I've been going to Florida since I was a kid — many, many times over the years. Theme parks, beach trips, family vacations, you name it. And after all those trips, the Hilton Aqua Sol Resort in Winter Garden, Florida is the best place I've ever stayed. Not one of the best — the best.
We stayed here in August 2024 when we got married down in Florida, and we've returned multiple times since. Every stay has been consistently great.
Pricing That Actually Makes Sense
Let's start with the number that matters most: we paid around $2,400 for two connected rooms for 6 nights, 7 days. That's two full rooms, connected, for a week in the Orlando area during peak season. Compare that to the Disney resorts or other properties in the area and you'll quickly realize what a deal that is.
For a family that needs the space — and with kids, you always need the space — having two connected rooms is a game-changer. The adults get their own space, the kids get theirs, and you're not all crammed into a single hotel room trying to keep everyone quiet after 9 PM.
The Staff
Every single staff member we interacted with was friendly and accommodating. Not the scripted corporate-friendly either — genuinely helpful people who seemed to actually care that we were having a good stay. From check-in to housekeeping to the pool staff, no one made us feel like an inconvenience.
That might sound like a low bar, but after the Budget rental experience we had getting down here (see our Ford Transit review), believe me — customer service that actually serves the customer stands out.
The Waterpark
This is the highlight of the resort, especially if you have kids. The waterpark at Aqua Sol has multiple water slides, a splash zone for the younger ones, and several pools to choose from. Our kids were absolutely in love with the water slides — they spent hours going down them over and over again.
The pools are well-maintained, the water is warm enough to be comfortable without being gross, and there's enough variety that everyone from toddlers to teenagers can find something they enjoy.
One thing to note: the waterpark closes at 8:30 PM. That's earlier than you might expect, especially in the summer when it's still light out until past 9. But the resort has other pools — those stay open until 11 PM. So after the waterpark shuts down, you can still swim. It's just the slides and splash features that go offline at 8:30.
Storm Closures
Here's the one thing about the waterpark and pools that's worth knowing before you book: they close down at least once, sometimes two or three times a day, due to lightning storms. Before Hilton purchased the property, it was called the Liki Tiki, and they would close the pools when storms breached a 5-mile radius. Since Hilton took over, they've expanded that to a 10-mile radius.
I get it — there's a legitimate safety concern with lightning. But a few times, you could see the storm only on the horizon, very far off, and they'd still close everything down. It wasn't a complete inconvenience, but it did get the kids worked up more than once. You'd finally get everyone sunscreened and into the water, and then the whistle would blow and everybody had to get out for 30 minutes while a storm passed miles away.
Our advice: check the weather in the morning and plan your pool time around the typical afternoon storm window. If you can get out there early, you'll usually have a solid stretch before the first closure.
Grills, Fire Pits, and S'mores Nights
One of the things we loved most about this resort is the grills in the pool area. We cooked out multiple times during our stay — it's so much easier (and cheaper) than eating out every night when you're feeding a family on vacation.
They also have a fire pit area by the pool, and one evening we picked up s'mores supplies and had a s'mores night with the kids. It was a huge hit — there's something about roasting marshmallows by a fire pit after a day at the waterpark that just feels like the quintessential vacation moment. The kids talked about that s'mores night for days afterward.
The Bar (And Why We Started Making Our Own Drinks)
There is a bar right in the waterpark for the adults, which is convenient — but since our last visit in 2024, they've increased their prices drastically. My wife ordered a double piña colada, I ordered a shot of Glenlivet 12 year and an IPA on tap. Our bill? Around $72. For two drinks and a shot. That stung.
After that surprise bill, we decided it would be wiser to buy our own alcohol and make our own frozen drinks. The rooms are fully equipped with a kitchen — a single room is set up for a family of 4, and with two connected rooms we had settings for 8. We had 11 people. I called the front desk and they had extra settings delivered to our room, no questions asked.
The one thing we didn't have was a blender. I pondered buying one and just bringing it home with us, but then I had a thought — I wonder if they have blenders rooms can use? Not in every room, but maybe, just maybe... I called the front desk and asked a question I fully expected to be answered with a no. To my surprise, they said they'd have a blender delivered to our room.
So we made our own frozen drinks and brought them down to the pools and waterpark. No one ever said anything to us. Later in the trip, a family member mentioned there was a sign saying no outside drinks — but I honestly never saw it, and no staff member ever said a word. Whether it was a mixed drink or a can of beer in my hand, I was able to go anywhere on the resort without any issues.
That kind of relaxed, no-hassle experience is exactly what a vacation should feel like.
Why This Is the Best Place in Florida
I've stayed at resorts across Florida over the years — Disney properties, beach resorts, vacation rentals, you name it. The Hilton Aqua Sol beats all of them for one simple reason: it gives you everything you need without making you pay a premium for it.
The waterpark keeps the kids entertained all day. The grills let you cook your own meals and save money. The connected rooms give your family space to breathe. The staff treats you like they actually want you there. And the price is fair — not just "fair for Orlando," but actually fair.
Since our visit in 2024 when we were married there, there is no other place we would want to stay. And every time we plan a Florida trip now, it's the same answer: Aqua Sol.
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