Which RCI Resort

[abouley]

Which RCI resort would you suggest? We are planning a trip early Dec of next year. It'll be myself, DH, DS (almost 5) and DD (2) plus possibly my mom. We have enough points in RCI to book a 2 bedroom for 2 weeks and we'll have a car. Where should we stay? We would like to take advantage of the pools, would like a play area for the kids, clean rooms (jacuzzi tub a plus), some on-site food would be nice, and close to WDW.

Would you stay at one resort both weeks or switch part way through? Anyone ever stayed a week off-site and a week or part of a week on-site?

Any thoughts or suggestions would be great. We have only been once when DS was 18 months and stayed on-site at CBR and wasn't overly impressed with the transportation or the hotel.

Thanks!
Alison

 

[aamob]

We stayed at Orange Lake Country Club last year and really enjoyed it. The pools are great for all ages. We really loved the lazy river. It was barely a 20 minute drive to Disney and easy to find. The resort is really large but with a rental car it was no problem. This year we are trying Sheraton Vistana Resort and we'll see how that is.

 

[gismo1554]

We stayed at Orange Lake Country Club last year and really enjoyed it. The pools are great for all ages. We really loved the lazy river. It was barely a 20 minute drive to Disney and easy to find. The resort is really large but with a rental car it was no problem. This year we are trying Sheraton Vistana Resort and we'll see how that is.

Another vote for Orange Lake! Stayed there before the waterpark (pool area with lazy river etc) opened but the resort itself even back then was lovely.

Ive stayed at Vistana and its nice. The apartment we stayed in was bigger than Orange Lake I believe (it was a few years ago) but the resort was good and nice location

 

[minie_meese]

We stayed in a 3 bedroom unit at Cypress Point Grand Villas 2 years ago and had a great time. It was very large. We were able to get the 3 bedroom unit as a trade for our 2 bedroom. The 3rd bedroom was actually a studio with a full kitchen and full bath which worked out great for our large group. There was a jacuzzi tub off the master bedroom and a nice screened in porch off of the living room where we ate breakfast every day. The main kitchen was well laid out, had everything we needed and had lots of storage. There was a full size washer and dryer. The grounds were beautiful and the buildings and grounds were well maintained. Our unit was very nice but a few of the furnishings could have used some updating. I would not call the place luxurious but we found it very comfortable and the staff was friendly. The pool near us was pretty standard but we all loved it. It was not crowded when we were there (October). Another part of the complex had more of a theme pool with a water volcano. There was a nice kids playground which we used a few times and there were activities for kids every day but we didn't use them.

The resort complex is very close to Downtown Disney (about 2-3 minutes from the end of Hotel Plaza Blvd). There are lots of restaurants, a drug store and a Publix within walking distance.

 

[swimgalsmom]

We really like Orange Lake and Cypress Pointe. We were just at Cypress Pointe in December. We were on the Grande Villas side. We have no complaints. It was great for our girls. I liked that everything is located right in the center of all the buildings. From our porch we could see both pools, the playground, mini-golf and the convenience store/pizza shop.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Can you get Bonnet Creek? I've never stayed there but judging from the photos it's beautiful!!! It's fairly new and I often hear Dis-ers rave about it.

We are RCI members and have stayed in Hilton Grand Vac. Club Sea World in a 2BR and loved it. It was very clean and well-appointed. You could walk to SW. We didn't want to leave. We also drove past their sister resort: HGVC @ International Dr. and that looked even nicer than the Sea World resort.
We own at Summer Bay and I think HGVC is nicer.

 

[spiceycat]

Which RCI resort would you suggest?
Would you stay at one resort both weeks or switch part way through? Anyone ever stayed a week off-site and a week or part of a week on-site?
Alison

Alison do offsite and onsite in one trip a bunch. generally do them at the same time. but sometimes do offsite then do onsite.

onsite is nice because of EMH and DME. EMH - extra magical hours - you get into different parks on different days either an hour before it opens to the general public or 3 hours after it closes to the general public.

dme - disney magical express - disney will take you back and forth to the airport if you are staying in any of their WDW resorts. so you don't need a rental car even if you are flying.

offsite - more room!!!
less expensive
easier to get to SW or US/IOA or the outlet malls

 

[Brian Noble]

Can you get Bonnet Creek?

Probably not. Wyndham owners cannot choose which week is deposited on their behalf, and it can come from any resort that belongs to ther internal points system. And, Wyndham does not seem to be depositing Bonnet Creek at all.

 

[spiceycat]

the ones closest to WDW property
on AK side (kissimmee)
Silver Lake
Orbit One

on DD side (lake buena Vista)
Cypress Pointe
Sheraton Vistana Resort
Bryan's Spanish Cove
Grand Beach

would recommend any of the above.

also kinda close
Westgate - never recommend this!!!!!
Magic Tree - old, very, very old - but it gets okay reviews
Celebration World Resort - if you travel with a pet this is the only one!
Orange Lake
Summer Bay


ones further away - but really nice timeshares
Hilton Grand Vacation Club - both Seaworld and International Drive locations
Sheraton Vistana Village
Foundations(sp?)