Rising majestically 14 stories and overlooking lakes, exquisitely manicured lawns, and an 18-hole golf course, the hotel welcomes a clientele of primarily leisure guests. An ornate yet intimate lobby, with soaring columns, sparkling chandeliers, and intricately designed wood ceilings, evokes grand Italian palazzos of yesteryear.

One mile from Walt Disney World® Resort, a private gated entry opens to this 1,500-acre Orlando golf resort with towering palms, colorful plants, and manicured lawns. A reception center houses an intimate lobby with an oversized fireplace and a bar serving complimentary cocktails, soft drinks, coffee, beer, and wine to arriving and departing guests.

What to expect: The casual elegance of early 20th-century, mid-Atlantic seaside homes was the inspiration for the nautical charm and character of this Cape May–style villa resort. The lobby of Disney’s Beach Club Resort, where arriving guests check in, provides a seafarer welcome with its striped curtains, nautical-themed furnishings, and panoramic lake view. Disney’s Beach Club Villas are adjacent to Disney’s Beach Club Resort.

Amenity highlights: At the center of the fun is a three-acre water park called Stormalong Bay, with water slides, spa tubs, a children’s pool, three quiet pools, and a sandy white beach. Boat rentals are available at the marina, and the Sandcastle Club offers daily supervised children’s activities. Ship Shape Health Club provides fitness equipment, and offers massages and facials. The Villas also enjoy private reading rooms.

Insider tip: Spending the day in the theme parks is a lot of fun, but it can get hot and a bit exhausting. A great midday cool-down trick is to head back to the hotel for a splash in the pool, and then return to the theme parks later in the day for nighttime festivities.

The stylish, 27-story Peabody Orlando is adjacent to the Orange County Convention Center on attraction-lined International Drive. J.J. Mallard, the Peabody Duck, is depicted in the foyer’s floor mosaic. Guests watch ducks at play in the fountain and enjoy high tea each afternoon in the atrium lobby, with its stately palm trees, exotic orchids, waterfall, and original art.

Both the 12-story Walt Disney World Swan and neighboring Walt Disney World Dolphin, designed by noted architect Michael Graves, were built with an eye to detail.

Featuring a 10-story A-frame hotel, Disney’s Contemporary Resort delivers sophistication with its signature monorails buzzing through the mezzanine level of the hotel, providing easy access to other Disney Resort Hotels, Magic Kingdom® Park, and Epcot®. A neon-lit lobby and futuristic décor welcome arriving leisure travelers, families, and convention guests.

Inspired by vintage New England yacht clubs, this lakeside resort has a lighthouse that welcomes arriving leisure travelers and families. Beamed-wood ceilings, wood floors, comfortable seating areas, nautical accents, and miniature ships on display grace the busy two-story lobby. Beyond French doors are lush, landscaped grounds and the resort’s dock on the 25-acre Crescent Lake.

What to expect: With 28 stories set on 200 lush acres, the Orlando World Center Marriott Resort is the largest Marriott in the world. Visitors arrive via a long driveway flanked by huge Florida palms and bordered by the 18-hole Hawk’s Landing golf course. The huge, circular marble lobby has massive columns and is bordered by shops, fine dining, and a busy Starbucks.

Amenity highlights: There's no shortage of fun here: an 18-hole golf course and 4,000-square-foot fitness center are just the beginning. Orlando World Center features seven pools--four with waterfalls (one with a water slide), two children’s pools, and an indoor pool--and six spa tubs. Other facilities include a day spa, 10 restaurants and lounges, and tennis and volleyball courts. This Orlando hotel has a full-service business center and offers wireless Internet access in public areas (surcharge).

Insider tip: Lake Bryan, 2.5 miles away, is a 450-acre spring-fed freshwater lake where guests may charter boats, jet ski, or just relax on the white-sand beaches shaded by towering cypress trees.

A waterfall tumbles from a covered portico, which leads to a two-story lobby with a fountain, palms, and tropical aquariums. Located on 23 landscaped acres within the Walt Disney World® Resort across from Downtown Disney® area, this 10-story Hilton hotel in Lake Buena Vista welcomes a mix of families and business and leisure travelers.

With its signature five-story Greek dolphins and 27-story pyramid, Walt Disney World Dolphin offers an inspired welcome to leisure travelers and families. Designed by architect Michael Graves, the hotel has a circular, towering lobby with an indoor fountain with dolphin statues, elaborately draped overhead canopy, and colorful murals.