Marriott Grande Vista.. anyone?

[MESMommy83]

Hey there!!

Anyone recently stay at Marriott Grande Vista? Or staying there soon? We will be there first week of October!

We are staying in a 3 BR villa.. are those all usually in the same buildings/viscinity? If so...what part?

Thanks so much!

 

[Straitlover]

I'm staying there 10/14 for one night. Please post you review when you get back!

 

[Detailor]

Congratulations on getting a Grande Vista 3 bedroom villa. They are very large. And the resort is very nice.

I believe that all GV 3 bedroom units are lock-offs that can be split into a 2BR and a 1BR with separate entrances but have an interior adjoining door when used as a 3BR. There are more than one style of 3BR villa unit at GV as the buildings were built out over a lengthy period of time and Marriott's standard unit configuration changed during that time.

Three bedroom villas are spread throughout the resort and in most, if not all, buildings. So you'll be able to at least request a general location or specific building if you choose.

Dick Taylor

 

[MESMommy83]

Congratulations on getting a Grande Vista 3 bedroom villa. They are very large. And the resort is very nice.

I believe that all GV 3 bedroom units are lock-offs that can be split into a 2BR and a 1BR with separate entrances but have an interior adjoining door when used as a 3BR. There are more than one style of 3BR villa unit at GV as the buildings were built out over a lengthy period of time and Marriott's standard unit configuration changed during that time.

Three bedroom villas are spread throughout the resort and in most, if not all, buildings. So you'll be able to at least request a general location or specific building if you choose.

Dick Taylor

Thanks so much!!

Yeah, we were originally at Marriott Harbour Lake (2 BR).. had to change our dates by a couple days and they placed us GV -3BR no extra Charge.. so pretty please.. it's my inlaws timeshare..so we are pretty excited to see and have all the space!! I hope we are in decent location to the children's pool or one of the nicer pools. Ive read soooo many mixed reviews on Tripadvisor.. has me a little worried.. but this is OUR vacation and I realize everyone has their own taste and "maintenance" of life..haha.. Cant wait

PS: ohh how can it be a 2 and 1 BR (separate) put together?? would that mean there's 2 kitchens?? lol sorry... just curious

Straighlover--I will definitely let you know!!!!! oh my oh my I cant wait!

 

[katml14]

We stayed there in August for three nights. We loved it. The pools were very nice, they had a lot of activities for the kids, the rooms were spacious and clean, and it was a convenient location to both WDW and Sea World!

 

[Detailor]

Thanks so much!!

Yeah, we were originally at Marriott Harbour Lake (2 BR).. had to change our dates by a couple days and they placed us GV -3BR no extra Charge.. so pretty please.. it's my inlaws timeshare..so we are pretty excited to see and have all the space!! I hope we are in decent location to the children's pool or one of the nicer pools. Ive read soooo many mixed reviews on Tripadvisor.. has me a little worried.. but this is OUR vacation and I realize everyone has their own taste and "maintenance" of life..haha.. Cant wait

On a comparative basis I think that Grande Vista is much nicer than Harbour Lake (we've not stayed at Harbour Lake but have visited relatives at HL while they were staying there). There are two major pool areas and two smaller area pools at the resort - while we actually prefer the more remote, less used pool areas, I'd think that either of the newer West Village pool area or original Clubhouse pool area would work well for children.

I agree that everyone has their own expectations and tastes for how to vacation. A timeshare vacation is different from a traditional hotel vacation. You get an incredible amount of space and much nicer lodgings at most timeshares (and certainly true for Marriotts) but you don't get housekeeping that you'd get at a hotel and some travellers just don't like that they have to pick up after themselves. To each his/her own.

PS: ohh how can it be a 2 and 1 BR (separate) put together?? would that mean there's 2 kitchens?? lol sorry... just curious

The separate entrances are usually inside a small shared foyer.
The 1 BR lockoff is usually a studio unit that's much like a hotel room with a limited kitchen (small refrigerator, microwave, maybe a coffee maker). So you'll end up with a regular full kitchen and the small kitchenette and have three bathrooms to go with the three bedrooms and the sofabed in the living room.

Go to the Grande Vista:
http://www.marriottvacationclub.com/vacation-resorts/marriott-grande-vista/amenities.shtml and then scroll down the page to the section titled Typical 3-Bedroom Villa and click on the Floor Plan link under the picture to see an example of a three-bedroom villa layout (that's a newer villa, there are other slightly different layouts in older buildings).

Enjoy your trip!

Dick Taylor

 

[gabrieltorres]

this is a great resort

 

[chicagoshannon]

What are the pools like at Grand Vista. We stayed at harbour lake and are again in June. We love the kids pools/areas there.

Does the Grand Vista have slides and things?

