Gaylord Palms Resort
Whoever said central Florida was all about Disney has never visited the Gaylord Palms in Kissimmee, Florida. This elegant family resort is just minutes from the Disney attractions, yet it boasts all of the features and style of a fine luxury resort.
There are more than 1,400 guest rooms in this resort, modeled on the theme of a grand Floridian mansion. It features a massive, 4.5- acre, glass-domed atrium, and is located on 63 well-manicured acres of lush Florida gardens.
The Gaylord Palms Resort is in close proximity to all three Orlando area airports, but Kissimmee (ISM) is the closest.

No matter what your interestsor ageyou’ll find plenty to do at the Gaylord Palms. The resort boasts its own recreation park, featuring minature golf, a nine-hole executive golf course, bocce, croquet, and volleyball. There are two pools on the property: the Marine Activities pool that features water jets and a sand play area, and the adults-only South Beach pool.
Falcon’s Fire golf club is just minutes away, offering an 18-hole, 6,900-yard par 72 course that has been voted one of North America’s top ten tournament facilities for corporate events.
For relaxation after your round, visit the Canyon Ranch Spa Club, featuring 25 treatment rooms, a tea relaxation room, and an outdoor hot tub. You can enjoy a variety of facial and body treatments, or visit the in-house salon for a haircut, style, or even a manicure.
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Children aren’t left out of the picture either. The resort features a special children’s mini-resort called La Petite Academy Kids Station, which caters specifically to the younger set. After all of this activity, you’ll definitely be hungry, and once again, the Gaylord Palms doesn’t disappoint; there are four great restaurants on the property. Sunset Sam’s Fish Camp is a seafaring restaurant with a nautical theme, while the Old Hickory Steakhouse combines premium Black Angus aged beef with a constantly-changing wine list for an outstanding dining experience.
There’s also Villa de Flora, modeled after a fine “European market” style restaurant, and the H2O Sports Bar and Grille for casual dining.
No matter where you eat or what you choose to do, the Gaylord Palms offers a delightful change of pace from the traditional Disneystyle vacation, and yet you are just minutes away from the world of the great mouse. And that’s why we’ve picked the Gaylord Palms for this month’s resort spotlight.
—Sean Fulton
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