Shortly after our Key West stay, I finished up my Physical Therapy for my Knee Replacement surgery (5 weeks now), and noted to my PT therapist Stephanie, how much better it is now. Considering I came into therapy using a walker, and then later a cane, and even occasionally a wheelchair on some of our trips, walking around Key West with none of the above is quite an accomplishment! I had a couple doctor follow-up visits (Cardiologist, Pulmonologist) that were regularly scheduled appointments, and I got those done before Steve (DOS) and I headed out for our next adventure, in this case a stay-cation to our favorite resort which is also close to home, the Hyatt Grand Cypress near Disney Springs in Orlando.
We stayed at the Hyatt Grand Cypress the week after Labor Day, and like our stay the week prior in Key West before Labor Day, this was also a slow time to visit, which again is great for us as we don’t like crowds. Generally speaking, we learned a long time ago, that the week before and after a holiday are generally slower at most resorts almost anywhere in the US, as most people who are working tend to take the holiday week to save on vacation days. I know we always used the holidays to our vacation advantage when I was working, but now we use the slower non-holidays to our advantage for less crowds.
As a Globalist Hyatt member, we got upgraded to a nice Executive Suite overlooking the pool and this time with EPCOT firework views. We had a nice complimentary breakfast daily in the Lakeside Restaurant, and felt truly “welcomed home” by many of the staff at the Hyatt Grand Cypress.
During our week long stay, we visited EPCOT a couple of times, as well as the nearby Disney Springs for several dinners. The Food and Wine celebration was going on at EPCOT, and at least during the day the crowds were pretty light this week. We even rode the 3D ride Remy, which we had never been on before. It was quite a cool ride actually, similar in design to the 3D Spiderman ride at Universal’s Island of Adventure.
At EPCOT we had dinner at the Italian wine lounge “Gusto” (which is a separate lounge area, but part of the Italian restaurant in the Italian pavilion.). While the menu at Gusto is the same as the main Italian restaurant’s, we much prefer the smaller wine lounge “Gusto”, as it feels more authentic; like an actual wine cave in Italy, with its wine bar, high top tables, subdued lighting and wine coolers and displays.
In the evenings, EPCOT does get much busier (another reason we like going to a sit down restaurant even with the Food and Wine Festival going on), as crowds of people return to the park after a mid afternoon break, or just in the evening for the fireworks. We are starting to get used to the new fireworks show, after seeing the older show “Reflections of Life” for some 20 years or so. The new fireworks show is very good too, it just takes some time to figure out the theming, where to stand for the show etc. We prefer watching the fireworks from the back of Epcot, either by Japan or by Italy preferably, as there are less crowds there, and we aren’t trying to run toward the exits like most of the people lining up towards the front by Canada and Mexico.
As I write this post, it’s Friday September 19th, and I’m rushing to get this last post done before we head out once again; this time for our cruise on Royal Caribbean’s Star for Seas. We actually don’t sail until Sunday, but we are staying two nights pre-cruise at the Hyatt Place Port Canaveral, and are picking up a friend at the MCO airport in a couple hours who is also going on a (different) cruise and staying at Port Canaveral too.
Here is a gallery of photos from our stay at the Hyatt Grand Cypress Orlando. Enjoy!
