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Gaylord Palms Resort is a 1,718-room Gaylord Hotels resort, run by Marriott, at 6000 West Osceola Parkway in Kissimmee, about 3 miles by road from Disney’s Hollywood Studios. It is known for a 4.5-acre glass-roofed atrium, the three-acre Cypress Springs Water Park, a Disney shuttle paid through the resort fee and its holiday ICE! attraction. It is also a big convention hotel, so expect conference groups alongside families.
This review covers the resort fee, the Disney shuttle, transfers from Orlando International Airport (MCO), rooms, the spa and the fall and Christmas 2026 dates, checked on official pages in October 2026.
Quick answer: Book Gaylord Palms if you want a resort that keeps kids busy between park days and you will use the Disney shuttle and water park the resort fee pays for. It is not a Disney hotel and has no Early Theme Park Entry, it runs no Universal or airport shuttle (Mears Connect serves it from MCO), and every room type sold online sleeps four at most.
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Gaylord Palms Resort at a glance
- Address: 6000 West Osceola Parkway, Kissimmee, FL 34746, about 3 to 7 miles by road from the four Disney theme parks.
- Disney shuttle: to all four theme parks and Disney Springs, included in the resort fee, bookable up to five days ahead.
- Airport: MCO is about 19 miles away; no hotel shuttle, but Mears Connect stops here.
- Park perks: none. Gaylord Palms is not on Disney’s Early Theme Park Entry list.
- Rooms: about 410 sq ft, one king (sleeps 2) or two queens (sleeps 4); suites sleep 4.
- Water park: seven waterslides, an action river, two heated pools, a kids’ playground and a FlowRider (extra fee).
- Dining: 11 outlets on Marriott’s dining page; breakfast is not included.
- Fees: resort fee $45 per day; self-parking $40 (the holiday FAQ says $38) and valet $55 per day, all plus tax, at the time of writing.
- Best for: families who want a resort day between park days, and holiday visitors coming for ICE!.
Gaylord Hotels says a $134 million renovation, finished in January 2025, delivered a new lobby, remodeled restaurants and more than 1,400 redesigned rooms. With more than 500,000 square feet of meeting space by Gaylord’s count, convention weeks can crowd the lobby.
Check Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center prices on Booking.com
Gaylord Palms Resort photos
A closer look at the atrium, lobby, rooms and dining from the resort’s own photo gallery. Tap any photo to enlarge it, or see the full gallery and current rates on Booking.com.
Location: is Gaylord Palms in Orlando or Kissimmee?
Both. The official address is Kissimmee, Booking.com files it under “Celebration, Orlando”, and most travelers call it an Orlando resort, on Osceola Parkway at the southeast edge of Walt Disney World. Road distances below come from OSRM routing to guest parking (October 2026); times assume no traffic.
| Destination | Distance | Drive (no traffic) |
|---|---|---|
| Disney’s Hollywood Studios | About 3 miles | 10-15 min |
| Animal Kingdom | About 4.5 miles | 10-15 min |
| Disney Springs | About 5 miles | 10-15 min |
| EPCOT | About 5.5 miles | About 15 min |
| Magic Kingdom (main parking lot) | About 7 miles | About 15 min, then ferry or monorail |
| SeaWorld Orlando | About 7.5 miles | 15-20 min |
| Epic Universe / Universal Orlando | About 10 / 11 miles | About 20 min |
| Orlando International Airport (MCO) | About 19 miles | About 30 min |
Gaylord Palms Disney shuttle: how it works
Marriott lists “Daily Shuttle Service to Disney Springs and Disney Parks” among the resort fee inclusions at the time of writing. It covers all four theme parks and Disney Springs.
- Reserve both legs: seats can be booked up to five days ahead and schedules are updated weekly. The resort’s booking portal lists trips to Disney and back separately.
- Check the first departure against park opening, especially for Magic Kingdom.
- It is not free: you pay for it through the mandatory resort fee, whether or not you ride.
- No Disney perks: no Early Entry, and like other off-site guests you book Lightning Lane Multi Pass 3 days ahead, not 7.
- Driving instead: add Disney’s theme park parking ($35 a day standard at the time of writing) to the hotel’s parking charge.
See our Disney Lightning Lane guide for the booking windows. If Early Entry matters, compare the non-Disney hotels with Early Theme Park Entry; to skip the resort fee, see the Orlando hotels with free Disney World shuttles.
