I’m not one to turn down a staycation… like ever. So, when the Hilton Orlando invited me and my family to stay for the weekend and experience the world’s largest and tallest escape room, I jumped at the chance!

There is a lot to do here. It also happens to be in Orlando where everything is a hop, skip, and jump away – Disney Springs, Walt Disney World theme parks, Universal Orlando, The Crayola Experience, International Drive, Icon… and SeaWorld Orlando is within walking distance right across the street! For more things to do in Orlando, click here.

I felt safe here because this is a Hilton CleanStay property, which builds on the brand’s already rigorous cleaning standards to provide complete peace of mind… and it showed! From the front desk to the guest rooms and meeting space (one of the escape rooms), the Hilton brand proves to be the cleaner stay it promotes.

7 Things to do at Hilton Orlando with Kids

While you’re not out and about in one of the top tourist destinations in the country, make sure you stay here… because let me tell you, the Hilton Orlando is a tourist destination in itself for non-stop family fun. Here’s why in my 60-second Instagram reel.

1. The Pool at Hilton Orlando

Being from Florida and having three kids who absolutely love pool time, this is one of the things we look at before deciding to stay at any hotel when it’s warm outside. In Florida, it’s 365 days a year.

Not only does this hotel have two giant pools – one main resort pool and another adult pool, but it has twelve private cabanas with a small refrigerator to spend the day at. We used one outside the main resort pool all day and to say it was lovely is an understatement.

On Saturday, I got to hang out in my cushy cabana chair with poolside service for lunch and drinks while a DJ led the kids on a scavenger hunt to find things like a shoelace, hand sanitizer (an easy one!), book (of course I had my latest read), and bobby pin.

The best part – the pools are always warm!

2. The Water Slide at Hilton Orlando

Yes, the slide deserves its own section. Here’s why. My kids spent hours climbing up the stairs and going down the slide. I did it once. That thing is a lot faster than it looks. (Adults, you can’t sit up straight on the slide. Don’t try to fight it. Just lay down.)

You’ve got to be at least 48″, or four feet tall, to go down the slide.

3. The Lazy River at Hilton Orlando

Remember how I mentioned a pool is very important in our hotel and resort booking, well a lazy river seals the deal.

The lazy river at the Hilton Orlando is almost 900 feet long with twists and turns with waterfalls, fountains, and water cannons. Just hop on an inner tube and be lazy!

My one-year-old, Dylan, actually fell asleep on my husband during their trip. I mean, it is a perfect spot to have a nap. Luckily, my husband, Colin, is a bit of a baby whisperer, so he did manage to get out of the lazy river with the sleeping baby before the nap ended.

4. The Splash Pad at Hilton Orlando

Dylan absolutely loved the splash pad because he could run around and have fun with all the water shooting out from the ground and leaves and flowers up high.

I also loved it because I could just sit and watch!

5. The Escape Room at Hilton Orlando

When I asked my kids what their favorite part of their staycation was, my daughter Julianna said it was the Escape Room. It was mine too.

While the ones they lock you in a room for an hour are fun, this one is so much better because it takes you all over the hotel – inside and outside. For that reason, it’s the world’s largest and tallest escape room experience.

You can also do it on your own time through the app, so it’s super convenient. The clues take you to different floors of the hotel with complex clues, challenges, and augmented reality. My son, Landon, even said the escape room turned my phone into magic. He thought that was the coolest!

Some other fun parts include:

• An exclusive case file with instructions & mission assistance notes 
• Five missions that can be completed in any order and on your own time during your stay 
• Fun, unique clues from each completed mission to help unlock the head spy’s secret base
• Indoor and outdoor missions to have you traversing the entire property
• Augmented reality designed to blend in without causing too much attention, but are so cool to see come to life
• Some surprises along the way that include yummy treats from Scratch Market and Tropics Pool Bar and Grill… but only if you solve the clue that gets you there and you know the code to unlock those treats

6. The Restaurants in Hilton Orlando

We didn’t leave the Hilton Orlando once to eat. That’s because they make it so easy to eat there – with four restaurants and a market to enjoy dining options morning, day, and night – The Bistro, David’s Club Bar & Grill, Tropics Pool Bar & Grill, Scratch Market, and Spencer’s for Steaks & Chops.

We ate at and enjoyed every one, with the exception of Spencer’s because it was closed during our visit. I didn’t want to disrupt this sophisticated establishment with all these kids in tow!

The Bistro

The Bistro is great for breakfast and lunch. We had the breakfast buffet there the entire weekend. The host Terrance and our server Omar could not have been more amazing… and the fancy chocolate milk was pretty amazing.

Tropics Pool Bar & Grill

For lunch, we enjoyed Tropics Pool Bar & Grill all weekend. Once, we sat at a table in the restaurant outside by the pool. The next day, we enjoyed it in our cabana.

David’s Club Bar & Grill

Two nights, two dinners! This is where we ate on the first floor of the hotel.

The macaroni and cheese on the kid’s menu was popular with Julianna and Landon. If you stop in here for a meal, you have to order the chocolate cake. It is delicious.

My husband loved the burgers and variety of bourbon drinks too.

Scratch Market

Scratch Market, a 24-hour gourmet marketplace has everything you need for breakfast and in between meals. For us, the gelato was a hit… and the kids got a free cup during the escape game adventure. You can see that clue in the image below. Another friendly staff note – we loved Kim’s clue when we needed a little escape room help!

Here you can also buy a smores kit… that I’ll touch on more very soon.

You can stop in here 24 hours a day, and even order my favorite – pizza!

Spencer’s

If you want to eat here, check ahead because when I visited it was closed to a private group.

7. S’mores at the Fire Pit

If an amazing pool gets my kids excited, then there are no words for what a fire pit and s’mores kit do. To be honest, it lights me up too!

With two fire pits and big Adirondack chairs around the fire, roasting marshmallows is fun, easy, and tastes so good.

But Wait, There’s More

Those are just seven things you can do with kids. There is a whole lot more to do if you’re taking a staycation or vacation without the little ones.

Something I love to partake in is a trip to the spa. At the Eforea Spa, Salon, and Fitness Center, you can take self-care to the next level.

If you want to be a little more active on the volleyball court, basketball court, tennis courts, or play bocce ball, click here.

Then, of course, it’s an ideal spot for meetings, events, and small or big weddings.

Whether you’re looking to stay at a nice spot while you travel around Orlando or just stay put at the hotel for a staycation like we did, I highly recommend this four-star hotel on Destination Drive – a very convenient location to the Orlando International Airport and everything central Florida has to offer.

The vibrant resort has a friendly staff, great customer service, an expansive recreation area, modern decor, free WiFi, and an amazing pool area – one of the best I’ve ever seen. Let me know what your favorite part about your stay is on Instagram at @ChristinaAllDay.