Fourth of July Celebrations at The Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes
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As working parents, a four-day weekend always feels like a precious gift to spend time with family. The Fourth of July, in particular, holds a special place in our hearts for this reason. This year, we decided to make our fourth trip to Orlando and stay at The Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes. This decision turned out to be the best one yet, as the hotel offered everything we needed for a perfect family vacation.
Last year, we also headed to Orlando for the Fourth of July. However, we missed out on the fireworks because of the inconvenience of having to travel to see them. The thought of getting stuck in traffic was daunting, and we didn't want to ruin our holiday with unnecessary stress. This year, we were determined to make the most of our long weekend without compromising on the quintessential Fourth of July experience.
Our son, Eli, had a packed agenda for this trip. He wanted to visit "Jurassic Park" at Universal Studios, watch the fireworks, and see an alligator. My husband and I also wanted to ensure that we felt like we were on a family vacation, not just chaperoning Eli's adventures. With only three nights to spare, I was skeptical about fitting everything into our schedule. That's when The Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes came to our rescue.
The Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes proved to be the ideal destination for our Fourth of July weekend. The hotel’s serene environment, luxurious pool, and renowned amenities provided the perfect backdrop for relaxation and family bonding. More importantly, it met all of Eli’s criteria and ours. The hotel's location was another significant advantage. Situated within a 15-20 minute drive to Universal Orlando, it was close enough for us to comfortably visit the theme park without worrying about long commutes. This made it easy for us to fulfill Eli’s dream of visiting "Jurassic Park" at Universal Studios.
View of the hotel
GLO Summer Event
One of the highlights of our stay was the GLO Summer event hosted by The Ritz-Carlton. This event featured an array of Fourth of July activities throughout the weekend, including two spectacular fireworks shows – one on the Fourth of July and another on Saturday. This meant we didn’t have to worry about traveling far to enjoy the fireworks. We could simply step out of our room and join the festivities right at the hotel.
Fulfilling Eli’s wish to see an alligator was made easy with The Ritz-Carlton's GLO Summer event, where a representative from Gatorland visited the premise with reptile friends. We unfortunately missed the alligator encounter, but Eli was ecstatic to hold a snake and a lizard with his hands.
The event also included family lawn games, face painting, balloon artists, fire dancers, and Eli’s favorite - water slides, all set up on the beautiful lawns and the pool at the hotel. Eli loved walking over to the Valencia lawn to play in the inflatable slides and making new friends along the way. DJs played awesome music throughout the event all over the hotel making our experience more enjoyable than ever.
Multiple inflatable water slides for kids (and adults)!
Fire dancer’s jaw-dropping performance
The fireworks were spectacular and right on site at the hotel. While we enjoyed the Fourth of July fireworks at the pool deck, we opted in for a nigh swim and got to watch the fireworks while swimming - it truly felt magical. Rest assured, even if you miss the Fourth of July fireworks, GLO Summer offers fireworks every Saturday throughout the summer.
Pools
The hotel has a main pool which is heated, making it a wonderful choice for a night swim. The pool was a bit crowded on the Fourth (we were told that there was a waitlist for a pool chair), but the crowd cleared by the next day. Although we didn’t get to try, poolside services are available for drinks and food. The hotel also gives you access to its sister property, JW Marriott’s, expansive Grande Lakes waterpark that has a wonderful lazy river. Your resort fee includes two tubes at the water park, so float away!
Bottom Line
Our Fourth of July weekend at The Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes was everything we had hoped for and more. The hotel's combination of luxurious amenities, convenient location, and family-friendly activities created the perfect setting for a memorable vacation. Eli’s dreams of visiting "Jurassic Park," watching fireworks, and seeing an alligator were all fulfilled, and we, as parents, enjoyed a relaxing and rejuvenating break.
As we reflect on our trip, it’s clear that The Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes has set a new standard for our family vacations. We’re already looking forward to our next visit, confident that this hotel will continue to deliver exceptional experiences for our family. If you’re seeking a destination that combines luxury, convenience, and family-friendly fun, The Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes should be at the top of your list.