One of my favorite things about living in Orlando is having the luxury of exploring amazing hotels without actually staying in them. Today’s post is on the Gaylord Palms. The first time I visited this place was three years ago when I lived at UCF’s Rosen College Campus and we got to go on a behind the scenes tour of the place. I just recently visited Gaylord again and I am still astonished and amazed by everything this place has to offer.
Located just outside Walt Disney World, Gaylord Palms is a luxury resort with unparalleled theming and amenities. What makes this resort unique is this gigantic atrium and what’s inside of it. The hotel is divided up in into several sections that’s inspired various places in Florida such as St. Augustine and Key West. But Gaylord Palms is especially beautiful during the holidays because the entire place is decked out with decorations. At the center of it all is a gigantic Christmas tree and the lights hanging from the glass ceiling are just perfect.
The minute you walk in, you are greeted with gorgeous holiday decorations, especially the center lobby tables!
It almost feels like the arena of the Hunger Games when you walk in with lush forests and various themed areas of the atrium.
Everything is bigger in Gaylord, including the decor. During the holidays, you’ll find huge Christmas decorations throughout the gardens and forests of the atrium.
Real live alligators and turtles. Yes, live. Inside the hotel.
Throughout the holidays, there is a nightly performance by Bioluminescence with aerial rope dancing, it’s absolutely gorgeous. This alone makes a stay or a visit at the resort worth it! This is what makes Gaylord uniquely amazing!
For dinner we decided to go to Sunset Sam’s. Sunset Sam’s is a themed restaurant and it’s located in the Key West side of the resort. There is a boat in the water in which you can eat at or you can choose to eat by the bar area or inside the restaurant. Our servers were amazing, very attentive and helpful.
For starters we got the calamari with a mango sauce. The sauce was interesting in a good way and the calamari was cooked just right. I love that they serve their drinks in a mason jar, definitely makes them stand out and I love that it reflects southern style. For dinner, we had the fish and chips and then the steak. The chimichurri sauce on top of the steak was perfect and the potatoes had an interesting vinaigrette/sour seasoning to it. I thought the flavor profiles in the steak dish was perfect. The fish and chips were also fantastic, with the cod nice and crispy.
All in all, Sunset Sam’s is the perfect place to have a nice casual dinner after exploring or relaxing in the resort.
In a few weeks, I’ll be returning here to go to ICE!, one of their unique attractions. It’s a huge room that’s nine degrees or so, and there’s tons of ice sculptures and a few activities. I can’t wait!
For information on Sunset Sams, click here. For information on Gaylord Palms Resort, click here.