Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention CentervsDisney's Wilderness Lodge
Both hotels are rated very highly by reviewers writing for major publications. On balance, Disney's Wilderness Lodge scores significantly higher than Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center. Disney's Wilderness Lodge is ranked #13 in Orlando with positive reviews from 8 sources including Gayot, Travel + Leisure and DK Eyewitness.
Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center
6000 W. Osceola Pkwy., Kissimmee, FL 34746
From $139/night
- Bar/Lounge
- Hot Tub
- Free Internet
- Room Service
- Laundry Service
- Concierge
DK Eyewitness
"Gaylord Palms has its own restaurants, recreational facilities, shops, and the Canyon Ranch Spa Club."
Star Service
"This Southern-flavored convention-resort follows the blueprint of its Nashville sibling Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center, offering an upscale biospheric experience." Full review
i
You can choose between soft orange or deep blue color schemes, though all units share the same well-rounded amenity roster.
Gayot
"This elaborate, decidedly Southern resort... pays tribute to distinctive regions and eras of Florida that are rich in history and charm, though often underrepresented."
Zagat
"It may be centered on a convention center, but this sprawling 63-acre Marriott resort in Kissimmee also attracts leisure travelers."
Frommer's
"It's a convention center in disguise, but the Gaylord Palms appeals to vacationers, too, and is not your run-of-the-mill resort." Full review
Fodor's
"Built in the style of a grand turn-of-the-20th-century Florida mansion, this resort is meant to inspire awe." Full review
Travel + Leisure
"The hotel has a lush atrium and rooms, two on-site pools, a Canyon Ranch spa, golf putting course, and croquet lawn." Full review
Lonely Planet
Top Choice
"This is, without a doubt, the most massive hotel in Orlando, and it’s popular as a conference center... and a family resort." Full review
Independent
"Fans of 1972 sci-fi classic Silent Running will be at home in this uber-cool domed environment encompassing 1,718 rooms and five acres of indoor delights that feel like the great outdoors"
Travel + Leisure
"It’s near everything, but also in a world of its own, thanks to towering glass atriums with native flora and fauna and scenes made to feel like other destinations...kids go crazy for the water park"
21 Best Family Resorts in Florida, According to Locals
August 12, 2023
Disney's Wilderness Lodge
901 Timberline Drive, Lake Buena Vista, Orlando, FL 32830
From $344/night
- Bar/Lounge
- Hot Tub
- Free Internet
- Room Service
- Shuttle Bus
- Laundry Service
Oyster
Upscale
"It's not exactly luxurious -- subpar bedding; constant crowds; long lines -- but the 727-room Wilderness Lodge is still a superb family resort." Full review
DK Eyewitness
"The setting resembles that of the great national parks of the Northwest, with towering pines, a spewing geyser, and rough rocky terrain surrounding a spectacular pool."
Rough Guide
Star
"This magnificent, oversized replica of a frontier log cabin is furnished with massive totem poles, a wood-burning fire in the lobby, and Southern-style rocking chairs."
Fodor's
"The architects outdid themselves in designing this seven-story hotel modeled after majestic turn-of-the-20th-century lodges in the American Northwest." Full review
Travel + Leisure
"A towering lobby filled with totem poles, a replica geyser, and a waterfall-fed rock pool—this Orlando fantasy channels America's national parks to uncanny effect." Full review
i
Take a ride on a pony or in a horse-drawn carriage.
Gayot
"Even if you don’t stay there, the Wilderness Lodge is a can’t-miss attraction at Walt Disney World."
The Telegraph
8.0
"The iconic lodges of America’s National Parks are recreated in this immense log cabin style resort complete with pine forest, babbling indoor-outdoor stream, and a waterfall that flows into the swimming pool." Full review
Condé Nast Traveler
"Just a boat ride from the Magic Kingdom, this resort gives you the best of both worlds: convenience and relaxation." Full review
Frommer's
"This effective riff on Yellowstone’s woody Old Faithful Lodge, swaddled by oaks and pines, is picturesque and the least expensive of the Deluxe category" Full review
Lonely Planet
Top choice
"The handsome lobby's low-lit tepee chandeliers, hand-carved totem pole and dramatic 80ft fireplace echo national-park lodges of America's old West." Full review