Ten years ago, the doors of Magic Moment Resort and Kids Club in Kissimmee, a unique boutique-inspired hotel, opened to a line of eager families ready to make memories. For the founder behind the property, that long line wasn’t about occupancy; it was about connection. It confirmed her deeply-held belief that traveling families longed for design elements that were warmer and more human.
A decade later, that same heartfelt hospitality still guides every moment at this rare resort.
The founding vision behind Magic Moment Resort: Creating a memorable family resort experience with smart value
Before Magic Moment was a reality, founder Carina Radonich knew prestige inside and out thanks to her background in architecture and luxury real estate. Success had taught her how to build impressive spaces, but motherhood taught her to build spaces that mattered.
Traveling with her children revealed a deep truth that would shape the resort’s DNA. Radonich found that families don’t need perfection; they need connection.
“Around our family dinner table, a dream took shape,” Radonich remembers. “We built a vision for an affordable, heartfelt resort rooted in love and connection. The goal was to create a place where families arrive with full hearts and leave with fuller ones.”
When Magic Moment opened and nearly sold out on day one, it was a sign that the world was ready for lifestyle hotels to focus on hospitality and center on emotion over spectacle. Over the next five years, every choice to build and grow the resort centers on one guiding question: How will this make a family feel?
Why Magic Moment Resort is the most-loved family hotel near Disney
Central Florida thrums with excitement. Orlando’s world-famous theme parks are a big part of the magic, but the best family trips balance wonder with rest.
Magic Moment’s quieter setting is within easy reach of the theme parks and offers that balance. The resort’s partnership with Dazzler Select by Wyndham — the largest hotel franchisor of lifestyle hotels — means parents can effortlessly pivot between a day of thrills and an evening of calm. Yet, as a hotel designed for independent experiences, it means kids can return to a space where play is unhurried and bedtime comes more easily. It means grandparents can enjoy the energy of the parks without the overwhelm of staying inside the buzz.
For traveling families, proximity without pressure is the best of all possible worlds. The just-removed-enough location gives families flexibility. A free shuttle ride separates the busy parks from an easy mid-day nap and an evening’s chance to regroup without rushing.
How positive guest experiences and amenities helped build a strong word-of-mouth reputation
“Our resort is intentionally designed so that families can exhale,” says Radonich. “From the warmth at the front desk to the thoughtfulness of breakfast, every moment is an invitation to feel welcomed and understood. We encourage children to run and climb in our tree house, and we encourage parents to slow down and breathe.”
This approach is about creating a safe emotional space where families reconnect. When hospitality is built around joyful moments of connection, the simplest gestures and boutique-inspired design elements become the most profound memories.
“Ask any family what they remember, and you’ll hear about moments that seemed small at the time,” explains Radonich. “Those human moments are the ones that get lodged in our hearts. The quiet certainty that someone went beyond meeting your needs and chose to make your family feel special inspires these moments of genuine connection.”
When guests feel that connection, they share it with the world. That’s the true engine of modern word-of-mouth.
Pioneering Dazzler Select by Wyndham and plans for the next decade of growth and guest experiences
As Magic Moment steps into its second decade, one milestone stands out. Becoming the first Dazzler Select by Wyndham in the world marks a true turning point for Radonich.
“Our decision to accept this honor wasn’t about scale for scale’s sake,” Radonich remarks. “We saw the opportunity to pair our heartfelt mission with a global hotel platform, and we asked, ‘Can we grow without losing our soul?’ Our answer was yes.”
This new partnership with the Wyndham brand preserves Magic Moment Resort’s identity and family values while unlocking new possibilities. Guests now have access to Wyndham Rewards®, one of hospitality’s most powerful loyalty programs, so families can build memories in Orlando and continue their journeys across the world with the same sense of belonging.
“We invite every independent owner in the US who loves with passion the unique chance to tie the identity of their hotel with an extraordinary guest experience,” Radonich says. “Joining the Dazzler Select brand by Wyndham is a no-brainer! It lets you keep your identity, but plugs you into an extraordinary platform for worldwide exposure.”
“Ten years as independent hoteliers, and Magic Moment still reminds us that what we crave most isn’t extravagance, it’s presence,” Radonich adds. “It’s stories at breakfast and laughter in the tree house. It’s the calm of knowing you’re cared for. The next decade will bring new reach and new guests, but the promise will not change. We will welcome every family with hospitality from the heart and turn ordinary days into the kind of moments that last.”