OMG!! Gaylord Palms

[fostrmom2mny]

I am here right now in my beautiful room located in the St. Augustine section. They have complimentary computers in the rooms. I am blown away by this resort! The room is huge, and it has a balcony that opens into the atruim. I've been to the Ritz Carlton in New Orleans, it doesn't have anything on the Gaylord Palms!!
I can't wait to go strolling around to check it out more. This place is beautiful!!!!!
I've only been checked in for a few hours and so far the only comment/ complaint that I would have is that my room doesn't have a bathtub. It does have a walk in shower with a built in ledge. I'll force myself to make do.
Later,
Gerri

 

[java]

Oh lucky you!! We saw this one and were so sad that we had too many people to fit in one room. It looks gorgeous on the website and when we drove by it it looked amazing. Have fun and take pictures!!

 

[UKDEB]

We haven't stayed there, but we've visited many times and eaten at all the restuarants. It truly is a great resort - enjoy your stay!

 

[D L and K's Mom]

We stayed there before its official opening years ago. They had a great deal. Free breakfast and dinner (buffets), tickets to WDW, upgraded room, free golf for hubby it was FANTASTIC!! We didnt know about all the perks when we checked in....it was a wonderful surprise! HAve a great time!!!

 

[queenof2princesses]

fostrmom2mny,
your thread drove me to the gamble...I have been debating on bidding on Priceline for our upcoming trip. Your reviews were enough to make me try. I won Gaylord Palms for our upcoming August trip for 3 nights @ $93/night. I had been watching biddingfortravel.com for a few weeks, this is what was being accepted for GP. I can't wait Enjoy the rest of your trip!

 

[kilee]

Sounds wonderful!! Don't forget to write a review when you get back. Enjoy your stay!!!

 

[fostrmom2mny]

I've had the opportunity to check out a few other rooms in different areas. Other rooms have bathtubs, but never having a walkin shower like this, I've decided that I love it!!
The maid service is fantastic! There are even door bells to ring to let you know when people are at your door.
The toilet and shower area is seperate from the double marble sink area. It is beautiful. There is both a desk phone and seperate cordless phone with two lines. Complementary computer with internet. Don't worry about lugging around your laptop.
They have live gators and on Tues. Thurs. and Sat. @ 6:30 they feed them.
The rooms all have a nice mini frig., and a CD clock radio. I have taken several pictures that I'll try to post after I return home.
Sunday AM I'll be moving over to the ASMu. I love the Music! Don't worry that I'll be disappointed after staying here first.
Congrads on your winning bid of less than $100 a night. You will not be disappointed. You might not want to request Key West as some people have commented that it is loud at night. I'll write a trip report when I get home.
Thanks for wisshing me an enjoyable trip.
Gerri

 

[nbodyhome]

We had a chance to stay for free a year and a half ago (just for one night) - it really is a beautiful resort!

 

[mickeyluv'r]

My sister's family stayed there. Although the place is very attractive, they did not have a good time there. Noise from the atruim carries up, so if you have a room on that side, and there happens to be patrons staying up late drinking, and you happen to be a light sleeper...It can be very hard to sleep. But maybe they have done something since her stay to dampen the noise levels. The location of the resort is excellent!

 

[mbb]

....They have live gators and on Tues. Thurs. and Sat. @ 6:30 they feed them......

I have this image in my head of GPStaff dangling non-paying guests/noisy party-ers over the ledge

Have fun - so glad you're taking lots of pics for us!!

Oh, how we love fab hotels!!!

 

[cinjam]

We were there for 4 days at the end of June, beginning of July (non-Disney trip, plus no kids). It was truly awesome! We also won a $93/night bid on priceline. When we checked in I asked about upgrading to (and paying for) an atrium view (the original room the receptionist was guiding us to was a parking lot view). Well, we got the upgrade at no charge!!! We were in the Everglades section - wow it was really, really great. They had three very good restaurants, a Ben & Jerry's, Coffee Cafe, and great shops!! We had no problem with atrium noise traveling up to our room.

I would stay there again in a heartbeat.

Here is a link to some photos of the hotel & our room: http://cinjam.aboutmybaby.com/view/photoalbum.pl?photoalbum_id=63516

 

[fostrmom2mny]

Cinjam, beautiful pictures. I hadn't seen the inside of the Everglades rooms. I like the colors.
We ate dinner tonight at the Villa de Flora. They have an all you care to eat buffet for $26.00 that includes a drink and very tastey food. I added a coconut margeritta (sp?) for $9.00 more. Great service. It also included Ben & Jerry's ice cream as an option for dessert.
Gerri

 

[cinjam]

fostrmom2mny thank you! I am jealous you are there now! We had such a wonderful time - I wish I was back.

I really liked this hotel! **sigh**

Enjoy your time there!

 

[D L and K's Mom]

As I mentioned above we loved it. We were able to stay before the official opening. There were quite a few wedding planners, convention planners, party planners etc. We were just lucky enough to be there at the right time. We got free buffets and we got a really nice tour of the restaurants and the chef talked to us. Is the store still there with the salveged treasure from the Atochia (Spelling???). The man in the store let DH hold a huge emerald that had been salvaged and a gold bar. We brought DD home a small coin on a chain that had been on the sunken ship. It was such a cool place. We did not have any trouble with noise and we did have a balcony room but again the hotel was NOT full. I get email newsletters from the hotel and in the winter they dod a big snow festival with snow sculptures etc. I would love to see it. Glad you also had a nice stay.

 

[ecpool]

we will be there during Christmas week and will already be paying $236 per night for a non atrium view. Would you stay even if we don't have the atrium view?

 

[fostrmom2mny]

I loved my atruim veiw! That said, others in my group didn't have the same veiw, but the resort itself is beautiful! I'd ask for an upgrade when you check in since the rate that you're paying is much higher than what others have paid there. The Christmas season may have something to do with the price.?
There are so many areas that you can explore. I would stay there again in a heart beat!
Gerri

 

[cinjam]

I would stay again even if we didn't have the atrium view. While it was nice to sit on the balcony & people watch, it didn't make or break the vacation! It was the hotel's grounds (both inside & out) that made it wonderful for us.

 

[linny172]

I am sitting in my room now at gaylord palms. This place is awsome. But I think it would of been real nice to have a atrium view with a balcony. I don't really feel like walking around now but it would be nice to just be able to sit on the balcony and people watch

 

[fostrmom2mny]

That was one of my favorite things to do. I'd order a drink and take it back to my room and people watch. Loved it!!

 

[kimberh]

Is there transporation to the parks or do you have to drive your own car? The resort looks Beautiful!!