Just back from Orange Lake, review, questions?

[jeff968]

Well, we're back from our 2003 trip to Florida and we had a great time with spectacular weather.

We started out our trip with 2 days at the Animal Kingdon Lodge. Funny thing about Orange Lake, it was right next to the Animal Kingdom lodge although had had to drive all the way to the Disney entrance to get there. We checked into Orange Lake and got a unit on the fifth floor, on the first road in the resort. It was too close to the road for me but we couldn't change and the noise from 192 wasn't that bad. When we found our building there were a half dozen baskets of laundry sitting on the front yard of our location. They were still there the next morning. Our 2-bedroom unit was nice and large. It had three TVs but only a 25" in the main room. We did have a single whirlpool tub in our bathroom. We asked for a cot and it showed up right away ($30 for the week). The unit was okay, nothing fancy. We have stayed at the Hilton Grand Vacation Club last year and the Vistana resort the year before and their units had more decorations and just looked nicer. It was reasonably clean. The next morning we got up and went to the main building for breakfast. It was the worst meal I had. The fruit was terrible, the cook brought packaged pancakes out to the buffet in their packaging!!! I had an english muffin and at least they had Krispy Kreme donuts. It was bad. We didn't eat at the resort restaurants again. It was probably made even worse by the fact that we had eaten top-notch Disney breakfast for the two days prior.

We spent a number of days hanging out at the resort pools. The first day we were at splash lagoon and then, usually the main pool area. Splash Lagoon was crowded but the kids had a good time and I picked up a water volleyball game. The main area seemed less crowded. They had some nice shuffleboard courts. We even played inside one day. The putt-putt golf course looked very nice but we didn't play. The wife and I played tennis 4 times and there was always a court open. The weather was spectacular. We saw at least 75 each day and we were in the 80s on a few of them. Everyone came home with a suntan.

Orange Lake was okay. We got a great deal on the unit rental ($599 for the week!!) so I really can't complain that much. As the week went on I liked it better. Part of its appeal is golf and I wasn't playing golf. The resort is so large that the kids could come and go as they pleased as they had at our other previous locations. They do have a resort shuttle but we didn't use it. The location was interesting. Being on the west side of 192 meant you never had to get on Route 4 to visit Disney which was great. I would visit Orange Lake again, if the price was right, but it wasn't as nice as other places we have visited.

Any questions???

 

[Belle5]

Were you in one of the older units? What was the name of your section? Sorry it wasn't what you had hoped for but I'm glad you still had a good time. The slide at that pool looks great! Was it?

 

[jeff968]

We were in the units that you see from 192. I forget the section name. South villas? I don't think they were the oldest because the did have the whirlpool tubes. I heard the oldest units don't have these. I wasn't that disappointed. Like I said, we got a great deal. Orange Lake just wasn't as nice as the other places I have stayed. the little details that make an impression weren't there. The slide was good. Not the biggest but there was no one there to tell you how to go down so you could have some fun with it (headfirst).

 

[merryweather's twin]

I hope you had a good trip. It seems that the placement of your unit or anyones that stays here has alot to do with their like or not of the place... I think the place is so big that it makes a huge difference. We only wanted to use the kids pool and never went into any of the main buildings at all. We just got back 2 weeks ago and we loved it! We had a newer unit, a 2 bedroom that was about 2-3 city blocks from the pool. The place is huge! We used our car .We also liked theSplash Lagoon pool but our kids are 1-3-6-7 so mabie older kids would not be as thrilled! Our unit was very clean and I could not find a stain or paint chip out of place. We got a great deal on Skyauction of $268. for 7 nights! We never ate there at all except in our unit. We will be back for sure.

 

[jeff968]

Really, the placement of the unit wasn't that big of an issue. Yes, the road was noisy but our location was the most convenient. We drove through the gate and we where home. If you were on the otherside of the resort it could take you at least another 5-10 minutes. My kids are 13-10-3. They liked the pools. I thought the size of the place was a negative, but I understand it is necessary to support the 50 holes of golf. Our unit wasn't that clean. We found a pair of old socks in the closet when we got there. We're not smokers and I found used matches on the deck. I was suprised that they didn't have blow dryers in the units. We had to go to the front desk and rent one. Again, it was okay, but just okay. I would go back but would prefer the Vistana or the HGVC over OL.

 

[jdm]

From following your posts, I think that your family does as mine does...... go yearly on Presidents week and try different timeshares? We stayed at Vistana last year and enjoyed it and this year we stayed at Cypress Harbour and loved it. Beautiful.

We noticed the HGVC was right next to it and it looked fabulous! Was it?

Also wanted to ask you about the specifics of the AKL. We added two days on the end of our trip rather than the beginning (won't do that again) and spent it at The Hard Rock. How was the AKL? What kind of rate did you get?

I have to agree that we had great weather. We were there from the 13th - 22nd and we did Discovery Cove on the first Sat. It was a perfect day!

Jenn

 

[jeff968]

Hi Jenn,

With three kids now a standard hotel room is no good. We started doing the Timeshare rentals three years ago and they are great. 1) I like the room to live best. We can put the little one down in our room and watch TV or whatever in the main living area. 2) Save money, with the kitchen we can keep at least drinks and breakfast stuff. It saves on the cost. The units themselves are also very reasonable. We usually spend around $700 for the week and there's no taxes or any fees! 3) The resorts are great. Lots of things to do and participate in if you choose. We travel every February because the kids are off and my wife is a teacher as well. We usually end up with great weather but this year was the best "swap" ever. We missed that blizzard and had a beautiful, warm week in FL.

The HGVC is really nice. Not to big, great location, nice pools and activities. Again, lots of attention to details. Lots of landscaping, flowers, in and out, just and nicer place. I would love to have gone back but the guy who gets me the rentals wasn't able to find HGVC for me. Cypress Harbour looks great. Marriott is another top company and the place looks beautiful. Maybe next year.

My OL rental ran from 2/14 to 2/21. Our flights were on 2/12 and 2/21 so I needed two more days. I was going to book the Radisson when I got a card from Disney saying they were having a special on deluxe resorts. $109 a night, from 1/3 through 2/13. Perfect. I called and got the AKL at that rate. The place was beautiful!!! Sure, We had 5 of us in the room which had a queen, a set of bunk beds, and a day bed for the three year old but it was very nice for 2 days. We never really unpacked. It was nice to get to the OL unit so we had room to breath. I did a trip report as well. Take a look. Let me know if you have any other questions.

 

[jdm]

I'm with you, we could never do a hotel anymore after being use to condo living. Also, with hotel prices being what they are now... condos are the most value. We are Worldmark owners and have been trading in resorts in Orlando. I have always been lucky enough to get great resorts at last minute trades so it has been very economical for us. We go in Feb for the same reasons you do. April break would be nice but I work in a restaurant in the Skagit valley where we have our annual tulip festival.... so no time off for me the month of April!

I'll check out your trip report. Thanks for posting!

Jenn

 

[sln88]

MW- how did you get your rate of $270 on Skyauction? Last fall, I got a 2 bedroom condo(not OL) for $50 plus their fees. I am looking again for next Oct, and the 2 bedroom condos are going for about $200-$250 plus their fees! Still a good deal, but not as good as what I got last year or what you got. What is the secret? Am I too early?

 

[jessiesue]

Sorry your unit wasn't too nice. It sounds like you got an old unit. I think the newer units are in the back. I have to agree with Merryweather's Twin, our unit in North village was spotless. Also, there is a back way to get to Animal Kingdom. Black lake road to a left on Sherbeth. Take a right at 1st stop sign and then a U turn and you'll be at AK entrance.