#5 Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center
Gaylord Palms is one of those hotels that barely feels like a hotel.
The massive glass atrium, indoor gardens, restaurants and walkways make the inside of the property feel like its own little Florida-themed world.
Then you walk outside and find a full resort water park.
Cypress Springs Water Park includes waterslides, an action river, FlowRider surf simulator, pools and plenty of places to spend an afternoon without ever leaving the property.
In other words, this is not the kind of hotel pool you visit for 45 minutes before dinner.
The pool can be the day.
Why We Like It
Gaylord Palms works really well if you want the big-resort experience without actually staying on Disney property.
It’s also close enough to Disney that you aren’t sacrificing much when it comes to location.
And if you visit around Christmas, the whole place basically becomes an attraction of its own.
Best For
Families who want to build a resort day into their vacation.
It also works well for shorter Orlando trips where you’re doing a couple of park days but still want the hotel to feel like part of the vacation.
The SWC Take
There may be fancier hotels.
There may be cheaper hotels.
But Gaylord Palms is one of those places where a kid can wake up and genuinely be excited about spending the day at the hotel.
That earns it a spot.
