How many Marriott Timeshares are there and which is best?

[jeff968]

I will be making plans for Orlando 2003 in a few months. I have seen a number of Marriott timeshare rentals come up. How many Marriott timeshares are there? What differentiates them? Are any of them "old"? I have stayed in the Vistana resort in 2001 and the Hilton Grand Vacation Club in 2002. Being close to Disney is not that important to me. I want a nice, consistent place (no mix of old and new units) that has nice pools and fun for the family. My kids are 12, 10, and 2. Thanks for your thoughts!!!

 

[Lisa P.]

Here's a link to the Marriott Timeshare Resorts. The Orlando area resorts are:

• Cypress Harbour
• Grande Vista
• Horizons at Orlando
• Imperial Palm Villas
• Royal Palms
• Sabal Palms

The Grande Vista and Horizons are newer. The others are a little older but generally very well-maintained and each is pretty consistent within its own property. Here are my personal opinions, based on some experience and some reading of others' experiences.

Grande Vista offers the most upscale furnishings and it's great for golf lovers. Villa sizes vary from studio to 3BR.

Horizons has the most activities for younger school-aged children (but it's the only one without in-room jacuzzi tubs). All 2BR for 8.

Cypress Harbour is the prettiest (lush, mature, very colorful landscaping) and offers the most activities for an active family, especially with teens. All 2BR for 8.

The three "Palms" are all located adjacent to Marriott Orlando World Center, with full access to amenities, shops, restaurants and their fantastic main pool area (slide, waterfall, etc.) via shuttle vans - great for adult groups and independent older teens. Imperial has all 3BR for 8; Royal has all 2BR for 6-7; Sabal has all 2BR for 6.

Hope that helps!

 

[crazyme5kids]

We stayed at Horizons in April. My kids loved it. There was a lot of activities for them. It is still being built, but I think most of it is suppossed to be finished by the end of the year. The pool is zero depth, and it has a big pirate ship with water canons and slides. There are two hot tub pools and a small toddler pool. Your youngest will be able to play on the pirate ship, it is in the shallow end. Your other two will also have a great time on it. Threre is a water play ground that has all kinds of sprinkler type of things and two towers that have huge buckets on top that fill with water that dump out and get you soaked. I was told that they are going to put a lazy river pool in. There is a poolside bar that serves light meals (burgers, sandwiches, salads etc...). There is a game room that has video games and an air hockey table. There is a small but decent gym.
The rooms were nice, roomy enough for my tribe. We went and looked at Grand Vista and it is beautiful. They have two and three bedrooms. The property is very nice. I can't really speak about the activities for the kids, because we didn't stay there. We are thinking about buying a timeshare, but are going to take our time and go stay at some to compare everything. Lisa P., thank you for your advice on my past posts, TUGS is a great site.
If you stay at Horizons I think you will be pleased.

 

[scuddaho]

We recently returned from Marriott Horizons 11/28-11/30 and are now the proud owners of a Horizons Timeshare unit. We had been shopping for a timeshare for some time and decided that Marriott offered more incentives etc for us. We loved Horizons and think it will be even nicer once it is completed.

 

[jeff968]

Thanks Debbie, The Marriotts look great but I ended up getting a 2 bedroom unit at Orange Lake for President's week so maybe we'll end up in a Marriott next year. Since we have been doing Timeshare rentals, it seems like we visit a new location every year. They are all nice though. Vistana in 2001, Hilton GVC in 2002, and Orange lake for 2003.