The Grove Resort & Water Park Orlando

Top line - we had a really enjoyable stay for 14 nights - family of 5 with kids aged 10, 8 and 6. We had requested a room in building 3 after reading reviews on here. We were given a room upgrade from 2 bed to 3 bed which was an incredible welcome surprise, which meant that with bed-sharing, we didn’t need to use the sofa bed. I’d probably want building 1 next time to be closer to the pool. We paid the resort fee which gives you access to the water park (which we only visited once as we found the 3 Springs pools more than enough fun - plenty of sunbeds available). The Surfari water park is good with plenty of lifeguards and fun things to do. Food, drinks and pool toys on sale over there. The pool area was clean and there was always someone walking round taking food and drinks order (the pools are near the restaurant). The hotel in general seems clean, and the only parts of the hotel that didn’t look particularly nice are the stairwells. The groundskeepers have done a great job making the gardens look amazing. The room was absolutely perfect for us. We did a shop at Walmart (the fridge in the room is a big American fridge/freezer. The utensil situation is pretty limited. We didn’t have a kettle or coffee machine so we asked and they brought them. Dishwasher and washing machine and tumble drier meant we didn’t have to bring 2 weeks worth of clothes. The only downside (which we knew about before arriving) was the cleaning only every 5 days. It mainly just meant the beds got a bit scrappy as the sheets aren’t fitted and seem slightly too small for the beds. Parking was free for us as Virgin Holidays customers. The Market shop on site has loads of things to buy but is ridiculously expensive (the price of convenience). Read less

