Holiday Inn Vacations, Orange Lake, Kissimmee

[greenclan67]

Just wanted to post about this resort. We had no problems at all. We had a 10 night stay dec 23rd to Jan 2nd. 2 bdrm Villa in West Village.
As far as hounding us for a TS tour when we checked in I was very quick in telling them I had NO interest. Of course they tried to get me on the play passes, told them my Mom had been there a month before and bought them for us (she has never been there) They didnt harrass me at all.
Also they want a $250 hold on your CC when checking in. I also researched this. It is a cashless resort. You use the $250. 00 to buy things on your room card. I knew I wouldn't spend much there as we were out most days. So it was just leaving us without $250. I told them again my Mom bought gift cards for me cause you can buy them there. We used our Visa debit for anything we bought. It worked fine.
Resort was quiet, didn't hear any noise in our villa at all. Pools were warm. Not open late enough for us, 10 at all except West Beach pool is til 11. I think that is pretty normal.
Any questions ask away.

 

[Dean1953]

My family will be there from December 20-January 3, in a 2 bedroom villa in the west village. I think that we will spend 1 or 2 days away from WDW over the 2 weeks. Does the resort do anything geared toward the holidays?

 

[greenclan67]

My family will be there from December 20-January 3, in a 2 bedroom villa in the west village. I think that we will spend 1 or 2 days away from WDW over the 2 weeks. Does the resort do anything geared toward the holidays?

We didn't see much, some activities, an I know Santa visited River Island! But to be honest our girls we 12 & 14 and wanted to be at SW for the Xmas activities. So I can't say for sure because Xmas eve we were at SW and Xmas day we were at Discovery Cove. We did have a really Xmas dinner at Breezes. Ham, Turkey, all the trimming Xmas night.

We are returning here March 7 to 15th. We liked it, it was huge, yes, but we worked around that.

 

[akaler2010]

We will be there December 26-Jan 2 this year! We went 2 years ago over New Years as well! Not a lot for the holidays, but we love staying there. Good prices for big condos. This year we will have a 3 bedroom as it's my parents, my husband and I, and my sister's family (husband and 2 kids). We are renting our own car to be able to get around, but we've always been within walking distance of at least 1 pool. We can't wait to go back!

 

[greenclan67]

We will be there December 26-Jan 2 this year! We went 2 years ago over New Years as well! Not a lot for the holidays, but we love staying there. Good prices for big condos. This year we will have a 3 bedroom as it's my parents, my husband and I, and my sister's family (husband and 2 kids). We are renting our own car to be able to get around, but we've always been within walking distance of at least 1 pool. We can't wait to go back!

I agree, we had a pool right in the back yard so to speak. We loved it. Too bad the weather wasn't great this year at Xmas. Looking forward to our return visit in 18 days. We are debating Xmas again, but we won't be deciding that until May or so.

 

[hjgaus]

I agree, we had a pool right in the back yard so to speak. We loved it. Too bad the weather wasn't great this year at Xmas. Looking forward to our return visit in 18 days. We are debating Xmas again, but we won't be deciding that until May or so.

Finally someone has info on this place.... I inquired of this place around a month ago but hadn't any response from this board. We will also be staying here this coming holidays though reward points (DH travels a LOT for work) and reserved a 2 bedroom villa. We also could have gone through RCI but kept reading reviews that RCI guests seem to get the bottom of the barrel rooms.
Which complexes are the cleanest (NO cockroaches) as well as the most recently refurbished? ANY details are welcome!
Thanks in advance!
Just last holiday we exchanged through RCI for the Sheraton Vistana & LOVED it but they have the 1 in 4 rule so we are giving this place a try!!
I am really hoping these villas are not going to be disappointing.

 

[greenclan67]

Finally someone has info on this place.... I inquired of this place around a month ago but hadn't any response from this board. We will also be staying here this coming holidays though reward points (DH travels a LOT for work) and reserved a 2 bedroom villa. We also could have gone through RCI but kept reading reviews that RCI guests seem to get the bottom of the barrel rooms.
Which complexes are the cleanest (NO cockroaches) as well as the most recently refurbished? ANY details are welcome!
Thanks in advance!
Just last holiday we exchanged through RCI for the Sheraton Vistana & LOVED it but they have the 1 in 4 rule so we are giving this place a try!!
I am really hoping these villas are not going to be disappointing.

It is a very very big resort. But we used our car, and didn't mind it going from one are to another.
We stayed in a villa in the west village, we loved the drive right up compared to the high rise. It was clean, we didn't see any bugs or cockroaches at all. We had cranes right on the back patio.
In March we are staying in River Island, and now hearing you say about the RCI it is kinda scaring me, as we booked a few units, some through RCI some through Wyndham. Hope the rooms aren't awful, cause that would suck.
We haven't been able to get into Sheraton Vistana yet, we always hope to and it never happens, one day. You will like Orange Lake. Lots going on, tons of amenities, and I found the prices for drinks and so on very reasonable as far as this type of resort goes.
I will let you know more after we return on March 15th.

