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Goblins and Giggles Weekends

REVIEW: Gaylord Palms Goblins and Giggles Weekends 2020

22 September 2020 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

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Gaylord Palms Resort

If you haven’t heard of the Gaylord Palms Resort, it is situated over in Kissimmee. It’s actually very close to the ESPN Wide World of Sports/Art of Animation side of the Walt Disney World Resort property. It’s super easy to get to and close-by for those wondering if it’s easy to stay there and go to the parks. We have stayed there a few times over the years, and absolutely love the resort. The resort itself is a great place to do a staycation for locals too because there is so much to explore and do in the hotel itself. We’ll have full resort and room tour videos coming up later this week, so be sure to subscribe to our Zannaland channel and click the bell to get notified when they go live! Now, let’s get to our review of Goblins & Giggles Weekends!

What is Goblins and Giggles Weekends? 

We discuss all that’s included in Goblins and Giggles Weekends in our previous article, so check that out if you’re curious as to what’s included. In addition to this Goblins and Giggles review, you can watch our video from our weekend there to see what we saw and enjoyed! Watch here:

Is Goblins and Giggles Worth it? 

I think it is, yes. The event weekend rates start at $189/nt and I think that’s a great value with some extras thrown in like the Halloween Hide & Seek with Spookley the Square Pumpkin, the Trick or Treating, and the little shows, animal encounters and storytelling on the tv. We didn’t get video of that but basically on channel 51 of our room tv, from 6-10pm, we could watch storytime with Morgana, and Monster Mash with Vlad, where their costumed characters told stories or did dance numbers for the kids. That was the only place we saw the Goblin in question from the weekend name. Unless we missed him being somewhere else, be sure to tune in to see him.

I will say that while I personally enjoyed the Castillo de San Marcos ALIVE! experience, because I love fun theatre-y stuff like that where people perform dramatic monologues, I can see how some people might not think it was worth the $15 per person ticket price. I don’t usually do any sort of Halloween experiences like that, so maybe that’s the going rate, I’m not sure, so I’ll let you decide for yourself.

For the ticket fee, you see some lit up jack-o-lantern collections, which are very fun, but I do wish I could’ve taken some photos of them in the daylight too. Then you experience 3 different ghost “stations” where each ghost tells you their tale and then ushers you on. It ends with Bones, a “comic relief” performance to counteract the creepy (and based on real stories?) tales you just heard. Bones was really fun, we loved him. Then you are sent to the SpookEasy, where you can enjoy an alcoholic drink if you’d like. So if you had a big family, that price would add up quickly, but again, it’s up to you to decide if it would work for you. I will say the performers were all great, really into their characters and the makeup and costumes were on point too. I really had fun.

Gaylord Palms Goblins and Giggles
All of the Goblins & Giggles activities
Gaylord Palms Goblins and Giggles
Gaylord Palms Goblins & Giggles
Gaylord Palms Goblins and Giggles
Adventure Kids Live!
Halloween Hide & Seek with Spookley
Gaylord Palms Goblins and Giggles
Can you spot Spookley?
Gaylord Palms Goblins and Giggles
Trick or Treat station
Spookley the Square Pupmkin
Spookley, Gio and me!
Gaylord Palms Goblins and Giggles
Some of the jack-o-lanterns on display
ALIVE Castillo de san Marcos
Castillo de San Marcos ALIVE!
Gaylord Palms Goblins and Giggles
Jack-o-lanterns at night
Phantom of the Atrium Light Show
Phantom of the Atrium Light Show

Lastly, there is the Phantom of the Atrium Light Show. I was really looking forward to this as I love a light show, and anything Phantom of the Opera related. This was a fun show, but it was quick, only 5 minutes long. The Phantom “conducts” from below, and the lights display various Halloweenie images and characters, with classical spooky music. I think this could be a much longer show, even if the lights aren’t necessarily showing graphics, they are just lights. Some of the images were a little cheesy, but again, it was super fun to watch from our balcony. I’d have sat through an hour-long show!

Will My Kids Like it?

There are some activities which are definitely geared toward younger kids. The Seth the Sea Turtle and Ava the Alligator Adventure Kids show is for sure. The bedtime stories on the tv are as well. The Hide and Seek is great for little kids and older kids, because if the little ones can’t solve the puzzles, older siblings or parents can help, and the littler kids can search for Spookley the Square Pumpkin. Trick-or-Treating is of course for everyone. The ALIVE! experience isn’t really very scary, it’s just loud in some parts when the actors really get into something. But little kids may not enjoy it if you are going at night. The Phantom of the Atrium Light Show is great for everyone!

