After a busy week of work at home, DOS and I stayed at the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress in Orlando on Saturday night, literally adjacent and overlooking Walt DisneyWorld. We’ve stayed here several times for mini stay-cations, (last staying here over New Year’s) and always enjoying our nearby getaway. We checked in early at noon, and as our room wasn’t ready we had lunch on site, and then walked around the property a bit while waiting for our room.
We didn’t request it, but were lucky to get an awesome room with terrace overlooking the pool area, and DisneyWorld. We had a birds-eye view of the Downtown Disney (now Disney Springs), Boardwalk area hotels, the EPCOT ball, and even the Contemporary Resort and Four Seasons resort in the distance. With two lounge chairs, we were all set – who needs to be in the crowded Disney parks when you can relax and see it from here! Actually we weren’t planning on going to Disney, but it’s still nice to be close to it, yet away from the crowds at this 1,500 acre gated resort, without all the crowds of people.
Steve (DOS) took a panoramic photo of the view from our 14th floor terrace shown below.
After walking around the property a bit we had appetizers and complimentary beer and wine at the twelfth floor Executive Lounge ‘Happy Hour’ from 5 – 7pm. The drinks used to be half price here during this time, but starting with New Year’s, the beer and wine is complimentary during the 5 – 7pm hours now, which is a nice perk. Soft drinks and bottled water are complimentary all day long, and there are various snacks thru out the day.
For dinner we took the hotel shuttle over to the Nine-Eighteen restaurant at the sister property, ‘The Villas of Cypress Creek’. We had our New Year’s Eve dinner here, and really enjoy the service, quiet, and intimacy of this restaurant. The Villas at Cypress Creek is an upscale golf resort, and the Nine-Eighteen restaurant has a Country Club like setting.
As we had our leisurely 3 hour dinner, we could see the Magic Kingdom fireworks in the distance via the floor to ceiling windows. Complete with dessert and some ‘to go’ chocolates – it was truly a ‘Magical’ night without the crowds!
On Sunday, we slept in a bit due to the ‘Spring Forward’ time change of losing an hour, and as a Hyatt Diamond member, was allowed a 4pm checkout which is nice. We had lunch on property at the Hyatt, and did the walking/jogging trail ‘A’ loop, and strolled thru the pool area before heading home.
Quick stay-cations like this are wonderful. They fit the gap from longer trips without the stresses and time of long term travel. Plus you don’t need to plan far away – just find a weekend when rates are reasonable and have fun! Stay-cations do wonders to relax your soul, and maybe even keep you young at heart.
‘Twas a wonderful and quick getaway ‘Stay-Cation’!