 

[akaler2010]

We always trade through RCI and never had a bad villa. It was always clean, everything working, and in a fine location. I'm sure you'll have a great experience!!!

 

[hjgaus]

greenclan67,
thank you so much for your info.... I look forward to hearing from you after your March trip!

 

[hjgaus]

We always trade through RCI and never had a bad villa. It was always clean, everything working, and in a fine location. I'm sure you'll have a great experience!!!

Thanks! I hope so!! Until then any advice or reviews of Holiday Inn Villas are always welcome!!

 

[sportsduck]

Finally someone has info on this place.... I inquired of this place around a month ago but hadn't any response from this board. We will also be staying here this coming holidays though reward points (DH travels a LOT for work) and reserved a 2 bedroom villa. We also could have gone through RCI but kept reading reviews that RCI guests seem to get the bottom of the barrel rooms. Which complexes are the cleanest (NO cockroaches) as well as the most recently refurbished? ANY details are welcome! Thanks in advance! Just last holiday we exchanged through RCI for the Sheraton Vistana & LOVED it but they have the 1 in 4 rule so we are giving this place a try!! I am really hoping these villas are not going to be disappointing.

I am an owner at Sheraton Vistana Resort and in process of becoming an owner at Orange Lake East village via resale. That being said, a lot of the room quality depends on the village. In the west village some of the rooms may be older thus not as nice (doesn't mean bad) as the other villages which is why points needed there is sometimes a little less versus the other villages. North and East villages are essentially the same layout just the East buildings are something like 6 floors high while North is only 2. One advantage some of the bungalows in the West has over any of the other villages is a private driveway. After a long day it is a great feature just rolling up to your villa.

In any event, the resort is awesome and regardless of where you stay you can use any amenity at any village. The restaurants are very good as well. I laugh when people complain about the size of Saratoga Springs. Drive around this place and you will know what a large resort is. The only major drawback is the nickel and diming.

 

[hjgaus]

sportsduck,
Thanks so much for the much needed info! It will be good to remember once we arrive there & keep an open mind! Enjoy your timeshares!!!

 

[sportsduck]

sportsduck,
Thanks so much for the much needed info! It will be good to remember once we arrive there & keep an open mind! Enjoy your timeshares!!!

No worries. Enjoy!

 

[Kirby]

I will be staying at Orange Lake in December with my daughter for a girl's trip. She and her husband bought into the timeshare while they were on their honeymoon last October. They really liked the place.

This will be my first time off site. We're planning on driving so will have my car. How far is it from the parks? I'm really a park your car and use Disney transportation type of gal and realize that this time it's not going to happen.

We're also planning a couple of days at Universal Studios/IOA. Does the resort provide a shuttle to WDW or US/IOA?

 

[i*heart*minniemouse]

just another quick question....I just noticed they are charging RCI guests a fee for cleaning based on the room size. We were there a few years ago and that was no fee for cleaning. I guess I do not feel this is fair. I pay a transfer fee...I also pay my yearly dues to my home resort which include cleaning/maintenace of the rooms. I am sure the OL owners pay a yearly fee also.
We loved it there a few years ago and had a great room...very clean, nice resort.

 

[staley98]

just another quick question....I just noticed they are charging RCI guests a fee for cleaning based on the room size. We were there a few years ago and that was no fee for cleaning. I guess I do not feel this is fair. I pay a transfer fee...I also pay my yearly dues to my home resort which include cleaning/maintenace of the rooms. I am sure the OL owners pay a yearly fee also. We loved it there a few years ago and had a great room...very clean, nice resort.

I was told that you only are charged a cleaning fee if you stay less than 7 nights. However, there is a daily resort fee per unit. It's $8.95/unit/day.
We'll be there in a month, so I'll check back in.

 

[greenclan67]

I was told that you only are charged a cleaning fee if you stay less than 7 nights. However, there is a daily resort fee per unit. It's $8.95/unit/day.
We'll be there in a month, so I'll check back in.

Hi there, we stayed here twice, once in Dec and in March. We had no cleaning fee or daily resort fee. We booked through RCI I am not sure if that makes a difference or not.

 

[hjgaus]

How close is this property to Epcot or Downtown Disney? We will have a rental car & may want to spend our New Year's Eve at either place.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

How close is this property to Epcot or Downtown Disney? We will have a rental car & may want to spend our New Year's Eve at either place.

Thanks in advance!

9-10 miles approx. according to Google Maps. Just remember, though, that traffic during the holiday season can be a nightmare and really slow down a normal commute. That minute drive to Epcot could easily turn into 45.