Pastel and chintz—very Mario Buatta, circa 1983. And yet, even so, the décor is still effective—if you give in to it—for it’s been well cared for and well preserved, and in some ways, the rooms are evocative of the bedrooms of certain Southampton dowagers. Think Lilly Pulitzer colors and Bermuda interior design—but don’t overlook the spaciousness of the rooms, with their large bathrooms and a separate WC. All very comforting in a Waspy kind of way.
Public Spaces
Think 1980s—when John Portman’s glass-elevator lobby atriums were at the peak of their popularity. There’s a pet macaw named Merlot and rock gardens amidst a bubbling stream and lots of earth toned leather furniture—and all this bounty awaiting after you pass through the gated guardhouse and drive by the VIP helipad and cruise along the lavishly landscaped grounds before you hit reception where they greet you with a glass of champagne.
We’re talking 750 rooms in an 18-story pyramidal tower—but moreover we’re talking 1500 acres with horse trails, golf courses, tennis courts, private lake, nature trails—as well as a half-acre 800,000 gallon pool, complete with waterfalls, water slide, pedestrian rope bridge, and a 50-yard-long cave through which you swim from one pool to the other.
In May 2008, plans were announced for a $65 million makeover of the property—in order to keep the Grand Cypress at the top of the Orlando five-star resort heap.
Breakfast
Served in the Cascade dining room—but service had ended by the time we straggled downstairs.
Staff
Very Disney corporate—or is that Orlando corporate?—with that happy-to-serve smile. Everything’s always swell—at least according to the employees’ faces and their responses to any queries. Perhaps it’s enforced, but it also comes across as sincere. Give in to it—and let them serve you, happily.
Location
Situated a stone’s throw, literally, from Disney World and its manicured lawns—in a setting equally pristine and sumptuous. Still, you can remain at the Grand Cypress and imagine yourself almost anywhere other than the world of Disney—or you can partake of Disney and feel you’re right next door. It’s a sanctuary away from the maelstrom, but convenient enough to it, should you desire.
Overview
A full-service, five-star resort, the Grand Cypress evokes the kind of privilege associated with that long line of illustrious hotels such as Waikiki’s Royal Hawaiian or Hamilton’s Princess—those matriarchal hotels that stand off a bit from the hoi polloi (and their amusements) to create their own self-contained worlds. Even the children seem to be from another era—one where they speak with near formality and politesse.
In short, the Grand Cypress is the sort of place that while wandering the grounds, you might pause to observe a young egret walking ever so delicately along the shore in search of dinner. And in the evening’s hush, that’s all you’ll hear: the evening’s hush.
