Gaylord Palms

[leopardspot]

Has anyone stayed here? I have reservations for Thanksgiving weekend. How is it? How is the transportation to Disney? What is there to do in the resort?

Thanks.

 

[daannzzz]

I only spent one night here via Priceline before heading to Sarasota. I though this place was great. Though it doesn't have a themed building like Disney resorts it has numerous themes inside. There are huge atriums that half the rooms overlook. One has key West theme with a ship in the water serving as a restaurant. My room overlooked the Everglades area which was raised boardwalks over a swampy area. The main atroum is huge and has walkways and waterfalls and a cave or two. The swimming pool has a giant octopus with water squirting out of the tentacles. I do not know how their transport was to the parks. There are a few restaurants..I had a mundane sandwich from the bakery but the cookie was really good! The room was decorated nicely and was comfortable and rich feeling.

 

[daisylove]

I think we are also going thanksgiving weekend and I am wondering about the hotel as well. Anyone else with info?

 

[tazdeb]

We stayed there 2 years ago when it first opened and it is very nice but a little pricey. The themeing is good as stated and the location is great (just cross the interstate and your on Disney property. The bad things are the $10 a day parking fee added to your bill each day. Tell them you dont want this and you can self park in the back...WAY IN THE BACK...a ten minute walk to my room from the car. Also the resturants are a bit expensive for a family ( it is a convention hotel) and if you dont have a car there is no place near to go off property. The pool is nice and they have a nice kids club that we used one night so my wife and I could go into the piano bar. My over all thoughts on this hotel is it is to upscale if you have small kids and a middle class budget, sort of like the GF without being so close to the parks......TAZ

 

[meier56013]

The Gaylord is very nice, very upscale. it is a convention hotel, and they do a great job at it. There are several restaurants (8 or 10) and shops, 2 pools ( one adults only), an arcade, and the atrium area. There are caves, jungle areas, fish and alligators in the atrium. We did not use any transportation to Disney, but I think it was offered, check thier website for specifics. It is 1/2 a mile from the main entrance to Disney, and a short drive to many restaurants and outlet stores. A beautiful place to relax. Enjoy your trip!

 

[Lewisc]

GP now charges for self-parking and has a $10/night resort fee. The resort fee gives you 2 bottles of water and 2 bottles of OJ per day. It includes high speed internet. You actually get a keyboard, mouse and monitor so you don't have to even bring your own computer. The in room safe is large enough for your laptop and has an electrical outlet so you can charge your laptop,camera or cell phone while it's locked up.

The hotel is very well themed. The buffet restaurant is excellent and they have a spa.

The service is excellent.

 

[leopardspot]

Thanks. It sounds good to me as we drive to all the parks anyway....

Were the rooms with king size beds very big?

 

[disneysteve]

We haven't stayed there but we did finally get over to see the place when we were down last week.

WOW! I thought the $7 parking fee was steep until we got inside the place. It was well worth the cost to see. The whole lobby/atrium area is incredibly well done. The Everglades area and Key West areas are fantastic.

If you are visiting Disney and have a car, take an hour one evening and go over and see this place. It's quite impressive.

 

[Lewisc]

Originally posted by disneysteve
We haven't stayed there but we did finally get over to see the place when we were down last week.

WOW! I thought the $7 parking fee was steep until we got inside the place. It was well worth the cost to see. The whole lobby/atrium area is incredibly well done. The Everglades area and Key West areas are fantastic.

If you are visiting Disney and have a car, take an hour one evening and go over and see this place. It's quite impressive.

Steve--if you go back the buffet restaurant is excellent. Las Vegas quality. The food is MUCH BETTER than any of the Disney buffets just no characters. I stayed there for $85 (plus parking, resort fee) via PL during Frances. The entire hotel is first rate.

 

[leopardspot]

For those of you that got Gaylord on Priceline, how did you do it? I thought that Priceline required you to let THEM CHOOSE where you were going to stay....

 

[daannzzz]

You do not get to bid on Gaylord Palm via Priceline. You bid on an area and Star level. Those of us who got the hotel via Priceline just happen to bid the amount that they were willing to accept. It could have been rejected or gone to another hotel. I was not surprised when my bid was accepted for resort level hotel but I was surprised when it showed up as Gaylord Palms.