Water Park Included, But Read the Fine Print: The Grove Resort Orlando

The on-site water park is the reason most families choose The Grove Resort over a standard Orlando hotel room — and for elementary-age kids, it largely delivers. Surfari Water Park, included with the resort fee, runs dual waterslides, a FlowRider surf simulator, and a lazy river, all without leaving the property. The resort earns a Family First rating on Kiddometer, though parents of teens should note there’s no teens club, and a pattern of maintenance complaints in recent reviews means the physical condition of individual rooms can be a genuine lottery.

Key Highlights

• Star rating: 4-star
• Price: From around $279/night on average; from $300/night for a 2-bedroom suite in peak season (e.g. July 2027) for a family of 4
• Water park: On-site Surfari Water Park included with resort fee — dual waterslides, lazy river, splash pad
• Family rooms: Yes — 2- and 3-bedroom suites with full kitchens, in-unit washer/dryer, and screened balconies
• Kids club: Yes — Kids’ Activity Center with arts, crafts, and games
• All-inclusive: No
• Beachfront: No
• Free theme park shuttles: Daily service to Disney World, Universal Orlando, and SeaWorld

A Self-Contained Water Resort, Six Miles from Disney

The Grove’s strongest practical argument for families is the combination of space and on-site water entertainment. Multi-bedroom suites come with full kitchens, which means you’re not forced into resort restaurant pricing for every meal — useful on a long Orlando trip where dining costs accumulate fast. In-unit laundry also matters more than it sounds when you’re packing for a family of four heading to theme parks in Florida heat. Screened balconies give kids a place to decompress without anyone having to go anywhere.

The Surfari Water Park is the headline amenity and, for younger children especially, it provides a full day’s activity without needing a car. The Springs Pools offer a calmer fallback — heated pools and a dedicated splash zone — useful for younger children or days when the main water park is busy. For families who want something beyond chlorine, Lake Austin Pier offers fishing, pontoon tours, swan paddle boats, and kayaks, though parents should be aware the lake has alligator warning signs and the shoreline requires careful supervision.

Flip Flop’s Family Fun Center adds an indoor option with a large arcade and glow-in-the-dark mini-golf — practical for evening downtime or a rainy afternoon. If you’re planning days out, the resort runs free daily shuttles to Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, and SeaWorld. Factor in Orlando traffic, though: despite the resort sitting close to these parks, shuttle times can stretch, so early departure is worth building into your schedule. For independently arranged days out, you can browse family-friendly tours and activities or compare kid-friendly day tours to fill out your itinerary.

Getting There and What’s Around

The resort is located at 14501 Grove Resort Ave, Winter Garden, FL 34787 — a Winter Garden address rather than the tourist strip, which keeps the immediate surroundings quieter. Walt Disney World is 15–20 minutes by car; Universal Orlando and SeaWorld are 20–25 minutes. Island H2O Water Park, a nearby standalone water park, is just 3–5 minutes away if the kids want variety. Grocery shopping is available nearby, which pairs well with the in-suite kitchen setup. Note that daily parking fees apply per vehicle — worth factoring into your total cost before booking.

What the Extra Fees Actually Look Like

The Grove is not all-inclusive, and the add-on costs can catch families off guard. The FlowRider surf simulator — likely the most appealing single feature for older kids — is not covered by the resort fee and costs extra. Cabana rentals at the water park are an additional charge. Parking fees are per vehicle per day. Some guests have also reported unexpected charges for pool towels and housekeeping services. Going in with a clear picture of what the resort fee covers versus what’s à la carte will prevent frustration on checkout day.

What Recent Guests Say

• Several recent reviewers highlight the water park as a standout feature, consistently describing it as clean, fun, and well-suited for families with children.
• A common theme in guest feedback is the generous size of the suites, with multiple families noting that the full kitchen, in-unit laundry, and extra space make the resort a practical choice over a standard hotel room.
• Room maintenance and wear and tear is a recurring concern, with multiple guests reporting broken blinds, malfunctioning appliances, clogged drains, and other upkeep issues that suggest the accommodations lag behind the quality of the resort’s shared amenities.
• Cleanliness within the rooms draws mixed feedback across several reviews, ranging from guests who found units adequately clean to others who encountered mold, poorly cleaned kitchenware, and pest-related concerns.
• Some families mention frustration with extra costs not clearly communicated at booking, including parking fees, charges for poolside seating, and fees for towel or housekeeping services that guests felt should be included in the stay.

Who This Hotel Suits — and Who Might Want to Look Elsewhere

The Grove works well for families with elementary-age children and pre-teens who will get sustained use out of a water park, and for parents who want the flexibility of a kitchen and laundry rather than a standard hotel setup. It’s a reasonable base for a multi-day Orlando trip where the resort itself absorbs at least one or two full days, with theme parks filling the rest.

Families with teenagers should think carefully: there’s no teens club, no adult pool for parents wanting a quieter retreat, and some guests note the water park can feel limited after a couple of days — a concern more likely to land with older kids who exhaust the slides faster. The maintenance and cleanliness issues flagged in recent reviews are a real consideration; this is not a hotel where every room is guaranteed to be in sharp condition, and that inconsistency matters more in a self-catering suite where you’re spending significant time indoors. Families with high standards for room finish may find the shared amenities outperform the accommodations themselves.

Babysitting is not available on-site, so parents of very young children needing evening childcare will need to arrange this independently.

For the full amenities breakdown and Family Fit rating details, see our full Resort Finder profile for The Grove Resort & Water Park Orlando.