Villas of Grand Cypress
1 N. Jacaranda St., Lake Buena Vista, Florida 32836, USA
Why We Like It
If golf is your goal, this vast resort is little short of paradise, as it offers deluxe villas right on the fairways, 45 holes of Jack Nicklaus designed courses, and a restaurant serving steak, seafood and wine. Even better is that it also offers much for the rest of the family, with Mickey right around the corner, and amenities galore on-property or next door at the Hyatt Regency.
Fodor's Expert Review
The serene views from the terraces of this 1,500-acre, award-winning golf resort's villas and suites take in the fairways of the Jack Nicklaus–designed North Course, waterways where migrating birds stop to rest, and lush tropical foliage; you'd never know you were right next door to Disney's throngs. Designed for avid golfers, business travelers, and vacationing families, the resort offers luxury accommodation, free transportation to Disney, SeaWorld, and Universal, in addition to a raft of on-site activities including a golf academy, tennis, fishing, boating, and bicycling. A camp for kids at the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress, right next door, offers swimming, crafts, movies, cooking, and exploring the resort's trails. After a round of golf or a busy day at the theme parks, generous tubs in the beautifully tiled bathrooms offer relaxation, and the resort's restaurants and seven more at the Hyatt offer excellent eats.
You Should Know The resort charges a daily $25 resort fee, which gives access to the fitness center, access to pools and spa at the Hyatt Regency next door, shuttle service, Wi-Fi, parking and more.
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Room
Accommodations include a suite, or villas with one, two or three bedrooms. The generously proportioned suite guest room offers one king bed or two double beds and has a separate area with a sleeper sofa. All accommodations feature private terraces, Wi-Fi, desks with data ports, flat-screen TVs, and a coffee maker. Villas feature full kitchens.
You Should Know Noise has been an issue in some of the accommodations, whether from adjoining rooms, or from golf course maintenance crews, or from nearby air conditioning units. Also, some of the rooms have steps leading to different levels, which can be disconcerting in the dark.
Bathroom
The generous bathrooms have a separate tub and glass-enclosed tiled shower with a rain showerhead, and a two-sink vanity with TV in the mirror. Robes and plenty of lush towels are supplied, along with bath amenities.
Lobby
The unfussy lobby provides a place to check in, a few seats and little else, as this is not a hotel, but a golf resort with villas.
Pool
There is a small pool, sauna and hot tub within a walkable distance from your room or villa. Large pool towels are provided. Guests may also access, via shuttle, the large pool complex at the nearby Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress. A substantial lagoon pool, with ample lounge chairs and umbrellas, meanders around a huge rocky island, where a cool (in both senses) underground cave system offers access to waterfalls, a water slide, and rope bridge.
You Should Know There is little shade and no umbrellas at the Villas pool, so be sure to use sun-screen if you are planning to spend a few hours lying by the pool.
Spa
While spa services are available in your room or villa, if you want the total spa experience, you'll have to jump in a shuttle bus and head for the nearby Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress. There, the full-service Marilyn Monroe Spa offers massages, facials, skin treatments, and full salon services.
Gym
The modest fitness center contains some cardio and strength training equipment. But most guests are there to play golf, not work out.
Dining
Nine18 serves steak and seafood heavy dinners in elegant surroundings, and also offers an extensive wine cellar. For more casual dining, The Club dishes up breakfast, lunch, and dinner and overlooks, what else, the golf course. The pool bar will deliver goodies right to your lounge chair, or, if your time on the golf course, or park hopping at Disney, leaves you too tired to face another soul, there's always room service.
Drinking
The Villa eateries all have full bars and a substantial wine list.
What's Nearby
Getting Around
From chauffeur driven limos to an onsite helipad, the Villas is clearly interested in getting its guests to and from the resort with as little stress as possible. Shuttles are on call whenever you need them to pick you up at your door and take you to the destination of your choice on property. A scheduled shuttle, part of the resort fee, picks you up at the resort and delivers you to Disney, Universal or SeaWorld. But, if you prefer independence, a car would be necessary. The resort is huge, and waiting for shuttles can eat into valuable vacation time.
Restaurants
If you tire of the offerings at the three eateries on property, the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress (5-minute drive) houses a wide range of eateries, from the casual LakeHouse Restaurant, which offers locally sourced food for breakfast, lunch and dinner, to Hemingway’s for steaks and seafood. For a total change of pace, head to Disney Springs (12-minute drive) where more than 50 eateries offer anything a palate could desire, including the three-story PaddleFish, where seafood is king and the outdoor rooftop terrace offers striking views of the lagoon and the entertainment at the Springs. Nearby you’ll find Morimoto’s Asia, an Asian Fusion eatery owned by, and often visited by, famed Japanese chef, Morimoto; and for those who fancy a Mexican experience, James Beard Foundation Award winning Chef Rick Bayless’ has opened Frontera Cocina. Further afield is House of Blues, where barbecue and beers reign.
Bars
The Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress (5-minute drive) serves up drinks in several lounges and bars overlooking the pool or lake. Disney Springs (12-minute drive) offers even more drinking variety. The rooftop bar at Morimoto's Asia offers high-end sake; Raglan Road's Irish pub pours a mean Guinness; wine connoisseurs can head to Wine Bar George, where a master sommelier dispenses a wide range of domestic and imported wines; and House of Blues is the spot for beer.
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