Orlando airport (MCO) to Gaylord Palms
Marriott’s overview (July 2026 copy) says the hotel does not provide an airport shuttle and names Mears Transportation as the alternative. The drive is about 19 miles, roughly 30 minutes without traffic.
Mears Connect shuttle
Mears Connect, the shared-ride shuttle from MCO, lists Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center among the hotels it serves. At the time of writing, standard one-way fares started at $16 for ages 10 and up and $13 for ages 3 to 9, plus a 6% fuel surcharge; under-3s ride free. You check in on Level 1 of Terminal B (bus slots B91 to B97) or Terminal C. For the return, exit the main lobby, turn right and walk to the Transportation Lobby porte-cochère, where pickup is in the bus lanes.
Rideshare, rental car and other parks
By car, the usual route uses the Central Florida GreeneWay (SR 417), a toll road, then Osceola Parkway. Universal, Epic Universe and SeaWorld also need a car or rideshare. For every airport option, see our Orlando airport to Disney World transport guide.
The atrium: Florida under glass
The heart of Gaylord Palms is four and a half acres of glass-roofed atriums kept at about 72 degrees, with waterways, waterfalls, animal habitats and, by the resort’s count, more than 500,000 plants. MOOR overlooks the Key West Atrium lagoon, Old Hickory Steakhouse sits in the Everglades Atrium, and atrium-view rooms have balconies above it all.
This is what makes the resort work on a rainy afternoon or a rest day. Free alligator, baby-alligator (“grunt”) and fish feedings run on Mondays to Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, and the free Wildlife Rescue augmented-reality app sends kids hunting for 12 hidden endangered animals. There is also an arcade.
Cypress Springs Water Park and pools
Cypress Springs is a three-acre outdoor water park. Overnight guests get four wristbands per room through the resort fee, and children under 15 must be with an adult at all times.
- Slides: seven, including the Florida Free Fall (a 35-foot trap-door drop that ends in a spin around a giant bowl), the two Tamiami Twister racing slides and four kid-size slides in the Tree House playground with its 300-gallon tipping bucket.
- Crystal River Rapids: an “action river” with currents of nearly four feet per second, waterfalls and caves.
- Two heated pools: the zero-entry Cypress Springs Pool, with a giant video wall and basketball goals, and the palm-lined South Beach Pool.
- Extras: The Wake Zone FlowRider (extra fee, by reservation), paid cabanas and daybeds, and SandBar for poolside food.
| Attraction | Minimum height | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Tower slides | 48 inches | Included |
| Upper slides | 40 inches | Included |
| Lower slides | 36 inches | Included |
| FlowRider bodyboarding | 42 inches | Extra fee |
| FlowRider stand-up surfing | 48 inches | Extra fee |
Can day visitors use Cypress Springs?
Sometimes, for a price. At the time of writing, a Cypress Springs day pass was listed on the ResortPass marketplace, subject to availability, and Marriott’s spa page gives same-day water park access to spa guests who spend at least $160 per person.
To compare Cypress Springs with The Grove and CoCo Key, see our guide to Orlando hotels with water parks and waterslides.
Rooms and suites
Standard rooms are about 410 square feet, and the view sets the price. Florida-view rooms face the grounds, Water Park View rooms in the Gulf Coast Tower overlook Cypress Springs, and atrium-view rooms add a balcony over the gardens. Emerald Bay Main Atrium rooms also get a marble entryway and French doors. Marriott’s FAQ puts the largest occupancy at four.
| Room type | Beds | Max guests | Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florida view | 1 king or 2 queens | 2 or 4 | About 410 sq ft |
| Water Park View (Gulf Coast Tower) | 2 queens | 4 | About 410 sq ft |
| Atrium view with balcony | 1 king or 2 queens | 2 or 4 | About 410 sq ft |
| Executive Suite | 1 king plus sofa bed | 4 | About 625 sq ft |
| Deluxe Suite | 1 king plus sofa bed | 4 | About 831 sq ft |
Rollaways are not allowed in two-queen rooms; king rooms and suites allowed one for a nightly fee ($30 at last check). Parties of five or more can add Guaranteed Connecting Rooms or compare rooms that sleep 5 or 6 at Disney World and Universal and Orlando hotels with kids suites. Rooms have a mini fridge, coffee maker and safe; there is no room service, but A la Carte Room Delivery runs 6 a.m. to midnight.
Compare room types and rates at Gaylord Palms on Booking.com
Restaurants and breakfast
Marriott’s dining page lists 11 outlets. Reserve table-service restaurants ahead, especially at the holidays.
