Cypress 3 bedroom and others??? ADVICE PLEASE!

[Karen4120]

Hi,

Help! I am trying to book a 3 bedroom condo that has a great pool and at least some onsite snack bar/grill etc. We are travelling with 2 adults, 4 kids (2 of them teens). We considered renting a home but we really want to have that vacation feel with the big pool, game room etc. We stayed at the Sheraton Vistana last time and just loved it there. I'm almost tempted to squeeze us all in there again if I don't find something close. Here are some that I'm considering.

Cypress Pointe (Resort or Grand Villas)
Regal Palms Resort
Saratoga Resort Villas Disney Maingate
Embassay Grand Beach
Likie Tiki Village

Any others....I should check out?

I noticed that Cypress Pointe requires advance full payment on hotel kingdom and some of the others don't? Is there any site that you know of that I can book Cypress without making a full payemnt in advance? Also, maid service does not come with these units, how did you get fresh towels?? Do you need to wash them yourself?

Thanks for any info you can give me!!

Karen

 

[spiceycat]

is your third one really

Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort by any chance????

this is a Disney resort....

here is its website - check the address to see if it is the same place
http://dvc.disney.go.com/dvc/guest/resorts/resortGuestDetail?id=SSGuestAccommodationDetailPage

if it is not
Embassay Grand Beach has some nice 3 -bedrooms

also futher away
Hilton Grand Vacation Club

but Cypress Pointe is fine too....

 

[Karen4120]

I don't think its the Disney one that came up on Hotel Kingdom....too cheap to be the Disney one.

 

[spiceycat]

you are right - it is the old doubletree - just a name changed...

"The Doubletree Resort - Villas at Maingate offers guests many thoughtful amenities such as a sparkling blue outdoor "

you know the hotels in the Kissmmee area changed names ALOT....

 

[PURTYPAT1]

Hi Karen,

I have stayed in the CP, it was great for the kids. We were happy there. The location is just wonderful, actually it is about a 5 to 10 minute drive down the street from the Vistana. I liked the fact that behind the CP was a huge supermarket Windixie, & across the street was Walgreens, & around the corner post office. It is very close to Disney & many many restaurants.

I usually stay at the Vistana, just my opinion, CP is not as nice as the Vistana, but CP is a great place to stay and I think preety nice. I am actually staying there in early Nov, for 3 days. I like that it has the same layout as the Vistana. The kids love it, they do have fun actives for the kids too.

Does this help?

Patricia

 

[Karen4120]

Patricia:
Thanks your info is very helpful. Was the pool a nice one at CP? Do you remember if they gave you clean towels or did you have to wash them yourself??

Thanks again,
Karen

 

[TotoToo]

At CP you get 6 pool towels in the 2 bedroom and two more in the 3 bedroom. They are "hidden" under the masterbath sinks - you have to remember to bring them to the pool(s) with you.

During the week you wash them if you wish or you can pay for a full towel exchange by housekeeping. We just washed ours.

 

[Aimeemee]

Just wanted to add that the Deli on site at CP wasn't too hot, in my opinion. It was ok to grab essentials or a bagel or snack type item but the hot food was awful. My son wouldn't even eat the cheeseburger he ordered, It was like a hockey puck But other than that I really liked CP. We stayed in the Grande villas because we really wanted to have the convienience of the elevators. With an 18 month old in a stroller, it's almost a necessity. Otherwise we would have stayed a CP, they have been completely renovated. CP & CPGV's looked exactly the same from the exterior view but I understand that the GV's have more square footage.
We had plenty of towells for our stay, and yes you did have to wash them. To me that is not a big deal....others may not want the bother.
There is a grocery store right down the road & plenty of restaurants that are close enough that you could walk to. It is very close to the main gates to DW, right near Downtown disney. Location cant be beat & the area is nice. To me traffic was a non-issue, making it to the parks in 5 to 10 min. max at any point in the day, even on the weekend.
There is a game room, & activities for the kids, though we didn't have time for any of the activities, a miniature golf course, and a volcano pool (on the CP side) that looked really cool at night (lit up with water spraying out of the top) I beleive that pool had a pretty decent slide as well. I dont think that pool is heated though because when DH took DS they said the pool was cold wheras the CPGV's pool was very warm. CPGV's also has a turtle pool for the little ones.
It is not super luxurious....and after staying at the vistana you may be slightly dissapointed though we were all very happy & comfortable there. The price is right for all that CP offers. Also our unit was very clean which to me is one of the most important factors in where we stay. The grounds were maintained as well. Good luck in whatever you decide.

 

[TotoToo]

Aimeemee - The deli at CPGV is operated by the people that used to run the one at CPR. It is OK for a quick snack but certainly I wouldn't get a meal there. The one at CPR closed at the end of 2005 and is being replaced by a new Starbucks / Cafe hopefully by summer 2006. The old deli area by the volcano pool has been gutted and remodeling should begin soon from what I hear. They plan indoor and pool side seating as well as sandwiches and more. I think it will be a nice addition. The whole lobby is also going to be renovated this summer so things just keep getting better at Cypress Pointe.

The unit renovation of CPR modernized and brought the units up to Marriott quality. The units at CPGV are still the design they were built with in 1995. They are starting to get dated I think.

All the pools are heated - including the Volcano pool. Unfortunately the volcano acts like a cooling tower so in the cooler months it is not as warm as the Turtle pool tends to be at those times.

As you can probably tell we have been associated with Cypress Pointe since it was built in 1992. I think its better today than it ever was and continues to improve. I know the area around it developed to be much more inviting than we ever thought it would be in 1992 and the fact that its a planned development has kept it from being garish and too spread out like the 192 coridor has become. Cypress Pointe has a perfect location.

 

[Aimeemee]

TotoToo....I forgot to mention in my last post that it would be wise of them to add better dining (or at least snacking options) to CP. It wasn't a huge deal for us because if we didn't eat at a restaurant, we ate something from our kitchen.
It was just that one day we were hanging out by the pool & decided since we were there to try out the deli rather than go back upstairs to our room. But I think that is great that CP is updating their deli. I didn't mean for my last post to be negative at all. I was very happy with CPGV's (I thought our unit was nice...the furniture seemed newer....maybe it had been upgraded a bit) But I think next time around we will stay at CP & take advantage of the recent renovations! I hear so many positive reviews & if CP is even better than CPGV's.....I'm so there!

 

[dis-happy]

We've stayed a few times at CPGV and the 3 BR is huge. I almost booked the CPR for our trip in May but we are travelling with friends and the bathroom situation in the MBR made me uncomfortable---didn't want to be running into the kids' bath just to shut the door. Something to keep in mind. I thought the pool was just okay, but OTOH I never made it over to the volcano pool--didn't know about it! So we'll have to check it, thanks for the info DISers!! Don't get too excited about the mini golf course, again, it is just okay. Glad to hear there will be more food options on-site this summer, I wouldn't eat there the way it is now, but there are lots of places to eat within a 5 minute drive. Or you can cook something in the giant kitchen/pantry area.

 

[spiceycat]

here is a site that you can rent from CP management company
http://www.8664myvacation.com/resorts/cpr/index.html