Within sight of Walt Disney World but removed from the mania, the Grand Cypress Resort encompasses 45 holes of Jack Nicklaus golf, a Jack Nicklaus Golf School, an attractive tennis club with hard and clay courts, a 21-acre lake, and an equestrian center. Guest bed down either in the 750-room Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress or the spacious 1-to-4-bedroom kitchen-equipped Villas of Grand Cypress near the golf school and equestrian center. This Hyatt is a behemoth of a hotel that can be overrun by conventioneers but affords some compensation in its elaborate half-acre pool, half dozen good to excellent restaurants, its spa and fitness center, and a well-run kids' program.

Lynn Bottger, who's from Massachusetts and played tennis for Bowden College in Maine (her degrees were education and psychology), has taught at Grand Cypress since 1990. She and her staff manage a dozen courts—8 clay and 4 Decoturf II—one of them a stadium, five with lights, and all individually fenced. Game matching has a high priority (there are locals to draw on if other hotel or villa guests aren't available) as are private and semi-private lessons and an individually tailored tennis academy. The facility also hosts the National 90s Hardcourt Championships each April.

Your Call

Here's what others have had to say about their Grand Cypress experience.

• "I hesitate to review this place, because I want to keep it all to myself! Let me just say that you will NOT get better tennis instruction nor a more accomodating host than at this resort. I have NEVER experienced the level of customer service that I received at this resort. Whoever is doing their staff training deserves a huge bonus.
  We stayed at the villas and spent our day bicycling over to the main resort through some of the most stunning golf courses you'll find anywhere. We passed the equestrian center and the aquatic center. The tennis center is HUGE with a variety of surfaces. Lynn is one of the finest tennis instructors I've ever had (including at Saddlebrook and Bolletieri). The dining options are varied and the pool area at the villas was very private. The pool area at the Hyatt resort part of the grounds is legendary. If you have younguns, you'll want to be there. It's hard to believe you are in the middle of Orlando."—V.W., Int., September 2008

Other Recreation

Golf Courses. Grand Cypress Resort has 45 holes of golf—the North, South, and East nines and what's being called the New Course, an 18-hole layout reminiscent of Scottish links—all designed by Jack Nicklaus. It also Grand Cypress Golf Academy, directed by Fred Griffin with three holes that Nicklaus laid out specifically for instruction, practice, and play.

Spa & Fitness Center. The hotel has a modest spa and relatively well-equipped fitness center.

And ... The resort has an Equestrian Center that offers trails rides and both English and Western instruction. There are jogging paths and bike trails around the property, and a 21-acre lake with a man-made beach.

Children's Programs

The hotel offers a Camp Hyatt program for 5 to 12 year olds.

Lodging

Accommodations at the Hyatt range from 360-square-foot guestrooms with private balconies and lake, pool, or garden views to VIP suites. Villa lodging ranges from 750-square-foot Club Suites with a master bedroom and separate living room with pullout sofa all the way up to fully-equipped four-bedroom villas.

Restaurants

Between the hotel and villas, there are seven restaurants on property, ranging from the upscale Chef's Table and monthly wine dinners at La Coquina to burgers and pizza at the Palm Cafe.

See Also

If the Grand Cypress Resort appeals to you, also check out:

• Desert Springs, A JW Marriott Resort & Spa
• Hilton Oceanfront Resort at Palmetto Dunes, South Carolina
• The Westin Hilton Head Island at Port Royal, South Carolina
• Westin Mission Hills/Reed Anderson Tennis, California

Travel Essentials

Seasons. Year-round.

Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress

Villas of Grand Cypress

Options range from Club Suites to 4-bedroom villas.  See their website for a complete overview of layouts and rates.

• Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress
  1 Grand Cypress Blvd.
  Orlando, FL 32836
  407-239-1234
  Toll-free: 800-633-7313
  Fax: 407-239-3800
  Web Link: Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress
  

  NEW!

  Book Online: Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress
  

• Villas of Grand Cypress
  One North Jacaranda
  Orlando, FL 32836
  407-239-4700
  Toll-free: 877-330-7377
  Fax: 407-239-7219
  Web Link: The Villas of Grand Cypress
  

  NEW!

  Book Online: The Villas of Grand Cypress
  

Travel Instructions. The hotel is 18 miles from Orlando International Airport. From the airport, take Rt. 528/Beeline Expressway west to I-4 West toward Tampa. Take Exit 27/Lake Buena Vista and turn right at the light onto Route 535. Continue to the second light, turn left and at the next light turn left again into the Grand Cypress Resort entrance.

General Tourist Information. For general information about travel in this part of Florida, visit the Orlando/Orange County Convention & Visitors Bureau web site or contact them at 6700 Forum Dr., Suite 100, Orlando, FL 32821-8087. Phone: 407-363-5872 or 800-646-2087.

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