Central Florida is very gay-friendly region, especially if you find yourself in downtown Orlando or Mount Dora. There are many theme parks, entertainment venues, and restaurants to choose from throughout Central Florida. There seem to be just as many lodging options, if not more! Deciding where to stay in Central Florida can be stressful, especially if you’re looking for LGBTQ-friendly hotel options. We’ve done the homework, so you don’t have to.
Know Before You Go
All of the options listed are LGBTQ friendly. Unless otherwise indicated, children are welcome. Pets are welcome at many, but not all properties. Please verify when reserving.
If you just landed at Orlando Airport, check out StressFreeCarRental.com to get a vehicle to your hotel quickly.
Consider these options for your central Florida vacation:
Hotels and Resorts
Doubletree Resort, Orlando
Your stay at the Doubletree Resort Orlando begins like all the rest of the Doubletrees – with their signature chocolate chip cookie. What a great way to be welcomed to a fabulous, upscale hotel. In between visits to the neighboring SeaWorld or Universal parks (via complimentary shuttle service), you can soak up the sun at the pool. Enjoy lunch at one of the four onsite restaurants/bars, or just catch up on some sleep in your modern and spacious room or luxury suite. In-room amenities include air-conditioning, 42″ LCD HDTV, hi-speed Internet access, coffeemaker, and more; select rooms also include mini-fridge and microwave. And the hotel has over 40 spaces for private functions, perfect for weddings or meetings of any size.
Grand Bohemian Hotel Autograph Collection, Orlando
If you’re looking to stay at a hotel that’s truly luxurious, you’ll love the Grand Bohemian Orlando. This Marriott property is located in the heart of Downtown Orlando, close to all the action at Amway Center, Camping World Stadium and Lake Eola Park, as well as Orlando’s exciting nightlife and entertainment. Walk into the welcoming lobby and you’ll feel like a prince or princess entering a palace, with its vaulted ceilings, Italian mosaics, and fabulous art gallery. Listen to the sound of a live jazz performance as you enjoy a cocktail at the Bosendorfer Lounge, the perfect way to unwind after a long day in the city. Have dinner (or breakfast, lunch, or Sunday brunch) at The Boheme Restaurant, a AAA 4-star culinary experience.
The boutique-style accommodations include luxurious beds, plush bathrobes, a whirlpool tub; amenities include complimentary high-speed WiFi and elegant marble vanities. This is also the perfect location for a special event, which can be held in one of the indoor or outdoor venues. With its excellent location and lavish decor and amenities, you’re sure to love your stay.
Bohemian Hotel Autograph Collection, Celebration
The Bohemian Hotel in Celebration, Florida, is located lakeside, just 20 minutes from most of the theme parks in the area, and close to the shopping and entertainment in Kissimmee’s Old Town. It has a variety of rooms — king/queen rooms, studios, and suites — all with luxurious beds, complimentary Wi-Fi, flat-screen LED TVs, and contemporary decor. Take a stroll through the lobby, filled with wonderful art; take a dip in the scenic outdoor pool; or enjoy a light meal at the hotel’s Lakeside Bar & Grill. Another great place to have your next special celebration, too, with beautiful venues, expert event planning and talented catering services.
Family-Friendly Hotels
Holiday Inn Resort Suites – Waterpark, Orlando
If you’re vacationing with your family, you’ll love the location, amenities and affordability of the Holiday Inn Resort Suites – Waterpark in Orlando. This is an all-suite hotel with accommodations that sleep a minimum of 4 and up to 8 people. Some suites have bunkbeds for the youngsters, with king or queen beds for the adults. Each suite has complimentary high-speed Internet, 42-Inch HDTVs with cable, a full kitchen and dining area, an in-room safe and more.
Hotel amenities include a concierge desk, free shuttle to Epcot, Universal and Sea World, a gift shop and convenience store, fitness center, ATM, laundry on-site, full-service restaurant and casual dining, and more. And, of course, there’s the Lagoon Waterpark, a large aquatic center with 7 slides, a zero-depth pool, an Olympic-size pool, a 4-story water tower and a splash park area for the little ones. It’s perfect for the whole family!