Bottom Line Review

My Gaylord Palms Goblins and Giggles review in a sentence: I had a great time, my family had a great time. I think the value is there, and on par with Disney’s value resorts, which Gaylord Palms certainly exceeds in terms of comfort and surroundings. Again, I love going there for a Staycation and not even visiting the parks, because with the resort itself (even now when some things are closed) and the water park area, there is a ton to do.

I will say that we were a little disappointed in the lack of enforcement of the mask-wearing policy. It IS clearly stated everywhere that it’s required in the hotel, and at the pool unless you are in the water, but we did not see anyone outside of the front desk reminding people to keep their masks on or up over their noses. Many times people would be asking an employee a question, with no mask on, and no one was telling them to stop and put their mask on.

Additionally, they have notices to keep elevators at 4 people max occupancy, or your entire party, and we had to, at least twice, stop people from getting on the elevator with us. I realize that is a people problem and not a Gaylord Palms problem, but I do wish they had at least one person stationed around the atrium enforcing mask-wearing. We felt safe the whole time, however, we just stayed away from those who weren’t complying. Just something to be aware of if you are immuno-compromised.

How to Book

You can book directly at GaylordPalms.com and don’t forget about their upcoming holiday season as well with the Gaylord Palms I Love Christmas Movies pop-up experience!! We can’t wait for that! Thank you to Gaylord Palms for having us out and we hope you enjoyed our Goblins and Giggles vlog and review – stay tuned this week for Resort and Room Tour videos coming up on Zannaland!

You can also see the fun from our weekend on my instagram story if you missed it while we were there, I’ve saved it in a Gaylord Goblins highlight.

 

Disclosure: Gaylord Palms invited my family and I to stay for the weekend and experience Goblins and Giggles Weekends. We were provided with a $100 resort credit, passes for the ALIVE! experience and preferred seating at the pool area. As always, my thoughts and opinions are my own. 

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Filed Under: Family Travel, Gaylord Palms Resort, Latest News, Orlando Area Resorts, Travel, Travel, Theme Parks, and Resorts Tagged With: Gaylord Palms, Gaylord Palms deals, Gaylord Palms Goblins and Giggles, Gaylord Palms Halloween, Gaylord Palms hotel, gaylord palms resort, Gaylord Palms Review, Gaylord Palms weekend getaway, Goblins and Giggles, Goblins and Giggles review, Goblins and Giggles Weekends

Gaylord Palms Goblins & Giggles Weekends Begin Soon

28 August 2020 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

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As you may know if you have been following Zannaland for a while, or subscribed to our YouTube channel – we LOVE Gaylord Palms Resort! It’s such an amazing getaway, it’s THE perfect place for a “staycation.” There is so much to see and do within the resort, you have no reason to leave! Now, to celebrate the spooky season coming upon us soon (I know all of 2020 has been pretty spooky, but you might as well have some FUN with it, right?) Gaylord Palms is presenting Goblins and Giggles Getaway Weekends!

Gaylord Palms exterior Goblins

What are Goblins and Giggles Getaway Weekends you ask? Let me explain. This Fall, guests are invited to experience spooktacular weekends September 11 through October 31, 2020. Throughout the season, in addition to their amazing holiday experiences, Gaylord Palms creates fun family weekends that really give you a reason to getaway, relax, and have fun. These weekend themed events are such great fun and Gaylord Palms Resort is so huge, a scavenger hunt is really a hunt! There are so many places to explore and discover: pools, a water park, dining, live alligators, saltwater fish, and so much more. Here’s the breakdown of the Gaylord Palms Goblins & Giggles Weekends:

Gaylord Palms Goblins and Giggles logo

Goblins & Giggles Getaway Weekends offers a wide array of family-friendly activities from spooky animal encounters and a Halloween-themed scavenger hunt to wicked pool fun and a meet and greet with Spookley the Square Pumpkin.

Most of the activities take place Friday through Sunday.

• In celebration of Goblins & Giggles, the resort is offering a special package starting at $189.

The package includes overnight accommodations, a Hide and Seek Scavenger Hunt booklet and tickets to the new Castillo de San Marcos ALIVE! Ghost Experience. The package excludes resort fee and parking.

