Gaylord Pacific Resort & Convention Center

My extended family and I tried to get daily pool pass tickets so we could try out the new hotel when in San Diego the last week of July. All of us at the ready at 12am when available tickets go on sale a week in advance. None of us could get. The website crashed and when back up I finally got in to choose 4 tickets and it immediately crashed again. By 12:03 am it said all tickets were booked. Waste of time, has me doubting they ever really sell tickets for this.

My name is Zac and I am 10 years old From the UK. When I got my meal wrong at the Steakhouse a kind server (whose name was Roy) helped me and got me a new meal (which was not even on the menu) and changed my day. So thank you Roy and also the chef you made my day. Zac

I rarely write reviews, but I felt compelled to share my experience after seeing so many negative ones that almost made me second-guess booking. I’m glad I didn’t. My family and I had an amazing three-night stay, and I hope this honest breakdown helps others while also offering some constructive feedback that management can take to heart. Overall Impression: The resort is stunning. From the moment you arrive, it feels luxurious and impressive, similar to what you’d find at a top-tier Las Vegas property. It’s definitely worth visiting, especially if you have kids. The water park is the main attraction, and in many ways, you’re almost paying just for that experience. The staff was friendly, and I expect service will only improve as they continue to settle in. That said, a few small issues held the resort back from feeling like a true five-star experience. Hotel, Rooms, and Staff: The hotel is beautiful, and everything still feels new. Check-in was smooth. However, we didn’t expect cleanliness issues in a brand-new hotel. One of the drawers had hair and trash inside, the mini fridge smelled like leftover food and was dirty at the bottom, and there was some kind of orange slime on the balcony. I called the front desk, and they were apologetic, offering to switch our room. But the alternative wouldn’t have had the same ocean view, so we asked them to send someone to clean instead. It took about 30 minutes, and they did clean everything. It wasn’t an ideal first impression, but they handled it well. Staff interactions overall were pleasant. Even if they didn’t always have the answers, I chalk that up to being a new property with a lot of new employees. One thing I noticed was that housekeeping rarely greeted us in the halls. Out of more than 15 interactions, only two staff members initiated a “Good morning” or “Hello.” It’s a small thing, but those details matter in hospitality, and something you expect after experiencing top tier service from other 4 or 5 star hotels. Also, the AI-based phone system is frustrating. Even as a guest, I had to wait more than 10 minutes to reach someone on the phone, which just isn’t acceptable at this level. Pools and Water Park: This is the star of the resort. The water park is incredible. The pool water is heated, but if you’re expecting to walk in without any initial chill, that’s not going to happen. Like most pools, once you’re in, it’s fine. We stayed Friday through Monday, and Saturday was the busiest day by far. Most attractions moved quickly. The water slide line on Saturday peaked around 15 minutes, but on Sunday it’s shorter, and on Monday you could ride back-to-back without waiting. The wave pool was our favorite. While I had seen reviews saying pool attractions are constantly down, we only ran into that once on Saturday. The wave pool was not working at the start of the day, then randomly started working again and stayed on. No one tells you that it’s down. You only know because the waves don’t start aft

The resort itself is beautiful and maintained well. Waterpark was staffed appropriately and staff on the waterpark grounds were extremely friendly and accommodating. I have stayed at several other Gaylord resorts and if you are expecting the same resort engulfed atrium you will be disappointed . I was on 7th floor and hallways had a mold like smell and was getting nauseated walking to my room . Room did not have smell and room was very clean and maintained well except for AC not working properly . Main Reason for 1 star review is strictly secondary to front desk management team specifically Brad who identifies himself as front desk manager assistant. I made several simple requests prior to my stay and having stayed at a variety of different Marriott resorts have never had a front desk management team do their best to not accommodate a single request that I have made . If you want a relaxing vacation and getaway without any drama caused by front desk management team there are a large number of other great options in San Diego. AVOID this place until front desk management team is changed.

The hotel itself is beautiful and the room we stayed at was nice. The waterpark is pretty good for a hotel, but don’t expect Great Wolf Lodge type slides, etc. My main complaint is that the restaurants are overpriced. My party decided to eat outside the hotel for all our meals because we didn’t want to buy our kids $30 burgers. It would have been nice to eat at the actual hotel restaurant. The main lobby needs more seating for guests. There is a lot of empty space. They also need to change the motion light in the room’s bathroom. That gets annoying when you need to use the restroom during the night. They also need an easier way to check out. Other than that, we had a good time.

We booked the presidential suite for over $4,000, expecting a luxurious, high-end experience. What we got was a cheap, poorly thought-out room in a hotel that clearly was not ready to open its doors. From the second we checked in, everything felt off. We tried calling the front desk multiple times and sat on hold for over 15 minutes—no human ever answered, just an AI loop. For a suite at this price point, that is unacceptable. The room itself? Embarrassing. No mini bar, not even basic drinks or amenities. The AC shuts off every time the door opens, making the temperature impossible to regulate. And when the door is shut, there’s a constant high-pitched whistling sound. We couldn’t even relax for five minutes. It felt like a rushed, unfinished property with no attention to detail. Cheap construction masked in “luxury” pricing. We checked in and immediately checked out. This was a complete waste of money, and a major disappointment. Until this hotel gets its act together—and finishes its rooms properly—it shouldn’t be taking reservations, let alone charging presidential suite prices. You’ve been warned.