Gaylord Palms Resort and Spa, from the same parent company that brought you Nashville's incomparable Opryland Hotel, boasts 1,406 rooms on 63 acres and is adjacent (and very visible) to I-4, just three minutes from Walt Disney World. Its overall size is massive; at 2.1 million square feet, it is one of the biggest resorts and convention facilities in all of Florida. Take a photo tour of Gaylord Palms Resort

Gaylord Palms Resort: Atrium

The most striking feature of the resort is its glass-topped dome atrium. With the warm glow of natural sunlight inside the resort, you can take a stroll through five acres (without ever leaving the building) and visit three different Florida-themed environments.

The Key West atrium boasts a 60-foot sailboat that serves as a restaurant, sitting on turquoise blue waters of the 161,000-gallon wave-filled coral reef.

A short stroll from the Key West atrium is the Everglades Atrium. You'll follow a series of wooden walkways to take you down to the Glades so you can see the gators for yourself. Nothing has been left out, not the steam rising from the Everglades water or the gator sound effects that are bound to scare the young ones. There are also metal roofed shanties built on log stilts and a cypress and sable palm canopy to help set the mood.

The third and main atrium is St. Augustine, complete with cobblestone walkways and a replica of the oldest Spanish fort in the new world, Castillo de San Marcos.

The Emerald Bay portion of the resort could best be described as a hotel within a hotel. Here you will find a separate 362-room area, complete with its own suites, boardrooms and meeting facilities. Emerald Bay goes the extra mile to ensure luxury, as evidenced by the crown molding, stone entryways and highly polished walnut and mahogany finishes found in its rooms.

Gaylord Palms Resort: Guest Rooms and Recreation

Guest rooms have laptop-sized safes with A/C power inside, a computer and free high-speed Internet access, and electronic "Do Not Disturb" signs.

When you are not in meetings or at a nearby amusement park, there is plenty to occupy your time. The 20,000 square foot spa, known as the Canyon Ranch SpaClub, includes 15 treatment rooms, six facial rooms, four wet rooms, sauna and steam rooms, quiet room, outdoor hot tub and pool. There is also a full service salon providing professional hair cutting and styling, manicures, pedicures, massages and make up applications.

To work off the calories after eating at some of the Gaylord Palm's award wining restaurants, there is a 4,000 square foot fitness center that includes state of the art cardiovascular equipment with virtual fitness environments for an interactive workouts, the Smith Press System for bodybuilding and a Pilates program for body and mind conditioning.

Gaylord Palms Resort: Kid-Friendly Features

If mom and dad need some time alone, or if they just want to help keep "junior" happy, a trip to the La Petite Academy on the grounds of the Gaylord Palms is just the ticket. From inception many years ago when resorts began setting aside small rooms for children to play to today's facility at the Gaylord Palms, hotels and resorts have steadily offered more and more activities and dedicated more space for children - this is definitely the case at the Gaylord Palms.

The 4,000 square foot facility includes a variety of activities including a softplay climbing unit, arts & crafts, video games, board games, a TV and karaoke machine.

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Gaylord Palms Resort is located just outside the entrance to the Walt Disney World Resort.
6000 West Osceola Parkway, Kissimmee, Florida 34747 USA
Phone: (407) 586-2000;
Web site: Gaylord Palms Resort