Hyatt Grand Cypress
 

Hi everybody. I'm heading on down to the Hyatt Grand Cypress in Orlando next week for 4 nights. I've checked the place out online, and it looks absolutely beautiful. I've read that the pool is not heated (not good), and I've read that the staff could be just alright at times. Of course the negatives always stick out whenever you read these posts, but my reservations are already made, and I'm sure that we'll be fine. I do however, always look to the informative members of this forum to give me some low down on what to expect, and how to go about my short stay. We will be arriving next Wednesday night. It will be my wife, our 2 children (11 and 8), and me. We've been to Disney and Universal plenty of times, and we are just looking to get away and kind of relax while we are there. I know we could have chosen anywhere else to relax other than Orlando, but my wife has business in that area, and we somehow settled on this place.

I've stayed at Hyatt's before, and have been impressed with them. I would love to golf, but I don't know if I could pull that one off. If I'm convinced that the golfing at this place is anywhere near the golf at Hyatt Kauai's Poipu Bay Club, then I'm going to try and go for it. I'm also figuring on swimming in the pools, and maybe jumping on the boats with the kids. I also see that they have horses there. I'm straight from the streets of Providence, RI, and we don't see many horses unless they are hanging out on the streets with cops on them, so that may be something cool to try too. Has anybody done that there? Also, I always want to be in the right section, right room, etc.. so please pass that information along the way if you can. We are also getting an airport shuttle. Tiffany may be the one, but I'm open to suggestions. I always rent a car, but this is supposed to be a "relaxing" vacation, and my wife thinks the car rental process is too stressful (???????!). But anyway, this place is great when I need to get some info, so feel free to write a novel if you want. Also, I see that there is a lake there. Should we bring our fishing poles? Thanks for all the info.

Hmmm.... Not sure exactly what info you want.
I've stayed there twice, and it is one of our favorite properties. I don't think you'll have to worry about an unheated pool, esp being from the Northeast. It was cold there in December, but September should be great. The pool is awesome, and they make great pina coladas poolside!

Breakfast in the main dining room with grand piano is "worth it," at least once! We love Hemmingway's for one dinner, if only for the atmosphere. The steak place - something Saloon? - was also good.

There is a shuttle to the parks, so you would not HAVE to have a car for that, although I would think it more convenient for trying off-site restaurants or going to a spa.

Horseback riding was level and easy. Pretty trail, but "silent" guide. My daughter was a little lonely, as she went alone, and I took son to Disney Quest in the same time frame. (Both very expensive propostitions!) Kids had a blast on the paddle boats. I think the "lake" is man-made, and more for visual effect than fishing, but I don't know.

The second time we went we received an unsolicited, complimentary upgrade to the "concierge level." That was awesome! The room was about the same (and they are smallish), but we had access to complimentary all-day food service: continental breakfast, tea sandwiches, cocktails, evening dessert treats! :)

The grounds and lobby are really gorgeous, and my husband and I enjoyed going down for a cocktail and entertainment in the lobby lounge after the kids were tucked in each night.

Hope you have a wonderful vacation! Wish I were heading back next week!

pete51068 thanks for this thread i will be staying at the grand cypress sept. 25th thur the 1st of oct. and was looking for some of the same info. i did hear one pool is heated and one is not. hope someone can give us some info if not please let us know how your trip went. hope it's great

Thanks Dreamer2, that's the kind of info that I'm looking for. Anything that can at least give me a gameplan. I hate to go into anywhere without a clue. I doubt that we will be heading to the parks. We've been in January, and we have limited time. I may shuttle to Emeril's on City Walk one night. I've never eaten there, and have been told to try it. I just love to read stuff, so like I said, any information is good information. The 25th is my last full day there andy. I'll be the guy sitting by the cold pool with the black leather jacket on holding a Pina Colada in one hand and a Heineken in the other. Thanks again for the responses.

We live on the west coast of FL and have stayed there frequently for summer weekends.

As far as room location, there really isn't a bad location. Again, don't worry about the pool temp--September is one of the hottest months in FL so the pool will be warm. Our kids love the pool. As far as I know, you won't find any fish in the lake, but I could be wrong. When we've stayed in the cooler months we've used their bikes; Sept. may be too hot for that. I don't golf, but my boys do and really enjoy the courses there. The Sunday brunch is excellent; so is Hemingways. I don't know where their shuttle runs because we always have a car. Personally, I do not like to be tied to a shuttle schedule and nothing there is within walking distance.

It's a beautiful hotel and you'll have a great time.

The place is a gorgeous property. You will notice once you enter their lobby with the palm trees and the lobby bar hidden behind a small creek running through it.
I don't think either that there is a room location to be favored over other ones. You might request a pool view. Then you would exclude the possibility of getting a glimpse of the parking spaces.
The pool(s) is (are) awesome. Especially your kids should enjoy them. Swimming through the grottos and their waterfalls and thus reaching an even bigger pool with a fun slide hidden in some man- made rocks is great fun.
The lake indeed is artificial and I would forget about bringing the fishing rod. There are paddleboats and sunfish sailingboats that will keep you entertained. With all the amenities offered, you certainly won't get bored.
I cannot comment on the Hawaiian Golf course you mention, but the Golf at Grand Cypress is certainly top notch. Especially the Nicklaus designed course reminiscent of St. Andrews is rated highly with Golf Digest's places to play and rightly so.
Have lots of fun!
hsv