The Grove Resort & Water Park Orlando Reviews: Surfari Water Park, Condo Suites, Fees and Shuttles

Location and distances from the parks

The Grove sits in Four Corners, and no theme park is within walking distance. The resort says it is six miles from the Walt Disney World theme parks, and it gives its own drive times for each one.

For groceries, Alfresco Market on site sells food, groceries and souvenirs from 7 am to 10 pm, and Publix is 2 miles away. Grocery deliveries are allowed, but you must meet the driver in the lobby, because the resort will not accept or store groceries.

Distances to Universal Orlando, SeaWorld and the airport are not published by the resort, so check a map for your own route. The free shuttles are covered in the transport section below.

Rooms and suites at The Grove Resort

Every suite at The Grove is a 2- or 3-bedroom condo, with 12 room types in total. That covers standard and Superior View variants, 2-bath and 3-bath versions of the three-bedroom, and 4 ADA types.

Every suite has a full kitchen with kitchen supplies, a full-size washer and dryer, and a private screened balcony. For a family of six to eight, that saves real money on meals and laundry, though breakfast and other food still need planning.

Is there a 1-bedroom or studio?

Not at The Grove itself. Studio, 1-bedroom and 2-bedroom suites are at The Terraces at The Grove, which is booked separately and has its own pool area.

Which room to book

If you want the most space, the Grove Three-Bedroom Three Bath Condo at 1,544 sq ft is the largest. Superior View variants exist, and some upper-floor lake or Disney-facing units may see the nightly Disney fireworks. That last point comes from real-estate listings, not from the resort, so do not book on it alone. The resort does not publish whether rooms connect.

Surfari Water Park and the pools

The Grove Orlando water park is Surfari Water Park, on site and free for every registered guest. It has a FlowRider Double surf simulator, dual water slides, a 695-foot lazy river, a zero-entry pool (4 ft 6 in deep), a kids' activities pool, a splash pad, cabanas and the Longboard Bar & Grill.

Lazy river tubes are included. Toddlers may ride on a float with an adult, and life jackets rent for $5 a day. Both slides have a 48 in. minimum height. The FlowRider is extra: shared sessions are $35 for 30 minutes or $55 for 60 minutes, and private sessions are $175 for 30 minutes or $275 for 60 minutes. Cabanas start from $275 a day.

The Springs Pools

The Springs Pools have three full-sized pools, an oversized hot tub and a children's splash area beside Lake Austin. They are open daily 8:00 am to 10:00 pm. The Springs Pools and the Surfari zero-entry pool are kept at 83 degrees year-round.

Hours and rules

Surfari currently runs Sunday to Friday 10:00 am to 5:00 pm and Saturday 10:00 am to 7:00 pm. Hours change with the season and weather, and the park closes for lightning within 3 miles, with closures sent by SMS.

• Wristbands are issued at check-in; a replacement costs $35.
• There are no towels at the pool, so bring your suite towels.
• No coolers or outside food.

The resort's own pages differ on FlowRider: the fee list says extra, while an Offers page FAQ lists it among complimentary attractions. Confirm before you go.

Dining and breakfast

Breakfast is not included. It is not in the resort fee, and breakfast at Valencia is priced a la carte.

The resort lists five places to eat: Valencia Restaurant, The Springs Bar & Grill (a food hall), Longboard Bar & Grill at Surfari, Alfresco Market and Element Bar (Thursday to Sunday, 6 to 11 pm). The dining page also mentions DYVE, a new bar and grill at The Terraces. Mobile ordering is available.

Where to have breakfast

• Valencia Restaurant: Monday to Friday 8 to 11 am, weekend brunch 8 am to 12 pm. The FAQ lists a breakfast buffet there Saturday and Sunday, 8 am to 12 pm.
• The Springs Bar & Grill: breakfast and a breakfast buffet menu.
• Alfresco Market: Starbucks coffee from 7 am.

The resort does not publish its buffet prices, so check the current menu on its dining page. Room service is not mentioned, but to-go orders are offered. With a full kitchen in every suite, many guests will cook breakfast themselves.

Resort fee, parking and other charges

The official resort fee is $49 + tax per night, charged with the room, and parking is $35 + tax per vehicle per night. Together that is $84 + tax a day with a car. Some third-party listings still show lower amounts, such as $35 to $45 for the resort fee and $25 to $30 for parking, so trust the resort's own figures.