 

[boatman987]

Planning to stay there this fall - will be interested in the reviews

 

[Peanut Giggleface]

We've stayed there three times and I have nothing but good things to say about it. Our first time we had a studio, which was your typical hotel room. Our second time we had a one bedroom and wow, what a difference that was. I would say it was easily twice the size of the studio, full kitchen, two baths, dining room plus breakfast bar in the kitchen, washer & dryer. Then on our last trip we stayed in a two bedroom. It was very similar to the one bedroom with an additional room. We've always enjoyed our stays there and would love to go back some day. The pools are lovely and although they do not have a slide, they do have the water play structures with dumping buckets, fountains, etc.
Enjoy your stay.

 

[MESMommy83]

Thank you for all the responses!!! Im exceptionally excited!!! I will definitely post back with some personal reviews of my own!!!! We leave next Thursday and check in Friday!! Cannot wait!! ahhhhhh!!
Detailor...Thank you for the insight on the 3BR villa!!!!!!

 

[dioxide45]

I would say it was easily twice the size of the studio, full kitchen, two baths, dining room plus breakfast bar in the kitchen, washer & dryer.

I am not aware of any 1BR unit configurations where there are two bathrooms.

 

[WaltD4Me]

We stayed in a 2 bedroom in Feb. 2009 and absolutely loved it! The rooms were very nice and BIG, the BEDS were soooooooooooooooooo comfortable. I think it is the most comfortable bed I ever slept in! The 2 bedroom was a lock off, with a king bed, living area with couch, small kitchen area and bathroom as one part and the big kitchen, living area and 2nd bedroom in the other part. I went with my brother's family, so I had the king bed side to myself and it was great. Large balcony off the living room area, plus I had a smaller balcony off of my room. The pool was wonderful and so was the poolside restaurant, food there was really good. I would stay at Grand Vista again in a heartbeat. It's nice and close to everything too, but not in the middle of it.
You'll love it!

 

[papertraveller]

I'm so happy to read these reviews. We're booked just after Christmas and we can't wait!

 

[MESMommy83]

I'm so happy to read these reviews. We're booked just after Christmas and we can't wait!

I will definitely let you know when we are back how it goes!! I hope its smooth sailing and we have a better time than some Trip Advisor reviews I have read... this is MY vacation and going into it with an open mind yayayayyayayayyayayyayayayyayayayay we leave this coming THURSDAY NIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (and check in on Friday!)

 

[gcarney]

I stayed at the Marriott Grande Vista over Christmas. The place was wonderful. Besides the furniture on our living room, that needed to be updated the place was awesome. The people at the front desk were so nice. Our garbage disposal broke the first day. They had somebody out within 5 minutes to fix it. Keep in mind that this was actually during Christmas week - the busiest week of the year at Disney, the resort was full to capacity and we were taken care of in minutes. We had to change resorts because MGV was full but it was not for lack of trying on the part of the staff, up until the last minute they were doing what they could for us....

The pools are kept clean, the bar staff was so nice, the grounds were immaculate and the staff was amazing - so much so that in 8 days we will be back for our second visit this year!

I have stayed at several places since buying my time share and this by far has been the best experience to date. I am counting the hours till we are back!

 

[gcarney]

I am not aware of any 1BR unit configurations where there are two bathrooms.

I was in a 1BR in December. It was actually a lock off to a second room. We had a full kitchen, a master bed room with a jacuzzi in it, a 3/4 bathroom, dinning table and living area with a pull out couch, chairs and TV. There is also a TV in the master bed room. There is a small balcony that is off the master bedroom and a door to it from the living room also. The kitchen has a closet with a stackable washer/dryer in it.

Cozy use of space...

 

[mtmbyck]

we are there in March and I was only able to get a 2 bedroom with 2 kings and then one king room has 2 sleeper sofas - has anyone seen this. I will have grandma and 2 dd's 11 and 14 staying in that room - will that work.

I am mostly worried at how big this resort is - Grandma isn't a great walker and prefers to sit on the balcony watching the sites. HOw hard would it be to get a 2 bedroom overlooking the main pool??

 

[Detailor]

we are there in March and I was only able to get a 2 bedroom with 2 kings and then one king room has 2 sleeper sofas - has anyone seen this. I will have grandma and 2 dd's 11 and 14 staying in that room - will that work.

I am mostly worried at how big this resort is - Grandma isn't a great walker and prefers to sit on the balcony watching the sites. HOw hard would it be to get a 2 bedroom overlooking the main pool??

The fact that it's a large resort might work in your favor for this type of request as there are TWO main pool areas (the original Village Center Pool area and the newer Plaza del Sol pool area on the west side of the resort). I'd suggest calling the resort to make a location request and specifically ask for a villa with a lanai that overlooks the pool - Buildings 79 and 84 are on either side of the Plaza del Sol pool and Buildings 80 and 81 are on either side of the Village Center Pool.

I'd caution that, while they seem to make an effort to satisfy requests, they don't always place guests where they've asked to be placed.

Good luck.

Dick Taylor

 

[MOM POPPINS]

I have been 4 times for a few nights at a time. I asked for pool building all 4 times and only got it once. I even ask again at check in but they don't budge.