Gaylord Palms

[Tweevil]

I am taking a business trip in August. It is at Gaylord Palms. I will have a car so traveling isn't a problem - I am torn though between a Mod on property or staying there. I am also taking my son & Mom with me for the off time so we can go to the parks.

Any reviews or opinions on GP? Would you stay there instead of a MOD onsite?

Thanks for any suggestions

 

[samefay]

for one night after we did Disney. The Palms is great - but it's not Disney World. If you want the "Disney" feel, I would stay at a Mod. There is still plenty to do at the Palms if you decide to stay but at a Mod your family would be able to come and go and experience Disney World more.

 

[JandJ]

We stayed at the Gaylord Palms once, on a business trip for DH, but we've visited many, many times. I think it's a gorgeous resort, beautiful to walk around and see all the different areas. Nice restaurants. Overpriced gift shops, nothing new there. The fort thing in the middle is pretty cool (your son would probably enjoy that, depending on his age), alligator feedings, lots of little hidden areas to discover. BUT, the parking/resort fee is high. The rooms, unless you pay a lot for an upgrade, are small. The bathroom we had was just o.k. (peeling wallpaper, water faucet leaked). I wouldn't pay to stay there (DH's employer paid for our trip) but I have visited the resort since then and will visit it again, just to look around and go to lunch or dinner. If I had the option, I'd pick an on-site mod resort to stay, and visit the GP.

 

[clarabelle]

Parking is either inconvenient or valet and there is a resort fee -so factor this into your rate.
I would stay there again with a really good rate.
My DD loved the lobby -it is something to see. She is an explorer type child and loved just walking around.
Pool was nice -but no lifeguards
Food silly expensive and it took so long to get to our car we tended not to want to just run out for a quick trip.
Room was very nice and clean

 

[tinasmom8]

We booked one night at Gaylord Palms a couple of years ago. After 45 minutes of looking for a parking space, we finally ended up parking by the loading dock and dragging our luggage around the building. Upon entering the building, we found out why - Cheerleaders everywhere. Even the "adults only" pool was opened to kids because they were overflowing. Went back to our room and heard yelling in the hallway. After 1/2 hour, we checked out. Room was nothing special. Staff was very nice and understanding, but in our brief visit it wasn't anything I'd give up a night at a Disney Mod for.

 

[vettechick99]

GP is very, very close to Disney. I would give it a try. It looks gorgeous!

 

[Tweevil]

Thanks for everyone's replies

I think I am going to go with a MOD but now I am concerned that I am not going to be able to find parking for the training clasess...ugh

I think I am going to check it out.

 

[i3utterfli82]

I LOVED my stayed at the Gaylord Palms over the holidays. As much as I love Disney, we will be back to stay here again.

I did a review on my blog, http://www.mommymusings.com/gaylord-palms-so-much-more-than-a-convention-hotel/

 

[jdd]

Don't mean to hijack this thread, but has anyone ever used the shuttles to the parks from the GP? My husband has a convention here in June, and I'm wondering how convenient the shuttles are. I don't really want to rent a car - don't need the added expense (including the parking fee at the resort). Any info is appreciated!

 

[fostrmom2mny]

I stayed at the GP in 2006. It was fabulous!!!!! I don't know what size rooms are at a Mod, but my room at the GP was very large. The bathroom was pretty luxouries (SP) It had a double marble vanity sink outside the toilet and large walk in shower with a large shower ledge. I had complementary computers (and internet) in all the rooms, and I had a nice sized balcony.

I didn't have my own transportation and I did use their complementery shuttle to the parks and found it adequate. No where near the frequency of the WDW resort transportation, but then again, if you don't have transp., it's not bad. I caught a taxi and went over to one of the outlet malls nearby and the Taxi cost wasn't bad. They had a food court, so I purchased a couple of to go quick meals and had a fridge in my room that I put the food in. The Buffet style food place was definately pricey, BUT it was all you care to eat and the food was very good. They even allowed me to take my left over food back to my room.

I've either stayed in, or visited the Deluxes and values at WDW, never experianced a mod., so I can't compare the room size of a GP to a mod room. It is defenately larger than a value, and a little smaller than a Garden Wing at the Contemp. Hope that gives you more info. I'd definately stay there again without hesitation. I travel a lot, and have stayed at some very posh places, I loved the Gaylord Palmes and wish I were going back there this summer instead of the Gaylord National. Hmm, DC or Orlando, Orlando every time!!!!

 

[mkjmom]

Does the Disney shuttle go to the water parks too or just the 4 main parks? We are going in Aug for a convention. Trying to decide if we shold just renting a car and not having to rely on the shuttles.

 

[fostrmom2mny]

I'm sorry I wish I could rememeber. I only took it to the TTC. You could always catch a WDW shuttle to the water parks.

 

[copperhound]

I have not stayed there, but I was impressed when I visited friends that were staying there for a convention. I thought the theming was very impressive -- on a par with Disney resorts. The atrium area is amazing and the kids pool was really nice. Their room was cramped for the 5 of them... I had no trouble parking in the parking lot next to the convention center, but it is kind of odd b/c you don't enter through the main lobby and walk through a lot of guest room corridor before reaching the lobby.