Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge in Orlando is our top family-friendly hotel in the United States for 2026, followed by Disney’s Aulani in Hawaii and Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort. This list covers ten US hotels and resort brands that give children real things to do, from savanna views to indoor water parks, while leaving adults room to relax.
| Rank | Hotel or resort | Where | Family hook |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge | Orlando, Florida | Savanna views with about 24 animal species |
| 2 | Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa | Oahu, Hawaii | Waikolohe Stream and Pool, 21 acres |
| 3 | Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort | Orlando, Florida | Retro theme, bowling alley, 2,200 rooms |
| 4 | Disney’s Wilderness Lodge | Orlando, Florida | National park lodge theme, 729 rooms |
| 5 | Great Wolf Lodge | 22 US locations | Indoor water park in every resort |
| 6 | Kalahari Resorts | WI, OH, PA, TX | One of the largest US indoor water parks (223,000 sq ft) |
| 7 | The Hotel Hershey | Hershey, Pennsylvania | 1933 hilltop hotel, 276 rooms |
| 8 | Universal Stella Nova and Terra Luna Resorts | Orlando, Florida | Opened early 2025 near Epic Universe, 750 rooms each |
| 9 | Woodloch Pines Resort | Hawley, Pennsylvania | All-ages activities in the Poconos |
| 10 | Rocking Horse Ranch Resort | Highland, New York | Horseback riding and children’s day camp |
How we picked the best family hotels in the US
We scored each stay on four things: kid-focused facilities on site, size and variety of the pools or water parks, whether adults also have something to do, and how current our facts are. We left out nightly prices because rates change by season and date.
1. Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge: Orlando, Florida
The lodge opened on April 16, 2001. Three 11-acre savannas (Sunset, Arusha and Uzima) hold about 24 species, including giraffes, zebras and flamingos, and many rooms have balconies overlooking them.
Kidani Village, a second building with more than 300 villas, opened in 2009. It has its own pool with slides, and the original building became Jambo House. Kids can enjoy the arcades and campfires, while adults can eat at Jiko or Boma.
2. Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa: Oahu, Hawaii
Aulani opened on August 29, 2011 at Ko Olina, on 21 acres. It has 351 hotel rooms and 481 Disney Vacation Club villas.
The Waikolohe Stream and Pool is the highlight for children, with a volcano-themed structure and two water slides. A children’s program introduces Hawaiian culture, art and music through play.
3. Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort: Orlando, Florida
Cabana Bay opened in 2014 with 2,200 rooms. It offers a 10,000 square foot pool, a bowling alley and a retro diner, and sits inside Universal Orlando Resort.
It is a value-priced category hotel, which makes it a strong pick for larger families.
4. Disney’s Wilderness Lodge: Orlando, Florida
Wilderness Lodge opened on May 28, 1994 with 729 rooms, styled after the grand national park lodges. The Copper Creek Villas and Cabins opened in 2017 as a second Disney Vacation Club property, with 184 units.
Guests can bike woodland trails, rent boats on Seven Seas Lagoon and watch outdoor movies by the lake.
5. Great Wolf Lodge: 22 US locations
Great Wolf began as Black Wolf Lodge in Lake Delton, Wisconsin, in 1997 and took its current name in 2000. Today it runs 22 US resorts, each with an indoor water park, arcades, a spa and children’s activities. A Mashantucket, Connecticut resort opened in 2025.
It ranks fifth because the experience is consistent but less distinctive than a single destination resort.
6. Kalahari Resorts: Wisconsin, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas
Kalahari operates four US resorts: Wisconsin Dells (2000), Sandusky, Ohio (2005), Pocono Manor, Pennsylvania (2015) and Round Rock, Texas (2020). The Texas location has a 223,000 square foot indoor water park, billed as the largest in the United States, with the Poconos park close behind at about 220,000 square feet.
A fifth resort in Spotsylvania County, Virginia, is expected to open in November 2026.
7. The Hotel Hershey: Hershey, Pennsylvania
The Hotel Hershey opened on May 26, 1933, on a hilltop above the town, with 276 rooms. It has Spanish Colonial Revival architecture, three restaurants, a spa and indoor and outdoor pools.
The hotel and Hersheypark share an owner, which keeps the resort convenient for a chocolate-themed family trip.
8. Universal Stella Nova and Terra Luna Resorts: Orlando, Florida
These two Prime Value hotels opened in early 2025, ahead of the Epic Universe theme park, which opened on May 22, 2025. Each has 750 rooms and belongs to Universal Orlando Resort.
They are new, close to the newest theme park in Orlando and lower priced than the Signature hotels.
9. Woodloch Pines Resort: Hawley, Pennsylvania
Woodloch Pines is a lake resort in the Pocono Mountains. It has reportedly been owned and run by the Kiesendahl family since 1958, and it runs a four-season program of indoor and outdoor activities for all ages, plus a spa.
We have not confirmed a current room count, so we do not state one.
10. Rocking Horse Ranch Resort: Highland, New York
This Hudson Valley dude ranch offers trail rides for adults and children. Its day camp program for ages six to twelve and a nursery program for younger children have been part of the offer.
Programs change, so check availability before booking.
Which hotels dropped off the list?
We removed Howard Johnson Anaheim, West Inn & Suites Carlsbad, Best Western Premier Saratoga Resort Villas, Red Jacket Mountain View Resort, Candy Cane Inn and Floridays Resort Orlando. We could not confirm their current brands, room mixes or facilities, and the original prices were years old. Great Wolf, Kalahari, Aulani and the new Universal hotels replace them.
FAQ
What is the best family-friendly hotel in the United States?
We rank Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge first for 2026, for its savanna views, playgrounds and pools. Aulani in Hawaii is second.
Which US hotels have the best indoor water parks?
Great Wolf Lodge puts an indoor water park in every resort, and Kalahari’s Round Rock, Texas, park covers 223,000 square feet, one of the largest in the country.
Which family hotels are new in 2025 and 2026?
Universal Stella Nova and Terra Luna opened in 2025 near Epic Universe, and a Great Wolf Lodge opened in Mashantucket, Connecticut in 2025. A Kalahari resort in Virginia is expected in November 2026.
Where can families stay in Hawaii?
Aulani at Ko Olina on Oahu, which opened in 2011 and has 351 hotel rooms and 481 villas.
Do you list room prices?
No. Rates change by season and date, so check the hotel’s own site for current prices.
How did you rank these hotels?
We scored kid-focused facilities, pools and water parks, things for adults to do, and how well we could verify the facts.
How we put this list together
We checked opening dates, room counts and facilities against public records, and describe anything we could not confirm as approximate. Prices are not shown because they change constantly.
Last updated: October 2026.
