Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress Resort

Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress Resort Review

Sitting amid 1,500 lushly landscaped acres just outside Disney's back gate, this luxury resort hotel has a private lake with watercraft, three golf courses, and miles of trails for strolling, bicycling, jogging, and horseback riding. The resort underwent a $54-million renovation in 2011, updating guest rooms and meeting spaces. Tropical birds, plants, and a museum's treasure of Asian sculpture fill the 18-story atrium, which can be viewed from the glass-fronted elevators. Rooms overlooking Disney have a spectacular view of the evening fireworks at Epcot and the Magic Kingdom, and guests can watch the giant hot-air balloon rise and lower at Downtown Disney. Shuttle to Disney, Universal, and SeaWorld is part of the daily resort fee, which also includes Internet access. Pros: great Sunday brunch at La Coquina restaurant; huge pool; lots of recreation options, for kids and adults, including nearby equestrian center. Cons: resort fee; you'll need a car or taxi to get to downtown Orlando.

The Villas of Grand Cypress. The view from the terraces of this award-winning golf resort's villas and suites include the fairways of the Jack Nicklaus-designed North Course, waterways and lush tropical foliage; you'd never know you were right next door to a busy tourist area. Designed for avid golfers, business travelers and vacationing families, the resort offers free transportation to Disney, SeaWorld and Universal, in addition to on-site activities including golf, tennis, fishing, boating, bicycles, and a rock-climbing wall. A camp for kids at the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress, right next door, offers swimming, crafts, movies, cooking, and exploring the resort's 1,500 acres. After a round of golf, or a busy day at the theme parks, adults can relax in the Roman tubs in the generous bathrooms, or enjoy a meal at the resort's restaurants or at one of the seven more at the Hyatt.