Villa with a pool and onsite waterpark

Question

Hi folks,

I'm looking at travelling to Florida with my 3 kids. The youngest is autistic and refused to leave the hotel room last summer, so I want a villa with some stuff to do inside (game room etc) and a private pool in case we can't get him out again.

We'd also ideally like to be on a resort with a waterpark or similar so the other two can go and do some fun stuff. I'm not terribly bothered about Disney and Universal as we did those last year.

I've looked at villas in Reunion some of which have access to the water park and some of which only have access to the community pools. Is the extra $900 in resort fees worth it for the water park entry?

Any other places to consider etc?

If it makes any difference, the kids are 18. 15 and 12.

Answer

For a family trip to Central Florida with kids aged 18, 15, and 12, and especially considering your youngest is autistic and may prefer staying in the villa, choosing a villa with both a private pool and indoor entertainment options is a smart strategy. This ensures that even if he doesn’t want to leave the property, the other kids can stay entertained and you still have a comfortable private space.

Regarding villas in Reunion Resort:

Many Reunion villas come with private pools and game rooms, which is ideal for keeping the youngest child engaged without needing to leave the villa.
The resort water park access usually comes at an extra cost (around $900 in resort fees for your length of stay), but it can provide a safe, fun space for the older kids to enjoy slides, lazy rivers, and splash zones. If your older children are likely to spend several hours a day there, the cost can be worth it.
If the older kids are independent and enjoy resort amenities, having access to the water park allows you to cater to their needs while keeping your youngest comfortable in the villa.

Other villa/resort options to consider in the Orlando area with similar setups:

Storey Lake Resort: Offers villas with private pools, game rooms, and a large onsite water park. It's very family-oriented and slightly more affordable than Reunion.
Champions Gate Resort: Villas here often have private pools and game rooms, plus access to community pools and a water park area with slides and splash zones. Conveniently close to Disney without being in the theme park hustle.
Windsor Hills Resort: This resort has well-equipped villas, private pools, game rooms, and a community water park with slides and a lazy river. It's popular for families looking for both villa privacy and resort amenities.

Tips when deciding on paying extra for water park access:

Estimate how many hours the older kids will realistically spend at the water park versus using the villa pool or game room.
Consider whether the convenience of onsite access outweighs the cost, especially if you prefer minimal travel and keeping everyone together.
Look for villas that maximize indoor/outdoor entertainment—game rooms, media rooms, and pool setups—so you can enjoy flexibility even without the water park.

In summary, if your priority is keeping the youngest comfortable while giving the older kids fun activities, the water park access can be worthwhile. Otherwise, a villa with a great private pool and game room may suffice, especially if your kids are happy spending time there and you want to avoid the extra $900 fee.