, check out this video:

Things to do nearby The Hilton Orlando 

First off, The Hilton Orlando is the only hotel with a SeaWorld and Universal partnership, so you can buy tickets for either park directly inside the hotel. The hotel is also centrally located between both parks. 

I wanted to go somewhere different than I've ever gone to before in Orlando and that was to Icon Park. Icon Park is less than a 10 minute drive from the Hilton Orlando. It is on the smaller scale of "theme parks" in Orlando, but was exactly what I wanted. Icon Park has Madame Tussaud's, SeaLife, The Wheel, an arcade, plenty of restaurants and shops to check out and more! 

Madame Tussaud's was originally founded in London England and has made its way across the pond to various U.S. Cities and finally landed in Orlando, Florida. This is where you can see wax figures of all your favorite historians, artists, athletes, pop stars and more! 

SeaLife is an aquarium where you will see thousands of sea creatures of all shapes and sizes as you walk around. 

The biggest attraction is, The Wheel at Icon Park. This is not your ordinary ferris wheel. The Wheel takes you 400 feet up in the sky, so you can get the best views of Orlando. Right now, due to the pandemic, every party gets their own capsule and they are cleaned in between guests. 

With all the activities and things to do in Icon Park, they did make sure to limit the amount of people to enter at a time, made sure everyone was wearing their mask, and kept everything as clean as possible. 

If during your visit to Orlando, you don't have enough time to dedicate an entire day to one of the amusement parks but still want to have an activity, Icon Park is a great alternative to give you an amusement park feel for a few hours.

Take a look at my afternoon at Icon Park here:

A weekend in Orlando spent at the Hilton Orlando was the perfect relaxing getaway that I needed! The hotel really made sure everything was clean, in tip-top condition and that I felt safe and comfortable. The next time I need a resort-like getaway, I will definitely keep the Hilton Orlando at top of mind!

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