Is Gaylord Palms worth it? Honest pros and cons
Yes — Gaylord Palms can be worth it if you want a large, family-friendly resort with an on-site water park, multiple restaurants, and extensive meeting/wedding space near Walt Disney World. It’s less compelling if you’re looking for a small, budget stay or if resort fees and parking charges bother you.
In this guide
- First impression: setting, scale and location
- Water park, pools and family facilities — strong family appeal
- Rooms and suites — variety, atrium views and named room types
- Dining and on-site services — many options, costs to consider
- Spa, fitness and wellness — full-service spa plus 24-hour gym
- Events, meetings and weddings — a convention center with options
- Practical downsides: fees, crowds and transportation
First impression: setting, scale and location
Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center is a large Kissimmee resort built around a 4.5-acre glass atrium that recreates Florida landscapes and waterways. The property sits at 6000 West Osceola Parkway, roughly a 5-minute drive from Walt Disney World.
If you want a central base for Disney, Universal or SeaWorld visits, its location and resort shuttle options to Disney are useful; if you need a small boutique stay or lower nightly rates, the scale and fees here can feel excessive.
- Address: 6000 West Osceola Parkway, Kissimmee, FL 34746
- Close to Walt Disney World (about a 5-minute drive) and within 12–15 minutes of SeaWorld and Universal, per published distances
- Large property — thousands of rooms and extensive meeting/convention space
| Attribute | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Scale | Large resort built around a multi-acre atrium |
| Nearby parks | Short drive to Disney; moderate drive to Universal/SeaWorld |
| Best for | Families, conferences, wedding groups |
Water park, pools and family facilities — strong family appeal
Cypress Springs Water Park is a core reason families book here: it’s a multi-acre water park with four water slides, an action river called Crystal River Rapids, and a FlowRider surf simulator. Water-park admission for overnight guests is included via the resort fee.
Beyond the water park there are three outdoor pools, two hot tubs, a separate adults-only pool area called South Beach Pool, and a kids’ splash/play area. Note that published sources say children under 15 must be accompanied by an adult, and the taller slides have a 40-inch height minimum.
- Cypress Springs Water Park: four slides, action river, FlowRider
- 3 outdoor pools + 2 hot tubs; South Beach Pool for adults only
- Water-park admission included in the resort fee for overnight guests
- Children under 15 must be accompanied by an adult; slide height limits apply
| Feature | Note |
|---|---|
| FlowRider | On-site surf simulator (instruction sometimes offered) |
| Slide height rules | Tall slides: 40-inch minimum; smaller slides: 36-inch minimum |
| Lifeguards | Some published guest reviews indicate lifeguards are not always on duty |
Rooms and suites — variety, atrium views and named room types
The resort lists many room types and suites across multiple towers; several room names you may book include Room, Balcony; 1 Bedroom Deluxe Suite, Sofa bed; Guest room, Main Atrium view, Balcony; Guest room, Water Park view, Gulf Coast Tower; and 1 Bedroom Executive Suite, Sofa bed. Some rooms overlook the atrium, others face the water park or Florida landscape.
Suites offer separate living areas and sofa beds for families; connecting/adjoining rooms are available on request. Room amenities and exact layouts vary by room type and view, so check the specific room description when booking.
- Sample room names (exact listings): Room, Balcony; 1 Bedroom Deluxe Suite, Sofa bed; Guest room, Water Park view, Gulf Coast Tower; 1 Bedroom Executive Suite, Sofa bed
- Atrium-view rooms give direct views into the indoor garden/waterways
- Connecting rooms available subject to availability
| Room type | Typical sleeping setup |
|---|---|
| Room, Balcony | 1 King Bed or 2 Queen Beds |
| 1 Bedroom Deluxe Suite, Sofa bed | 1 King Bed and 1 Double Sofa Bed |
| Guest room, Water Park view, Gulf Coast Tower | 2 Queen Beds |
Dining and on-site services — many options, costs to consider
Gaylord Palms operates multiple full-service restaurants and cafés on property, from the dinner-only Old Hickory Steakhouse and MOOR (seafood) to Villa de Flora for breakfast and more casual outlets like The Cocoa Bean Coffee House, Jamba and Cold Stone Creamery. Room service (A la Carte - Room Delivery) is offered daily with listed hours.
