Grand Beach Resort

[Gabkatt]

Anyone ever stay at the Grand Beach Resort just outside the gates from the Marketplace on Rt535 on Lake Bryon? We just purchased a timeshare with them as a resale. Could not pass the deal up. I flew down just to tour the complex. Very nice grounds they are all 3 bedroom condos, used to be owned by Embassy Suites. I just wanted to hear from anyone who has experience staying at this property since being taken over by Diamond Resorts.

 

[Momto3Girls&Max]

We stayed there last year (10/07) -- not sure if it was before or after being taken over by Diamond Resorts -- but we really liked our unit. As you said, all 3 bedrooms and we found that we had plenty of space for our family of 6. On our last night there there was a giant bug (roach?) in our living room and I was too squeamish to kill it so I kept trying to spray it with hairspray hoping that might slow it down. I finally had to wake DH to kill it because I kept having visions of this bug hitching a ride home in our luggage . We would not hesitate to stay here again even with the bug incident!

 

[A Mickeyfan]

I stayed there in the mist of being taken over when they were renovating, Oct 2007 as well. The unit I had was clean but you could tell the furniture needed to be replaced.. showed signs of wear.. but clean! The layout was nice, staff were great..

By the way....large bugs down here that look like roaches are called Palmetto Bugs. We have lots of them in FL. They don't bite. Some fly too... they have nothing to do with being dirty... Just another perk Fl has, along with snakes and gators....that do bite

The more vegetation & water the more infestation you will have of our creatures. In other words, the more beautiful the area looks the more unwanted visitors will be around... and Grand Beach is pretty.. lots of plants, trees and the lake....

 

[AJKMOM]

Stayed there in November, 2006, it was nice, but we had a 2BR condo. They may have changed things since then. We liked it, pools were nice, but not real big. It was a short drive to DTD.

 

[idofabric]

We stay there a few times a year. I like the GB 1 better, because the lay out is a little bigger.. and more open. But both sides, 1 &2 are nice. We also own there. We were there this last June in GB1, and they had just replaced a lot of the furniture, bedding, linens, carpet and all that stuff. The only draw back is that at peak travel times it can be hard to park after a late Park night. They have hammocks on the beach, and fishing poles you can borrow. There is a nice big playground.
We did have a problem with the new light fixture in the kitchen over the dining table, but when we called maintaince they were up to the room within 20 min. And it was after hours, early evening. We are pretty picky about the upkeep down there and we do check to make sure that we have all the silver ware/ plates... lights that light... just "stuff" being correct and working. I think the longest it has ever taken to get someone up is just over an hour, but it was after 10 or 11 pm. A lot quicker then when we were at Wilderness Lodge Villas last Sept and the TV did not work, 2 lamps had burnt out lightbulbs, and we had a problem with either the microwave or something in the kitchen. That took 2 phone calls, and a few hours- lost park time! (But the CM was very nice and was very sorry it had taken so long, a few of them were out sick that week. The flu hit them. Could have happened to anyone!)

 

[Gabkatt]

We stay there a few times a year. I like the GB 1 better, because the lay out is a little bigger.. and more open. But both sides, 1 &2 are nice. We also own there. We were there this last June in GB1, and they had just replaced a lot of the furniture, bedding, linens, carpet and all that stuff. The only draw back is that at peak travel times it can be hard to park after a late Park night. They have hammocks on the beach, and fishing poles you can borrow. There is a nice big playground.

We just got our owner letter in the mail along with the financial update and yes it says they just completed gutting the place and replacing almost everything; All furniture, mattresses, linens, carpet, drapes and most of the kitchen appliances. I am very pleased to have bought into GB at this time! Its like buying a brand new condo, and if I told you the price, you wouldn't believe me. It was a resale through Red Week.Com.

 

[bama-mom]

We own there also and have for several years. We love it and do not even want to stay on property anymore...there is just so much room at Grand Beach! It is a very short drive to WDW and I-Drive and any restaurant you could want. Like one of the other posters said, parking can be a pain if you come "home" late, but it is not too bad.

