If the extra 5-10 minutes to drive matters to you (like you plan to come back for midday rests), then Silver Lake is indeed closer.
Sliver Lake's older section has spacious units in 3-story buildings with no elevators - not great with strollers, tired children or arthritic people.
Silver Lake's newer section has smaller rooms, taller buildings with elevators, nicely appointed, even in the 1BR units.
Silver Lake offers some studios, 1BRs, 2BRs and some 3BR units, if you need that. Cypress Palms does not - 1BRs and 2BRs only.
Silver Lake was built in phases over a longer period of time, with floorplans and different styles and amenities in various parts of the resort. There are some areas where the rooms and back balconies overlook Sherberth Road - traffic noise. Most of the resort is not like this. I don't consider the restaurants and shopping on 192 to be close for walking - we'd take a car.
Silver Lake has a larger game room, a larger fitness center and a larger main pool - Cypress Palms' are smaller but well-maintained and sufficient, especially if you plan to be at the parks most days. Silver Lakes has more organized activities and a movie viewing room. Cypress Palms has gas grills at its picnic area and a pleasantly covered/shaded playground.
Cypress Palms has 2 different kinds of 1BRs - a deluxe 1BR that's huge with all the whistles and bells - and a standard 1BR that's quite basic and much smaller. I would not like the smaller standard 1BR. But 2BRs at Cypress Palms are all large and beautifully done.
We much prefer the interiors at Cypress Palms, all completely redone within the last 2 years - particularly if you'll be staying in a 1BR deluxe or a 2BR. We also like the consistent layouts and quality of furnishings in a smaller resort like Cypress Palms because there are no bad rooms there.
Cypress Palms units are all conveniently close to a pool and this small resort is within easy walking distance of several restaurants and a CVS/foodmart. The whole resort is set back from area roads, so balconies mostly overlook landscaping, pools and other units - all are pretty quiet.
Pools are warmly heated at both. Both have good facilities for smaller resorts. Hope that helps.
