For whatever reason, it seems this is the obligatory response for anyone that wins a contest. Ever listen to the radio and hear the reaction of caller #9? There is a better than not chance that the first thing to leave their mouth is "I never win anything." So when The Villas of Grand Cypress drew me as the winner of a contest on Facebook, I knew exactly what to say.
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| The Villas |
It was appropriate that the way one entered the contest was by sharing a favorite memory of the resort. There were no shortage of memories for me to choose from, because Grand Cypress was a popular vacation spot for my family when I was a kid. With so many memories from The Villas, I was excited to return once again, and soak in the nostalgia and relaxation that comes naturally to this resort.
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| The entrance to our villa. |
The Resort
The Villas at Grand Cypress is part of a sprawling resort complex, conveniently located just outside Walt Disney World in Orlando. The resort shares facilities with the nearby Hyatt Grand Cypress, and is definitely the more low-key of the two properties. The Hyatt is an enormous - yet beautiful - hotel that is best designed for conventioneers or those visiting the Orlando theme parks. The Villas, on the other hand, are located about a mile away, in a serene environment surrounding the resort's Jack Nicklaus designed golf courses.
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| The Registration Building |
If it's tranquility you're after, The Villas at Grand Cypress will certainly deliver.
I was relaxed from the moment I arrived at The Villas. Although, I'm not really sure if that was thanks to the resort, or the complimentary libations offered at check-in. As I unpacked the car, the sound of birds chirping filled the air, and a family of ducks was there to greet us outside our room. It was hard to believe that Disney and it's organized chaos lay just a stones throw away.
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| The family of ducks that welcomed us. |
While the Villas are perfect for those planning a golf weekend, there is plenty to keep the non-golfer occupied as well. All of the units are within a short walk of the resort's pool, and complimentary bicycles are available to explore the property.
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| Pick a bike any bike... |
We opted to take the shuttle up to the Hyatt and enjoyed their water park of a pool. Of course, the real attraction may or may not have been their pitch and putt golf course.
After a couple hours, I was ready to return to the peace and quiet of The Villas.
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| The Villas Pool |
The Room
The club suite at The Villas was just as I'd remembered them from past visits. It featured a comfortable king size bed, flat screen TV, a sunken living room with wet bar, and a great patio area overlooking the golf course. The patio also turned out to be a great spot to see the fireworks at Disney.
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| The Villa |
The bath was also enormous, with a garden tub and separate walk-in shower.
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| The Bath |
At over 800 square feet, M.J. and I joked that we could easily call the villa home. Sure, it could use a few updates, like new carpet and some modernizing in the bath, but overall the villa was quite comfortable...dare I say, cozy.
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| Our view for the two days. |
The Review
The Villas at Grand Cypress offers a feeling of seclusion that you just won't find anywhere else in Orlando. The wife and I were in need of some down time, and that is exactly what we got.
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| The Villas signature restaurant Nine18 |
The staff we encountered were outstanding, and the beautiful grounds of the resort only added to the feeling of being on an oasis.
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| The beautiful courtyard area by the pool. |
Whether you are a family visiting the parks, a couple looking for some R&R, or a group of friends planning the next golf outing, the Villas at Grand Cypress is sure to be an excellent choice.
Enjoy Your Stay
As mentioned, I won a contest on Facebook for a complimentary two-night stay at The Villas of Grand Cypress. As always, all opinions are my own.
