Review Gaylord Palms -quick review

[clarabelle]

Just back
Highlights
-Amazing Lobby -really just acres of water features, bridges, walkways, fish, Alligators etc....
-Good Customer Service -very professional staff
-Clean
- Great Pool with water slide and water features -plenty of big fluffy towels poolside
-Amazing view from Atrium rooms
-Location -just outside the gates on Oseola Parkway. Just minutes past Pop Century. Almost like being onsite
-Lots of restaurants to choose from
-Really fast elevators and plenty of them -never had to wait and we were on the eighth floor

Lowlights
-Paying for Parking -you pay for self park or even more for valet park. Self park is in an inconvenient lot -long walk to room from there
-Resort Fee -an extra fee of 17 per day covers "extras"
-No lifeguard at pool or even a staff member monitoring water slide
-Really expensive food and drink


I would stay there again with a good rate. We booked through Dreams Unlimited with the special promotion. I would not pay "full price"

Feel free to ask any questions!

 

[DawnM]

Could a family of 5 stay there? Do you know if the rooms would accomodate 5?

Dawn

 

[clarabelle]

I know that you can get a room with two queens and a rollaway- but they charge 30$ nightly for the rollaway. I don't know about suites etc....

There was no pull out couch in the regular room

 

[mayesq]

I found the Atrium to be very noisy at night. Did anybody else find this? Wasn't my favorite place to stay, but the kids loved the pool area and Disney is just a few yards away.

 

[clarabelle]

Yes -I forgot to mention that. I would not get an Atrium view room if I were an early to bed type or had small children!

My kids are older so we were up a little later. They would have musicians playing in the atrium and lots of activity until 10 o'clock or so.

My kids really liked the hotel. I would also consider staying one or two nights -to enjoy the pool and atrium and then move along to somewhere else.

 

[aidaneric]

i heard that this hotel has amazing themed sections

 

[clarabelle]

Yes the lobby (Atrium) is amazing with different sections

 

[rstanley]

I think we are going to stay at this resort in October...I have a couple questions. I have a 12 yr old son and 7 yr old daughter so I want them to both be able to have fun at the pool.

1. How big is the family pool? Does it compare to the adult pool?
2. How deep is the family pool?
3. How big is the sand area for kids to play?
4. How big is the water slide?

And finally...

5. We were offered a free upgrade to atrium view...now I'm not sure if we should take it. How loud is the noise? Does it quiet down after 10 (you mentioned the bands playing until then?)

Thanks!!
Robin

 

[clarabelle]

1) I did not see the adult pool. The family pool seemed pretty big to me -about as big as a disney pool. We did not spend loads of time there -the weather was cool the week we were there.
2) I don't know about the deep part. I didn't get in. I don't think it got really deep in the family pool -most kids seemed to be standing up.
3) I didn't even see the sand area! (I don't think I am very observant)
There were water play areas by the pool -fountains that the kids could run through -but they weren't getting used -because it was cold!
4)The water slide looked big from the outside of it -but 10 y.o. DD just told me it wasn't that great. No twists and not very big.

It did get quieter in the Atrium after 10 or 11- but I still remember hearing some noise. If you are light sleepers I would not get the atrium view. We did enjoy the view -there is so much to see. You can't even see the whole lobby from your atrium view room -it is that big.

This sounds pretty negative -but my DDs said they would like to stay there again. (They are 10 and 14)

 

[rstanley]

Thanks! I appreciate your help!

We'll be going mid October so the weather could be warm or cold...that's why I want a heated pool for the kids..DS12 and DD7 (I don't plan on swimming either)

Just out of curiosity what floor were you on? I'm wondering if an Atrium view higher up is less noisy? I'd love the view but I am a very light sleeper. I wear earplugs but that won't do it for louder noises like music.

Can you request what area you are in or what floor you're on?

Also...could you tell me a little bit more about the price of food? What did you spend on a typical meal...breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, anything...?

And...is the food good?

Thanks again!
Robin

 

[clarabelle]

We were on the 8th Floor
We didn't eat there much -we ate mostly in the parks.

We didn't eat Breakfast there.

I think Villa De Flora (fancy buffet)was thirty something per person for dinner.

Alcoholic drinks were 5 -8 dollars each.

We bought some cold sandwiches from the coffee shop and I think they were 7-8 dollars each.

I am sorry I don't keep up with receipts etc.. I just remember thinking everything was pricey.