Cypress Pointe or Grand Beach Timeshare?

[lilmakattack]

Hey everyone! We're going to Orlando Dec. 17th thru Dec. 24th and have our choice between staying at either Cypress Pointe or Grand Beach. I've been to neither resort so just wondering which one was better. We will be going to Disney most days but I figured out that they are both approx. the same distance away. Any suggestions? TIA!

 

[DianeV]

If they are both the same size unit I would go with Cypress Pointe (I have stayed at both and am actually staying at Grand Beach in July)

Cypress Pointe units were recently totally updated and are very nice. Closer to the parks too (even though both are pretty close)

 

[Steakgoddess]

I loved our stay at Cypree Pointe. We had a three bedroom and the place was huge! Everything was newly updated and just plain wonderful!

 

[bas71873]

I loved our stay at Cypree Pointe. We had a three bedroom and the place was huge! Everything was newly updated and just plain wonderful!

Are the pools at Cypress Pointe heated? We are going in February and wonder if we'll be able to swim. We were this past Feb when we stayed at Pop. Any other tid-bits for Cypress you'd like to pass along

 

[TotoToo]

Are the pools at Cypress Pointe heated? We are going in February and wonder if we'll be able to swim. We were this past Feb when we stayed at Pop. Any other tid-bits for Cypress you'd like to pass along

All pools are heated at Cypress Pointe. In fact in February 2008 a new, much larger pool heater was installed on the signature Volcano Pool to better heat that in the cooler weather.

 

[Mouse Mom]

My friend owns at the Marriott Grande Vista (I think that's the name) - she said it is newer and I was going to try it in August ...has anyone stayed there? She told me the Cypress was an older hotel but it sounds like they upgraded perhaps since she has stayed there. Anyone know anything about the other Marriott timeshare (i.e. Grand Vista)? Maybe I'll switch over....

 

[TotoToo]

My friend owns at the Marriott Grande Vista (I think that's the name) - she said it is newer and I was going to try it in August ...has anyone stayed there? She told me the Cypress was an older hotel but it sounds like they upgraded perhaps since she has stayed there. Anyone know anything about the other Marriott timeshare (i.e. Grand Vista)? Maybe I'll switch over....

Grand Vista is also an "older" resort now as it was built over 10 years ago (vs 15 for Cypress Pointe Resort). Any resort that has passed the 5-7 year old mark isn't "new" anymore and, if being properly maintained, should already have at least one "refresh" of the units if not more. Once a resort gets past 5-7 years the chronological age of the buildings means very little while the care and upkeep of the property means everything. As a great example the two Cypress Pointe Resorts are 5-7 years apart in age. Yet the "older" resort has much newer features and units. Cypress Pointe Grande Villas is now starting a major round of upgrades for the common areas as well as the units but it will take as long as 5 years to be completed. Meanwhile Cypress Pointe Resort will have another round of major unit renovations starting in 2010. So which is really newer?

Don't base your judgment of resorts on age as it can be very deceptive in either direction. Far better to get recent reports of conditions as even a 18-24 month old review may not reflect conditions today.

 

[spiceycat]

grand beach is not grande villa - grande villa is marriott, grand beach use to be embassy now they are

here is grand beach - it is newer than Cypress pointe but not by much - it is a step child - been through a bunch of different companies
https://www.diamondresorts.com/resorts.aspx?property=GBR

here is cypress pointe
http://www.cypresspointe.net/

it has only been through 2 owners.

cypress pointe has a little better reputation. Definitely closer to DTD.

grand beach - well it's reputation over the years - some years people love it - others years they don't.

one very nice lady stayed there - maybe she will post.

gb use to have only 3-bedrooms. Is it a 3-bedroom you are talking about.

while cypress pointe is nice - don't like the 3-bedroom - one master that is nice, second master- that isn't - first of all the room is too small, secondly the bathtub is way to small, the toilet is in a strange place, the only window is the balcony, any other resort this would be a studio - not a second master, also don't like the second bedroom connected to the first master. again too small, and I can't image 3 kids (what it was designed for) not fighting in that room - it is that small.

if you have small children be aware that the kids bedroom is right next to the outside door - while the parents is completely on the other side of the condo. this is a big area.

the other master is right next door to the kids. (the little one)

 

[GoofyG]

We stayed at Grand Beach last Sept. We loved it and my parents bought a timeshare there. There were 2 master suites with king beds and one very small bedroom with 2 twin beds and a dresser. The twin room is right next to one of the master suites. The only complaint we had was the carpet was dirty. Our feet would be dirty every night. It had a very nice size screened porch. We would definitly stay there again. We were in the phase 1 section. The phase 2 section 3 bedrooms are actually a 2 bedroom with and attached lockoff. I didn't like them as well.

