Red Lion Hotel Orlando – Kissimmee Maingate

The lobby at the Maingate Resort & Spa is spacious, bright, and elegant. There are comfortable armchairs and sofas in creams and browns, and nautical artwork on the walls. Reception can get busy and there are often long lines of people waiting to check in or out, especially at peak times. The hotel is geared toward couples and families (especially families planning to spend time at Orlando's nearby theme parks), and the atmosphere is often lively and bustling. The decor is nothing to write home about, but is pleasant and welcoming, and the 23 acres of garden grounds are full of lovely spaces with lounge chairs and fire pits. 

The property sits on the main highway 192 for Kissimmee. There's a huge concentration of restaurants and shops in the immediate area, and its main draw is proximity to Disney World -- just a half mile away. It’s around a 20-minute drive to Universal and to downtown Orlando too, making the location ideal for tourists. The hotel provides a free shuttle to the theme parks as well, though it’s worth noting that it has to be booked in advance. Maingate could be a good choice for business travelers too as the Orange County Convention Center is within a 20-minute drive. Free parking is provided on-site for all guests. 

The rooms at Maingate Resort are basic, and the decor is a little drab and dated, but overall they’re in good condition and are spacious. They’re equipped with air-conditioning, a coffeemaker, and a mini-fridge. There’s also a flat-screen TV with satellite channels and an iPod dock. Wi-Fi is free but the signal can be poor. Rooms can also be noisy -- thin walls mean guests are sometimes disturbed by those in the neighboring rooms and some rooms get traffic noise from the highway. Bathrooms have been recently refurbished and while simply-done with shower/tub combos, they too are spacious. 

There’s a good range of facilities at this property, the highlight for many guests being the 23 acres of lovely gardens. Landscaped in a tropical style, there’s colorful hibiscus plants, palm trees, fire pits surrounded by lounge chairs, and fountains. There’s plenty of comfortable seating throughout the gardens, and there are also three outdoor swimming pools. Only one of these is heated though, so that one can get very crowded at times. Also included in the outdoor space are tennis, basketball, and volleyball courts, plus a nice children’s play area with slides, tunnels, and bridges. 

Breakfast is not included in the room rate but there is a restaurant on-site, a '50s-style diner, that serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The menu mainly consists of basics like burgers, sandwiches, and salads, but previous guests have commented on both the food and service being poor at times. The hotel also offers a fitness center, laundry room, business center, and large meeting room. A large gift shop sells a wide range of goods from snacks and drinks to clothes and luggage. Outside the gift shop is a nice area with tables, chairs, and microwaves for guests to use. Wi-Fi is free throughout, but service can be spotty.