Gaylord Palms Resort
Covers hotels, areas and trip planning: rates for real dates, resort and parking fees, and transport.
UpdatedThis page carries dated prices or seasonal dates checked on the date above, and that window has now passed. Re-check the sources at the foot of the page before you book anything.
Gaylord Palms is a Marriott-run resort and convention hotel in Kissimmee, at 6000 West Osceola Parkway. Its selling points are the indoor atrium, a water park and, from mid-November, Christmas at Gaylord Palms with its ICE! attraction. It is close to Disney: the Magic Kingdom parking area is 8 to 12 minutes away at 8 a.m.
On Marriott's site on September 22, 2026, the lowest rate was $404 a night for December 8 and $584 for November 17, each including a $45 resort fee, before tax. Self-parking adds $40 a day plus tax.
At a glance
- Rate we saw
- From $404 on December 8 and $584 on November 17, 2026, including the $45 resort fee, before tax
- Resort fee
- $45 a night, included in Marriott's displayed rate
- Parking
- Self-parking $40 a day, valet $55, plus tax; in-and-out for overnight guests only
- To the parks
- Magic Kingdom lot 8 to 12 minutes (5.6 miles via Osceola Pkwy); Universal 18 to 35 minutes (10.4 miles via I-4)
- Christmas
- Christmas at Gaylord Palms, November 13, 2026 to January 3, 2027, with ICE! featuring The Polar Express
In this guide
Christmas at Gaylord Palms and ICE!
The resort's Christmas program runs November 13, 2026 to January 3, 2027. The headline attraction is ICE! featuring The Polar Express: 11 scenes from the story carved from more than 2 million pounds of ice, with ice slides. It is separately ticketed, and the resort sells overnight ICE! packages.
If ICE! is the reason for your trip, staying here makes sense: you can go in the evening after a park day without driving. If you only want to see it, you can buy tickets without a room. The program also includes a cirque-style holiday show, POMP, SNOW & CIRQUEumstance, ticketed separately as well.
Rates move a lot even inside the Christmas window. The $180 gap between our November 17 and December 8 rates shows how far; Gaylord Palms is also a convention center, so a large event can lift rates on dates that look quiet on the park calendar.
Fees and rules
- Resort fee: $45 a night. Marriott's search result shows it inside the "rates from" price.
- Self-parking: $40 a day plus tax; valet $55 plus tax. In-and-out privileges are for overnight guests only.
- Check-in and age: check-in 4 p.m., check-out 11 a.m., minimum check-in age 18.
- Pets: not allowed.
Add it up for December 8: $404 including the fee, plus $40 parking, before tax. Then $35 a day to park at Disney, because Gaylord guests are not Disney Resort hotel guests.
Getting to the parks
Google Maps, departing 8 a.m. on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, typical traffic:
| To | Typical time | Route |
|---|---|---|
| Magic Kingdom lot | 8–12 min | 5.6 mi via Osceola Pkwy and World Dr |
| Universal garages | 18–35 min | 10.4 mi via I-4 E |
| Universal garages | 20–30 min | 11.5 mi via I-4 E and Hollywood Way |
Gaylord Palms is not on Disney's Early Theme Park Entry list, so you arrive at official opening time with everyone else. Disney's buses and Skyliner are not available to you. Plan on a car, and budget the $35 Disney parking fee for every park day.
What you get for the money
Marriott lists a water park with slides, Relâche Spa, a fitness center, a game room and children's recreation. That is the case for staying: a pool day at the hotel between park days is a real day out, which a cheaper Kissimmee hotel often cannot offer.
Rooms are standard hotel rooms with one king or two queens; the lowest rates we saw were for Florida-view rooms, and Marriott flagged both as almost sold out on our dates.
Who should book it
Book it for a Christmas trip with ICE! on the list, or for a family that wants a resort with a water park and only one or two park days. Skip it as a pure Disney base: on December 8, Pop Century started at $275 before tax with free parking, the Skyliner and early entry. More options in our Kissimmee area guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the Gaylord Palms resort fee?
$45 a night. Marriott's rate display on September 22, 2026 showed it included in the nightly price.
How much is parking at Gaylord Palms?
Self-parking is $40 a day and valet $55, plus tax. Overnight guests get in-and-out privileges.
When is ICE! at Gaylord Palms in 2026?
Christmas at Gaylord Palms runs November 13, 2026 to January 3, 2027, with ICE! featuring The Polar Express as a separately ticketed attraction.
Does Gaylord Palms get Disney early entry?
No. It is not on Disney's Early Theme Park Entry list, and its guests pay $35 a day for standard Disney parking.
How far is Gaylord Palms from Magic Kingdom?
5.6 miles to the Magic Kingdom parking area, 8 to 12 minutes at 8 a.m. on a weekday per Google Maps.
Further reading
Official sources
- Gaylord Palms - Marriott hotel page (official) – Parking $40 self, $55 valet plus tax; check-in, age, pets; amenities. Checked September 22, 2026.
- Gaylord Palms - Marriott availability – Rates for November 17 and December 8, 2026 including $45 resort fee.
- Christmas at Gaylord Palms (official) – November 13, 2026 to January 3, 2027.
- ICE! featuring The Polar Express (official) – 11 scenes, 2 million pounds of ice, ice slides.
- Walt Disney World - Early Theme Park Entry (official) – Gaylord Palms not on the select-hotel list.
- Google Maps directions (depart 8 a.m., Tuesday October 13, 2026) – Drive times to Magic Kingdom and Universal.
