Holiday Inn Club Vacations at Orange Lake Resort

All of this family-friendly resort's amenities are great add-ons, but ultimately it's the multi-bedroom villas that are the star of the show. In addition to the fact that they're spacious and feel like individual apartments, it's the little touches that make it a step above: free wireless internet in all the rooms; oversized Jacuzzi bathtubs (great for moms who spent the day walking miles at Disney and Seaworld); screened in balconies to keep the Florida bugs out and youngsters in; in-room crib upon request; microwave and more.

Being almost seven months pregnant and traveling with a two-year-old from the Northeast to Florida, I was excited yet anxious to see what the accommodations would be like for my Disney stay. The Holiday Inn Club Vacations is located 10 minutes from Disney World, so undoubtedly the location is ideal, but what about the rooms?

I was pleasantly surprised to see that a two-bedroom villa came with all the "extras" that made our stay wonderful and unique. A washer and dryer, dishwasher, kitchen stocked with a full set of dishes, two full bedrooms (one king bed, two doubles), two full baths, a large spacious living room and a fenced in balcony--this was a mom's dream come true. There was plenty of space and all the comforts of home.

With 9 restaurants spread out over 4 villages, there's certainly no shortage of cuisine types and diverse atmospheres. One thing is constant: everyplace is family friendly. High chairs, kids of all ages and great service created a warm ambiance throughout the resort.

Our favorite restaurant was River Island Grilling Company, where they hold character breakfasts. My two-year-old loved the interaction with Swampy the alligator, Dallas the deer, Ashli the otter and Bandit the raccoon. The characters walk around to each table, greeting the guests and taking photo ops with the kids. They didn't seem to mind that my son's hands were covered with syrup and cheerios. Next to Disney and Seaworld, this was the highlight of my son's trip. The buffet has an omelet station (mom's favorite) and a nice variety of fruits, cereals, hot and cold breakfast foods and drinks.

Legacy Grille Sports Bar is a nice place for a few drinks after golfing and yet it's also perfect for families. There were many kids when we had dinner there and the staff happily made us something special for the two-year-old, even though they didn't list a kid's menu. This is a great place for burgers, sandwiches, and my favorite, brownie sundae dessert.

After a long day at Disney, we were too pooped to deal with a restaurant and possible meltdown from the two-year-old, so instead we ordered in food from Paisan Pizzeria. It's nice to have this option on property--you can charge the food to the room and it came within 20 minutes (and was still piping hot). For families who spend long days sightseeing, a night in with yummy comfort food can be the best way to end the day.

Marketplace, located in West Village, is a great place for picking up snacks, ice cream, coffee, groceries and fruit on the go. In our village, River Island, we ate two meals by the pool, with food from Anchors. Sandwiches, burgers, salads and specialty drinks--quick service and yummy finger food--hit the spot.

A resort this size means you don't need to leave the property to have fun. There's plenty of space to spread out on this 1,450 acre resort which features 7 outdoor pools, including a 1,200-foot lazy river-style pool situated on a 12-acre recreation complex, 80-acre lake with water sports, 4 water slides, 3 arcades, 19 poolside cabanas, 3 fitness facilities, 4 racquetball courts, 6 tennis courts, 2 basketball courts, a playground and kids' center. There's plenty to keep kids and adults busy.

One of the things that makes the hotel so unique is the fact that there are four different villa sections, each with its own vibe. River Island village, where we stayed, is the newest villa and really perfect for families. Set on 12 acres, there's the zero-entry pool and dancing fountain--both perfect for my two-year-old. The lazy river was a great way for my husband and me to relax. The private cabanas are a nice way to spend the day by the pool. There's also the giant Hippo water slide and a variety of restaurants, snack shops and boutiques (for buying water wings and other things mom forgot to pack).

With 4 golf courses (one lighted for night play) totaling 54 holes of golf, 6 retail and pro shops and plenty of green, golf aficionados will not be disappointed. The McCord Golf Academy is a state-of-the-art teaching and learning facility designed to help players of every skill level discover their true golfing potential. The resort also offers a "kids golf free" program targeting junior golfers, 15 and under. Up to three junior golfers per paying adult can enjoy free play at Legends Walk, the Arnold Palmer-designed 9-hole, par 3 walking course that's lit for nighttime play.

A short drive away, SeaWorld was a big hit with my two-year-old (who wouldn't stop saying "Na-mu! Na-mu" translation: "Shamu, Shamu!"). Our favorite exhibits included the dolphin show--which showcased acrobats, dancers, fabulous dolphin flips and twists and great music--and, of course, the Shamu show. We also really loved the shark encounter exhibit where we walked through a 60-foot shark tunnel to get up close with these creatures as well as other fish, eels and marine life. Shamu's Happy Harbor--a children's play area that includes a dancing fountain--was a nice mid-day break.