Weekend events and activities include:

  • NEW! Castillo de San Marcos ALIVE! Ghost Experience features live storytellers who recount real-life ghost stories for all who are brave enough to listen. Guests will explore the fort’s stone walls and encounter the spirits who remain trapped within. Includes an imaginative walkthrough experience transporting visitors of all ages through a world of Halloween Jack-o-Lantern fun.
  • NEW! The resort’s haunted hideaway SpookEasy offers spine-chilling craft cocktails and a spooky collection of terrifying, ghostly artwork procured by owner’s past. *This haunt is PG-13 due to graphic spooky activities inside.*
  • NEW! Meet and Greet with Spookley the Square Pumpkin at a fun photo op. One day in the pumpkin patch, the strangest little pumpkin hatched. Spookley the Pumpkin was different. All the other pumpkins teased him, until Spookley proved that being different can save the day.
  • Spooky Animal Encounters provides guests with the opportunity to conquer their fears by getting up-close to live animals and learn about common myths surrounding some of the world’s most misunderstood creatures.
  • Guests, young and young at heart, can explore the resort during a Trick-or-Treat Expedition, with stops throughout the resort for some deliciously spooky treats.
  •  Seth the Sea Turtle, Ava the Alligator and everyone’s favorite Adventure Kid Sophie explore Florida’s creepier flora and fauna during Adventure Kids: A Spooky Celebration.
  • Families can hang out poolside with the Halloween host with the most Jack O’ Lantern for some Wicked Awesome Pool Fun in the Sun.
  • Spend the evening at Moonlight Movies watching family-friendly movies on the resort’s pool screen at Cypress Springs Water Park.

Gaylord Palms Goblins and Giggles Gaylord Palms Goblins and Giggles

Daily activities include:

  • The Hide and Seek Scavenger Hunt featuring Spookley the Square Pumpkin. Spookley found eight spooktacular hiding spots at the resort for his game of Halloween Hide & Seek. Guests solve puzzles to find each clue’s missing word and then use the clues to find Spookley.
  • The Wildlife Rescue Experience guides guests throughout the resort to track down endangered species and help ensure that they are monitored for their protection. The virtual adventure highlights  indigenous animals from Florida and, with the magic of  augmented reality,  brings them to life before the participants’ eyes.
  • From the comfort of their guest room, families can enjoy two interactive Halloween videos: Bedtime Stories with Morgana, a treat-making witch from Spooksville, and Monster Mash Bash with Vlad the Vampire.
  • The Phantom of the Atrium Light Display is a haunting masterpiece filled with mystery, mischief and, of course, magic in the St. Augustine atrium sky.

Gaylord Palms Goblins and Giggles character

 

What About Pools?!

Guests can relax and unwind at Cypress Springs Water Park & Resort Pools, which feature a zero-entry swimming pool, multi-level water playground, racing slides, a drop slide and a FlowRider surf simulator.

The pool experience has been upgraded to implement new cleanliness and social distancing measures. Gaylord Palms has done this while balancing the aquatic experience guests have come to love.

In addition to spaced seating, guests can rent a private cabana for the day including shaded seating, a flat-screen television, refrigerator, and snacks. Premium guaranteed pool seating is also available for purchase.

Gaylord Palms Goblins and Giggles interior

In accordance with Marriott’s “Commitment to Clean” practices, the resort provides enhanced cleaning technology.

This includes:

  • hospital-grade disinfectants
  • attendants dedicated to sanitizing frequently throughout the day
  • social distancing protocols
  • hundreds of new cleaning processes
  • all to take care of guests while they enjoy the resort’s amenities.

This sounds like such a FUN event! With so many Halloween events being canceled this year, it would be such a fun family getaway to make some wonderful memories. Sign me up! 

For more information on Gaylord Palms Goblins & Giggles events and overnight room packages, visit GaylordPalms.com. Let ’em know Zannaland sent you! 😉
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Filed Under: Central Florida Family Entertainment, Family Travel, Gaylord Palms Resort, Latest News, Travel, Travel, Theme Parks, and Resorts Tagged With: Gaylord Palms, Gaylord Palms deals, Gaylord Palms Goblins and Giggles, Gaylord Palms Halloween, Gaylord Palms hotel, gaylord palms resort, Gaylord Palms weekend getaway, Goblins and Giggles, Goblins and Giggles Weekends

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