Best Condo Rental Thru RCI ???

[tjlamphere]

We are renting a timeshare for President's Day Week next year...we have an opportunity to get one thru RCI. Based on past experience, the ones I like are:

Sheraton Vistana
Embassy Grand Beach (or whoever owns it now)
Hilton Grand Vacation Resort
Bonnet Creek (based on great reviews and location)

Grand Beach may not be on everyone's preferred list, but they have 3 bedroom units and we really like being on 535, close to everything. I like that location better than down on the I. Bronson Pkwy.

Any other recommendations that I should add to my list? As it is a very popular week, I may have trouble getting a place, but I am hoping that as the year wears on, some timeshare owners will make their week available as a rental. I'd really like the Bonnet Creek Resort, as it looks beautiful, has wonderful facilities, and is closer than anyplace else to WDW, but because of these things, don't think it will be available. How did Wyndham (or was it Fairfield) get to build a place on Disney property...I understand it is right next to the CBR ????

Thanks for any guidance.

 

[AJKMOM]

We liked Silver Lake Resort and Grand Beach.

 

[ahill004]

We stayed at Bonnet Creek through RCI last fall. It is a beautiful resort with great pools. But as you stated, its location is the best because it is on Disney property. I would try to stay at Bonnet Creek if you can find the dates you need.

 

[Brian Noble]

The Hiltons are lovely, but not super-close.

I, too, am intrigued by the 3BR untis at Grand Beach, and toyed with the idea of buying there.

Vistana gets generally good reviews, but is a bit variable in terms of unit quality, so you want to be in a section that is either newer, or newly renovated.

Bonnet Creek, though, would be my choice. It is fantastic, and the reason we bought into the Wyndham system.

Right now, in that set, I only see Vistana with RCI's extra vacaitons, and then only with a Friday or Sunday check in.

 

[Brian Noble]

How did Wyndham (or was it Fairfield) get to build a place on Disney property...I understand it is right next to the CBR ????

Technically, it is not on Disney property, but it is landlocked by it on three sides, with I-4 on the fourth. You have to drive over Disney property to get to it, and when I stayed at OKW last February, we drove past Bonnet Creek several times on our way to and from the parks!

Legend has it that the owner of that parcel held out during the initial purchases by Disney's shadow companies, and when the true identity was disclosed by the Sentinel, the owner jacked up their price significantly. Disney wouldn't meet the price, and the owner vowed to *never* sell to Disney. Years later, the owner sold to a developer, and Fairfield came to acquire the parcel BC sits on.

 

[nascargal]

I am partial to Grand Beach. I can't beat the roominess of the place. You are never under anyone's feet in that place! Everyone has their own 'space'. Everything you need is there! I have read that they are in the process of updating the furniture and bedding. New beds were definitely needed! We are going back in October and can't wait.

 

[tjlamphere]

nascargal, we also like the roominesss of the 3 bedroom units at Grand Beach. Last time we were there, we stayed in the building farthest to the right as you entered the property...there were about 4-5 stray cats hanging around...kind of scary cats. They were there in the parking lot all week. Other than that, we loved the place...nothing fancy, and a bit outdated, but a very convenient location, and tons of room.

Who owns it now...it's not Embassy any more, is it ???

 

[Brian Noble]

I believe all of Grand Beach is now Sunterra/Diamond, but could be wrong.

 

[swilshire]

I have stayed at all mentioned except Bonnet Creek. I would be surprised if Bonnet Creek was available for a holiday week. Of the others, if you need the two master suites, Grand Beach is good in that respect. The living/kitchen/dining area there is smaller than some of the others.

You can't really go wrong with any of these. You might also add Mystic Dunes (which also has some 3br units) and Summer Bay (which is farther away but very nice, particularly the pool houses).

For such a popular week, it will probably come down to what you can get.

Sheila

Oops --- forget Mystic Dunes. They are II only. Not RCI.

 

[spiceycat]

Bonnet Creek - you can get Embassy Grand beach thru skyauction at times.

you can't get Bonnet Creek or the hiltons.

 

[coltsfan23]

Love the spaciousness of the Grand Beach resort myself with the 2 master bedrooms with king size beds.... and oh yeah... can't forget the jacuzzi tub either!! Just saw this resort on Ebay for $300 for the entire week for dates in September.... that's like $40/ night for a 3 bdrm. unit... that's awesome!!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=200220510641&ssPageName=STRK:MESE:IT&ih=010