Marriott Grande Vista - any good?

[dbcnbc]

We just got a really good deal on the Marriott Grande Vista Resort.
2 bedroom/2 bath for 4 nights with two 4 day disney passes for $670, no strings attached. We also booked a guestroom for my parents for 4 nights w/ 2 four day passes to disney for $448.
We have been to the Sheraton Vistana Villages and loved it.
Is the Marriott as nice as the Vistana?
Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Diane

 

[spiceycat]

if you get one of the rehab villas - this is a wonderful resort - if you don't then you wonder why most people think this is a wonderful resort.

are you sure about the tickets?

most of the time you have to go through their sales presentation to get the tickets?

 

[dbcnbc]

It's a Visa/Disney sponsored promotion, you just have to pay for it using a Visa card. If you want an additional $200 off you can sit through the presentation, no thanks.
Thanks for the tip, I requested a renovated unit by the pool, if one exists.

 

[spiceycat]

they do!

well if you get a rehab this is a lovely resort!!!

 

[BKoenecke]

We stayed there in 03 and plan to go back in April unless codes show up either here or in my inbox. We liked it very much, as we had a 3yr old and her grandma along. My cousin owns here as well and says it's the lowest pressure TS presentation he's aware of. Marriott has a great reputation in that respect.

 

[dbcnbc]

Thanks for the input.
Our kids grandparents are going too. Did your parents go to Disney with you?
I just wonder how my parents (74 years old) will do with all the walking through the park.

 

[Lorix2]

We were there in April 2003 and loved it so much that we are booked there again for this April. We liked it even better than the Vistana Villages because there are much more amenities.

It's mediterranean themed and it's has a wonderful indoor air conditioned padded play gym with plenty of comfy seating for parents. The deli marketplace is really good also.

There is a newly built section of the resort with a new pool that supposed to be real fun, but the first pool was just as fun, I believe there are 5 or 6.

I'd definitely recommend it.

 

[dbcnbc]

I'm so glad that you could compare it to Vistana. Now that I think of it, there really wasn't a place to eat at the Vistana.
Wasn't that a great deal that we got for the Marriott? Sounds too good to be true.
I can't wait to go.
Regards,
Diane

 

[Julia M]

We stayed a week at the Grand Vista in August, followed by a week at Vistana. Vistana was nice, and we would certainly return, but Grand Vista was better.

Julia

 

[undertheradar]

Be advised that Marriott uses the lower rates to fill the older units first. Owners have priority on booking requests. The non-refurbished(and some that have been) are not in the best of shape. Have stayed here many times, and our stay last June(04) will be our last! Too many service issues(room not cleaned, products not replenished- we were there on a Marriott Rewards Member rate), room badly in need of repair-stained carpets, furniture, broken tiles in master bath, fist holes in two walls, lamps broken, shower door broken, water leaking under entry door-1" gap!, cracked patio door, two broken chairs at table. This was not what we had experienced before and will not venture there again. Management of the resort could have cared less about the condition of the room. We took the Time Share tour and asked the sales rep to compare our room to the model- she declined the offer! This is a sinking ship that needs much attention to correct itself. There are many newer places to stay. If you are located near the new pool, be prepared for Timeshare tours all day long and music playing at the bar until closing time. We prefer being away from the main areas and being able to walk to them. Having stayed here at least 6 times prior, this was the worst stay we ever experienced here. Again, it was the last.

 

[maciec]

Everyones experience is different. We stayed there after the pp did and we stayed in the new section by the new pool and we didn't experience loud music or have any problems with the people on tours. We were lucky that we got a new building. I did call and request a new or refurbished building and that our unit be on the first floor. We were granted all of our requests. Our building was next to a building that was going under some heavy construction. Not once were we bothered by anything involving the construction.

We took the timeshare presentation so that we could get the Disney dollars. It was low pressure and as soon as we said that we were not interested we were done. No problems.

They have a great childrens area in the main building. It was a wonderful thing to have while we waited for our room to be ready. Our guide did tell us that you can call and request an early check in.

The only problem that we had in our room was the lock off units a/c kept throwing a circuit breaker for some reason. Once we figured out how to fix the problem we took care of it ourselves.

I would suggest that you call prior to your arrival and make your room requests and do your best to make sure that you get into a refurbished room or a new one when you get there. If you aren't satisfied with your room go back to the front desk and insist on another.

Our room was so spacious and wonderful it sealed the deal for us to buy into DVC. We just hate staying off site, but we loved the space. DH said that from now on we had to stay just like we did at Grande Vista and we went over to Saratoga and bought 160 points.

 

[dbcnbc]

I requested a new or renovated room when I made our reservations, but I was told that it could not be guaranteed. The reservationist did tell us that you can call the hotel directly at some point in time and request it again. When did you call?
Thanks

 

[maciec]

I can't remember if it was 2 days before or the day before. The guy who answered the phone was very kind and very helpful.