How is Gaylord palms? I heard the food was expensive.

[ecpool]

Our plan (so far), is to do 4 nights at a moderate Disney hotel and then do 4 nights at Gaylord Palms resort. We don't plan on renting a car. Is the Gaylord palms worth it considering the high food prices?

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

It is a beautiful hotel.

I haven't stayed there yet--but I have attended the FPEA (a homeschooling convention) there twice. The pools are fantastic (again--only saw them as I wasn't staying).

I looked around a bit. The food seemed comparable in price to Disney--though I didn't really try any food court equivilants (i.e. quick service). The sit down seemd about what sit down would be at Disney and the quick service type places seemed about food court prices at Dsiney.

Try a grocery delivery service (don't know of any--but you could ask) or splurge on a cab and do a run to the store for some non-perishable, no cooking needed items to cover your snacks.

It looks like a fun resort and though we won't stay there on vacation (we prefer on-site and if I were able to afford Gaylord--I would be able to afford something nice on property)--though I do have a goal to be able to stay there for the convention so that we can enjoy the resort. BTW the convention is memorial day weekend--so if that is when you are traveling...it is a zoo b/c of the coventioners at the Gaylord for the weekend. Not sure the other times of year.

 

[athurstance]

I haven't stayed there but we eat there most times we are at Disney. The food is excellent and the service is some of the best we have had in the area. The Vila de Flora buffet is great.
We didn't find it particularly expensive - certainly comparable to Disney restaurants.
I'd love to stay there - we tried to get rooms at Christmas but left it too late. The whole atmosphere of the hotel is quite special.

 

[Aurora63]

I stayed there in July '05.

The three sit down restaurants are comparable in price to a Disney sit down restaurant.

The hotel itself was beautiful and the rooms were gorgeous, definetly ask for a room with an atrium view. I loved this place, I'd stay there again in a heartbeat.

It wasn't too far to drive to other places to eat, on 192 and International Dirve. So you do have other food options.

 

[DHM]

What about the Ice sculptures/villages they have during the Christmas season?
Is it worthwhile?

 

[horseshowmom]

What about the Ice sculptures/villages they have during the Christmas season?
Is it worthwhile?

We really enjoyed it, but it might not be for everybody. There were five adults in our group (we were attending a conference at the Rosen Centre Hotel), and everybody liked it.

 

[gypsydoodlebug]

This resort has absolutely spoiled us to any other Orlando hotel, including those on-site. I've stayed there four times in the last two years, each time in St. Augustine. The restaurants are expensive, but are good. More of a use-the-company's-expense-acct. than a place to take the family after a day at the parks. The pools (there are two) are gorgeous.

The more quiet of the areas is the Everglades, which is tropical and lush. I've always been upgraded to a room in St. Augustine; the balconies overlook the atrium and it was the perfect place to unwind with a glass of wine while we waited for DD to go to sleep. Also, we reserved a crib for her (she was about 22 mos. and their beds were super high -- it was free to rent) and they brought it within 5 minutes of getting to our room, including sheets, a crib bumper and her own set of towels

If you're taking kids, remember to ask for a room with a tub ––*a couple of the rooms I stayed in had a walk-in glass and marble shower. The bathrooms also have double vanities.