REVIEW: Margaritaville Cottages Orlando Resort

A trip to Orlando Florida is a holiday of a lifetime for most people and deciding where to stay is a big deal. If you’ve got an epic week of theme park fun planned, Kissimmee is one of the best areas to stay for tourists. It’s super close to the Walt Disney World theme parks and a short drive to Universal Orlando and SeaWorld. Margaritaville Cottages Orlando is part of the Margaritaville Orlando Resort, situated in the heart of Kissimmee. This year, we rented a cute two-bedroom cottage at the complex for the first time and below is hour honest and unbiased review of the resort. 

Our review of Margaritaville Cottages Orlando: 

The Margaritaville Cottages Orlando epitomise that sunny Florida vibe, with mis-matched Key West-style houses lining a network of small streets. Arriving from gloomy England, it was exactly what we were hoping for on our family trip to Orlando and the kids were beside themselves with excitement.

As well as the cottages, the Margaritaville Resort also has a hotel and check-in for all accomodations is via the main reception, which is open 24-hours. For our group of two adults and two children, we had booked a two-bed cottage. Once we’d collected the keys, it was a short drive to our digs via colourful streets with cute names like ‘Sandy Toes Way’ and ‘Surf Street’.

Since some of the houses at the resort have eight bedrooms (sleeping 18 guests), our cute cottage had a quaint, almost beach hut look about it. But, at almost 1000 square feet, it was more than adequate for one family and very spacious inside. There are smaller, one-bedroom cottages on offer (660 square feet and said to sleep four people), but we wanted the kids to each have their own bed, so the two-bed option was better suited for us.

You can park right outside your front door, which is handy for unloading suitcases as well as carrying in sleepy kids after a long day at Disney. Each cottage has a little porch and the front door is key card-operated. There is a 24-hour helpline in case of any problems accessing the property. Even though there are multiple cottages on each street, as well as apartment style accommodations, it’s well designed so you really do feel like you have your own fun little space.

What are the Margaritaville Cottages Orlando like inside?

The cottages have spacious bedrooms

NOTE: Usually when I check in to hotels and accommodations, I always make everyone wait outside so I can take photos of the way the rooms looked when we arrived. However, arriving late from England with two kids, it was dark when we first got to the cottage and we all went straight to bed. Being villa-style accommodation, there is no housekeeping service so I had to take pictures after the beds had been slept in. I wanted to flag that the below was not how the beds looked when we arrived. In fact, everything was perfectly arranged like the professional photo above.

The cottage we stayed in had a large upstairs, consisting of two large bedrooms and two en-suite bathrooms. The main bedroom had a small annex area containing a sofa bed. This was divided by a wall, but no door, so would only be suitable for friends or for members of the same family (rather than a different couple or grandparents, as there is no privacy between the annex area and the main bedroom). We set Isobel (3) up on the sofa bed and used the cushions to make a barrier to stop her falling out. Cribs are available on request.

The main bedroom also had a small built-in wardrobe. For a two-week holiday, this would only be enough room to accommodate one person’s clothing in my opinion. For such a large room, I expected a little more hanging space for clothes especially since there is no storage at all in the second bedroom. There is a bedside table with drawers and a large dresser in the annex room, but the hanging space was oddly minimal. We were booked in for a four night stay, but any longer in the cottage and I would have grown frustrated at the lack of place to put anything, especially since there was ample room for more storage.

The bed in the main bedroom was enormous and very comfortable. It felt like a real luxury to have so much space. We slept really well and the area surrounding the cottage was very quiet.

How big is the second bedroom?

The second bedroom is smaller, with a queen-sized bed. I don’t think my children would have been able to share this bed as it was too narrow and one of them would definitely have fallen out. Something to think about if you plan to have two people sharing in this room. Adults who sleep cosily might be able to share, but my kids are too wriggly. This room also had a small en-suite with a shower, sink and toilet.

There are three bathrooms in the cottage. Both upstairs bathrooms are ensuite and there is also a small downstairs washroom. None of the bathrooms have an actual bath, which is something to consider if you are visiting with young children or babies. I don’t know if other cottages at the resort offer a bath but it is worth asking when you book. Some basic cosmetics are supplied but I recommend you bring your own.

Was there space to hang out in the cottage?

The living space in the Margaritaville cottages was fantastic for a family. There was a fully equipped kitchen – complete with a huge blender for making Margaritas of course – and an open plan living area. It was great to be able to cook and keep an eye on the kids and the open-plan design made the downstairs feel really spacious. There are stools to sit at the breakfast bar but I liked the fact there was a proper dinner table so we could all eat together.

Villa-style accommodation is good for families in Orlando who want to manage their budget. We were able to have breakfast, a few lunches and dinner in the cottage, saving money on eating out. It is very easy to have a food shop delivered or even order takeaway if you don’t fancy cooking.

The living room also had a huge digital TV, with cable channels . All four of us fitted on the sofa but it was snug. For guests planning to share with friends or even with teenage children, an extra armchair would have made all the difference. After the kids went to bed, there was plenty of room for Simon and me to relax.

Do you have any outside space at the Margarita Cottages Orlando?

The cottage had a small patio with a table and chairs and two sun loungers. Some cottages have hot tubs and / or private swimming pools. We didn’t spend any time on the patio as we had long days at the theme parks and made use of the resort facilities.