Holiday Inn Express & Suites S Lake Buena Vista, Kissimmee
Holiday Inn Express S Lake Buena Vista in Kissimmee, is an affordable way to stay near all Orlando’s major attractions. Enjoy a premier hotel with convenience, value, service and quality. Be in the excitement of Orlando’s non stop fun. Take a short drive for shopping the nearby cities or head to the sandy beaches of the East and West coasts. Jump in one of the three sparkling pools with water slides. This LGBTQ-friendly hotel offers something for everyone.
LEGOLAND Florida Hotel, Winter Haven
LEGOLAND Hotel in Winter Haven is another family-oriented hotel, just a few steps from the LEGOLAND theme park. It features 152 rooms and suites, and each one has its own LEGO theme. Choose a theme – Adventure, Kingdom, Pirate, LEGO® Friends and The LEGO®Movie – and your room will be filled with decorations and toys to match the theme. There are over 2,000 LEGO models throughout the hotel, made from over 2 million LEGO bricks! Be sure to eat at the BRICKS Family Restaurant for a great breakfast or dinner. There’s also an outdoor pool, free WiFi, cable TV, free parking, and concierge service.
Disney Resorts
Disney’s Contemporary Hotel
The Disney Contemporary Hotel is one of the three original Disney World hotels, and it’s still a favorite. It’s one of the most iconic resorts onsite, with the Disney monorail going right through the center of the hotel. Ride just one stop on the monorail and you’re in the Magic Kingdom. And like all of the resorts in the Disney World property, it’s luxury all the way: beautifully appointed rooms, award-winning restaurants, a huge swimming pool, fantastic views and all of the extras you receive from an official Walt Disney World hotel.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
Another favorite is the Disney Animal Kingdom Lodge. This is a unique resort, designed with an African theme inspired by the design of native kraal villages: thatched ceilings, large wooden beams, African artifacts, and a mud fireplace. You may even see wild animals out the rear window of the hotel as you look out over the savanna and become immersed in the African culture through live musical performances throughout the day. There’s a large, zero-entry pool surrounded by lush, tropical landscaping, as well as the usual Disney amenities.
Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground
Camping at Disney
Amid the magic of the great outdoors, Disney style, you’ll find the Campsites at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground. Enjoy the beauty of nature that brings back the timeless beauty of the American frontier, with deer, rabbits and other wildlife roaming around the 750 acres of pine and cypress forest. There are inviting woodland trails to discover, or slip into the Meadow Swimmin’ Pool, with its 67-foot-long corkscrew waterslide, followed by a soak in the hot tub for the adults, while the children play in the splash park. For a more relaxing dip, try the Wilderness Swimmin’ Pool, an all-ages leisure pool with hot tub.
There’s plenty of other things to keep you busy, too: the archery range; the Tri-Circle-D Ranch with it’s wagon, carriage and pony rides; fishing; boat and canoe rentals; playgrounds and arcades, and don’t miss Chip ‘N’ Dale’s Campfire Sing-A-Long. Enjoy all the extras that comes with staying on an Official Walt Disney World property, including transportation from the campgrounds directly to each of the parks.
When your long day is over, return to your tent or RV for a good night’s sleep. All RV sites have full hookups, 30/50 amp electricity, concrete pads, picnic tables and charcoal grills, and room for rigs up to 60′ long. Even tent sites have a level pad, water and electric, picnic tables and charcoal grills.
Cabins at Disney
If that’s a little too rustic for you or you prefer to “rough it” in comfort, there are lovely cabins available for rent, too. The Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness share the same pine and cypress forest and many of the amenities, but with all the conveniences of home. Each private cabin is fully furnished and spacious enough to sleep 6 adults. These charming guest houses offer a living room, bedroom, full bathroom, private patio, charcoal grill, and modern kitchen, complete with a refrigerator, dishwasher, convection/microwave oven and 2 countertop burners. You don’t even have to do the dishes! Housekeeping will take care of it for you.
On a Budget
Want to save money on where to stay so you can spend it on theme parks and shopping? Then here are some suggestions for you. When reserving inquire about discounts such as AAA or even AARP to save even more.