 

[MinnieForMe]

GoofyG

Can you recall what the phase two unit look like? I think the lockoff would work best for us as we are taking my parents. Does the second bedroom have two queens? Thanks.

 

[Detailor]

My friend owns at the Marriott Grande Vista (I think that's the name) - she said it is newer and I was going to try it in August ...has anyone stayed there? She told me the Cypress was an older hotel but it sounds like they upgraded perhaps since she has stayed there. Anyone know anything about the other Marriott timeshare (i.e. Grand Vista)? Maybe I'll switch over....

I think you're asking about comparing two Marriott resorts - Grande Vista and Cypress Harbour (Cypress Pointe is not affiliated with these Marriotts).
We stayed at both of these Marriott resorts as recently as this past winter. Cypress Harbour is the older of the two and has indeed had all of the units refurbished recently. CH is a lovely resort, well appointed, great resort amenities and a very relaxing setting. Grande Vista is a little newer than CH. GV's oldest buildings are about 10 years old and the newest are about 3 or 4 years old. Like CH, the resort has been undergoing refurbishment and most units look brand new.
Of the two resorts, GV is much larger and has more of everything - more pool areas, more food choices (including a traditional sit-down restaurant on site). GV also has an on-property golf course. The two resorts are in the SeaWorld neighborhood about a mile and a half apart from one another. In my opinion, these resorts are the best to offer in Orlando with the exception of the Disney DVCs. I think that these two Marriotts are just as nice as the DVCs but the DVCs have all of the benefits of staying on property, so if you're planning a true Disney vacation then the DVCs will always hold an edge over the Marriotts. With that said we're always happy with our Marriott Grande Vista or Cypress Harbour stays.

Dick Taylor

 

[TotoToo]

I think you're asking about comparing two Marriott resorts - Grande Vista and Cypress Harbour (Cypress Pointe is not affiliated with these Marriotts).

No, they are talking about two former Sunterra - now Diamond - resorts on either side of I-4 on 535. Of the two Cypress Pointe has the absolute easiest access to Disney, Seaworld and Universal plus the most access to restaurants/services within a walk around the resort. Cypress Pointe Resort - not Grande Villas (aka Phase 2) also challenges the Marriotts in quality. All three are nice, the Marriotts are nice too but in a completely different area.

 

[Detailor]

No, they are talking about two former Sunterra - now Diamond - resorts on either side of I-4 on 535. Of the two Cypress Pointe has the absolute easiest access to Disney, Seaworld and Universal plus the most access to restaurants/services within a walk around the resort. Cypress Pointe Resort - not Grande Villas (aka Phase 2) also challenges the Marriotts in quality. All three are nice, the Marriotts are nice too but in a completely different area.

Yes, I know that the OP and many of the responding posters were talking about Cypress Pointe and I'm well acquanted with CP - I was writing from our CP Grandvilla unit when I posted. However, the specific poster that I quoted was indeed talking about Marriott's Grande Vista and I suspect that the 'Cypress' that that poster mentioned was Cypress Harbour rather than Pointe.

Only that poster knows for sure, though.

Dick Taylor

 

[GoofyG]

GoofyG

Can you recall what the phase two unit look like? I think the lockoff would work best for us as we are taking my parents. Does the second bedroom have two queens? Thanks.

You can look at the phase 1 3 bedroom floor plan at this website:
https://www.diamondresorts.com/resor...x?property=GBR
Take the virtual tour and look at the one bedroom and that is what the lockoff looked like. Also the picture of the living room is from phase 2. The main difference is the doorway out to the screened in porch. In phase 1 is is a regular door, not a double door like is shown.

The only difference is with the lockoff the second master suite is the lockoff and the bedroom portion is smaller because they took the rest of the space and made a seperate sitting area with its own table and small frig. It can be used as a one bedroom suite. We personally liked the phase 1 unit. It was huge, like 1500s.f. Either way you get two bedrooms with king beds and the other bedroom is very small with 2 twin beds. It will sleep 8 using the sofa bed in the living room. Oh yah, there was a sofa bed in the little sitting room of the lock off too so it might sleep 10 people.

You can always call the resort directly and talk to them. Something might have changed since we were there since Diamond resorts bought out Sunterra. It is a beautiful resort and very quiet since it is set back off the main road. It is a little hard to find the first time, especially after dark.