- Old Hickory Steakhouse: the signature steakhouse, dinner only, smart casual, reopened after a $7.25 million renovation.
- MOOR: seafood overlooking the Key West Atrium lagoon.
- Villa de Flora: coastal Mediterranean with an attended buffet, open for breakfast.
- Wreckers Sports Bar: lunch and dinner, with a 37-foot screen and more than 50 TVs.
- SandBar and Socio: poolside lunch, and a Cuban-inspired lobby lounge.
- Quick bites: Emerald Bay Café & Market and The Cocoa Bean (Starbucks drinks), Jamba and Cold Stone Creamery.
Breakfast is not included; Marriott lists it for a fee at Villa de Flora, Emerald Bay Café, The Cocoa Bean, A la Carte Room Delivery and Jamba.
Relâche Spa, fitness and wellness
Relâche Spa & Salon offers massages, facials, body treatments, manicures and pedicures, and spa guests can use the eucalyptus steam room, dry sauna, rainforest showers and relaxation lounge. It is for guests 18 and older, and Marriott’s spa offers add a 20% service charge. The fitness center is open 24 hours, Sunrise Yoga runs daily at 8 and 10 a.m., and Celebration Golf Club is the partner course. The spa pass for Marriott Bonvoy Elite members is a loyalty perk; don’t count on it when booking through a third-party site.
Resort fee, parking and the real nightly cost
At the time of writing, the daily resort fee is $45 plus tax. It covers the Disney parks and Disney Springs shuttle, Cypress Springs admission for up to four guests, resort-wide Wi-Fi with enhanced in-room internet, and a daily yoga class for two.
| Charge | Amount (at the time of writing) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Resort fee | $45 per day plus tax | Mandatory |
| Self-parking | $40 per day plus tax | Christmas FAQ lists $38 |
| Valet parking | $55 per day plus tax | In-and-out for overnight guests |
| FlowRider, cabanas, ICE! | Extra | Reserve in advance |
By car, plan on about $85 a night in resort fee and self-parking before tax, on top of the room rate. Marriott (July 2026 copy) lists $40 self-parking and the Christmas FAQ $38, so confirm at check-in. The resort is cashless, check-in is 4 p.m., the minimum check-in age is 18 and pets are not allowed. If mandatory fees are a deal-breaker, see the Orlando hotels with no resort fees.
Seasonal events: Fall Fun and Christmas with ICE!
Through October 31, 2026, Fall Fun brings a ticketed Spookley the Square Pumpkin scavenger hunt, the Phantom of the Atrium light show nightly at 9 p.m. and Friday and Saturday dive-in movies at the pool.
Christmas at Gaylord Palms runs from November 13, 2026 to January 3, 2027. The headline is ICE! featuring The Polar Express: 11 scenes carved from more than 2 million pounds of ice in a 19,000-square-foot hall kept at 9°F, with five ice slides. Most guests spend 20 to 40 minutes inside.
- What to wear: parkas are provided; closed-toe shoes are required for the slides.
- Tickets: online in advance only, no box office. Entry is timed and single-entry; arrive 15 minutes early.
- Hotel guest perks: the free Chill Pass gives front-of-line access to ICE!, and some peak evenings reserve table-service dining for hotel guests.
- Also: Snow Flow Mountain ice tubing (42-inch minimum), the POMP, SNOW & CIRQUEumstance show and photos with Santa.
- Changes: day-guest tickets are non-refundable; overnight guests can change or cancel free up to five days before arrival.
The Christmas site also sells room-and-ICE! packages. For other holiday events, see our guide to Christmas in Orlando.
Who Gaylord Palms suits
It suits families who want downtime between Disney days, ICE! fans and conference attendees adding family days. It suits Universal-focused trips, groups of five in one room and bargain hunters less well.
Pros and limitations
Pros
- The resort fee covers a Disney shuttle and water park entry for four.
- The atrium, wildlife feedings and seasonal events work in any weather.
- Lobby, restaurants and most rooms were renovated in 2024-25.
- Eleven dining outlets, from a steakhouse to grab-and-go.
- About 3 miles from Hollywood Studios, with Mears Connect service from MCO.
Limitations to know
- No Early Theme Park Entry and only the 3-day Lightning Lane window.
- A mandatory resort fee plus $38 to $40 a day for self-parking.
- Four guests per room at most, and no kitchens.
- No hotel shuttle to Universal, Epic Universe or the airport.
- Convention groups can crowd public areas, and breakfast costs extra.
What to check before you book
- Party size: four per room, with rollaways only in king rooms and suites.
