help choose my timeshare resort

[sonomom]

For family with 2 kids 9 and 10. Which one has the best for kids and really cool pools! Im not to picky but will go for 2 weeks and may not be back. We stayed at Bonnett creek a few years ago and really liked it but not sure if we should go back there or try another place. We will rent a car.

Cypress Palms
Cypress Point
Summer Bay (leaning against because of extra costs??)
Hiltons:
Seaworld
tuscany village
parc soleil
Vistana

 

[Upatnoon]

For family with 2 kids 9 and 10. Which one has the best for kids and really cool pools! Im not to picky but will go for 2 weeks and may not be back. We stayed at Bonnett creek a few years ago and really liked it but not sure if we should go back there or try another place. We will rent a car.

Cypress Palms
Cypress Point
Summer Bay (leaning against because of extra costs??)
Hiltons:
Seaworld
tuscany village
parc soleil
Vistana

Are you doing Disney or the rest of Orlando?

 

[divearnd]

Wyndham Bonnet Creek but go for a Presidential unit

 

[sonomom]

yes disney and will venture out to the beach on off days.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

I voted for the Vistana Resort. We love it there .

Villas are large and spacious (and have all been redone within the last several years, right down to the studs, with beautiful finishes and nice furnishings), the resort grounds are gorgeous, the amenities are fantastic (7 pools, 6 outdoor hot tubs, tennis courts, sand volleyball courts, basketball courts, onsite mini golf, a Farmers Market, daily scheduled activities, etc.) and the location is prime for visiting all the parks in Orlando (and its just an hour to Cocoa Beach). The villas themselves have everything we need.....a fully equipped kitchen, laundry facilities, 3 flat-screen TV's, a screened in balcony, jacuzzi tub in the master bath, free parking, and no resort fee.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Meant to add....this thread is a great resource on the Sheraton Vistana Resort:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3148502

Lots of photos and great info for anyone planning (or considering) a stay at that particular property.

 

[jaykorf001]

Gina,

I've probably read this previously but have forgotten. Have you also stayed at WBC, Vistana Villages, and/or Parc Soleil (sp?) Just wondering your perspective. As you know we stayed in a presidential at WBC this past March and loved it. But I'd be willing to try these others for comparison, especially if doing a lot of non Disney stuff. I trust your judgement!

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Gina,

I've probably read this previously but have forgotten. Have you also stayed at WBC, Vistana Villages, and/or Parc Soleil (sp?) Just wondering your perspective. As you know we stayed in a presidential at WBC this past March and loved it. But I'd be willing to try these others for comparison, especially if doing a lot of non Disney stuff. I trust your judgement!

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

I haven't.

Our Orlando stays so far have been onsite at Disney (POR), the Hawthorn Suites Universal on I-Drive (since renamed to the StaySky Suites), Lowes Royal Pacific (at Universal), the Residence Inn SeaWorld, Westgate Lakes Resort & Spa, and Sheraton Vistana Resort.

 

[Detailor]

I voted for Vistana Resort because of the variety of activities and pools at the resort, along with the knowledge that the resort completed a full refurbishment program throughout and is now nicely updated. But I'd think that HGVC SeaWorld would be an excellent choice as well. Cypress Pointe would be my third choice but I think that the other two might work a little better for an extended stay.

Dick Taylor

 

[asmit4]

My vote was for vistana VILLAGES- not resort.

 

[sonomom]

For Vistana Resort: Ive heard the check in day relates to which section you will be in , is this true? Anyone know which ones for which day?

Is anything (food) within walking distance of this resort?
Do they have movies at the pool?

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

For Vistana Resort: Ive heard the check in day relates to which section you will be in , is this true? Anyone know which ones for which day?

Is anything (food) within walking distance of this resort?
Do they have movies at the pool?

As a general rule (with exceptions, of course, in certain circumstances....because we live in a world of exceptions):

Spas are predominantly Friday check-ins

Courts are usually Saturday check-ins

Falls is a Sunday-only check-in

Cascades, Lakes, Fountains I & II, Springs, and Palms are Friday, Saturday, Sunday check-ins

Checking in other days of the week? You could be placed virtually anywhere.

Movies are featured on select dates at the Fountains pool.

