Marriott Grande Vista.. anyone?

[Danibelle]

I stayed here for a week in July in a 2 BR. This was my first visit (this is my home resort for Marriott Vacation Club) to this location. I was able to get a renovated villa. I don't have anything but good to say for my stay here. I had problems with the TV's and one was replaced and one was repaired soon after I called maintenance. I loved the west pool area (with water features) and the Copa Loca Bar.

If you decide to request an area, you may or may not get your choice. I am thinking the owner's are getting closer to the pools (I may be wrong about this). When I have been at other Interval resorts (including Marriott), I don't get quite as good a location as I did at this resort. It may have been luck; I don't know. Anyway, I would stay anywhere here and plan to go back soon!

 

[dioxide45]

I stayed here for a week in July in a 2 BR. This was my first visit (this is my home resort for Marriott Vacation Club) to this location. I was able to get a renovated villa. I don't have anything but good to say for my stay here. I had problems with the TV's and one was replaced and one was repaired soon after I called maintenance. I loved the west pool area (with water features) and the Copa Loca Bar.

If you decide to request an area, you may or may not get your choice. I am thinking the owner's are getting closer to the pools (I may be wrong about this). When I have been at other Interval resorts (including Marriott), I don't get quite as good a location as I did at this resort. It may have been luck; I don't know. Anyway, I would stay anywhere here and plan to go back soon!

All Marriott Vacation Club Resorts have a "pecking order" for villa requests. Owners are usually at the very top and non Marriott TS owners exchanging in are at the bottom below many other groups (Marriott.com reservations, Marriott owners exchanging in, people staying on timeshare tour packages, etc).

 

[rondesj]

I have never been there but had a friend that did they said it was awesome

 

[jeff968]

I stayed at the MGV in 2008. It is very nice but a little on the large size for me. I had to get in the car for a few things. I prefer Cypress Harbor, just the right size. I'm also not a golfer which is a big part of the MGV resort. The on-site restaurant was also pretty good.

 

[MESMommy83]

Hi there!!! We got back on Saturday.. but have been getting back in the groove of life at home and work..ahh!!!

First.. MGV was AWESOME!!! It was beautiful and the people were just GREAT!!!! We were in the MAIN building (where you check in)...our room was on the 2nd floor..rooms 205/206 (3 BR villa) ...our view was of the water/paddle boats and the light house and fountain. The lighthouse was LITERALLY right outside our living room window..haha...but our rooms and view(s) were PERFECT!!! SO spacious, loved the beds (altho, the king bed's pillows were too small for me..haha) The info given here on the thread regarding the 3 BR villa definitely made sense once I got there.

We werent around the grounds enough to take advantage of the activities bc we were so busy with going to the parks, etc... but loved the pools and the food that we tried while there. However.. in the Elevator (s) they list each day what the activities are.. which was cool and each night, you get a voice mail for the next day of the weather forecast as well as the upcoming activities.



I did see the I trolley pick up.. literally right out in front of the property (the Vacation club building, I believe)....

The location of the Publix was great and it was a good size compared to the one heading down I-drive (south) near the outlet malls.. that one overwhelmed me!! (it's by the mcdonalds...AVOID if you can..too big and busy)

We also had the Complimentary photo session and picture. Our pics turned out great!! Eric did ours!!!

I LOVED the indoor gym for our daughter. HUGE!!

I enjoyed talking with you guys and loved your help and input.

We truly had a great time on this trip.. it was our last "HOORAH" /family trip before my husband begins all his training for his deployment (his next set of training actually begins this weekend for 3 weeks).. so, we got this trip just in time. Im just sad its ok.. going to miss the DIS boards... but will definitely still lurk and chat.. but at the same time with make me sad since I wont be planning a trip to Disney for a while.


Disney parks were PERFECT (for the most part)... crowds not too bad.. lines were 15-20 min most of the time.. IF that... weather.. PERFECT!! (no rain..not once!)


If you have any questions.. let me know!!

~Jackie

 

[gcarney]

I got back on Friday from my second stay there. What an amazing staff. When we checked in, we asked for a room as close to the main building and pool. As a non Marriott owner I don't think we could have been any closer if we tried. Emily at the front desk was extremely pleasant!

I did partake of a massage while I was there, what a treat that was.

Our room was a 2 bedroom suite. It had the main unit with the one bedroom, full kitchen etc and then a mini suite, locked off from the main suite. We overlooked the golf course and had a nice spacious patio to sit out on.

The staff at the bar at the main pool was awesome. Tia, in particular is the best. If you go there, look for her - she will take good care of you.

My ONLY concern is I heard Marriott is going to a "point" system. If this is true it would mean that would be leaving the Interval system and I would not longer be able to go there....sad since its our favorite place to stay in FL

 

[chicagoshannon]

I got back on Friday from my second stay there. What an amazing staff. When we checked in, we asked for a room as close to the main building and pool. As a non Marriott owner I don't think we could have been any closer if we tried. Emily at the front desk was extremely pleasant!