- View: atrium-view rooms have balconies; Marriott’s Water Park View listing does not mention one.
- Shuttle: book as soon as your five-day window opens and compare the first departure with park opening.
- Fees: confirm the resort fee and the parking rate ($40 or $38) when you book.
- Holidays: pick your ICE! time slot early and reserve restaurants for peak evenings.
Gaylord Palms vs nearby water-park resorts
Figures from each resort’s official pages in October 2026:
| Resort | Water park | Resort fee (plus tax) | Self-parking (plus tax) | Transport in fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gaylord Palms | Cypress Springs | $45 per day | $38-$40 per day | 4 Disney parks, Disney Springs |
| Orlando World Center Marriott | River Falls Waterpark | $47 per night | $40 per day | 4 Disney parks, Disney Springs |
| The Grove Resort & Water Park | Surfari Water Park | $49 per night | $35 per night | Disney, Universal, SeaWorld |
| Margaritaville Resort Orlando | Island H2O next door (included through Oct 31, 2026) | $48 per night | $20 per night | Disney, Universal, SeaWorld |
- Orlando World Center Marriott: another big Marriott resort with a water park and Disney shuttle. Read our Orlando World Center Marriott review.
- The Grove Resort & Water Park Orlando: suites with kitchens, a better fit for large families. Read our guide to The Grove Resort suites, water park and shuttle.
- Margaritaville Resort Orlando: cheaper parking; its water park page limits free Island H2O admission with the full resort fee to stays from March 6 to October 31, 2026, and its FAQ says passes are sold separately. See our Margaritaville Resort Orlando guide.
- Holiday Inn Resort Orlando Suites – Waterpark: a simpler option with kids’ suites. See our Holiday Inn Resort Orlando Suites Waterpark guide.
- More nearby: compare the best hotels in Kissimmee.
Comparing the two big resorts? read Gaylord Palms vs Orlando World Center Marriott.
Frequently asked questions
Does Gaylord Palms have a shuttle to Disney World?
Yes. At the time of writing, the $45 daily resort fee includes a shuttle to all four Walt Disney World theme parks and Disney Springs. Seats can be reserved up to five days ahead, and the resort’s portal lists outbound and return trips separately. There is no hotel shuttle to Universal, Epic Universe or SeaWorld.
Is there an airport shuttle from MCO to Gaylord Palms?
Not from the hotel: Marriott says it provides no airport shuttle. Mears Connect, the shared-ride MCO shuttle, lists Gaylord Palms as a stop, with one-way fares from $16 for ages 10 and up and $13 for ages 3 to 9, plus a 6% fuel surcharge, at the time of writing. By car, the resort is about 19 miles from MCO.
How much is the resort fee at Gaylord Palms?
It was $45 per day plus tax at the time of writing. It covers Wi-Fi, the Disney shuttle, Cypress Springs admission for up to four guests and daily yoga for two. Parking is extra: Marriott lists $40 self-parking and $55 valet per day plus tax; the Christmas FAQ quotes $38 self-parking.
Can non-guests use the Gaylord Palms water park?
Sometimes, for a price. Overnight stays include four wristbands per room. At the time of writing, a Cypress Springs day pass was listed on the ResortPass marketplace, subject to availability, and spa guests who spend at least $160 per person get water park access on the day of their treatment.
Is Gaylord Palms in Orlando or Kissimmee, and is it on Disney property?
Its address is 6000 West Osceola Parkway, Kissimmee, just east of Walt Disney World, and many listings call it an Orlando resort. It is not a Disney Resort hotel and not on Disney’s Early Theme Park Entry list. Hollywood Studios is about 3 miles away by road and the Magic Kingdom parking lot about 7.
When is ICE! at Gaylord Palms in 2026?
Christmas at Gaylord Palms runs from November 13, 2026 to January 3, 2027, with ICE! featuring The Polar Express as the main attraction. Tickets are sold online only, with timed entry. Hotel guests get the free Chill Pass for front-of-line access but still need tickets.
Bottom line
Gaylord Palms Resort works as a destination in its own right, with a renovated, weatherproof atrium, a real water park and, in season, ICE!. The fees add up, but they buy a Disney shuttle and water park access you will probably use. If you need Early Entry, a kitchen or one room for five, see the alternatives above.
See available rooms at Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center
Sources checked in October 2026: Gaylord Palms What to Expect (Marriott), Cypress Springs Water Park (Marriott), Christmas at Gaylord Palms FAQ, Mears Connect hotels served, Disney Early Theme Park Entry.