Hilton Garden Inn Orlando: Location Near Universal and Disney
For this Hilton Garden Inn Orlando review, I wanted to share how our stay compared with the Orlando hotels we’ve used over the years, including our longtime favorite, Embassy Suites. For our October 3–8, 2026 trip, we tried the Hilton Garden Inn Orlando International Drive North instead. After five nights, we had a new favorite.
The hotel is in the same general area as Universal Orlando’s value hotels. We used Lyft for Universal—Curt prefers it because drivers keep 100% of their tips—and tried the complimentary hotel shuttle one morning. The shuttle also picked up guests from a neighboring Hilton property sharing the driveway. Our hotel was the last stop, so the bus was crowded, but we arrived at Universal quickly. For Disney, we drove: my Annual Pass includes standard theme park parking, and the route was pretty much a straight shot.
Hilton Garden Inn Orlando Rooms: Quiet and Comfortable
We had a top-floor room with two queen beds. Curt would have preferred a king, but I liked the room. The beds were comfortable, with three pillows on each bed, and there was a standard workspace for Curt. His Hilton Honors Diamond status included premium high-speed internet. The room was very quiet, and we could even see Epic Universe fireworks in the distance.
Hilton Garden Inn Orlando Pool and That Enormous Hot Tub
The well-maintained outdoor pool area was one of our favorite parts of the stay. There were lounge chairs, cabanas, palm trees, a poolside tiki bar, and a HUGE hot tub. Curt could practically swim in it! We used the hot tub every evening, and only once did anyone else join us.
What surprised us was how few children we saw at our hotel. There were some around the pool on Sunday, but otherwise it was peaceful. The neighboring Hilton property seemed to have far more children when we crossed over for the shuttle. This is not an adults-only hotel, and other stays may be different, but for us it was a wonderfully quiet place to unwind after the parks.
Poolside Tiki Bar
The tiki bar was open during our stay, but not until after 5 p.m. We often saw the bartender setting up just as we were going inside. We did not order anything, but staff told us our Hilton Honors food-and-beverage credits could be used there.
Breakfast and the Lobby Snack Market
Breakfast was not complimentary. There was a menu and a buffet, and we chose the buffet one morning. At about $20 per person, it was a treat, but everything we tried was good and the staff were attentive. Our Hilton Honors Diamond benefit gave us a $10 food-and-beverage credit per person, reducing our out-of-pocket breakfast cost.
On other days, we used our credits for Vitaminwater or Smartwater from the small lobby snack market. The market also carried snacks and had sandwiches available one evening. It was handy after a long park day.
Friendly Staff and Food Delivery
The staff made a lasting impression. Everyone we encountered was helpful and welcoming. One evening I went down to collect sushi I’d ordered through Grubhub, and an employee even commented on my delivery. It’s a small interaction, but exactly the kind of friendliness that makes a stay memorable. Ordering delivery was convenient after the parks, especially when we didn’t want to go out again.
Using Hilton Honors Points
As I’ve explained in why I prefer booking hotels directly, loyalty benefits are one reason I stick with hotel brands I know. We booked five nights with Hilton Honors points. Our Hilton Honors activity confirms that we used 157,000 points for the five-night stay—an average of 31,400 points per night. The stay also earned 189 base points and 189 bonus points, bringing 378 points back into our account. Another little perk I hadn’t realized Curt was collecting: Hilton Honors points for our Lyft rides! Two rides on October 4 earned 27 and 33 Hilton Honors points, respectively. It’s worth linking your Hilton Honors and Lyft accounts if the earning offer is available to you. We appreciated the complimentary hotel parking, premium internet through Curt’s Diamond status, and the daily food-and-beverage credits. Point prices and benefits vary, so check your own dates and eligibility. For current amenities and hotel information, see the official Hilton Garden Inn Orlando International Drive North page.
Better for Us Than Our Previous Embassy Suites Stays
We’ve used Embassy Suites on previous Orlando trips, but this Hilton Garden Inn suited us better. Between the friendly staff, comfortable quiet room, pool and enormous hot tub, and convenient location, we enjoyed the overall experience more. Embassy Suites may include benefits such as breakfast that this property charges for, but the things that mattered most to us were the things this hotel did especially well.
A Few Things to Know
Breakfast costs extra unless your rate or eligible benefits cover it. The shared Universal shuttle may already be crowded when it reaches this hotel. The tiki bar opened after 5 p.m. during our stay. And while our visit was remarkably quiet, this is a family-friendly hotel rather than an adults-only property.
Would We Stay Again?
Absolutely. After five nights, we both agreed we’d found a new Orlando favorite. The staff, room, location, and peaceful evenings in that giant hot tub won us over. We’ll definitely be back.
This review is based on our self-booked October 2026 stay.