B Resort & Spa, Disney Springs Area, Orlando
B Resort & Spa is an official Walt Disney World® hotel, located in the Disney Springs® Resort area. It’s convenient to all of the Disney attractions and includes special benefits only available at official WDW hotels, such as Disney FastPass+, Extra Magic House, and complimentary shuttles to and from the parks. The LGBTQ-friendly hotel offers family-flexible rooms or suites that are perfect to suit your needs. You can stay in a poolside walk-out suite or a room with bunk beds. All rooms include Keurig coffee makers, free WiFi, luxurious bath products and the most comfortable beds available. While at the hotel, enjoy a 24-hour fitness center, relax and take a dip in the pool, have a drink or snack from the poolside bar, use the on-site laundry facilities, dine at one of the three restaurants or enjoy the luxury of room service.
Parliament House Resort, Orlando
The Parliament House Resort is a LBGTQ-owned and operated hotel that’s been a part of the gay scene since it opened in the mid-1970’s. Its 112 rooms, efficiencies and suites aren’t fancy, but the rates are low and the staff is very friendly. The 2-level motel surrounds a clothing-optional pool. All rooms have comfortable accommodations and include cable TV, full bathrooms, and room service; WiFi is available for a charge. The resort is also home to (and connected to) the Footlight Theatre, where you will find the best in locally produced plays and musicals, pageants, and female impersonation shows. Hungry? The Rainbow Café, a full-service restaurant in the entertainment complex, is open seven days a week from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. It’s a great place to grab breakfast or enjoy a delectable dinner before a show. (Temporarily Closed for new location)
FabStayz Rental Properties
Sleepy at Vista in Kissimmee
This spacious 2100 square foot property includes 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. Sleepy at Vista is a manufactured home just six miles from Disney. The gated resort offers privacy and several amenities. Kids will love the Harry Potter Theme Room with step up bunk (twin on top and full below). The room invoices a 52 inch HDTV with the entire Harry Potter Movie collection.
The two king bedrooms offer heavenly pillow-top beds and cloud-like pillows. After all, an awesome sleep is vital to tackling the parks! There are two living areas, both with large screen TVs, a private and peaceful sun deck, a full kitchen, a laundry room, all plenty of upgraded amenities.
To book your stay, click here.
Serendipity at Indian Creek in Kissimmee
With themed bedrooms (including Shrek and Finding Nemo), a private swimming pool, hot tub access, a spacious living area, 24-hour game room fun, and a full kitchen, your family will have everything needed to enjoy a fun time in Central Florida.
Serenity Lake House in Kissimmee
Serenity Lake House is a 3 bedroom/3 bathroom manufactured resort home loaded with amenities and upgrades. This property is perfect for families, couples or small groups. There are 2 King Suites with private bathrooms and a Harry Potter Bedroom with both Queen and Twin beds as well as a private bathroom. Watch stunning sunsets over the lake from your screened Florida room or curl up inside to watch your favorite film on the 70 inch TV.
This property has full kitchen and laundry facilities, a lake for fishing, restaurants within walking distance and a gated resort with lots of leisure activities.
To learn more, click here.
Other Rental Properties
Mills Cottage, Orlando
Mills Cottage, LGBT-owned, has a second-story, 2-bedroom/1-bath unit located behind the main house. This pet-friendly unit can sleep up to four people, has small deck overlooking a lake and is close to other lakes and several dog-friendly parks. The beds are comfy, the kitchen is fully equipped with a coffeemaker, toaster, cook top, oven and refrigerator. There’s also a washer and dryer, iron, flat screen TV in the living room, free WiFi, and cable, including HBO, Showtime, and Netflix. There’s even a dedicated professional workstation with all necessary supplies and one off-street parking space. This place is perfect for an extended stay.
Tuscana Resort, Orlando
Tuscana Resort, is an Aqua-Aston property, a family-friendly, but all-welcoming, pet-friendly resort in Orlando. It has condo-style suites, each with air conditioning, fully equipped kitchen, in-room washer and dryer, in-room safe, a private balcony and WiFi access. The resort also has a large, beach-style pool and poolside activities, jacuzzi, poolside bar, barbecue grills, a fitness center, daily housekeeping, a 30-seat movie theatre, and restaurant. Some amenities require an additional fee. Tuscana is close to all the major attractions and theme parks.
