Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention CentervsUniversal's Cabana Bay Beach Resort
Both Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center and Universal's Cabana Bay Beach Resort are highly recommended by reviewers writing for major publications. Overall, Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center ranks marginally better than Universal's Cabana Bay Beach Resort. Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center comes in at 80 with endorsements from 8 sources like Lonely Planet, Star Service and Fodor's.
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
Universal's Cabana Bay Beach Resort
6550 Adventure Way, Orlando, FL 32819
From $108/night
- Bar/Lounge
- Hot Tub
- Free Internet
- Shuttle Bus
- Laundry Service
- Concierge
Fodor's
"Besides offering a moderate price for an on-property hotel, a stay at this resort offers a 10-lane bowling alley, early park admission... and poolside activities." Full review
Travel + Leisure
"On the same property as the standard rooms, Cabana Bay also offers 900 spacious family suites, which sleep up to six and include a kitchenette and a large bathroom." Full review
i
No matter which type of room you choose, enjoy two zero-entry swimming pools, a waterslide, a fitness center and even a 10-lane bowling alley.
Oyster
Upper-middle-range
"An amusement park in itself, this enormous, 1800-room upper-middle-range property is inside of Universal Orlando and within easy walking distance of Universal’s Islands of Adventure." Full review
Gayot
"Universalâs new Cabana Bay Beach Resort feels like stepping back in time, yet without sacrificing any of the amenities and conveniences modern travelers have come to expect."
The Telegraph
8.0
"A superb – if massive – budget-conscious resort with immense family appeal, right on the doorstep of the Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure theme parks." Full review
Condé Nast Traveler
"Universal’s newest hotel harks back to the 1950s with its colorful, mid-century modern design." Full review
Travel + Leisure
"A very family-friendly property with its own bowling alley, lazy river and character meet-and-greets." Full review
Frommer's
"You’ll find 600 family suites with kitchen areas (microwave, no stove) that sleep six somewhat tightly, two on a sofa bed. The music never stops in the two ginormous pool areas" Full review
Lonely Planet
Top Choice
"Cabana Bay Beach Resort has a beautifully themed, hip, retro-Florida vintage vibe. It offers moderate and value-priced accommodation." Full review