Fountains, Sabal Palms or Vistana?

[Merriwind]

Hi all-

Using an RCI exchange week in May and have several choices near WDW. Due to location, we've narrowed our choices to three: Sabal Palms, Vistana and The Fountains.

Our group will be me, DH and DD who will be 8. We are Disney fans and now that we live in FL are spending lots of time at WDW. We doubt that we'll be commado touring in May, but will probably spend at least most mornings at the park, hence the close resorts. I am looking for a resort with nice, roomy and very clean accomodations. (I am a clean freak.) Also very important are a variety of activities for DD. She is a fish, so a good pool will please her.

I would love any thoughts, advice, direction that anyone who has stayed at any of these properties could offer me. Not only am I looking to make the best choice for our family, but for tips to maximize our enjoyment of the resort we visit.

Thanks so much!!!!

 

[helens042266]

We are staying at The Fountains in June. I don't know much about it, but I have found some very good reviews on the RCI website. What I liked about it is that it has an indoor pool for those rainy days. Last time we went to Disney, it rain every day, all day and we couldn't enjoy the pool at our resort (Cypress Harbour), so an indoor pool was important.

 

[spiceycat]

which Vistana -if it is the Resort and not the Village- then some of the units are older.

the Sabal Palms is a Marriott - again some of the units are older. It gets less complaints than Royal Palms - but for a Marriott it gets complaints.

here are some reviews - sabal palms
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Re...s-Marriott_s_Sabal_Palms-Orlando_Florida.html

here is sheraton vistana resort
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Re..._Resort_Lake_Buena_Vista-Orlando_Florida.html

there is nothing on the fountains or there other name oak lakes at the fountain.

 

[Melynny]

I am a big fan of the Fountains, we are Bluegreen owners. BUT I love Vistana Villages.. We are exchanging there in February. The newer units at the Fountains are very nice, and very similar to the decor and size of Vistana Villages. The indoor pool at the Fountains is nice, but Vistana villages has a waterfall and what looked to me like better kids activities.. The fountains has a lake with paddle boats and fishing. Not sure if the villages is a choice, but It would be a very hard choice for me. These 2 are almost equal.. That said.. Sabal Palms is somewhere I have always wanted to stay, so that would be my choice just to see it.

 

[kydisneyfans]

Just returned from the Fountains-it was a great visit. We had a 6 year old with us-the pool was both outdoor/indoor with a kiddie pool and 2 hottubs. There were computer terminals to check email and the net daily. A full schedule of activities were listed daily.

There are several new buildings under construction, at least one of which should be open in June. Location was great also. Turn right from the resort to IDrive-go about 2 miles, turn right and take 536 straight to Disney property. It was close to the Orlando Premium Outlets and a Publix also.

If you do not want to use RCI exchange fees and points, look at Skyauction. We stayed for the week for around $350.00, well worth the money. An auction closed last week with a winning bid of $1.00 (plus 210 in fees)

We will return on our upcoming vacations.

 

[carolina traveler]

I am a big fan of the Fountains, we are Bluegreen owners

.


Hi, I see that you are a DVC and a bluegreen member. I am DVC and interested in learn more about blugreen. Can you give a brief description of how their points system work? I went to the yahoo group and since there is no explanation (file) how the system work I am lost. I am mostly interested to know when I can reserve to other resorts (using points) with in the system. I read something about 5 months. So, Do I have to wait up to 5 months before using the points at other BG resorts. How in that aspect it compare to DVC. I am only interested in points to use partial weeks like we can do with DVC, but BG seems to be much more complicated. All BG owners opinions are welcome.

 

[Melynny]

Hi, We do use our other timeshares to compliment our DVC! Bluegreen points work similar to DVC points.. and Yes it is 5 months in advance for partial weeks. I am been pretty lucky and happy with the way it works. I'll try to point out some of the major differences between DVC and Bluegreen. Bluegreen seems to be adding lots of resorts in lots of locations, I like that BUT there is a WIDE difference in the "quality" of accomodations.. some compare to DVC some really do not! So far, I have been pretty happy with our BG purchase.