VRBO Pet-Friendly Lakefront Duplex
This beautiful 4-bedroom duplex is located on the first floor of the house and is completely separate from the unit upstairs. It has a separate entrance, fully stocked kitchen, washer and dryer; linens and towels are provided. It has a private pool that’s enclosed by a screen house and not shared with the upstairs occupants. The house is near the heart of Orlando and close to Lake Jessamine and Cypress Grove Park, a great place for walking. It’s only 15 minutes from Orlando Airport, the convention center and Universal; 20 minutes from Disney. There are several boats available for rent, including fishing poles and gas. Details are available on the website.
The Great Outdoors
With beautiful weather pretty-much year-round in Florida, why not stay at a campground? Many of them are like resorts, with great amenities and activities, and they’re normally a lot less expensive than a full-service hotel. Even if you don’t have camping gear or an RV, most of these have cabins or park homes you can rent while you’re there.
The Sawmill LGBT RV Park, Dade City
The Sawmill is the premier gay and lesbian community in the Southeast. It was originally a resort for gay men only, but over the years, they’ve opened it up to lesbians, too. It’s a 21+, private, membership-only club and you must be a member to visit or stay at Sawmill. A standard membership is only $35 for 12 full months; you pay separately for the accommodations when you visit during that time. Other levels of membership are available that include campsite fees.
The campground has 32 cabins, 68 RV sites, 49 tenting pads and 122 resident sites spread out over 120 acres. There’s a heated outdoor, clothing-optional pool, walking trails around Ricki Lake, and lots of activities nearby, including zip lines and antique shopping.
You can dance the night away in Woody’s Nightclub to the sounds of the area’s best DJ’s, relax at the Cigar Bar, cuddle up by the communal campfire, and enjoy shows on the Main Stage in the large courtyard. There are four bars, various themed events, daily activities, gameshow, comedy shows and delicious food available.
As for the accommodations, standard cabins come with one or two beds, a refrigerator, all linens, and A/C; guests will use a shared communal bathroom. Premium Cabins have all the comforts of home: either 1 or 2 beds, all linens, kitchenettes, TV’s (for DVD use only), A/C and Private Bathrooms.
Camp David Florida, Inverness
Camp David is a private membership, RV park and Day Retreat, located in the middle of a heavily wooded area with three small lakes. The entire 16-acre campground is clothing optional, providing a natural environment for men. There’s a monitored entrance gate for added security. Most of the RV sites have full hookups with 30/50 amp electric; some sites are water and electric only with 20 amp. There are also primitive tenting sites available. All sites have high-speed WiFi; some sites have cable TV available. There’s a clubhouse with a TV lounge, a video room, shuffleboard, a clean bath house, pool, hot tub, and nature trails for hiking.
Orlando/Kissimmee KOA, Kissimmee
After a long day of playing in the parks, come home to the beautiful Orlando/Kissimmee KOA. RV sites include back-in, pull-though, or deluxe patio sites. There are even sites that can accommodate rigs and tow vehicles combined up to 130+ feet.
All RV sites have full hookups with 50/30/20 amp service.
There are a variety of cabins here. Some are basic with no inside restroom facilities. Deluxe cabins can sleep up-to eight and have 1.5 baths and a partial kitchen. Enjoy the pool, hot tub, or sauna. Check out the scenery on a rental bike.
Pet pals can enjoy the Kamp K9 dog park and the dog wash area (assuming your pup likes baths!).
Find the Right Fit
These listings are just a few of the many accommodations in and around one of the most visited places in the world! There are plenty of options, so look carefully and find the one that’s right for you.
For more information on exploring Central Florida, click here.
**Disclaimer: There is a good chance that this post contains affiliate or sponsor links. If you make a purchase through them, we may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you (for which we are extremely grateful).
Also, while we do our best to highlight LGBTQ-friendly destinations and businesses, info provided is based solely on personal experience and recommendations by community partners. We hope that nobody experiences discrimination or homophobia while visiting Florida, but we make no guarantees. Please inform us if you experience discrimination or homophobia while visiting any destination so we can make updates to our recommendations.
