Best resort and POOL offsite??

[TeamSy]

Have you checked out the pool at the Marriott World Center? It's HUGE!

 

[gtalum]

Check out Hyatt Grand Cypress Orlando. Large pool, lake, and shuttles.

+1

Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress is clean, safe, CLOSE, and has a wonderful pool complex with a fun slide for the kids and lots of other included activities.

 

[highlander4]

Fantasy World Villas 1 was great. I was there in Oct 2013. It has two slides and a lazy river. At the deepest the pool was 4ft deep. It also has miniture golf.

 

[ExpatDisneyLover]

I'm looking at the Sheraton Vistana Resort now, too, but can't tell if it has the "essential" waterside. The pool pictures I can find aren't very helpful. The price is good, though, and it looks nice.
I am hesitant to rent a timeshare. Is that crazy? I just feel like the quality and cleanliness varies so much. I am also sort of a germaphobe, and only want a place that has bedding washed between guests. My family likes the weight of blankets to sleep but if I go someplace and find the old type of spreads they go right in the closet.

I have stayed at the Sheraton Vistana - it was clean, Sheraton standards, the size was great with kitchen amenities. It is VERY large and spread out - having a car would be helpful. Every area is a bit different as far as the buildings go - they seem to be updating all the time. There are numerous pools with different amenities - some more kid friendly than others. I do remember they had a schedule of activities for kids - crafts and all kinds of things, all the time. You would probably be able to find a schedule online, but be aware you might have to get in the car to drive to the action just a bit depending on where you were located.

 

[Melanie98]

We stayed at CoCo Key three years ago. The hotel was pretty bad, and we are not picky travelers. I doubt I'd stay there again, even with a SUPER cheap deal.

 

[dancin Disney style]

We stayed at CoCo Key three years ago. The hotel was pretty bad, and we are not picky travelers. I doubt I'd stay there again, even with a SUPER cheap deal.

I've also stayed at Coco Key....three years ago next month. My friend and I took our kids there for a week. While neither of us thought it was fantastic but there was nothing bad about it. The waterpark was great for my friends' 5yo but really boring for my 12yo. The outside part that is along the I4 had really cold water and only 2 functioning slides. The inside, covered, part of the waterpark had nice warm water but the slides in there are only going to be fun for little kids. We actually had more fun at the quiet pool. The property location is great for Universal, so so for SW but really bad for WDW.


I have also stayed at the Hilton BC, WBC and the Marriott Grande Vista. All have really great pool areas. The Marriott does not have a waterslide or lazy river but does have a great Spanish fort themed pool with waterfall and kids play area complete with water guns.

 

[Northernlites]

I would like to stay 30 to 60 minutes away from Disney in a gated community similiar to Windsor HIlls or in a resort similiar to the Sheraton/Marriott properties. Some place with a full kitchen/laundry and a pool. We plan on staying for 3 to 4 nights and not going into Orlando.

 

[NinaBella]

I am surprised no one mentioned Gaylord Palms. This hotel is my kids (ages 10 and 12) absolute favorite! It has a new water park called Cypress Springs (youtube it). It's very boy friendly with live alligators, boats, etc. inside the atrium. My "boys" are 21, 19, and 12, so I have a little experience in what boys like, but my DD (10) loves it too.

 

[pinoke]

I've been offline for a week or so. I go between saying lets try to save some money off site and check out US to its actually cheaper to just do WDW and we know we love some of the WDW hotels….Making myself cray cray
But I just checked in and looked up Gaylord Palms and it looks beautiful. My 11 year old boy went wild with the pics and said let's go here! It's not cheap though. I could stay onsite and get FD or a deluxe for the same price with the fall discount. So undecided!

 

[greenclan67]

We like Holiday Inn Club Vacations Orange lake in Kissimmee. Tons and tons of activities. You can find lots of rentals here or myresortnetwork.com or tug2.net you won't be disappointed in the resort. We were just there in Dec and are returning in 13 days. Can't wait.

 

[NinaBella]

I've been offline for a week or so. I go between saying lets try to save some money off site and check out US to its actually cheaper to just do WDW and we know we love some of the WDW hotels….Making myself cray cray
But I just checked in and looked up Gaylord Palms and it looks beautiful. My 11 year old boy went wild with the pics and said let's go here! It's not cheap though. I could stay onsite and get FD or a deluxe for the same price with the fall discount. So undecided!

I have only stayed at Gaylord Palms with the military discount. I think the cheapest we got was $89 but I think it's higher than that now. I find it is always better to call the hotel directly and see what discounts they offer that may not be on their website.

 

[MagicJourney]

A few offsite timeshares I could recommend besides DVC properties:
closest to WDW: Wyndham Bonnet Creek
cost-efficient: Sheraton Vistana Resort
upscale-feel: Marriott Lakeshore Reserve (shared amenities with JW Marriott, Ritz)

 

[pinoke]

I have only stayed at Gaylord Palms with the military discount. I think the cheapest we got was $89 but I think it's higher than that now. I find it is always better to call the hotel directly and see what discounts they offer that may not be on their website.

When I checked our fall dates the price was $269 a night. Glad you got a military discount though!