DVC 11 months, home, 7??? for others
BG 12 months normal week, 11 months full week , 5 months partial , 45 days bonus time.

DVC you can reserve only one night
BG all partial reservations must be 2 nights or more

DVC you get a small discount on Cash rooms (reservable any time)
BG has bonus time-based on availablity.. 39.00 studio, 49.00 1br, 59.00 2br
for the most part.. some are more (I have used lots of bonus time!) (reservable 45 days in advance.)

DVC weekend points seem to be more like 2-2 1/2 times weekday points
BG weekend points are LOTS ( maybe 6 times) more than weekdays and somtimes Sunday is more also.

If you have any specific quesitons keep them comming.. and Other BG owners please add, and correct if I am wrong!

 

[carolina traveler]

Hi, thank you for your response. For what you said bonus time seems to be available for weekends (wich I am most interested) however I still having some questions. Can not you use a partial week (points) more than 5 months out even at your home resort. I read some season restrictions to use your points at other resorts, like they can Not be used on red or beyond red seasons. Can you clarify this for me? since DVC doesnt have anything similar. And last question, when paying the vacation club dues I know RCI is included, Is this required or is an option to opt out since I am not really interested in using RCI. I am looking at BG for their diversity of resorts and to use partial weeks and weekends once in a while. I am just researching since I have another week timeshare and afraid to have more than I could use. Any advice?

 

[carolina traveler]

Hi, thank you for your response. For what you said bonus time seems to be available for weekends (wich I am most interested) however I still having some questions. Can not you use a partial week (points) more than 5 months out even at your home resort. I read some season restrictions to use your points at other resorts, like they can Not be used on red or beyond red seasons. Can you clarify this for me? since DVC doesnt have anything similar. And last question, when paying the vacation club dues I know RCI is included, Is this required or is an option to opt out since I am not really interested in using RCI. I am looking at BG for their diversity of resorts and to use partial weeks and weekends once in a while. I am just researching since I have another week timeshare and afraid to have more than I could use. Any advice?

 

[Melynny]

I'll see if I can answer these... As for the weekend bonus time being available, yes I have used weekends. Again, it is based on availablity, and of course, if it is a holiday or a peak time, then it will be harder to get a cash bonus time resv. If I even THINK that I will want to use bonus time, I make sure I call exactly 45 days in advance and I have been very lucky! I don't think you have ANY home resort advantage, other than the opportunity to reserve your normal deeded week at 12 months.

As for the restrictions on seasons, I believe that those comments you may have heard refer to banked points.. Bluegreen now automatically banks any unused points to the next year. THEN they have a restriction that they may only be used during red time and below. Bluegreen has a "High red time" and "Peak Leaf season" that are the most requested time to travel to certain areas. These take more points than just regular red time. I currently have banked points and I don't really think this will affect me because I generally don't want to travel during those times anyway... I don't like the crowds or the points cost!

As for RCI.. I would re-think the idea that you don't need RCI.. I LOVE it.. You will have access to their lower ( read that as a real bargain!) extra vacations and the opportunity to reserve low bluegreen point weeks to exchange. If I had to do all my timeshareing purchases over again, I'd have purchased Bluegreen and used RCI extra vacations Then not have my other Timeshares ( I have 3 others... ) THe value of RCI is the Extra vacations...!

 

[carolina traveler]

Thanks for the information. The banked point restrictions are a bit of a dissapointment. Do you imagine if that was the case with DVC (the season restrictions). I do not think would be very popular. I love that DVC is much simpler. About RCI I read on TUG that the RCI extra vacations are decreasing and little is available anylonger, anyway I am exchanging my timeshare week with the San Francisco exchange (SFX) an independent exchange company that specialize in upscale resorts. You can get a free membership and I have had excellent results with them. Of course , I would use RCI if it was built-in in the membership.

 

[Melynny]

There are always extra vacations for the Disney World area and Branson.. the 2 areas I travel the most...I guess that's why I like it! Good luck..and if you would like, PM me and I'll keep answering!