OLCC or Sheraton Vistana

[momofEEG]

We are planning our second family trip to WDW next October. We can exchange with RCI for Orange Lake West Village or Orange Lake River Island or Sheraton Vistana Resort. We stayed at OLCC last time and really liked it. We were wondering if we should try the Vistana, because it looks nice, or if we should stick with what we liked? Also, is Orange Lake River Island the new section? Does anyone have info on that? We thought Orange Lake was a great location for getting to Disney, and were wondering if The Vistana is a good locaton also, in other words, drive time which one is closest? What would you all do?

Any information would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks from NC

[spiceycat]

Sheraton Vistana Resort is closer.

that say the new section is OL river island and is definitely worth staying at OL to do.

my problem with OL for the size of the resort not enough swimming pools. especially since you have to drive to one if you stay in the Western section.

sounds like you are using RCI - well Sheraton Vistana Resort now gives to II it best. So RCI gets the older units.

if that makes a difference.

is Hilton Grand Vacation Club showing up? now that is a nice timeshare.

[Lisa P.]

Since you liked OLCC, and you thought the location was good, I'd take the OLCC - River Island exchange. People seem to either love it or dislike it, for their own reasons and tastes. Same with Sheraton Vistana Resort, which is closer to the parks but... it does have older sections w/so-so or mixed reviews, it has no golf and no lakes, boats, fishing, watersports. We very much enjoyed a stay at Vistana but again, not everyone does. FWIW, I doubt that the River Island week will last very long in RCI. I'd confirm it soon! :) Have a fun trip! :)

[f7prez]

Vistana is a lot closer, however OLCC River Island is where my DD8 wanted to spend all her time on our last trip. The units are very nice and the pools are great. We enjoyed the tennis and golf at OLCC as well.

[Detailor]

We've stayed at Vistana twice and OLCC three times over the years. Though Vistana was our first exposure to an Orlando timeshare - we liked it enough to begin exploring timeshare ownership (though we didn't buy there or elsewhere in Orlando) - we've enjoyed OLCC much more. From descriptions that others have made, the new River Island section sounds very nice.

As other posters have mentioned, Vistana is located much closer to most of the Disney action - close to DTD, BoardWalk area, MGM, Epcot, MK - while OLCC is relatively close to Animal Kingdom and once you're on property getting to things is pretty easy to get to on Disney roads.

Dick Taylor

[ldo]

there is a back road ( left Black LAke, turn left on Sherbeth, then right near AKL) that you can take near OLCC that puts you off right at AK, then you can get to where ever you want. I find the OLCC location much better for getting to Disney--even in heavy traffic.
River Island is very nice and units are new.

[lawgs]

We are planning our second family trip to WDW next October. We can exchange with RCI for Orange Lake West Village or Orange Lake River Island or Sheraton Vistana Resort. We stayed at OLCC last time and really liked it. We were wondering if we should try the Vistana, because it looks nice, or if we should stick with what we liked? Also, is Orange Lake River Island the new section? Does anyone have info on that? We thought Orange Lake was a great location for getting to Disney, and were wondering if The Vistana is a good locaton also, in other words, drive time which one is closest? What would you all do?

Any information would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks from NC


are you seeing the River Island exchange showing up on a regular basis when you search RCI .????

[momofEEG]

I haven't looked much before I started thinking about this next trip. When I first put in for the dates I was interested, they had one week available mid- November. When I checked the next day I saw they had the week available we were interested in, that's when I posted to ask for everyone's opinion. I ended up booking that week after hearing the responses, so we are officially excited.

Thanks you all for your help.:goodvibes

[lawgs]

I haven't looked much before I started thinking about this next trip. When I first put in for the dates I was interested, they had one week available mid- November. When I checked the next day I saw they had the week available we were interested in, that's when I posted to ask for everyone's opinion. I ended up booking that week after hearing the responses, so we are officially excited.

Thanks you all for your help.:goodvibes

did you see one or two bedrooms??

[Suzyq9241]

Go for OLCC River Island...

We go almost every year and I tell you it is great...

It kept my little niece and nephew busy ... busy enough to go to bed by 730 pm every night...

The last time we didnt even do any parks because of the River Island...

The new buildings are great and I think they are bigger than the older ones...

[Suzyq9241]

1. Make sure you get there early enough to get pool side chairs.

2. Try to ask for an area in the front of it... like around 79000 ( I am pretty sure that is the number building we stayed at it is the last building on your left hand side) because every morning you see the hot air balloons and at night from the balcony you can see the fire works.. ( get the top floor if you can)

3. They also are starting renavations at the front of OLCC to make it more for the kids... which I think is cool....

4. They are going to build across the street of that new highway the put in as well..

You can read all about it on there web site.