Zimmie's is the onsite sit-down restaurant. The Marketplace (also onsite) serves Starbucks coffee and has a deli. There is a food court in the Fountains/Lakes section that has pizza, burgers, etc. The Tacky Tiki Bar serves food, and I believe the Cascades has a bar that also has food options.

There is a Cici's Pizza and a Dunkin Donuts immediately across the highway (but it will be dangerous to cross on foot). There are a multitude of other dining establishments (like almost every chain you can think of) within a 5-10 minute drive.

 

[vistana101]

Vistana VILLAGES is a great option. I was told when I went in April that all check-in day designations were removed for SVV. So you can check in on any day and get any villa.

 

[LynnTH]

As a general rule (with exceptions, of course, in certain circumstances....because we live in a world of exceptions):

Spas are predominantly Friday check-ins

Courts are usually Saturday check-ins

Falls is a Sunday-only check-in

Cascades, Lakes, Fountains I & II, Springs, and Palms are Friday, Saturday, Sunday check-ins

Checking in other days of the week? You could be placed virtually anywhere.

Movies are featured on select dates at the Fountains pool.

Zimmie's is the onsite sit-down restaurant. The Marketplace (also onsite) serves Starbucks coffee and has a deli. There is a food court in the Fountains/Lakes section that has pizza, burgers, etc. The Tacky Tiki Bar serves food, and I believe the Cascades has a bar that also has food options.

There is a Cici's Pizza and a Dunkin Donuts immediately across the highway (but it will be dangerous to cross on foot). There are a multitude of other dining establishments (like almost every chain you can think of) within a 5-10 minute drive.

This is great info. We are looking at staying here next year. My boss owns at II and we can trade into here. We just have to pay the trade fee. What section would you recommend for DS16 and DD14 (at the time). They love the pools but also basketball and other activities - would like to be in the middle of all of that. I was thinking maybe Spas or Courts??

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

This is great info. We are looking at staying here next year. My boss owns at II and we can trade into here. We just have to pay the trade fee. What section would you recommend for DS16 and DD14 (at the time). They love the pools but also basketball and other activities - would like to be in the middle of all of that. I was thinking maybe Spas or Courts??

Last summer, when my DS was 17, we were in Spas and LOVED the location. A short walk to the Super Pool (our favourite!), the Cascades pool, the Courts pool, the Falls pool, the mini golf, basketball courts, a sand volleyball court, and the tennis courts. Super close to the Marketplace too. Courts would be equally convenient to all of these amenities, as would most of the Cascades buildings.

This year, we have requested Fountains. We want to try the other side of the resort. The Fountains pool also looks awesome, and they have basketball, the Tiki Bar, etc. all on that side.

 

[LynnTH]

Last summer, when my DS was 17, we were in Spas and LOVED the location. A short walk to the Super Pool (our favourite!), the Cascades pool, the Courts pool, the Falls pool, the mini golf, basketball courts, a sand volleyball court, and the tennis courts. Super close to the Marketplace too. Courts would be equally convenient to all of these amenities, as would most of the Cascades buildings.

This year, we have requested Fountains. We want to try the other side of the resort. The Fountains pool also looks awesome, and they have basketball, the Tiki Bar, etc. all on that side.

Thanks. That helps. We are not doing Disney this trip. (Kind of Disney'd out). So, just looking for a relaxing week (and cheaper) Would like to try Universal for a couple days now that the kids are older but would probably add a night or 2 to the beginning or end of the Vistana so we could get Express Pass. Never been there so that would be something fun and different.

 

[Monykalyn]

If you are looking at Marriott TS we have stayed at several over the years in orlando and they are always beautiful! Might consider Marriott Grande Vista-there in June-has a big main pool (separate kiddie wading area which is nice - little ones don't get splashed and bigger kids can play), dive in movie on saturdays at main pool (they roll out the popcorn machine) and special activities daily; and there is a bar poolside that offers a good menu. plus golf and tennis-we kinda wish we had built in more days to just spend at resort. My inlaws stayed at the Sheraton Vistana this visit-in my opinion (even with remodel-they were in "spa" section I believe) their unit was no where near as nice as the marriotts-and the resort seemed much more crowded and just busy (tons of people walking everywhere). Of course that may be what you are going for We stayed in a 2 bedroom and plenty of space for 5 people