While the variety covers most tastes, dining is à la carte and can add up — the property is not all-inclusive. The resort also charges a mandatory daily resort fee that includes Wi‑Fi, pool/water-park access, and fitness classes; parking and some services (like cabanas) carry extra charges.
- Signature dining: Old Hickory Steakhouse (dinner only) and MOOR (seafood/dinner)
- Breakfast: Villa de Flora and Emerald Bay Café & Market
- Casual outlets: The Cocoa Bean Coffee House, Jamba, Cold Stone Creamery
- Expect extra charges: mandatory resort fee, paid parking, cabana rentals
| Dining option | Typical service times / notes |
|---|---|
| Old Hickory Steakhouse | Dinner service only (reservation recommended) |
| Villa de Flora | Breakfast buffet (hours published as morning service) |
| The Cocoa Bean Coffee House | Starbucks brew and bakery items throughout the day |
Spa, fitness and wellness — full-service spa plus 24-hour gym
Relâche Spa is a large, on-site facility offering massages, facials, body treatments, salon services and spa amenities including a steam room and sauna; published sources note a Four-Star Forbes Travel Guide rating and a 25,000-square-foot facility with many treatment suites. Spa hours from resort sources vary by listing, so confirm with the spa when booking treatments.
The Relâche Fitness Center is available 24 hours for registered guests and offers cardio and free weights. Fitness and yoga classes are included in the resort-fee package per published listings and are scheduled multiple days a week.
- Relâche Spa: massages, facials, salon services, steam room and sauna
- Spa size: reported at about 25,000 sq ft with multiple treatment suites
- Fitness center: 24-hour access with cardio and free-weight equipment
- Fitness/Yoga classes: offered several days weekly (check schedule)
| Wellness feature | Notes |
|---|---|
| Spa rating | Four Stars reported by a travel source |
| Spa amenities | Treatment suites, sauna, steam room, relaxation lounges |
| Fitness access | 24-hour Relâche Fitness Center — complimentary for guests |
Events, meetings and weddings — a convention center with options
Gaylord Palms is also a convention center with large divisible ballrooms and exhibit halls, including the Sun Ballroom, Osceola Ballroom and Florida Exhibition Hall suitable for conferences and large events. It offers a wide range of event rooms and outdoor ceremony spaces for weddings.
If you’re attending a conference or booking group rooms, the resort’s size and on-site food and AV capabilities can simplify logistics. For small-party travelers, the same scale can mean busy public spaces during big events, so check the event calendar before booking if you want a quieter stay.
- Large event spaces: Sun Ballroom (29,123 sq ft), Osceola Ballroom, Florida Exhibition Hall (very large capacity)
- Wedding Pavilion Venue and Emerald Bay Plaza for indoor/outdoor ceremonies
- Event infrastructure: hundreds of meeting rooms and extensive prefunction space
| Event space | Published capacity or note |
|---|---|
| Coquina Lawn | Outdoor garden capacity listed in resort materials |
| Emerald Bay Plaza Venue | Terrace-style venue for ceremonies/receptions |
| Florida Exhibition Hall | Large exhibit/meeting hall used for big conferences |
Practical downsides: fees, crowds and transportation
A few recurring negatives to weigh: the resort charges a mandatory daily resort fee that covers Wi‑Fi, pool and some fitness classes; published listings show parking is a separate paid item (self and valet). These add to your nightly cost compared with no-fee hotels.
Because the property is large and focused on families and events, public spaces, pools and restaurants can be crowded during peak seasons and when conferences or weddings are in house. Gaylord Palms does not provide a general complimentary airport shuttle; airport transfers are handled via third parties or paid shuttle services.
- Mandatory daily resort fee includes water-park access, Wi‑Fi and some fitness classes
- Paid on-site parking (self and valet) — published fees vary by source
- Can be busy during peak holiday, spring-break, or convention periods
- No complimentary general airport shuttle listed on Marriott’s official page
| Potential issue | What to check before you go |
|---|---|
| Resort fee | What’s included and the current nightly amount (varies by date) |
| Parking cost | Self and valet fees — verify current rates |
| Event schedule | Check for conventions/weddings that could affect noise and crowds |
