Does anyone do timeshares while in Disney??

[MsMulan]

Hello All,

I got roped into a timeshare deal in Virginia Beach and as part of the deal and all the $$$ you pay you get to opt to go to other resorts. When I initially got in DVC was part of the plan. I am now looking on the timeshare website and of course, DVC no longer participates.

Anyway, my big dilemma is which Orlando timeshare resorts are worth the swap???

I am not huge on staying in Kissimmee just due to the time it takes to get to the parks is a little overwhelming for this single parent.

I love the LBV area just not sure what timeshare properties are in the area.

Appreciate the help!!

 

[TotoToo]

Hello All,

I love the LBV area just not sure what timeshare properties are in the area.

Appreciate the help!!

The closest are the two Cypress Pointe Resorts and Blue Tree. They are 1 mile from Downtown Disney and offer easy back routes to Universal and Seaworld. They also have a ton of restaurants and services right around them - easy walk, a real rarity in Orlando. On the opposite side of I-4 and another couple miles away are Vistana, Grand Beach, Polynesian Island and there may be some others. Fighting that traffic near I-4 makes them all less desirable to us even if they were as close as the other three (but they are not).

 

[MsMulan]

The closest are the two Cypress Pointe Resorts and Blue Tree. They are 1 mile from Downtown Disney and offer easy back routes to Universal and Seaworld. They also have a ton of restaurants and services right around them - easy walk, a real rarity in Orlando. On the opposite side of I-4 and another couple miles away are Vistana, Grand Beach, Polynesian Island and there may be some others. Fighting that traffic near I-4 makes them all less desirable to us even if they were as close as the other three (but they are not).

Thanks for that info. I believe that is what threw me off during our last visit to WDW. We stayed at Windsor Palms...very nice condo, lots of room to spread out. It was just a nightmare on I-4 getting back and forth to Disney. I will see if Cypress Pointe is in the II directory. I know Blue Tree is, just need to read reviews to see if it would work for us. Thanks for your help.

 

[VAfamily1998]

I'm not sure if they participate in your timeshares but we stayed here http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/mcosp-marriotts-sabal-palms/

about a month ago.
We don't own a timeshare, we were just able to rent the room by the night. Anyway, it was very nice, I'd stay there again!

 

[jdtopgun71]

Do you know if Hilton Grand Vacations are an option? We bought a timeshare with HGVC (got roped in while in Las Vegas) but we decided to turn it into a positive and have really enjoyed their resorts. They have one close to Sea World and another on I-Drive and a brand new one that I visited but am not quite sure what it's close to.

Which resort did you buy into in Va Beach? I live in Va Beach and am just curious.

 

[smphbear]

Just wanted you to hear that we also enjoyed Cypress Pointe Grand Villas. We stayed there the summer of 07 and 08 through my moms get aways. We had previously stayed at another one in Kissimmee. It was so easy to get to the parks. We had no problems taking a break mid day. They may not have the marble countertops, but they were nice. We would not hesitate to stay there again. The Unofficial Guide had good tips about which way to go to get to each park's parking lot the quickest. Hope it works out well for you.

 

[webprinter]

If you exchange through II, we like Marriott Cypress Harbour the best. Marriott Grande Vista and Vistana Villages are our second choices. Through RCI, we like Wyndham Bonnet Creek and Orange Lakes. We stayed at Sheraton's Vistana and it was definately not nice. Star Lake was fine but we like the others better. We stay in a timeshare almost every time we go to Orlando because it is cheaper than paying to stay somewhere. We have exchanged into WDW timeshare 3 times also.

 

[Purseval]

I thought DVC was part of RCI so the OP must be II.

 

[Detailor]

Right, OP says she exchanges through II in Post 3.

Cypress Pointe Resort and the related Cypress Pointe Grande Villas resort both trade through II and they are good resorts. They're close to Downtown Disney but you can get to Disney without using I-4 from a lot of area resort (maybe all of them) and pretty easily, too.

