Once Upon a Spring at the Gaylord Palms Resort

Gaylord Palms Resort guests will see lots of larger-than-life, colorful Easter eggs all around the 4.5-acre garden atrium during the annual “Once Upon A Spring” special event.

The Gaylord Palms resort just celebrated its 20th anniversary, and the resort continues the festivities with the Once Upon a Spring event.

From March 4 to May 8, the Gaylord Palms Resort will be hopping with colorful springtime flowers, larger-than-life Easter eggs, an artful pop-up bar, sweet treats to eat (and decorate!), a themed escape room,  sing-along fairy tales with Mother Goose, and more. 

Once Upon a Spring at Gaylord Palms 2022

Once Upon a Spring Spotlight

Springtime Stories 

Famous children’s tales take center stage when Mother Goose leads a musical storytelling experience in  Paint Me A Fairytale, an interactive stage show in the hotel’s garden atrium. With the help of her storybook friends, Mother Goose brings classic tales like Little Red Riding Hood, the Princess and the  Pea, and Jack & the Beanstalk to life through story and song. 

Celebrating its Florida history, Gaylord Palms mixologists have created an orange creamsicle cocktail for the resort’s 20th anniversary. Featuring orange-flavored vermouth and vanilla vodka, the birthday beverage is topped with an anniversary garnish made with cocktail rice paper.

Colorful Cocktails & Multicolored Mocktails 

Resplendent artist palettes and pastel paintings serve as inspirations behind The Art Bar, a colorful pop-up bar that features a host of new cocktails and mocktails. Nestled in the Castillo de San Marcos Fort, the bar is the Gaylord Palms mixologists’ toast to the annual springtime celebration. The newly created menu features a wide range of libations made with colorful botanical and fruity ingredients with something to please every palate. 

Make a Date to Decorate 

Guests are encouraged to play with their food in Springtime Sweets Cookie Decorating, where they can decorate delicious cookies and take them home. This interactive, hands-on activity features a visit from the lovable Easter Bunny, who takes a break from delivering eggs to make a special appearance. 

A Fanciful Escape Room 

Amidst the bright hues of a dreamlike garden setting, guests work together in the all-new and original  Journey Into Spring escape room experience to decipher riddles, find hidden keys and unlock mysteries and secrets of the season. 

Eggspress Yourself 

Larger-than-life Easter eggs and bouquets of blossoms highlight the Eggspression Garden, a themed walk-through experience. A giant Easter egg archway greets guests on the self-guided trail as they discover plenty of springtime photo spots for that perfect picture to share with friends and family. 

Rabbits and Riddles 

With a book of clues in hand, guests solve puzzles and riddles in the Blossomin’ Bunnies Scavenger  Hunt. Successful springtime sleuths who find all of the hidden hares throughout the hotel atrium receive a  special prize. 

Springtime Nights, Springtime Lights 

When night falls, a salute to springtime takes place in the skies above the atrium on the resort’s newly upgraded, animated light curtains. Blooming flowers, pastel Easter eggs, and bouncing bunnies come to life in a bright and colorful display that repeats throughout the evening. 

Educating & Entertaining Animal Adventures 

There’s plenty of springtime fun for the kids with adventures designed to entertain, enlighten and educate. Adventure Kid Sophie, Ava the Alligator, and Seth the Sea Turtle invite young explorers to join the  Adventure Kids Club and learn about nature. At the same time, Wild Florida makes weekly visits to the resort and lets guests get up close with the Sunshine State’s indigenous wildlife. During Once Upon A Spring, Wild  Florida will showcase animals like alligators and snakes and share how these unique species help the ecosystem throughout the season. Gaylord Palms has spots all around the resort with virtual animal encounters for guests who don’t want to come face-to-face with a real reptile. Using a mobile device and a special augmented reality application, guests can track down endangered species worldwide and then take a virtual photo with them. 

Hoppy Easter! 

On Easter Sunday, Villa de Flora will serve a plentiful Easter Buffet for guests to enjoy. In another highlight of the day, guests can visit the Easter Bunny on April 17 in meet-and-greet sessions from 10  a.m.-3:30 p.m. Fresh from delivering eggs, treats, and sweets to children worldwide, the Easter  Bunny will pose for photos in the resort atrium. 

Year-Round Family Fun 

During a season known for warmer temperatures and sunshine, Gaylord Palms guests can highlight their springtime sojourn with family fun at Cypress Springs Water Park. The water park features waterslides for adults and children, a dedicated kids’ water-themed playground, two pools, and  Crystal River Rapids – a new action river attraction inspired by Florida’s spring-fed rivers that takes guests through twists and turns at more than three feet per second. Cypress Springs Water Park is an exclusive amenity for overnight guests at Gaylord Palms Resort. Open year-round.  

Once Upon a Spring Gaylord Palms Resort 2022

If there are spring showers, guests can find all sorts of fun activities throughout the indoor garden atrium.  In addition to the special events, activities, and décor for Once Upon A Spring, guests can take a relaxing stroll through more than four acres of plants, flowers, waterfalls, streams, Florida fish, alligators, and other wildlife.  

Inside the atrium, a delicious selection of restaurants and dining options awaits, including gourmet steaks and an award-winning wine list at Old Hickory Steakhouse, fresh, sustainable, and local seafood at  MOOR, and a wide selection of Mediterranean-inspired dishes at Villa de Flora. 

Commitment to Clean 

As the safety of its guests and STARS (employees) is of paramount importance, Once Upon A Spring activities have been created according to Marriott’s “Commitment to Clean” program and enhanced protocols. The event will operate according to the latest local, state and federal legislation. 

Packages and Tickets 

In addition to the 20th-anniversary suite special, the Gaylord Palms offers Once Upon A Spring packages that include guest rooms, event tickets, and resort credit at discounted prices. To purchase tickets for Once Upon A Spring events – as well as find booking information for Valentine’s Day spa specials and the  Easter Sunday Buffet – guests may visit GaylordPalms.com

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