What the resort fee includes

The fee covers Surfari Water Park entry for every registered guest, lazy river tubes, daily transportation to Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando and SeaWorld, resort-wide Wi-Fi, in-suite local and toll-free calls, the 24/7 fitness center, the business center and scheduled family activities. Premium Wi-Fi costs extra.

Can you refuse the resort fee?

The resort publishes no opt-out. The fee is charged with the room and bundles the water park and the shuttles, so plan on paying it.

Other charges

• Deposit hold: $100 per night, max $350, on a credit or debit card at check-in, released 7 to 10 business days after departure. No cash deposits; the resort is cashless.
• Parking applies to all on-site garages. No boats or trailers. Clearance is 8 ft in Building 1 and 7 ft 3 in in Buildings 2 and 3. Two ChargePoint EV chargers are in Garage 1.
• Early check-in: $75 + tax, 1:00 to 4:00 pm, subject to availability.
• Late check-out: $100 + tax, up to 1:00 pm, subject to availability.

Cancel by 4:00 pm EST 3 days before arrival to avoid a charge of one night plus tax. Advance Purchase rates are non-refundable. The resort does not publish any valet price.

Disney, Universal and airport transport

The resort fee includes a daily scheduled shuttle to Walt Disney World and select parks, plus Universal Orlando and SeaWorld, so you can visit The Grove Disney Orlando area without a car.

How the park shuttles work

You need a reservation, made through the Concierge (8 am to 4 pm, ext. 1508) up to 48 hours ahead and at least 2 hours before departure. Pickup is outside the Main Lobby by Building Garage 1. The schedule is posted as an image and can change. The shuttle is ADA-accessible with 24 hours notice.

Since seats are booked ahead, reserve as soon as you know your park days.

Driving yourself

Drive times run from 14 minutes to Disney's Animal Kingdom to 22 minutes to Typhoon Lagoon. Parking at the resort costs $35 + tax per night, so compare that with how often you will use the shuttle.

From the airport

There is no airport shuttle. The resort suggests a taxi or Uber from Orlando International Airport. Check-in runs 4:00 pm to 2:00 am, and the minimum check-in age is 21.

Spa and gym

The one wellness facility the resort lists is a 24/7 fitness center, and it is included in the resort fee. That is the answer to most searches for the Grove resort spa in Orlando: a spa is not listed among the amenities, so do not book The Grove expecting treatment rooms.

If a spa day matters to your trip, ask the resort directly before booking whether any spa service is offered, and do not rely on third-party listings. What you do get for relaxing is the oversized hot tub at The Springs Pools, open daily 8:00 am to 10:00 pm, and the pools kept at 83 degrees year-round.

The business center is also included in the fee, which helps if you need to print boarding passes or work for an hour.

Visiting the water park without staying

Non-guests can try to buy a daily Surfari wristband online, but availability varies by season and is first-come, first-served. The resort's FAQ does not show the price. Another FAQ answer says the park is limited to registered guests and annual members, which was written about guests of guests, so confirm your situation with the resort.

Third-party prices exist. ResortPass lists a day pass from EUR 22 for adults (11 and older) and EUR 13 for children (4 to 10), with infants free. A search snippet quoted $50 for adults and $25 for children, but it is undated. Treat both as rough guides and check the current price at booking.

Day visitors should know the park rules: no coolers or outside food, no towels provided at the pool, and closures for lightning within 3 miles. Current hours are Sunday to Friday 10:00 am to 5:00 pm and Saturday 10:00 am to 7:00 pm, subject to change. The FlowRider is paid separately in addition to entry.

Halloween at the resort on October 31

The resort runs free Halloween events for guests in 2026, with the main night on October 31. Event pages give the month and day but not the year, so check the resort's events calendar before you plan around them.

• Spooky Movie Nights, for example The Nightmare Before Christmas on October 17 at 7 pm.
• Trick or Treat Trail on October 31, 6 to 7 pm, with a map from the Activity Center.
• Halloween Party with a costume contest at The Springs Pools on October 31, 7 to 10 pm.

All of these are complimentary. The resort also lists Mini Pumpkin Painting and College Game Days in Element Lounge. No Christmas or New Year's Eve events are published yet.

If you visit in autumn, remember that Surfari runs short seasonal hours, so the water park may close before the evening events start.