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Harbour Lake – Small But Mighty!

Marriott Harbour Lake is a vacation ownership resort located in Orlando Florida, the vacation capital of the world! As a Marriott Vacation Club Owner for 33 years I’ve been to nearly every ownership resort in Florida. And I can say with certainty that Harbour Lake is one of my favorites! It truly is my “home away from home!”

As a Floridian for the past 24 years, we visit the Orlando ownership resorts quite often, about 3-4 times a year. (There are 7 located in Central Florida.) Even though we live in a gorgeous resort-like community called Solivita (a 55+ active adult community), we choose to take our out-of-state family and friends to the Marriott villas every time they visit. And when our only grandchild was born 10 years ago, well, Harbour Lake quickly became our destination of choice!

Even though Harbour Lake is smaller than most Marriott ownership resorts, it packs a BIG punch! The small land mass is exactly why I love it so much. It offers all the same calendar of events and activities as ‘the big boys’ but without having to walk a mile to get anywhere. When you have young kids or grandkids that’s important.

Recently I took my grandson to Marriott Grande Vista in Orlando. It’s Marriott’s largest ownership property and I thought he would like it better now that he is 10 years old. He had a great time. But when asked where he wanted to go for his back-to-school treat, to my surprise he chose Harbour Lake! He absolutely loves it. It’s extremely family-friendly so there’s never any shortage of kids for him to play with. As an only-child that’s an important aspect for him.

Harbour Lake: Key West Island-y Vibes

Harbour Lake is an island-themed oasis in Orlando, The City Beautiful. I love the Key West style architecture with its tropical pastel colors, gingerbread lacework, decorative shutters, and yes, even white picket fences! The moment you enter the Key House for check-in, you’ll experience an island-y vibe. The impeccable tropical landscaping even incorporates two of my favorite flowers – hibiscus and bird of paradise. And of course, no tropical escape is complete without Jimmy Buffett tunes which you’ll hear by the pool, oftentimes via live entertainment!

A Plethora of Harbour Lake Recreation Options

There is no shortage of things to do at this Marriott resort. Harbour Lake has two pools: Florida Falls, which includes a waterslide and children’s splash pad, and Shipwreck Landing with the ever-popular pirate ship.

Additional amenities include Recreation Station with basketball courts, pool tables, ping pong, table shuffleboard, foosball, a fire pit, and playground for tiny tots. Most of this area is covered, making it a great escape from the relentless Florida sun or shelter on a rainy day. Apollo (my grandson) and I have spent countless hours here, and I’m embarrassed to admit he now beats me at most of the games I’ve taught him to play!

Key Lime Greens, the 18-hole miniature golf course, is just a short walk from this area. And yes, Apollo beats my butt here too! For the life of me I cannot figure out how he gets a hole-in-one every single time we play!

And then there’s Harbour Field where the kids play soccer, kickball, football, and any other made-up game they can think of. As a competitive soccer player, Apollo is content to spend hours on this field every day, usually in the early evening when it’s a little cooler. Right aside of Harbour Field is the sand volleyball court.

Just a short distance from there is Harbour Landing, a beautiful and peaceful covered sitting area overlooking the lake – the best seat in the house to watch the amazing Florida sunsets! Grab your favorite beverage and head here at dusk. Oftentimes, you can see the fireworks in the distance from the area theme parks.

And for those who want to keep up with their exercise routine while on vacation, you’ll want to visit the Fitness Center for sure.

All sports equipment is free, with the exception of miniature golf ($6/per person or purchase a $30 pass which includes unlimited play for everyone in your villa for the entire length of stay). Sports equipment must be checked out and returned back to the Recreation Office located in the Key House. It’s open from 9:00am – 9:00pm daily.

Harbour Lake Resort Activities

As previously mentioned, there is an impressive list of organized resort activities… usually about 15 per day! A few of Apollo’s favorites are: Fall Slide Races, Waterslide Shootout, Water Balloon Toss, and Kids Dodgeball. During our last visit in August they even had Kids Olympic Games, in honor of the Paris Olympic Games that were underway.

