The Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes Debuts New Ritz Kids Interactive Experience

The first Ritz-Carlton to offer a physical space to bring the hotel's scenography to life, the property is part of the 500-acre Grande Lakes Orlando resort, which also includes a JW Marriott hotel, a Ritz-Carlton Spa and an 18-hole golf course amongst a variety of other experiences. The refreshed Ritz Kids space and programming offers children the opportunity to become fully immersed in Florida's rich history and biodiversity.

The new Ritz Kids further aligns with the brand's partnership with Jean-Michel Cousteau's Ocean Futures Society, which invites little ones to discover adventure and exploration through four pillars: water, land, environmental responsibility and culture. The journey starts at check-in, when kids embark on their adventure to learn more about the unexpected history of central Florida and the footprints it has left on the region through a variety of experiences against the backdrop of a reimagined trading outpost, characteristic of early Orlando pioneer life.



• The focal point of the Ritz Kids space is the re-creation of a “Frontier Farmhouse,” as inspired by the traditional Florida frontier house, once the residence of ranchers who flocked to central Florida to explore the state's vast, barren land for roaming cattle, ample water supply and sunshine. Elements of these structures have been incorporated into the design, whose defining characteristic was a breezeway passing through the center of the house, serving as a natural air conditioner.

• Positioned at the headwaters of the Florida Everglades, the resort offers families the chance to experience a taste of Old Florida. Orlando may have evolved into a bustling metropolis, but the Everglades remain an unparalleled landscape and the “largest subtropical wilderness” in the United States. Underscoring the commitment to the two pillars of water and environmental responsibility, the main play area features a special carpet made from recycled fishing nets whose pattern mimics a bird's-eye view of The Everglades. Ritz Kids teaches children more about this natural region of tropical wetlands located right in the hotel's backyard.

• “The Swamp” isn't as scary as it sounds! This is where many of the friendly Ritz Kids critters call home. A number of educational and interactive opportunities await from the moment children enter the space, including discovering the resort's very own Cypress Tree, a hallmark of the swamplands and type of tree that has been growing in the state for over 6,500 years.

• Kids can get up close and personal with a variety of new additions to the Ritz Kids menagerie as part of the upgrade. In addition to meeting sirens and anoles, children have the opportunity to observe baby alligators and red-eared slider turtles and learn about the impact these creatures have on the Florida ecosystem.

• “The Green Thumbs Garden” pays homage to Central Florida's agricultural history and invites budding botanists to plant their own Grande Lakes roots. Kids can immerse themselves in nature here, using planters made from repurposed pallets to examine the world of edible seeds and nuts and learn how humans, animals and plants all benefit from them.

• Grande Lakes Orlando has launched a collaboration with a local non-profit organization striving to educate others about Florida's wildlife and habitats and promote conservation and the great outdoors while providing for animals in need. As part of the partnership, Grande Lakes is providing a safe haven for animals that have been rehabilitated after sustaining injuries by releasing them back to their natural habitat on the resort grounds.



In addition to the new Ritz Kids program, guests of The Ritz-Carlton and JW Marriott hotels can take advantage of the many other family activities offered at Grande Lakes Orlando including fishing opportunities from the shore and guided excursions to the private waters of Shingle Pond. There is also an interactive catch and release program as part of a collaboration with the Florida Wildlife Commission which transforms a typical day of fishing into a research adventure to determine why certain types of largemouth bass grow faster than others. Other outdoor excursions include two-hour guided Eco-Tours through Shingle Creek and birdhouse building while bird watching.

Visit website: www.grandelakes.com