construction at Orlando World Cener Marriott?

[Kitty-chan]

I'm thinking of spending a timeshare week at the Marriott Royal Palms (aka Marriott Imperial Palms), and just saw this on their web site:

Exhibit Hall Construction Project – The adjacent Marriott Orlando World Center Marriott Resort and Convention Center is in the process of constructing a major space expansion that will enhance and enlarge the resort’s existing meeting, convention and exhibit space which is expected to be completed in November 2007. As a result of this construction, the entrance way into Marriott’s Royal, Sabal and Imperial Palm Villa resorts will be altered to accommodate this growth. Guests may experience some construction noise during daytime hours between 8am and 6pm, Monday through Saturday as well as construction traffic and movement of equipment and vehicles. As always, please use caution when driving around the resort property, as this development may change the landscape, entry way, and traffic flow on a daily basis.

Has anybody seen the ongoing construction? How close is it to the Royal Palms?

Edit: P.S. Just as important . . .the notice says that traffic may be disrupted. If I'm reading Google Earth right, it looks like there's only one way in/out of the Marriott center, so traffic could be badly bottlenecked. I'd hate to go to the trouble of staying that close to WDW, and then spend 20 minutes just trying to get out of my resort! (I think I'm starting to lean towards the Sheraton Vistana instead, because I've stayed there and liked it, and because as far as I know they don't have construction planned.)

 

[jeff968]

We were at the Imperial palms in February. First, the Imperial palms will be closer to the construction then the royal palms. We started hearing noise while we were there. The construction was to the west of us (at the world center convention center). I'm thinking you'll be fine getting in and out of the Royal palms as the exit is east of the constuction. If you want to get to the world center to use the facilities then you might have some fun. i feel sorry for the owners of the sabal palms as they are behind the constuction. There is only one main entrance way into these resorts. There will probably be trucks using it as well.

 

[Kitty-chan]

We were at the Imperial palms in February. First, the Imperial palms will be closer to the construction then the royal palms. We started hearing noise while we were there. The construction was to the west of us (at the world center convention center). I'm thinking you'll be fine getting in and out of the Royal palms as the exit is east of the constuction. If you want to get to the world center to use the facilities then you might have some fun. i feel sorry for the owners of the sabal palms as they are behind the constuction. There is only one main entrance way into these resorts. There will probably be trucks using it as well.

Ah, thanks, this is very helpful information! I haven't been to the resort before, but looking at it in Google Earth, if I understand right I can go from Vacation Way to World Center Drive, and take a left towards rt 536 without driving past the construction.

I may be a little oversensitive about traffic . . . being a Bostonian and all, when I hear people talk about traffic problems I imagine huge gridlock!

 

[jeff968]

I don't remember all the road names but the main entrance to the resort is off of 536. If you were traveling west on 536 you would take a right into the resort. then there is a main access road up to the world resort. The first right off of this road is to the imperial and royal palms. They are together and use the same access road. Just past that is where the construction started, also on the right. The access road to the sabel palms is your next right, it also goes to the convention center. This is where they had everything boarded up. Even the sidewalks weren't available so if you wanted to walk up to the world you were walking on the main access road with the traffic. This is usually a 5-10 minute walk but they do have a shuttle which is what we used but was a pain some times. Continue to follow the main access road up the hill to the world which is an incredible resort with a great pool. But, since the access road to the Royal palms is the first right I'm thinking you won't even need to pass the construction.

 

[Kitty-chan]

Thanks again, very helpful!

For anybody else following this thread . . . I just called the Royal Palms, and the women I spoke to was very nice and reassuring but couldn't really provide much additional information. She confirmed that on some days, there might be movement of construction vehicles, which might affect the entrance to Royal Palms; she thought there might be 3-5 minute delays when that happened, but couldn't really say much more. She said that they're attending construction briefing meetings daily, but it's hard to say exactly what will be happening in December.

My hunch at this point is that things won't be terribly bad in December. And I must say, those two-bedroom villas look a lot more appealing to me than the one-bedroom condo I stayed in last year at the Vistana (these are again my options this year, given what's available in the II exchanges). Whirlpool tub, yay!