There are many great third party hotels that are on-site or adjacent to Walt Disney World. Some are actually closer to the parks than Disney-owned properties, offer perks that are on-par with their official counterparts, along with accommodations, amenities, or service that are superior to WDW resorts.
The top two hotels are ones we’ve discussed repeatedly in the last year: Four Seasons Orlando at Walt Disney World Resort and Conrad Orlando at Evermore. The Four Seasons is nestled inside the private Golden Oaks community and behind Fort Wilderness; the Conrad is a stone’s throw from that, and about the same distance from Magic Kingdom as Port Orleans, making it closer to the park than most on-site hotels at Walt Disney World.
The Four Seasons and Conrad Orlando have both won countless awards, and are generally regarded among the nicest hotels in all of Florida. They are very different from one another, as well as the flagship Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. We consider each of these resorts contenders for the #1 resort at Walt Disney World, with nothing else really in the running. (As covered in our recent review of the Conrad Orlando, that is more our speed of the two third party luxury resorts.)
Behind the Four Seasons and Conrad, there’s the Walt Disney World Swan & Dolphin, along with the Swan Reserve all at #3 on our third party hotel power rankings. These are also properties we cover frequently–more than many (most?) Disney-owned hotels.
The reason for that is simple: they offer a better location, superior perks and amenities, and more competitive pricing than most of their Disney-owned counterparts. We also stay at the Swolphin a lot, which is a better option for us on balance than the Four Seasons and Conrad (once accounting for cost, perks, etc).
Then there’s the #4 hotel on our list, which we seldom cover: Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress Resort.
Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress Gains Gateway Status
Despite loving this property and being Hyatt fans, we seldom cover this hotel. Hence this article, which comes as the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress Resort has officially been named a Walt Disney Gateway Hotel. The designation allows guests to book the hotel as part of a Walt Disney World vacation package, and receive some on-site perks.
For those who are unfamiliar with the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress Resort, it’s located between Disney Springs and Saratoga Springs, behind the Port Orleans Resorts. It’s on the “right” (well, technically left) or “correct” side of Vineland, making it feel more like a secluded part of Walt Disney World proper as opposed to the bustling tourist corridor.
“This partnership makes planning a Walt Disney World vacation seamless for our guests, allowing them to book their entire experience while enjoying their stay with us,” said General Manager Majed Farah. “Combined with our prime location and resort-style amenities, Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress is an ideal choice for families looking to create unforgettable Disney memories.”
As a Walt Disney World Gateway Hotel, travelers can reserve a stay at Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress and book a complete Walt Disney World vacation package, including theme park admission, through the Walt Disney World website or call center.
Guests also receive complimentary resort shuttle transportation to the Walt Disney World Transportation and Ticket Center, EPCOT and Disney Springs with convenient connecting service to Disney’s Animal Kingdom and Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
“We are thrilled to work alongside such a fantastic team with this new relationship, infusing the magic of a Walt Disney World vacation with the unforgettable experiences that can be found throughout Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress for families,” said Eric Watkins, director of Travel Industry Sales and Marketing for Disney Destinations.
What’s a Gateway Hotel, Anyway?
If you’re wondering what a Walt Disney World Gateway Hotel is, you’re probably not alone. It’s a relatively recent designation (in the last decade or so), and replaces the traditional Good Neighbor Hotel status.
Basically, there are Official Disney Hotels that are also known as Walt Disney World Resort Collection Hotels. These are hotels that are owned and operated by the Walt Disney Company, run by Cast Members, feature Disney-themed design, and provide the most perks. These are the two-dozen plus hotels with “Disney” right in the name.
Disney-owned hotels provide complimentary transportation to the theme parks and Disney Springs, free parking, Early Entry, and for Deluxe/Villa/DVC Resorts, Extended Evening Hours. Guests are eligible to purchase the Disney Dining Plan, and have expanded booking windows for Lightning Lanes and Advance Dining Reservations. There are other on-site perks offered by Disney Resort Collection Hotels, but those are the big ones.
By contrast, Gateway Hotels are not owned by Disney, but sometimes partner with Walt Disney World to offer some of these perks, but usually not all of them. This is where things get confusing.
The Swan & Dolphin, for example, are technically Gateway Hotels. But they’re located on-property within walking distance of EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios, offer boat transportation to both, and almost all of the aforementioned Disney-owned perks, including Extended Evening Hours. A reasonable guest might conclude that the Swan offers subjectively superior perks to All Star Sports.