[momofEEG]

We saw 2 bedrooms, which is what we got, that sleeps 8. I didn't mention that we reserved for Oct 2008. I think you need to keep watching and hopefully one will come available. Like I said, there was only one available when I first looked. I put in for Oct 11th 2008 and it searched for 5 weeks forward, and I only saw one week available mid- Nov. The next day there was mid Oct which is what we wanted. Last time we went we stayed in the Tennis Villas in the West Village, and we really liked it. I would have been happy with it, and there were lots of weeks available for it, but we're excited to stay in the newest section.

[lawgs]

mom

thanks for your replies

october is mid season at olcc river island

be interesting where they place you...woods view or pool view as they differentiate these locations for river island owners now ....costing more points to use the pool views

you also must have strong trader to be seeing two bedrooms consistently

[momofEEG]

Thanks for all the info. Sounds like we made a good choice. We are very excited!

[gjw007]

I own at OLCC but I have stayed in the Fountains II area of Vistana Resort. I think that you would enjoy your vacation at either. The main advantage of Vistana is not distance to Disney, that is a wash, nor being closer to the pools as the units in the River Island complex is next to the pool but that Vistana is closer to Universal, Seaworld, and other activities along I-Drive.

As much as people complain of 192, I-Drive is worse in my opinion as I got caught a few times in traffic on I-Drive - lesson learned:headache:. One problem of 192 is that taking a left on or off 192 can take a long time as the lights are timed to permit the flow of traffic on 192 to continue. Taking right turns is not a problem but for OLCC, you need to take a left onto 192 unless you use the Western Beltway (although not necessary, it may speed things up because you don't have to wait for the light to get onto 192).

[DWisher]

We are with RCI also, and got a week on the West Village..2bedroom. I am hoping they will exchange for a 1bedroom at River. Cross our fingers. Has anyone asked at check in for upgrades?

[lawgs]

We are with RCI also, and got a week on the West Village..2bedroom. I am hoping they will exchange for a 1bedroom at River. Cross our fingers. Has anyone asked at check in for upgrades?

why not give them a call and ask if it is possible to upgrade to River Island?

Contact information

Local 407.239.0000

Toll-free 800.877.6522 (Domestic)

[jeff968]

I've stayed at both and would definate recommend the Vistana resort between the two. Orange Lake was huge and you had to get in the car to go to the pool. We found the OLCC resort dirty. I also didn't like the location. The VR is just as close to Disney (downtown entrance is right down the street) and centrally located to Seaworld and Universal. It was a much nicer resort with better pools and a better layout. IMHO.

[spiceycat]

We are with RCI also, and got a week on the West Village..2bedroom. I am hoping they will exchange for a 1bedroom at River. Cross our fingers. Has anyone asked at check in for upgrades?

I don't think OL allows upgrades. but heck as lawgs says you can try.

you might go back to RCI - but then you have pay for the exchange again.

[DWisher]

why not give them a call and ask if it is possible to upgrade to River Island?

Contact information

Local 407.239.0000

Toll-free 800.877.6522 (Domestic)
Thanks...it worked! They said that the exchange would be good for West, North or East Village. Not a garr but put in request for top floor East Village. Hopefully that is the best, she said East is 2nd newest building. Does anyone have an opinion on where a couple on their anniversary should stay at OLCC?

[lawgs]

Thanks...it worked! They said that the exchange would be good for West, North or East Village. Not a garr but put in request for top floor East Village. Hopefully that is the best, she said East is 2nd newest building. Does anyone have an opinion on where a couple on their anniversary should stay at OLCC?

East village is second newest Village.....set apart from the north and west villages ....the buildings surround the golf course...iit also is not too far from River Island complex

in some of the buildings you will get a "great view" of the MK fireworks

depending on the time of the year, there might be strong "odour" coming from Animal Kingdom ( mornings and evenings seemed to be the worst )

[gjw007]

Thanks...it worked! They said that the exchange would be good for West, North or East Village. Not a garr but put in request for top floor East Village. Hopefully that is the best, she said East is 2nd newest building. Does anyone have an opinion on where a couple on their anniversary should stay at OLCC?
As it turns out, some of the newest buildings are actually in the East Village. The first River Island building opened in May 2006 but when I was there last December (2006), some new buildings were opening up in the East Village (along with a new pool). As OLCC is still building in the East Village, other new buildings may also have opened. Currently the second of three scheduled buildings (that I am aware of) in the River Island area has started construction. I would guess it would open sometime late next spring.