Orlando Area Attraction News

“Once Upon a Spring” Event Returning to Gaylord Palms Resort in 2022

Denise ,  ,  ,  , 

Hi everyone!

The popular Once Upon a Spring event will be returning to Gaylord Palms Resort from March 4th – May 8th, 2022! The atrium of Gaylord Palms looked lovely last year during the event, and there is also a themed escape room, the “Paint Me a Fairytale” show and more. Read below for more information from Gaylord Palms!

March Into Spring with Plenty of Special Events

When the calendar flips to March, springtime blooms at Gaylord Palms with its annual Once Upon A Spring event. From March 4 to May 8, the 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.

Photos are copyright Gaylord Palms.

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

Here’s a look at all the events and activities in the springtime 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 and the Beanstalk to life through story and song.

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. With something to please every palate, the newly created menu features a wide range of libations made with colorful botanical and fruity ingredients.

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 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, while 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. For guests who don’t want to come face-to-face with a real reptile, Gaylord Palms has spots all around the resort with virtual animal encounters. Using a mobile device and a special augmented reality application, guests can track down endangered species from around the world and then take a virtual photo with them.

Gaylord Palms guests can learn about Florida’s animals, like snakes and alligators, and how they contribute to the ecosystem during the springtime months during the annual “Once Upon A Spring” event at the resort. Animal Encounters take place weekly.

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 around the world, the Easter Bunny will pose for photos in the resort atrium.

Cool Off with Family Fun in the Sun

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. Open year-round, 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.

Gaylord Palms guests have access to Cypress Springs Water Park, the on-site water park featuring two pools, a dedicated children’s play area, seven water slides, an action river attraction, surfing simulator and more.

In case of 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 and 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 in accordance with Marriott’s “Commitment to Clean” program and with 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, Gaylord Palms is offering 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.