We usually go once or twice a year. When we were last there in October 2007, the furniture did need replacing, but the place is still super-clean. Mostly just the couches and chairs needed replacing.

Also, we have noticed little changes since Diamond took over, all for the better. Customer service seems to be big with them (as it should be) and we just really have no complaints about this resort. It doesn't have a lot of the extras like a fancy pool area or restaurants, but we love how small and quiet it is. As much as we LOVE Disney, it is sometimes a welcome break to get away from it all at the end of the day since we have 2 little ones!!

I don't think you will regret your new purchase......ENJOY !!!!

 

[sage10]

My parents are staying there this week. But they haven't had the best of luck. They have moved rooms 3 times. Although I am not exactly sure why, some maintenance reason. But they have said the place is pretty nice other than the few problems. But they just bought Bonnet Creek this week too, so maybe that is why they aren't as happy with this one.

 

[choirchic]

We stayed there this month and I posted a thread with pics...
Check it out!
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1969429

 

[NaeNae]

We stayed at Grand Beach Sept 07 and bought a timeshare there. We just stayed there again in Sept. They have updated all of the furnishings, including new beds, since Diamond Resorts took over in Oct 07. We stayed in a 3 bedroom both times. The first time was bldg 1 and this time bldg 5. We had 2 master suites with each having a king bed, shower, garden tub. There is a safe in one of the master closets. The 3rd bedroom is small with 2 twin beds. We prefer phase 1 versus phase 2. I believe the pics posted on the previous post were from the one bedroom portion of a lock off. Phase 2 is actually a 2 bedroom with a one bedroom lock off in order to get the 3 bedrooms. With phase 2 you get a full kitchen in the 2 bedroom portion and a kitchenette in the 1 bedroom lock off portion. You also get the 2nd sitting area in the lock off. We didn't like it as well so we ask for phase 1. We had a full kitchen and washer and dryer in our unit. We love staying there because it is sooo quiet. They did call us and wanted us to come to a owner update meeting but we never did. Didn't want to take the time away from the parks. The presentations are in the mornings and we always went to the parks in the morning. When we did the presentation last year it wasn't high pressure.
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[Momto3Girls&Max]

We stayed at Grand Beach Sept 07 and bought a timeshare there. We just stayed there again in Sept. They have updated all of the furnishings, including new beds, since Diamond Resorts took over in Oct 07. We stayed in a 3 bedroom both times. The first time was bldg 1 and this time bldg 5. We had 2 master suites with each having a king bed, shower, garden tub. There is a safe in one of the master closets. The 3rd bedroom is small with 2 twin beds. We prefer phase 1 versus phase 2. I believe the pics posted on the previous post were from the one bedroom portion of a lock off. Phase 2 is actually a 2 bedroom with a one bedroom lock off in order to get the 3 bedrooms. With phase 2 you get a full kitchen in the 2 bedroom portion and a kitchenette in the 1 bedroom lock off portion. You also get the 2nd sitting area in the lock off. We didn't like it as well so we ask for phase 1. We had a full kitchen and washer and dryer in our unit. We love staying there because it is sooo quiet. They did call us and wanted us to come to a owner update meeting but we never did. Didn't want to take the time away from the parks. The presentations are in the mornings and we always went to the parks in the morning. When we did the presentation last year it wasn't high pressure.
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Thanks for clarifying that. I read the post you referenced and wondered if we stayed at the same place. I guess it was Phase 1 we stayed in.

 

[pjv]

I stayed at the Grand Beach, last year before it was transferred, and it was really great, I have always stayed on Disney Property,

I loved the huge bathroom and the Jaccuzi tub, No complaints here, would stay there again if I got the opportunity, Had the 3brd room. Enjoy.

 

[bmoncher]

Wr also bought via resale...
Great price.. MF's are a little steep - but not horrible...
We stay there every other year... and trade to RCI on the years we are not there...
We have had some nice stays there