I did partake of a massage while I was there, what a treat that was.

Our room was a 2 bedroom suite. It had the main unit with the one bedroom, full kitchen etc and then a mini suite, locked off from the main suite. We overlooked the golf course and had a nice spacious patio to sit out on.

The staff at the bar at the main pool was awesome. Tia, in particular is the best. If you go there, look for her - she will take good care of you.

My ONLY concern is I heard Marriott is going to a "point" system. If this is true it would mean that would be leaving the Interval system and I would not longer be able to go there....sad since its our favorite place to stay in FL

oh no! That would be devastating for us. We have our 2011 trip booked and are already planning for 2012 but if they're not part of Interval anymore 2012 will have to be rethought out.

 

[gcarney]

oh no! That would be devastating for us. We have our 2011 trip booked and are already planning for 2012 but if they're not part of Interval anymore 2012 will have to be rethought out.

We were seriously considering booking our 2011 now, while we still can....I did my review of the resort and in the end questioned the Marriott inclusion in Interval in the future. I am hoping I hear back from them about it. I am telling you if we had not bought where we did I would have bought at the Grande Vista without hesitation!

 

[Detailor]

We were seriously considering booking our 2011 now, while we still can....I did my review of the resort and in the end questioned the Marriott inclusion in Interval in the future. I am hoping I hear back from them about it. I am telling you if we had not bought where we did I would have bought at the Grande Vista without hesitation!

They actually began selling the new system some months ago. Current owners are given the opportunity to convert but not required to do so.

Lots of timeshares participate in some type of points system but still participate with one of the two big exchange companies (Disney's DVCs are points only but still participates with RCI; Wyndham is points; and others). Marriott owners will always want vacation opportunities that are outside of the Marriott resort collection so I'd suggest that Marriott not having an exchange company connection is unlikely. Now, could they change from a predominately Interval International arrangement to RCI, like Disney did a year or so ago? That's always possible.

Check out the Marriott forum at the Timeshare Users Group website for lots of discussion on the Marriott system changes.

Dick Taylor

 

[gcarney]

They actually began selling the new system some months ago. Current owners are given the opportunity to convert but not required to do so.

Lots of timeshares participate in some type of points system but still participate with one of the two big exchange companies (Disney's DVCs are points only but still participates with RCI; Wyndham is points; and others). Marriott owners will always want vacation opportunities that are outside of the Marriott resort collection so I'd suggest that Marriott not having an exchange company connection is unlikely. Now, could they change from a predominately Interval International arrangement to RCI, like Disney did a year or so ago? That's always possible.

Check out the Marriott forum at the Timeshare Users Group website for lots of discussion on the Marriott system changes.

Dick Taylor

Thanks for the info. I went to the boards and asked if anybody knows if Marriott will continue with II....we'll wait and see, but thanks again!~

 

[dioxide45]

We own at Grande Vista. Marriott has begun selling a new type of vacation ownership product that utilizes points. However, current "legacy" owners have the option year to year to use the new points system or the old week based system. Marriott is not and has not ended its affiliation with Interval International.

Given the low number of points that Marriott has allocated to Grande Vista and other Orlando resorts, many owners will opt to go the old way and not convert to points. Rest assured there will always be plenty of Grande Vista weeks in II.

 

[gcarney]

We own at Grande Vista. Marriott has begun selling a new type of vacation ownership product that utilizes points. However, current "legacy" owners have the option year to year to use the new points system or the old week based system. Marriott is not and has not ended its affiliation with Interval International.

Given the low number of points that Marriott has allocated to Grande Vista and other Orlando resorts, many owners will opt to go the old way and not convert to points. Rest assured there will always be plenty of Grande Vista weeks in II.

Well the way I looked it is was this.....places to stay in the Orland area are a dime a dozen. Anything they do to deter people from wanting to trade into there is crazy. I hope all stays status quo because we plan on going back again and again!

 

[chicagoshannon]

We own at Grande Vista. Marriott has begun selling a new type of vacation ownership product that utilizes points. However, current "legacy" owners have the option year to year to use the new points system or the old week based system. Marriott is not and has not ended its affiliation with Interval International.

Given the low number of points that Marriott has allocated to Grande Vista and other Orlando resorts, many owners will opt to go the old way and not convert to points. Rest assured there will always be plenty of Grande Vista weeks in II.

oh good to hear. I was worried there for a minute.

 

[Straitlover]

Back from my one-night visit(10/14). Wow, very nice!!!! We just had a studio. They put us in bldg 93, right across and to the left of the main pool. Very convenient! We didn't participate in any activites, but we did hang out by the pool and eat a tasty Pizza Hut pizza for lunch.

