We stayed 5 nights with kids 4 and 7 (May 14 -19). We also stayed 2 days at PO - Riverside. The kids prefered Tropical Palms. So did the adults.
The cabins are clean and comfy. They are not fancy. The resort atmosphere is more country than city, so take your personality into account. If you hate the idea of camping or aren't comforable in the outdoors - this may not be the place for you. You will see bugs, lizzards, squirels, racoons etc etc. We think lizzards, giant grasshopper things, squirels and raccoons are cool, but realize not everyone will. The lizzards and bugs aren't in your face - but we had kids who were chasing them, so we saw them.
The double and queen beds looked like double and queen beds (unlike the double-beds-that-weren't that we saw in Travelodges during the St. Petes part of our trip). The bedrooms are small, but they have 4 drawers for your clothes, plus a closet. Infintely more storage space than in the hotel room at PO. The beds while comfy and not squishy, aren't premium quality. The beds at PO were nicer, but they were both only doubles. I have back problems, and the TP beds were OK for me.
The kitchen is well stocked and oh-so-nice to have. Fridge, stove, dishwasher, microwave. Plates, cutlery, pots and pans are all there.
The living room area has a couch and a TV. The TV gets some channels - not a great variety though. Kids stuff was available in the am, and the evening, but not much during the day.
The sleeping loft was great as a kids play area. I didn' t let mine sleep there, because I was afraid they'd fall down the ladder if they got up in the middle of the night. A standing child could also fall over the railing if they were running backwards or sleep walking. It didn't strike me a the safest arrangement. I am sorry to say, I would have been nervous with mine there when they were two. They climbed everything. Whether or not your granddaughter will be a problem will depend on what kind of child she is. If she doesn't climb- maybe not. But, I should mention, I can't imagine how you would block the ladder with a baby gate or anything. Some models might not have the lofts - you should find out. It also might be possible to have the ladder removed - I don't know.
Each cabin has a deck, and that was a real nice place to just sit with a drink, eat supper, keep the water toys and wet shoes, and dry out towels and bathing suits. The bathroom is small - but bigger than the one we had at PO. Our bathtub didn't have a plug - don't know if that is on purpose, but we never found out - we clogged it with a cloth for the kids' baths.
Maid service is available on request. If you don't request each day, they will leave you alone. Towels are available at the front whenever you need them. We really liked being able to ditch our soggy shower towels on the way out each morning, or right after a few hours at the pool, or after the kids' baths in the eveing - and pick up fresh ones.
Grounds are kept very clean and neat. But - you are not on an "urban" type resort. At PO we didn't see a single bug or lizzard. At TP, you will see both. They won't invade your cabin, or be in your face, but they are around. Depending on whether you prefer chemical sprays to bugs and critters, or vice versa, this could be an issue for you. My kids loved chasing the lizzards. We didn't get any bug bites.
The kiddie pool was nice. My kids even had a good time in it for some reason. The playground is not elaborate like at PO-Riverside, but more like the one at PO-French Quarter. The kids liked it too. Its a climber, no swings or teeter totter equipment.
The big pool is nice. Simple but nice. There is a little cafe right there where you can buy a burger, hotdog, icecream and frozen drinks (non alcohol) and sit by the pool and eat. We did lunch there a couple times. It was
somehow really nice. I don't recall prices - but they were reasonable. Very very relaxing. There were always people around so it never had that lonely deserted feeling, but it was never crowded. The kids spent hours and hours in that pool.
Breakfast was also very reasonable - bacon and egg type things were available, as well as cold cereal. For prices, I think if you call the resort, they can give them too you. We never did breakfast there - what with the full kitchen and all in the cabin.
Laundry facilities were great. They have 14 washers and 14 dryers I think. A change machine is available to change $1s and $5s.
Security - yes the grounds have 24 hour security. The entrance is fully staffed, store open etc, until 11. After that there is a security guard who patrols the grounds.
Drive time to MK was 15 minutes. There was construction on 192, but it never got in the way. You are close to a Publix and a Wallgreens. The resort store also has some grocery items - milk, eggs, bread, hotdogs etc.
We probably WILL stay there again someday. It really suited us, and apparently it suits alot of other people - we met families who stay there every year for their Disney vacation. Just check out the loft situation - if your 2 year old is like mine were, you will be better off with out that.