I'd second the advice from webprinter on the Marriott resorts. They're very nice and IMHO they're at least as nice as the DVCs, just not located within Disney. Marriott's Cypress Harbour and Marriott's Grande Vista are outstanding. You may also want to consider the other Marriotts - there are three small Marriotts on the Marriott World Center Hotel property (Sabal Palms, Royal Palms and Imperial Palm Villas) - they aren't as big and don't have all the resort amenities of Cypress Harbour and Grande Vista but they share the extensive facilities of the hotel and the location is very convenient to Disney as I think they're a bit closer to the theme parks than the Cypress Pointe. Marriott's Harbour Lake (across the road from Cypress Harbour) is also a good Marriott with a pretty impressive pirate-themed pool area for the kids but maybe not quite as fancy in the villas as the others. I'd also suggest the Sheraton Vistana Villages resort - newer than the massive Vistana Resort that's a couple of miles closer to Disney. And some sections of the Sheraton Vistana Resort are quite nice, too. There are other II resorts in the area that look like they'd be quite good but I think that these are the best that we've stayed at.

Dick Taylor

 

[vacation deals]

The Fountains was a very nice resort to stay at. Very clean. We loved our two bedroom suite and the children liked having their own room. Sitting on the screened in Balcony was a definite bonus for sipping a glass of wine after the kids were in bed.

 

[swilshire]

We stayed at Sheraton's Vistana and it was definately not nice.

I would disagree. This is my kids' favorite of all the Orlando resorts. They have undergone a major renovation in the last couple of years, so even the older units are fresh and new looking.

Sheila

 

[Brian Noble]

I'm with Sheila---there was a time when Vistana was definitely "off the list", but now that they've finished their refurbishment, it's back on for me. They didn't do things on the cheap; the owners there spent a pretty penny bringing it up to typical Starwood standards. And, the location is among the best of the nicer II resorts relative to WDW.

 

[MsMulan]

Thank you everyone for your comments. I am looking into some of the properties recommended here. II has a program called Short Stay (2 to 6 nights) versus the traditional 7 night stay. You are supposed to get two vacations for the price of one. Book one 6 night stay, get another six night vacation during the year. I have not figured out all the kinks of how to use it. I just figured out you have to be close to the date you want to travel in order to book it (right now the calendar is only going out to May 4)

If anyone else has used the Short Stay through II, I would like to hear about your experience. I may post as a seperate post just to see if more people see it.

 

[spiceycat]

with short stays you might get a house cleaning cost - which might make you reconsider.

like with II/RCI
Sheraton Vistana Resort
Marriott Sabal Palms
Marriott Royal Palms
Marriott Cypress Harbour - these 3 are on RCI and II
Cypress Pointe (there are 2 of these)


With II only
Marriott Imperial Palms
Marriott Grande Vista

 

[Purseval]

Do you know if Hilton Grand Vacations are an option? We bought a timeshare with HGVC (got roped in while in Las Vegas) but we decided to turn it into a positive and have really enjoyed their resorts. They have one close to Sea World and another on I-Drive and a brand new one that I visited but am not quite sure what it's close to.

The new one, Parc Soleil, is on Palm Parkway. Leave the resort, take a right and you are at DTD in 5 minutes. Take a left then the first right and you are at Sea World in 5 minutes. Take a left then keep going straight and you run into Universal Studios in 10 minutes.

 

[GooofyDisDad]

Hi,
Hilton has a great 'vacation plan'. They have one they call International Drive - Tuscany. and another brand new Circ de solei (I think). The new property, you can see Disney from the upper floors ..Spectacular.

 

[ntz4disney]

We have stayed at Mystic Dunes off 192, which isn't that far from Aminal Kingdom. If you are familiar with 192 area, its just across the way from the Sherberth Road turn that leads you the back way into Animal Kingdom and onto Disney property. We had a 3 BR condo with wonderful accomodations, very nice and clean and we would definately return. We had 2 bedrooms with 2 queens in each and 1 with a King. 2 full baths and a huge living rooms/dining room. Kitchen was a good size, plus washer/dryer and a nice screen porch out the back over looking a conversation area. I know its not Lake Buena Vista area but still worth looking at if you have a vehicle to get you around!

Have also stayed at Marriott Horizon's resort while is just off I4 but closer to Sea World, another awesome place with activities for the kids all day long if you are looking for a down day from the parks, its a nice place to hang out! Oh and they have an awesome pirate themed pool there too!!!

 

[digskat]

Definately Sheraton Vistana resort or villages