...but actually staying here and getting a closer look, the experience here was a weird one. The more I looked, despite how hard I tried not to, the more I saw the reality of this place. This review is to show the things that you don't really see on the website or other reviews. It is a very long read but it needs to be in order to warn future guests. Location: weird location off the beaten path. Not as close to Disney as indicated. Not many great options in the surrounding area. Check-in was ok. Front desk staff not overly friendly. Resort fee was $50 + tax for a 3BR which totalled an additional $225 for 4 nights. Why? I have no clue. What this included? No idea. Pool Towels are in the rooms, they don't get replenished, you don't receive daily housekeeping here, the wifi is spotty and disconnects. There was a glitch with their system and I ended up being charged twice for this fee. Still trying to get this resolved even after I checked out. Parking: $25/ day fee. I believe they've laid off this recently however. Accessing the rooms is pretty much as described in other reviews. Strangely accessed from the parking garage. The elevator floors have worn carpet with a weird smell. What can you expect with guests coming back from a pool getting the carpet wet? Hallways to the guest rooms wreaked of what smelled like old burger grease as if the exhaust from a dirty kitchen directly vented into the halls. As we entered our FIRST room, I noticed how big it was. Then as i toured each room I noticed how old and beat up it was. Dirty, dusty, outdated. Cobwebs. Old damaged balcony furniture. Dirty, dusty balcony screen- with old insect hives, egg sacks etc. Extremely damaged furniture in each room. Dusty lamps. Dirty counter tops. We had a long day and just wanted to relax, the kids wanted to get to the pools, etc. But it just kept bothering me so I went to the front desk right after. I was given the option to check out a 2nd room in the same building and a 3rd one in a whole new building. I looked at the room in the same building. It was a little bit better but still had the same issues. We didn't want to relocate all the way to another building so we settled for this one. The SECOND room had broken fixtures, cobwebs, damaged furniture, yellow pillows, dirty screen, old dated carpets, etc. Broken towel rack. And even still it was better than the first. The layout of the master bedroom was odd. A single chair in the "sitting area" under a floor lamp. Now on the website they show you a virtual walk through of a beautiful 3 bedroom unit. But that's smoke and mirrors. Obviously this was of a renovated room located in Building 2 which I hear are the renovated rooms. But please take a look at the pics I posted and despite paying the higher price point for a 3 bedroom, 3 bathroom, superior view room- this is what I received. How can a business pretending to be luxury even have the audacity to offer rooms to paying guests in the condition they were in? Why were certain guests given the nice rooms and other guests given the inferior ones? The common areas in the hotel appeared clean. You probably wouldn't think the rooms would be so atrocious. There was always someone mopping the floors. But again, upon closer look, the furniture worn and stained. Disgusting! Hallways throughout the property are just long and drab mazes of corridors and elevator banks with plain, boring walls. Pools- The Springs: 3 nice pools. Quieter than the water park. Clean. Food/ drink service provided. They offer cabanas here too. We got out as much as possible to avoid the room. Food was decent. Some rathered the food at the water park but this place had a Mahi Mahi sandwich that I thought was decent. Water Park: I wouldnt consider this a "water park". I have stayed at other properties that offer 5 pools, water slides, multiple lazy rivers and not charge extra or label themselves a water park. And no resort fees. No parking fees. This area is nice to have on the property. The main pool here is pretty huge. It was also clean. The lazy river water was cloudy. Umbrellas are not plentiful in the general area which is done purposely it seems. There are PLENTY of umbrellas in the "premium" seating areas where you have to PAY for chairs in pairs. Each rental comes with 2 chairs. Why not put those umbrellas out for the people? Another money grab. In a section with about 40 chairs for guests, there were FOUR umbrellas! Four! I did rent premium seating for one day that I was there however but still just another money grab. Book your premium seating or cabanas for the extra fee well in advance if planning to come on a weekend (on top of your admission fee if not staying at the hotel). Also, this is a "water park", correct? Where people not staying at the hotel can come as well. They RENT life jackets to the kids whereas in other true water parks they're already provided throughout. Another money grab. Bring your own. Food: Decent at best. The Valencia: Breakfast buffet- hardly the best offerings for the price. We couldn't even opt for a la carte as we were told they're only offering buffet for dine-in and if we wanted a la carte meals we would have to take it to go. I've never heard of that. The buffet was not worth $28. I've stayed at other properties where we were charged less and it included much more. This buffet even had restrictions written on the menu at the desk stating no refills and gave you only 3 options for fillings on your omelette at the omelets station. Again, never saw this anywhere before. Didn't have dinner here. Didn't want to risk it. Alfresco Market: Grab n go breakfast sandwiches, select bagels, muffins, salads, groceries, etc. I grabbed coffee here every morning. I did enjoy that. No breakfast options for me. No plain egg sandwiches offered without meat or pork. Selections can vary and not always replenished fast enough. Longboard Bar & Grill: Decent offerings. Pool side service staff were awesome. Maria Williams was a pleasure. We were so disappointed that she was only there for that day. We woudlve loved to have her for our entire stay. Very friendly, nice, and great with recommendations. Food was better here than at the Springs Bar and Grill. Kids liked the chicken tenders here better also. Springs Bar and Grill: Food offered here is from the Valencia Restaurant. I liked the Mahi Mahi sandwich here. It was decent. You can opt for poolside service or walk to the walk up bar at the restaurant. The bartenders here were great. Staff: Wonderful staff throughout. Conclusion: I'm not sure who manages this hotel or where the policies, operations, standards and daily quality control lies. Whoever it is and whatever corporate structure is involved here really need to sit down and evaluate how this place is run and where the money received from all the added and imposed fees are spent. Maybe you can take two weeks and hotel hop to any of the hotels in the area to see how other hotels operate- even at the home away from home/ self catering villa style properties such as this. I've seen hotels on lower tiers provide better offerings than this place for less money. This place just felt arrogant for no reason at all finding ways to hit you with fees, placing restrictions even on the meals. The looming threats of imposed fees were everywhere. Fee for "lost" towels, fee for early check in, fee for late check out, fee for lost cheap plastic wristbands, parking fees, resort fees... fees, fees, fees. I was fooled by the website pictures and mixed reviews. I needed to satisfy my curiosity and thought this would be a great option for the kids and I would enjoy the beautiful accommodations shown on the website. It was a costly mistake. But at least now I know. If things like what I've pointed out here doesn't bother you, then by all means stay here. If you are like me, you would never step foot in this place again Read less

This resort was the perfect gathering place for our large family! I strongly suggest the following: They offer bellhop services outside the main lobby, just pull up your car at check in and let them deal with the stress of lifting all your luggage and heavy bags. It’s definitely worth tipping the bellhop and not have the hassle to park your car in the parking garage and lug all your stuff to your room. (Because there is NO luggage carts in the parking garages) My next suggestion is to pay the extra money for the Superior view rooms, not necessarily for having a better view, since you think you won’t be in the room much, it’s because this property is HUGE, and it doesn’t take long once you have walked the grounds, to realize the superior rooms are facing the pools, the water park, and the lake & dock for boat ride rentals and fishing and this means it’s quicker walking to get there from this side of the buildings. Another suggestion is: request the building that fits your interest. Building 1 is closest to the resort pools, Building 2 is closest to the water park (which includes the lazy river) and Building 3 is the farthest and on the opposite end from the water park, but great views of the large lake. Would definitely stay at this resort again! Read less