Opening times and travel details can befound below the story.

Rain in the afternoon is the sounds of summer in Florida.

"The rain is pouring down outside, so we thought we would come have a look inside here,” says Tim Self from England while visiting the massive Gaylord Palms Resort.

Take one peek inside the atrium and discover, the outside has been brought inside. Trees. Palms. Flowers. All of it sitting under four acres of glass.

Like a theme park, get a guidebook and start exploring the massive indoor, air-conditioned atrium that serves as the center of the hotel.

Here, steel and glass come together to form an aerial network of tempered glass that can hold a human and stand up to tropical trouble. The massive windows can withstand 110 mph winds before cracking.

"If we were to break a piece of glass, the temper allows it to shatter, but not far apart,” explains Gaylord Palms Director of Safety Douglas Gabriel. "It shatters across like spider veins."

The Gaylord Palms Resort in Osceola County feels like an outdoor attraction where the rain isn't welcome.

Under the glass, you'll find Key West recreated, the Florida Everglades and even the Castillo de San Marcos is St. Augustine, along with Justin Ritchey and a few friends.

"Jump up out of the water to get some mullet,” says Justin Ritchey while leaning over a dock in an area that serves as a recreation of Key West.

"Right before a storm hits, they get really fired up,” says the aquarist with Bottled Ocean, Inc.

Justin says these guys instinct tells them a tropical storm is coming.

"During a storm, it's hard to find a lot of bait fish out in the wild. So these fish are triggered to feed right before the storm,” Justin explains.

Visitors can watch Justin feed the tarpon three days a week and get the chance to hold a baby gator.

"It was free. Or at least we think it was,” says Tim Self visiting from England. “We haven't been charged yet,” he concludes with a laugh.

DESTINATION INFORMATION:
Gaylord Palms

Hotel Atrium Hours:
8 am – 11pm
365 days a Year

Fish Feedings:
1pm
Monday, Wednesday, Friday
Key West bridge

Hold a Baby Gator:
1:30pm
Monday, Wednesday, Friday
Everglades walkway

Admission:
Free

Parking:
Valet: $20
Self Park: $12

Address:
6000 W Osceola Pkwy
Kissimmee, FL 34746

Phone:
407-586-0000

Hotel Website:
http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/mcogp-gaylord-palms-resort-and-convention-center/

Park Entry GPS Coordinates:

Latitude: 28.345107
Longitude: -81.526067

Latitude: 28° 20' 42.3846"
Longitude: -81° 31' 33.8406"

Drive Times:


From Orlando: 25 minutes
From Tampa: 1 hour, 5 minutes

Tankful on Television
You can catch new Florida on a Tankful stories each Thursday and Saturday on News 13 and Bay News 9. New editions play at the end of each hour starting at 6 a.m. Classic Florida on a Tankful stories can be found each Friday and Sunday on Bay News 9 and News 13 at the end of each hour starting at 6 a.m.

Tankful on Demand
Catch Florida on a Tankful with Scott Fais on your time, now on Bright House Local On Demand, Channel 999. Use your remote to scroll to the right to the TRAVEL category. Then SCROLL DOWN to TANKFUL.