Caribe Royale

[sncbird]

We're looking for an off-site hotel for a few days in June. Last year we stayed at HIFS and enjoyed it but this time we would like a hotel with a larger pool (one with a slide etc...). I've come across Caribe Royal and this looks like a very nice place. If anyone has stayed there can you tell me about it. Or... if anyone has any other suggestions for a place to stay I would love to hear any suggestions. We have 2 kids - dd 7 and ds 6.
Thanks for much for your help
Christine

 

[Aubrey]

We stayed at Caribe Royale two years ago. The kids LOVED the pool, waterslide, and waterfall. We loved the included breakfast buffet and the convenience of having our own apartment complete with kitchen and laundry facilities. That said, since then the price has gone up considerably and the breakfast has been discontinued. This year we are trying both the Imperial Palms (with the fabulous MOWC pool) and and the Wyndham Palms which are much less expensive.

 

[sncbird]

Thank you Aubrey very much for your help. Wyndham Palms is another place I would like to look into. Are the Imperial Palms Times Shares or Villas that are part of The Marriott Orlando World Center? Any help or additional advice would be very much appreciated
Christine

 

[Aubrey]

Hi Christine,
The Imperial Palms, Royal Palms, and Sabal Palms are vacation rentals operated by Marriott and on the same grounds as the MOWC. They each have their own small pools but also can use all facilities of the MOWC. You can walk between the complexes or they will give you a courtesy ride. Sabal Palms is the closest to MOWC and an easy 5-minute walk according to them. Imperial and Royal are apparently about a 10 minute walk away from the MOWC building. We are using Imperial Palms because they have 3-bedroom units for $210. Sabal and Royal are 2-bedroom units. Sabal has an Expedia rate of $154. I think they also may be operated as timeshares but are not in an active sale phase. I believe you can book into them using Marriott points or timeshare points but I don't have the impression that they are doing the presentations there. Wyndham Palms onthe other hand is in an active sale phase and if you want, you can get a discount on your room by attending the presentation. I would have just stayed at the Imperial the whole trip to avoid the hassle of moving but our party size increases partway thorugh the trip and that Wyndham rate of 2-bedroom units for $86 can't be beat. Good luck and have a great trip.
Aubrey

 

[Princess Dot]

I just want to chime in with my opinion as to the Marriot time shares. We have stayed in Royal Palms twice and really liked it there. You really can not walk to the main pool at MOWC (unless you enjoy a hot sweaty walk in the Florida sun!) but it was a 2 minute drive (well worth it!) I have heard there is an internal shuttle but we did not use it. The main pool at MOWC is great, much larger than the Caribe and nicer IMHO. The pool right near the Royal Palms is very nice too, just no slides or waterfalls. But there was a hot tub and a sauna.
We stayed at the Caribe and it was just ok to me. I did not care for the decor there and the room seemed small. I have heard the villas there are very nice though. Royal Palms I thought was really nice. Very spacious, clean. Love the washer/dryer! I would check the price difference. I don't think the two compare.

 

[sncbird]

I welcome all opinions!!! How do you book Imperial Palms or Royal Palms? Do you call MWCO? Do you think it's better to stay in the time shares vs the hotel? We only need to stay for 3 nights. Is there a large price difference between the hotel vs. the TImeshares? Also, is their difference between The Imperial Palms, Royal Palms, and Sabal Palms. Thanks so much for your help!!!

 

[Aubrey]

I found the best rates booking through Expedia. Sabal Palms was just a little cheaper than Royal but not significantly. Imperial is more because they are 3 bedrooms instead of 2. Sabal is the one they said was walkable, not Royal, though since we are going in November, I'm not so worried about the hot weather.
As for price, it is MUCH cheaper to stay in the Villas than in the MOWC. There is a Canadian AAA discount running at MOWC that is slightly cheaper if you can get it but otherwise MOWC is at least $50 more per night than the Villas and that's for just one room. Plus MOWC charges almost $15/day for parking and the Villas have free parking. Neither have free shuttles to the attractions so you will want a car. The "internal shuttle" is an on-demand van that you call for when you want a ride and they come in 5-10 minutes from when you call.