Holiday Inn Orange Lake?

[mrsap]

Hello everyone! Just wondering if anyone has stayed there recently... if so, would you recommend it? We were there years ago, before Holiday Inn took over. Just wondering if it's still clean. Thank you!

 

[LadyBeBop]

Stayed there in 1997 (before Holiday Inn) and 2010 (after Holiday Inn took it over). We had a better experience in 1997. That said, I'd stay at Orange Lake again. Units were clean and big. And it's still close enough to the parks.

 

[The Hendies]

We have owned at Orange Lake since 1991. There are sections that were new then, and may seem a little tired now. They are slowly refurbishing the units and up-dating. Other areas are pretty new, and beautiful. That said, we have always enjoyed our stay at Orange Lake. The pools are beautiful, the golf courses are great and the units themselves are well equipped and spacious. We spend very little time at the resort itself, since we are at the parks most days.

Be prepared for a $250 hold on a credit card when you check in, as it is a cash-less resort, and all purchases are taken out of your deposit. Also, the minute they check you in and you head to the door, some pretty high pressure sales people will collar you to set up a tour of the resort. You agree to a day and time to shut them up and they want ANOTHER deposit to hold your place, which will be refunded when you arrive for the tour.

Hope this information helps!

 

[greenclan67]

We are staying here in Dec for Xmas in West Village and then again in March at River Island. We are looking forward to it.

 

[js]

We have owned at Orange Lake since 1991. There are sections that were new then, and may seem a little tired now. They are slowly refurbishing the units and up-dating. Other areas are pretty new, and beautiful. That said, we have always enjoyed our stay at Orange Lake. The pools are beautiful, the golf courses are great and the units themselves are well equipped and spacious. We spend very little time at the resort itself, since we are at the parks most days.

Be prepared for a $250 hold on a credit card when you check in, as it is a cash-less resort, and all purchases are taken out of your deposit. Also, the minute they check you in and you head to the door, some pretty high pressure sales people will collar you to set up a tour of the resort. You agree to a day and time to shut them up and they want ANOTHER deposit to hold your place, which will be refunded when you arrive for the tour.Hope this information helps!

Hi. I, too, own at OLCC and we love it (we also own DVC). We have a 3 bedroom.
I just wanted to comment on what you bolded. After I check in, I refuse to walk with the person that wants to shuttle me over to the next counter to book my tour, listen to presentation, etc. You are not obligated to go to the counter with them. If they persist, just tell themyou buy resale and walk away.

 

[The Hendies]

I just wanted to comment on what you bolded. After I check in, I refuse to walk with the person that wants to shuttle me over to the next counter to book my tour, listen to presentation, etc. You are not obligated to go to the counter with them. If they persist, just tell themyou buy resale and walk away.

Good plan! We really enjoy the convenience and space of our 2 bedroom condo. But I can usually squeeze in a night or 2 on Disney property so I can have the best of both worlds!

 

[Kahana-ri]

We are staying here for the first time this Nov. We have always stayed at the Disney Resorts, but as the kids grow we need more room. Hope it is as good as it looks.

 

[greenclan67]

Kahana, I would love to hear what you have to say when you return. We are there in Dec. What village?

 

[Mkebound]

I just got back from a stay here and would not recommend it.

Benefits: Units are spacious. We booked a two bedroom unit with one king and two queens and that came with two bathrooms, a common area, kitchenette and a screened in porch.

Negatives: Overpriced for what you get – charged a daily “resort fee” on top of the rate, but if you want to go down the water slide, $3 extra per trip. Want to float around the lazy river? $9 per person per day. The room was dated, exposed damage, etc. The common area are not maintained well at all and the resort wasn’t that clean; trash in the stairwell to our third floor unit was there when we arrived and there when we left, etc.

 

[mrsap]

I just got back from a stay here and would not recommend it.

Benefits: Units are spacious. We booked a two bedroom unit with one king and two queens and that came with two bathrooms, a common area, kitchenette and a screened in porch.

Negatives: Overpriced for what you get – charged a daily “resort fee” on top of the rate, but if you want to go down the water slide, $3 extra per trip. Want to float around the lazy river? $9 per person per day. The room was dated, exposed damage, etc. The common area are not maintained well at all and the resort wasn’t that clean; trash in the stairwell to our third floor unit was there when we arrived and there when we left, etc.

Thanks for writing such a detailed review. Sorry you didn't enjoy it. Such a shame because it was beautiful when we were there years ago. We actually ended up deciding to book Wyndham Bonnet Creek instead. Thanks again.

 

[The Hendies]

We own, and stay, in West Village. This area has 1 and 2 story buildings. We do not go to River Island, I assume that is the area where a PP talks about $3 per slide, and $9 for the lazy river. Anyway, there are pools to use that are included with your stay. We just came back from a week's stay, and had a wonderful time. Our unit was clean, well equipped (including dishwasher soap and laundry soap) and quiet.

 

[LadyBeBop]

Thanks for writing such a detailed review. Sorry you didn't enjoy it. Such a shame because it was beautiful when we were there years ago. We actually ended up deciding to book Wyndham Bonnet Creek instead. Thanks again.

Since I posted my review last month, we stayed at WBC.

Room-wise, WBC and OL are about the same. Both are nice and spacious. And both are clean enough.

Parking: Giving the edge to OL. At OL, you can park right at your door. Not so at WBC. It's hard to find parking at WBC, especially at the end of the day. Sometimes, you have to go into one of the parking garages.

Grocery shopping and nearby restaurants: Again, giving the edge to OL. There are restuarants and a Publix just as you enter the resort. At WBC, we actually went on I-4 to get to a Publix. Although the expressway is close enough to WBC.

Where WBC excels at is: everything else. Everything is right there. You can walk to everything, while with OL, you need a car. WBC built up, not out. While (IIRC), everything at OL is on one or two stories, WBC built towers that go up to the 18th floor. Also, WBC doesn't nickel and dime you on everything. You want to cruise one of its lazy rivers? You just grab a tube and start floating.

And that's not to mention its proximity to the parks. (Though I wonder...which resort is closer to AK, OL or WBC. When we stayed at OL four years ago, we sorta got lost going to AK).

You'll have fun. Wish I was going back.

 

[Kahana-ri]

Hello everyone! Just wondering if anyone has stayed there recently... if so, would you recommend it? We were there years ago, before Holiday Inn took over. Just wondering if it's still clean. Thank you!

Stayed last November in the Villa's. Absolutely loved it. Booked again this year and requested the same Villa. Clean, spacious, updated, easy access to everything, and the kids had a blast in the lazy river pool area. Can’t wait to return this November! For a family of four it was so comfortable.

 

[greenclan67]

We stayed at Orange Lake West Village Dec 23rd to Jan 2nd last Xmas, and again in March for 10 days, at River Island and am booked again for March for 13 days. Love Orange Lake it is one of my fav's!