They are still renovating; there were tons of appliances in boxes in a marked off area that they were putting in units. We just ad a mini fridge and microwave, but they were not new (but they were in good shape). Our room was very nice and very clean. The bed was a god-send after the hard mattresses on the cruise ship. Fortunately it was a king, so there was plenty of room for me and my sister w/o touching!

We are hoping to go back there again for a longger stay so we can just enjoy the resort and do some of the activites. There's so much to do that you don't even need to go to the parks.

 

[papertraveller]

I am so happy to read the resort reviews here. We had wanted to stay at Lakeshore Reserve, but couldn't get in. This sounds like a wonderful second choice, that could become the first choice in the future!

 

[EllynE]

We have the Grand Vista booked for December 4-11; can someone tell me if I want to make a request (ie building near pool) do I make it now or when I check in.

Also has anyone had any experience in an earlier check-in? We will probably get there around 1pm

Thanks!

 

[momof2cutegirls]

My inlaws have a time-share, and we've stayed many times here. You will love it! I believe she always made the building request before checking in. We were there before check-in a few times, but our rooms were never ready until closer to actual check-in time.

 

[Detailor]

We have the Grand Vista booked for December 4-11; can someone tell me if I want to make a request (ie building near pool) do I make it now or when I check in.

Also has anyone had any experience in an earlier check-in? We will probably get there around 1pm

Thanks!

It may depend on how you booked the reservation. If you booked it directly through the Marriott hotel reservation system then it makes sense to go ahead and make your request now. However, if you've traded into Grande Vista through a timeshare exchange company, such as Interval International, then you should wait. I think that the resort will get the list of exchanges from Interval about three weeks before check-in date and begin making villa assignments two to three weeks before check-in. So I'd suggest that you call the resort at about that time to make your requests (the more building choices that you have = the greater likelihood that you'll get something that suits your needs). [Go here for a GV resort map showing location of pools and including the building numbers... http://www.marriottvacationclub.com/common/cms/mvc-main/resorts/marriott-grande-vista/pdfs/map.pdf]

I'd also suggest that you consider asking for floor placement (We prefer top floor placements so there's nobody walking overhead, and end units so there's only noise from one side of the villa. GV villas don't have paper-thin walls but you can hear noise particularly when there are excited kids in residence.) in addition to building placement (request by specific building number).

We typically have flights into Orlando that get in in the morning and we're at our resort generally before noon. We've stayed at Marriott timeshare resorts for six or seven weeks and have never been able to get into our villa before the posted check-in time at any of them. But we do go to the resort directly from the airport for a pre-check-in when it's not as busy at the reservation desk. This is a good time to remind staff of your request, give them your credit card info (for incidental purchases during your stay), and give them your cell phone number so they can contact you as soon as your villa is ready. You'll be allowed to use the resort facilities while you wait if you choose to stay at Grande Vista until check-in. Or you can go off for lunch or investigating Disney or other Orlando area attractions. [Our arrival day tradition has become: Airport to resort for pre-check-in to Disney's BoardWalk for lunch and some sight seeing/shopping to getting the call from the resort that the villa is ready to Publix to get some groceries to the resort to pick up our Key Cards and parking card.]

Have a great week at Grande Vista, it's a terrific resort.

Dick Taylor

 

[EllynE]

Wow Dick, thanks for all of the useful information--yes we did book through Interval International.

Do you suggest any particular buildings? we have a two bedroom reserved and it will be three adults and one 8 year old.

 

[Detailor]

Wow Dick, thanks for all of the useful information--yes we did book through Interval International.

Do you suggest any particular buildings? we have a two bedroom reserved and it will be three adults and one 8 year old.

You're welcome.

The main pool area is adjacent to the main clubhouse (designated on the map as A) and the pizza hut express and marketplace store are also right there. There are two or three pools there and a few hot tubs. If you want to be close by that area then ask for building 80 or 81 on either side of the pools or building 94 that's across the street. Buildings 82 and 83 are close, too.

The 'new' pool area at Plaza del Sol (R, right across the lake) is nice and one of the pools has a childrens' theme. The Copa Loca bar and grill is at the area, too. So if you want that area then ask for 79 or 84.

We actually like the quiet area pool known as the Clubside Village pool, (Q, near building 97 and 98 and not far from Nick's restaurant and the golf course clubhouse. That's a nice area that you might have mostly to yourselves much of the time as most people staying over there take the four or five minute walk over the main pool. On the other hand, if your eight year old wants to be able to play with other kids at the pool then this might not be the best of choices for you (another negative is that there never seem to be enough parking space over there).

Coincidently, my wife and I talked this morning about going to Orlando for the the week of December 4th and I'm thinking about either Sheraton's Vistana Villages, where we've never stayed, or Grande Vista. So we might see you there!

Dick Taylor