Holiday Inn Resort Kissimmee by the Parks

This is unapologetically a family-first resort built to get you close to the parks and out of your car fast. Palm-lined walkways, a tropical pool where kids sprint from towel to splash, and a lobby bar that serves pizza late into the evening give the place a lived-in, cheerful chaos. Mornings are dominated by a generous all-you-can-eat breakfast and a brigade of servers—Viviana and her team are practically part of the furniture—who smooth the edges of travel burnout. The property is practical rather than polished: you’ll find an older building with the occasional maintenance hiccup, but staff hustle hard and make up for it. It doubles as an events hub; an engagement party and large group bookings are handled here with surprising finesse by the sales and catering team. For tourists it’s a reliable, affordable launchpad to Walt Disney World; for families and groups it’s a home base that keeps kids happy and evenings simple. Expect value, relentless friendliness, and the kind of convenience you pay extra for closer to the parks.