On the other hand, there are other Gateway Hotels that offer almost meaningless on-site perks. No Early Entry, off-site locations, poor third party transportation, etc. These are often the Gateway Hotels that have been added more recently, as a lot of the perks available to the Swan & Dolphin and older hotels were deals made with Disney in a different era and are grandfathered-in.
That’s really what Gateway Hotel status boils down to: a contractual arrangement between Walt Disney World and the third party hotel. This is not an inspection or certification standard.
While I’m not privy to the terms of these partnerships, I would imagine it boils down to the hotel offering Disney a percentage of sales in exchange for inclusion in vacation packages and promotion on the official Walt Disney World website. When it comes to Early Entry and other perks, the third party hotels that offer it are likely paying a fee to Disney.
Based on the wording of this announcement, there’s no reason to believe the Hyatt Grand Cypress will offer Early Entry or any other perk of value. If that there the case, it would definitely be listed. What it does, though, is establish a partnership between the Hyatt and Disney, opening the door for those perks in the future. If bookings are soft or Walt Disney World wants to get more aggressive in courting a certain audience at these nearby upscale resorts, additional perks could be rolled out down the road. For now, there’s really no meat to this news. It’s not particularly exciting, nor should it move the needle on where you stay or how you book.
This is also why we’ve used the terms “get” or “gain” as opposed to “earn” when describing the Gateway Hotel status that the Hyatt has obtained. While we very much believe this hotel is deserving of more accolades and attention (again, hence this article), the designation itself is honorary. In other words, it is meaningless! (Insert Drax belly laugh.)
About the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress
In addition to being just north of Walt Disney World, the award-winning 1,500-acre Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress is also close to Universal Orlando and SeaWorld Orlando. The resort complex offers with a host of amenities and activities, including Jack Nicklaus designed golf.
Located along the white sandy beach of the resort’s private Lake Windsong, the free-flowing lagoon pool boasts 12 waterfalls, two whirlpools, a rock-climbing wall, interactive water jet splash zone, walking paths and expansive, wrap-around sundecks. Other resort activities include a s’mores pit, watersports and marked jogging, walking and biking trails.
Dining highlights at the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress include Four Flamingos: A Richard Blais Florida Kitchen, the Michelin-recommended restaurant from celebrity chef Richard Blais, Lakehouse Restaurant and On The Rocks Poolside Grill.
When it comes to pools and the culinary scene, the Hyatt rivals the best of the best Walt Disney World hotels, and approaches the caliber of the Conrad, Four Seasons, and Swolphin. It is very much a proper destination resort.
The Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress Resort was recognized among the top five Orlando resorts in the 2025 Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards and the 2025 U.S. News & World Report rankings.
Guests can select from a variety of room types, ranging from a standard guest room to a variety of suites including the 2,375-square-foot President’s House located on the resort’s private lake. The hotel is also pet-friendly so every valued member of the household can be part of the vacation experience.
And now, you can book the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress via the Walt Disney World website or by calling (407) 934-7639. Although, honestly, I don’t know why you’d do that since you should be able to get a better deal by booking direct and, unless there’s more to this partnership, it doesn’t sound like there are any worthwhile perks that you get by booking directly.
Ultimately, this post exists for pretty much the same reason as the Gateway Hotel designation does: to raise awareness for the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress. The only difference is that I’m not being paid for my ‘endorsement’ of the Hyatt Regency, and you know what that makes Walt Disney World leadership? Smarter than me! (Insert Statler & Waldorf belly laugh.)
Joking aside, the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress is a lovely hotel that potentially deserves your attention. That’s especially true if you don’t value the on-site perks that are typically included at Disney-owned hotels or the Swolphin, you want an awesome pool complex and other amenities, or you’re planning to split time between Disney and Universal, as the location is great for that. Bang for buck is typically very good, which is undoubtedly aided by it’s just barely off-site location.
Planning a Walt Disney World trip? Learn about hotels on our Walt Disney World Hotels Reviews page. For where to eat, read our Walt Disney World Restaurant Reviews. To save money on tickets or determine which type to buy, read our Tips for Saving Money on Walt Disney World Tickets post. Our What to Pack for Disney Trips post takes a unique look at clever items to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Ride Guides will help. For comprehensive advice, the best place to start is our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide for everything you need to know!
Your Thoughts
Have you stayed at the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress Resort? Thoughts on how this hotel stacks up to the top 3 third party hotels or official Walt Disney World resorts? Think the Hyatt is “deserving” of its Gateway Hotel designation? Do you agree or disagree with our assessment? Any questions we can help you answer? Hearing your feedback—even when you disagree with us—is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!
