What’s in Kissimmee (aka Orlando), close to Universal and Disney, and offers both on wheels and off accommodations? It’s Tropical Palms Resort. Our family found it to be a hidden gem tucked away amid the Orlando hustle and bustle. Factoring in convenience, amenities, and pricepoint, Tropical Palms is a wonderful option for families seeking quality accommodations and more spending money for their vacations.
I’ve always been fascinated by the idea of traveling in an RV, and one of these days, I’m going to actually do it. Preferably in a multi-state road trip to explore more national parks. But for now, I’m more about unique vacation destinations. During our most recent trip to Orlando for a Disney trip, I found a tropical oasis located in the heart of Kissimmee and mere miles from the parks. Where RV’s and cottages are the stays of choice and amenities such as pool and mini golf await. This is Tropical Palms Resort.
Tropical Palms Resort sits on 69 acres and is tucked away mere blocks off of I-192 (near Old Town). In fact, when the GPS told us we were almost there, I actually questioned whether the app was working. Sure enough, we rounded the corner and there sat the hidden gem of Tropical Palms.
Why Choose Tropical Palms for Your Orlando Vacation
Location, Location, Location
In real estate, the mantra is “Location, Location, Location.” Tropical Palms has that in spades. Hey, it’s 4 miles from Disney! Using Google Maps, Tropical Palms clocks in at 15 minutes or less from ALL the Disney theme parks and Disney Springs. Testing this theory, we drove to EPCOT, and sure enough, it took less than 15 minutes. I’ve had WAY longer waits on Disney buses than this!
Given the resort’s location, I was impressed how quiet the area was. And with a name like Tropical Palms, the resort clearly embraces its Caribbean vibe with streets named Nassau and Grand Bahama. There are lush palms everywhere, and the resort has both a nature preserve and ponds on its 69 acres.
Amenities
Hands down, the pool is the highlight of the property and the hub of play and entertainment. Chairs and umbrellas dot the patio. Keep from getting hangry with Toucan Café, which offers hamburgers, smoothies and other snacks.
Other fun activities include shuffleboard, bocce ball, horseshoes, miniature golf, basketball and volleyball courts. Be sure to pick up at check-in the list of live entertainment and social events.
Something unique: Tropical Palms also has entertainment like dive-in movies, nightly s’mores, and a DJ to spin tunes at the pool. While we missed the movies and s’mores because we were at the parks, we’ll have to come back and try them next time!
Choose Your Own Adventure: RV or Cottages
RV Fans
Whether you prefer an RV and camping or want to rent a cottage, Tropical Palms has both options. RV sites are available to reserve anywhere from 1 day to year-round. It’s amazing to see all the bells and whistles people travel with like grills, 4 wheelers, and golf carts.
The Cottage Life
Not the RV type? Then Tropical Palms also has cottages for rent. We stayed in a charming 2 bedroom Elite cottage that sleeps 6 (1 king, 2 twins, and a fold out sofa). After sharing a hotel room at Disney for a few nights, I must say it was nice to have spreading out room and be in 2 bedrooms!
Check out our grand tour of the cottage:
With a private deck, full kitchen, flat-screen TV, sleeper sofa, and a variety of floor plans to accommodate any size group, these were the family-centric accommodations we were looking for. Not to mention pet friendly cottages are available, too. There’s even a dog park! Don’t tell our dog, Millie-she’ll be mad we didn’t bring her.
Although I didn’t have any desire to cook while on vacation, the full kitchen has an oven, microwave, dishwasher, and a refrigerator which we put to use for our drinks, snacks, and breakfast food. Great way to save money while traveling!
Friendly Staff
One of the shining stars of Tropical Palms is the friendly, helpful staff. From the moment we arrived until the second we hit the road to drive home, they were welcoming and accommodating.
We even got an overview tour of the property with our new friend, Sadies. She was charismatic and engaging as we shuttled around the resort and saw just how many amenities they have. It seems like Sadies has never met a stranger because she knew the names of everyone she saw as we drove around. Color me impressed! Just so you know, Sadies is the sweetheart in the first video: “6 Reasons to Stay at Tropical Palms.”
Speaking of friendly, there are herds of deer that call the nature preserve on property home and come out at night to eat! Makes for a fun experience to observe them and feel at home with nature in the middle of Orlando.
Tip: If staying more than a few days, it may make sense to rent a golf cart to get around the property. Hours of endless entertainment!
Tropical Palms is one of nearly 70 Encore RV Resorts, which boast amenities like swimming pools, hot tubs, tennis courts, and shuffleboard. Additionally, the cottages at Tropical Palms are part of Petite Retreats presented by Encore RV resorts. Petite Retreats offers guests the opportunity to enjoy the outdoors in top vacation destinations while enjoying unique vacation accommodations, including tiny houses, colorful cottages, cabins, yurts, and more. Follow them on Facebook and Instagram.
Petite Retreats hosted my family during our stay at Tropical Palms Resort. But rest assured: you can always count on my honest feedback.