The Margaritaville Cottages Orlando have access to the main resort

One of the biggest perks of staying in one of the Margaritaville Orlando Cottages is access to the main resort area, including the huge lagoon pool and ‘Finn’s Up Beach Club,’ a pool bar with entertainment and a small kids club. There are three pools, the smaller ‘Licence to Chill’ pool and the large lagoon-style ‘Finn’s Left and Finn’s Right’ pool. The lagoon pool has a shallow beach-style entry which is accessible for those who need it and ideal for younger children playing in the shallow water. At various times during the day, there is a small kids club with games, crafting and competitions beside The Salty Rim café.

The pool has deeper areas for proper swimming and more importantly, for cannonballs! It was a great pool for parents as it felt safe to sit on the edge of the pool (in my case, in the shade) while the kids played in the water as the decline into the deep end was very gradual. Around the pools, there are little areas of character with waterfalls, coves and at the back, a huge hot spa pool. There are Cabanas with small fridges, a TV and a fan, which incur a daily fee (starting from $100 per day). The pool area is huge and had a definite feel of being at a luxury resort, which was great. Not every villa resort in Orlando can offer this and it was a huge perk. We could easily have spent multiple days hanging out here.

The pool bar and entertainment at Margaritaville Resort Orlando

The lively pool bar is called The Salty Rim and serves poolside drinks and food. There was a live musician there most of the day and later in the early evening it turned to karaoke. You can choose to sit by the bar and enjoy the music and atmosphere throughout the day but there are plenty of quiet and calm areas too. For those who are not close to the bar, the resort does offer pool service but it was infrequent. 

For lunch we ordered pool service and the food was served promptly and arrived hot. The menu is on the pricey side. We had two chicken quesadillas ($20 each, the kids shared one) and the shrimp tacos ($18). Cocktails are $15-17 each, then service of almost 20% is added. The food and drinks are good and it was fun to enjoy the luxury of lunch by the pool, but coming in at over $100, it wouldn’t be something we’d indulge in every day. The great thing about having your cottage nearby is the ability to pop back for quick homemade lunch, so having the choice of both options is great. Plus, there is a happy hour between 4pm and 6pm. 

What’s on offer at the main resort when staying at Margaritaville Cottages Orlando?

Any guests arriving from England, like we did, would be wow’d by the Margaritaville’s impressive island-style lobby. The sprawling space has little nooks, perfect for taking those important Instagram pics and steel drum-style music playing for the ultimate holiday welcome. It’s here where Margaritaville cottages guests and hotel guests check-in and you will find concierge, bell desk and other luxury hotel amenities.

As well as being able to use the pool and facilities, the main resort also has a lively atmosphere, a few boutique shops, a bar and a great seafood restaurant, Euphoria Fish House. We decided to eat at Euphoria on our last night and it didn’t disappoint. The menu is creative with plenty of Florida staples (such as a Mahi sandwich) with a great wine list. There is outdoor seating on a wide terrace overlooking the resort, but we opted to sit inside as we were enjoying the live music from a band in the bar area.

The seared tuna tataki starter ($18) was fantastic and I followed that with the Cavatelli al Foro ($29) as a main. The kid’s menu wasn’t that inventive with a standard burger and chicken nugget offering, but there were certainly no complaints about that from them! The restaurant is really nice and we loved the live music from the bar (*Tuesday to Sunday only). Despite the resort’s luxury feel, the bar is relaxed and has a laid-back island vibe (much like the rest of the Margaritaville Resort Orlando), which is great. 

It goes wihout saying the margaritas are excellent. But, the greatest thing of all is that it was a short walk back to our cottage or we could take advantage of the resort transportation. So unlike elsewhere in Orlando, we didn’t need to use the car.

Getting around the Margarita Resort Orlando

I recommend taking a wander through the resort as it’s a delightful place for a stroll, passing all the colourful Key West-style houses, grass areas, lakes and a children’s playground. You might even catch some specular sunsets over the rooftops too.  If you don’t want to walk between your cottage and the main resort, there is a free shuttle servicing the cottages. Just call the number and the friendly driver will be outside in less than 10 minutes, usually.

For groceries, souvenirs and generally gleeful shopping needs, there is a large Target next door to the Margarita Resort Orlando and the shuttle will even drop you off there if you ask nicely! Remember to tip your driver.

Margaritaville Cottages Orlando location: surrounding area and Disney World

The location of the Margaritaville Cottages Orlando is perfect for getting to and from Walt Disney World. It’s around 15 minutes from the Margaritaville Resort to the parks and even during the after-parks close traffic surge, we were back at our cottage from EPCOT in 25 minutes. I-drive, Universal Orlando Resort and SeaWorld are also an easy 25 minute drive. Other popular areas like the outlet mall (Vineland Premium Outlets), Old Town and Disney Springs are also very close by. From Orlando International Airport, it was a 40 minute drive to the resort.

We really enjoyed our stay at Margaritaville and would certainly look at booking again. The overall vibe of the hotel and the picturesque cottages make for the perfect Florida holiday setting and the location for families is ideal.

How much does it cost to stay at Margaritaville Resort Orlando?

A seven-night stay in a two-bedroom private cottage is from £2,983 a week. This price is based on two adults and two children (aged 2-17) on a room only basis. *Price correct as of February 2023.  margaritavilleresorts.com.Flights are not included, but great package deals are available with www.britishairways.com.
Our stay was comped in exchange for an honest review of the resort. Opinions remain our own, as is always the case on passportstamps.uk.

For more information on Margaritaville Resort Orlando visit margaritavilleresorts.com/margaritaville-resort-orlando.

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