My favorites are much less physically taxing, and can be enjoyed with a tropical beverage in-hand. I really like the Poolside Bingo, Music Trivia, Dueling Pianos, Royal Polynesian Revue, Acoustic Campfire & Smores, and Adult Wine Tasting. I also appreciate that the activities are changed seasonally.

Most activities are free, but a few require a minimal charge and advance reservations. For example: Adult Wine Tasting $15, and Tie Dye T-Shirts $20. And for just $5 you can do Rock Painting, Friendship Bracelets, or Color Your Own Canvas Bag. All well worth the price and experience!

For those who are a little more daring Harbour Lake offers Hair Wraps, Tattoos (temporary), Scuba Lessons, and Mermaid School! Apollo and his friend both chose the dragon tattoo!

Another fun thing is the issuance of “sand dollars.” It’s Marriott’s currency for the kids (and kids-at-heart!). Sand dollars are round plastic tokens that are given out after the completion of every activity. And you don’t have to be a winner. It’s just a thank you for participating. Sand dollars can be saved (even for future visits) and then redeemed for little prizes in the Recreation Office. Apollo is currently saving for a Marriott logo’d insulated water bottle, which requires 100 tokens (he’s almost there!).

Harbour Lake Dining Choices

On-site dining options include: The Outpost, serving beverages, ice cream and light snacks – and The Patio Bar and Grill with outdoor seating, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. Apollo’s favorite is the Patio Burger with a virgin strawberry daiquiri. He would eat it every day if allowed!

There is no room delivery, but you can order ahead of time for pickup by scanning the QR code on your cell phone. This covered area also has an outdoor movie screen showing family-friendly movies and various sports in-season. Outdoor gas grills are also available at every building.

Holidays At Harbour Lake Are Awesome

Marriott Harbour Lake is a great resort any time of year, but the holidays are extra special! For us Floridians the weather has cooled down substantially, and the humidity is barely there. With endless opportunities for holiday happenings in the Orlando area, you will run out of vacation days before you run out of things to do! It’s my favorite time of year for the theme parks and destinations like Disney Springs, Icon Park, Lake Eola, and the Museums.

Harbour Lake’s central location makes it a breeze to get to any of the Orlando holiday events and celebrations. Even if you choose to chill and just hang out at the resort, Marriott makes it a special time. They decorate beautifully for Christmas (beginning around Thanksgiving), and incorporate holiday-themed activities into the schedule. The Christmas tree in the Key House is huge and a super spot for Instagram-worthy family photos! Last year the staff even participated in a gingerbread-making contest, and the guests got to cast a vote for the winner! That was fun!

I always try to make the holiday season special for my grandson. So when visiting Harbour Lake during December I’m stocked up with Christmas crafts and even a few early Christmas gifts! We play holiday games, make a gingerbread house every year, paint and bake Christmas cookie ornaments, and wear our Christmas jammies!

We take day trips to see ICE at Gaylord Palms Resort, where it’s a real challenge to get Apollo off the ice slides. We go to the Chocolate Factory to warm up with hot chocolate and special treats. (Don’t let anyone tell you it doesn’t get cold here. Oftentimes we have to wear jackets, and even coats, during the winter months in Florida!)

If you have the opportunity, I highly recommend Harbour Lake during the holidays!

Marriott Cleanliness

The recreation areas are always very clean and well kept, as are the immaculate grounds. It’s not unusual to see staff members walking around surveying the property for anything out of place. And the pool and hot tubs are always crystal clear and constantly being checked for water quality. I’ve always known Marriott to take our health and safety seriously, which is much appreciated.

As far as the villas themselves, we’ve had one or two minor maintenance issues over the years. But in every case, they were swiftly addressed by the maintenance team, and followed up with a phone call from the front desk confirming our satisfaction.

