Studio Room Review at Orange Lake (West Village)

A studio room at Orange Lake’s West Village is an excellent option if you are looking for a reasonably priced hotel room with some of the comforts of home. Since this Kissimmee-based resort has so much to cover, this article will focus on studio rooms in Orange Lake’s West Village.

If you want to know more about the resort, you might want to check out our entire Orange Lake Resort review. That article provides an overview of the villages, dining, and recreation. It also includes a few tips for dining and grocery shopping in the immediate area.

The Orange Lake studio room in the West Village sleeps up to five guests, per the Holiday Inn Vacation Club’s website. As you can see in the photo below, this room has two queen-size beds. A sofa sleeper pulls out to make a third bed.

These rooms feel tremendously spacious at 540 square feet. For comparison, a standard hotel room averages 325 square feet. This kitchen and dining area account for some of that extra square footage.

I was pleased with the layout and functionality of this room. It was much more spacious than the average Disney World Resort room. It felt more like a small apartment where someone could live versus a hotel room.

Our room had two queen-size beds with a nightstand between them.

The room had one window that allowed in a little natural light. Unfortunately, it only offered a view of the parking lot. Some of the rooms in the West Village are considered interior rooms. Those rooms look into a large atrium-like area. They still let in a little light, but not as much as you would see in a regular room. Here is an example of those interior rooms. They have sliding doors with small Juliette balconies.

A flat-screen television sits on top of the dresser. I liked that it was on a swivel stand. When I was having a meal, I could adjust it to face the direction of the kitchen area.

The beds and pillows were comfortable.

The sofa provided a nice seating area.

It converts to a double or full-size bed.

An end table sits beside it with a lamp.

The kitchenette in the studio won me over. It had everything I needed to prepare meals throughout the week.

A table and chairs sat up to four guests.

The cabinets were stocked with plates, bowls, and various glassware.

The counters provided room to prepare food. Extras included a cutting board, blender, coffee maker, and toaster oven.

The cooktop was a solid surface with two burners.

The drawers had plenty of silverware and extras.

Other items included utensils like a cheese grater, vegetable peeler, and spatulas. Not only that, but a can, bottle, and wine opener were available. How often have people had to buy a wine opener while on vacation?

We had everything we needed to prepare meals, including cookware.

The microwave doubled as a convection oven. I have to admit it was a little fancy and could potentially be hard to figure out. We used it as a microwave. You might notice that it had quite a few buttons.

We were also impressed with the extra convenience items, such as a roll of paper towels, dishwasher detergent, and dish soap, which is not always the case when renting a condo.

Since I travel often, I usually keep an extra suitcase stocked with these things. So it was nice not to need them during this stay. Another positive feature was the sink’s detachable sprayer. We also experience good water pressure throughout the stay in the kitchen and bath.

I started the dishwasher every morning before heading to the parks. Then, everything was clean and ready to go when I returned in the evening to cook dinner.

The fridge was small but offered plenty of room for a week’s vacation. Just remember not to go overboard when buying groceries. You don’t want to purchase unnecessary items that you’ll have to throw away by the end of the week.

Here are a few small appliances like a coffee maker and a blender.

The bath was comparable to a standard guest room. It has a tub with a shower combination.

It offered plenty of counter space and storage underneath the sink. A hairdryer was mounted on the wall. While the room didn’t have a washer and dryer, a laundry room was available at no extra charge down the hall. I brought washing detergent with me and was able to do a load of laundry halfway through the trip. Having laundry nearby was very convenient. I was able to start a load and return to the room to prepare dinner a couple of nights during our stay.

As far as in-room meals go on long trips, we almost always purchase a rotisserie chicken. We use the leftovers to make chicken nachos or a salad. You can also use the stove to make omelets and sauté veggies. Microwave-baked potatoes are another simple, filling meal with hardly any prep.

We like to purchase a few simple ingredients, such as cheese, bread, and butter, and incorporate them into several meals. For example, you can have avocado toast for breakfast and a grilled ham and cheese sandwich or something similar for a late dinner.

We also always purchase fresh fruit. It’s a welcome break from all the junk food in the parks. Sure, the treats are fun, they taste good, and you are on vacation. However, it’s also hot, and you can quickly get dehydrated from being out all day. Returning to the room and enjoying a bowl of strawberries, watermelon, or whatever fresh fruit you like will help you feel refreshed.

Another good option during the week might be to stop in Publix, pick up a fried chicken meal, or have them make sub sandwiches for the family. Both Publix and Target are within five minutes of the entrance to Orange Lake Resort. For Mexican cuisine, we order from Tijuana Flats. They have the best guacamole! We also enjoy ordering pizza from Flippers (the one in the Rolling Oaks shopping center next to Target).

While this Orange Lake studio room had plenty of amenities, you might consider bringing aluminum foil or gallon-size plastic bags to store leftovers in the fridge. I usually stuff a gallon-size bag full of various other-size plastic bags. Then, I add a few straws and fold up a long sheet of aluminum foil. That way, I don’t have to purchase these items. They do add up.

When it comes to staying off-property, you’ll want to consider a number of variables. Being able to prepare meals in your room can save a lot of money. But you’ll also want to budget for the cost of groceries. Some might argue that you won’t stay in your hotel room during a Disney vacation except to shower and sleep. If that’s the case, you will likely enjoy staying on property in one of Disney’s value resorts.

You’ll also have to pay for parking at Disney if you drive your car. When you stay at a Disney Resort Hotel, parking is complimentary at the resort and the theme parks. That can save you approximately $30.00 per day, which is the cost of a couple of quick-service meals.

Overall, we enjoyed our stay in this studio room and its amenities. Orange Lake is an excellent place to spend a week’s vacation. Now, if I were planning on spending a lot of time at the resort during the week, I might look into the rooms in the River Island section of Orange Lake. However, those rooms are considered an upgrade and will cost more. But the amenities are perfect for a family who will spend time at the pool.

Related: River Island at Orange Lake

If this is your first visit to Disney, I recommend staying on the property if you can make it work with your budget and accommodation needs. A Walt Disney World vacation can be overwhelming, and staying on-site will add simplicity. For budget-friendly accommodations, you might enjoy our guide to the best value resorts at Disney World. Here are the individual reviews:

• Disney’s All-Star Music Review
• Disney’s All-Star Movies Review
• Disney’s All-Star Sports Reviews
• Disney’s Art of Animation Review
• Disney’s Pop Century Review

For off-property, you might enjoy these articles:

• Best Marriotts Near Disney World
• Best Off-Site Hotels Near Disney World
• Hotels Near Disney at Bonnet Creek
• Flamingo Crossings Area Hotels
• Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress Review

In the comments:

What are your thoughts on this studio room at Orange Lake? Have you stayed at the resort before? Do you see the benefits of this type of room?