Diamond Resort International - Need recommendations please

[elizsam]

I'm taking my family (hubby & 4 yr old) to WDW for the first time in early Oct. 2014. My parents have offered us a free place by using some timeshare points at Diamond. I have no idea what place to stay. We would like an updated timeshare with a nice pool area & close to Magic Kingdom (20 minutes or less). Ideally a 2 bedroom arrangement with a King in the master & queen or full in the 2nd bedroom. A nice kiddie pool would be great. We don't need on site dining. We plan to cook so a nice kitchen would be a bonus.

Our options are:

Grand Beach
Grande Villas
Cypress pointe
Polynesian isles
Mystic dunes
Parkway international

Any suggestions or recommendations are appreciated.

 

[greenclan67]

I'm taking my family (hubby & 4 yr old) to WDW for the first time in early Oct. 2014. My parents have offered us a free place by using some timeshare points at Diamond. I have no idea what place to stay. We would like an updated timeshare with a nice pool area & close to Magic Kingdom (20 minutes or less). Ideally a 2 bedroom arrangement with a King in the master & queen or full in the 2nd bedroom. A nice kiddie pool would be great. We don't need on site dining. We plan to cook so a nice kitchen would be a bonus.

Our options are:

Grand Beach
Grande Villas
Cypress pointe
Polynesian isles
Mystic dunes
Parkway international

Any suggestions or recommendations are appreciated.

We love Grande Villas, The rooms have all been recently updated, and the location can't be beat. It isn't a huge resort, it has 2 pools but you can also use the Cypress Pointe Volcano pool which is right across the street. We like it because it is so close to Disney. Two lights and you turn right onto to Disney Roads. Every restaurant you could want is right there. We are actually going there for our 4th stay in March.

 

[JillyBean1899]

We stayed at Cypress Pointe, with a room overlooking the volcano pool. We had 3 adults and 2 kids (9 and 12) and had plenty of room. It was actually a 3 bedroom, with a small bedroom with 2 twin beds in it. The only odd thing was the second bedroom didn't have a separate bathroom. And by this, I mean it was all one room with no door between them. So if you have 2 people in there sleeping, and one gets up to go to the bathroom, I imagine it would be a little odd. And you have to make sure the curtain to the balcony is closed, cause you can see right into the bathroom otherwise.

We spent a "resort day" because my nieces really wanted to play mini golf and do some of the activities, and we had plenty to keep us occupied there.

 

[swilshire]

Mystic Dunes is also very nice and has been recently upgraded. They have 2 br units that sleep 8 and 3 br that sleep 12. Very convenient to WDW.

We'll be there in March.

Sheila

 

[greenclan67]

I agree about Mystic Dunes, my only complaint with them is they don't have an outdoor hot tub. I don't know if it is just a Canadian thing, but we love jumping in the hot tub before heading back to our room after a night swim. The hot tubs at Grande Villas nice and hot!