Travelers’ Choice Award 2024

Perhaps you’re on the fence when it comes to deciding whether or not Marriott Harbour Lake would be a good fit for your family’s vacation. Or maybe you’re a local couple looking for a staycation or weekend getaway wondering if Harbour Lake is more suited for guests with kids.

If you’re anything like me, I rarely book any lodging without first doing my research, which includes reading reviews. I’m happy to report that Marriott Harbour Lake is the recipient of Tripadvisor’s Travelers’ Choice Award for 2024! That means Harbour Lake consistently earns great reviews from travelers and is ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.

Tips for a Better Experience

To assist in your decision, I’ve compiled a list of TIPS which you may find beneficial. Hubby and I have been staying at Harbour Lake since it opened in 2001 as Horizons by Marriott Vacation Club. In 2009 it was renamed and became Marriott Harbour Lake. As a result of our frequent stays here, I submit to you the following tips…

• Purchase the souvenir mug in the lobby to get free (basic) coffee during your stay
• Best location for Seaworld at only 1.3 miles away (Universal Studios is 7.1 miles and Disney Magic Kingdom is 9.8 miles)
• If possible, don’t book during Spring Break when it’s crazy busy (not just here but throughout Florida)
• Close proximity to restaurants (17 within a mile, including Bonefish Grill, a favorite of mine)
• Resort is cash-free ever since COVID – must pay with credit/debit card or room charge (always a good idea to be aware of how much you are charging)
• The 2 buildings overlooking the pools (13 & 28) will definitely experience more noise intrusion, but obviously the closest walk to the pools
• Buildings 12 and 15 overlook the lake and offer more privacy, a good option for couples or those with no children (however, the villas toward the end of building 15 are closest to the interstate and may experience road noise accordingly)
• If multiple families are visiting together, request rooms in the same building by calling a few weeks in advance
• Purchase the miniature golf pass for $30 – it’s good for unlimited play for everyone in the villa for the duration of your stay
• Marriott provides free life jackets at both pools for the kids to use during your stay
• TV’s connect to both your Netflix and Amazon Prime accounts for plenty of viewing options
• Good security at the Guard Gate – they actually check IDs upon entry unlike our experience at Grande Vista and other properties (and we’re always warmly greeted with a “Welcome Home!”)

Marriott Elite Status

I felt this final tip needed a more lengthy explanation. As previously mentioned, Marriott Harbour Lake is a Vacation Ownership Resort. It is not a Marriott full service hotel. Yes, it’s true, you do not have to be a Marriott Timeshare Owner to stay here, and you can conveniently make reservations at Marriott.com for a night, a week, or longer. You can even use your Marriott Bonvoy points when booking a villa (studio, 1-bedroom or 2-bedroom). And as long as you give your Bonvoy number when checking in, you will earn points for your stay.

But that’s as far as it goes. Whatever your Marriott Elite Status may be (silver, gold, platinum, etc.) does not apply at Harbour Lake (or any of the Marriott Vacation Club resorts). The “perks” of elite status will not work here. Some people have been disappointed when finding out the hard way they cannot have their favorite hotel perks. There is no room upgrades, no room service for food delivery, and no early check-in/late check-out.

Harbour Lake will, however, store your luggage if you arrive before the room is ready or need to linger later because of flight times. You are welcome to use all resort amenities, but without room access or room charging privileges. Simply inquire at the front desk. They will work to accommodate as much as possible.

In Conclusion

Marriott Harbour Lake is a fantastic choice for my needs and family. I love the convenience of a smaller resort with all the same activities of the larger ones. I’ve always been impressed with the super friendly staff willing to go the extra mile. The grounds are immaculate, villas always very clean, and security does a great job keeping me safe.

Many families I meet never leave the resort. And even if you do, it’s a great place to recover from your theme park vacation! I always leave feeling rested and refreshed… but wishing I had just one more day!

If you have any questions I haven’t addressed, feel free to use the contact option. Or, perhaps you’d like to share your own Harbour Lake experience. Our readers would love to hear from you!