Marriott Grande Vista or Horizons?

[madelyn]

We have the opportunity to use a timeshare week that my sister-in-law won't be using. Her timeshare is in Cancun so we will be exchanging it for something in the Orlando area through Interval Internationalweawes. I'm thinking I won't be able to trade for any DVC weeks, so I think I have the best shot at a Marriott property. Right now I have the choice of the Grande Vista, Horizons, or Cypress Harbour for the dates I'm looking for - all in 2-bedroom units. I will be travelling with my husband, 2 sons (ages 5 and 2 yrs) and possibly my sister and mom. I've read that Horizons has the better pool for young kids but the units are smaller and lack a jacuzzi tub and are located near a noisy freeway.

There's also 2-bed units at Marriott's Sabal Palms and Royal Palms that could work for us as well, but is the parking located far away? The way the buildings are situated, it doesn't look like you park right next to your unit.

Anyhow, we have 2 rooms already reserved at the Dolphin for June 10-13 so we'll probably spend our time at Epcot and Studios when we are staying there. Our week at the timeshare will probably be spent shopping, swimming at the resort pool, at Disney Water Parks, and possibly a day at Universal Studios or the Magic Kingdom.

Anyone have any recommendations on which Marriott property we should go with? Oh, and should a Grande Vista 3-bedroom show up when I need it, I'll probably just go with the Grande Vista 3-bed.

 

[spiceycat]

hey try for a DVC resort - you want at least a 1-bedroom (other words don't except a studio).

if you take your sister and mom then you are looking at a 2-bedroom - very hard to get on-property - but I would think you might stand a chance at a 1-bedroom. Look for Disney's OKW.

I love the Grande Vista - but I haven't stayed at the Cypress Harbour - or the Horizons

the Grande Vista is building a new pool - that I think is surpose to be open this year?

the Marriott's Sabal Palms and Royal Palms are much closer to WDW than the other on your list - but I think they are now charging for self parking (I can't believe it myself) - but I would make sure that you are not paying to park your car before I would take a trade to either of these places. It was expensive too like $7 to selfpark and $15 to use the valet. I can't believe that Marriott is during that - Universal does - but Universal has a park you can walk too - Marriott certainly does not!

 

[Milldew]

We have stayed at both the Grand Vista (January 2003) and Horizons (January 2004) and we are also DVC members at the Disney Boardwalk. My daughter is 8 and my son is 6.

My opinion...you can't go wrong with any of them. But I think I would suggest Horizons. http://www.vacationclub.com/horizons/resorts/orlando/orlphotos.asp

The 2 bedroom at Horizons is very spacious and as funny as this sounds...the beds are REALLY comfortable. The 2nd bedroom has 2 double beds, a King bed in the Master bedroom and a pull out couch. It's true that there is no Jacuzzi tub (there is a regular tub off the 2nd bedroom). The pool area is great for young children...it has a zero entry end and Giant Pirate Ship w/Slides, water canons etc. They also have a seperate water park type of area that would be great in June!. There is no sit down restaurant on-site but they have a hamburger type snack bar near the pool.

The Grand Vista is beautiful. Higher-end than Horizons. The pool is nice but no zero entry (the new pool that people are refering to is not near the main building it's across the lake and probably not even finished by then). There is a sit down restaurant on-site and a snack bar. I don't think the rooms are any bigger than Horizons. http://www.vacationclub.com/en-us/vc/resorts/GV/aboutresort.asp

I have friends who have stayed at Cypress Harbour and loved it there as well. Grand Vista is newer than Horizons and Horizons is the newest (although probably not as well maintained at Grand Vista).

 

[lorilori]

They both sound great but can someone please tell me which of the two, Horizons and Grande Vista, is the smaller resort. In other words, at which one is it easier/closer to get to the pools, rec activities, etc. Thanks!

 

[Milldew]

Horizons has the smaller footprint. No matter what building you are in you are very close to the pool. Grand Vista is pretty spread out.

 

[madelyn]

spiceycat,

I would prefer DVC as well, but since I already have non-changeable (Priceline) ressies at the Dolphin for the June 10-13 and I've noticed that most DVC weeks are Sat to Sat, that would mean "wasting" 2 nights at DVC, checking out early on Thurs to check into the Dolphin. Now if by some great fortune I land a 1-bed in the Epcot area (BWV or BCV) I'd look into trying to sell my Dolphin ressies but otherwise, I'm looking forward to trying the Dolphin. We stayed at OKW for a week in a 1-bed last year and loved it! Last year my son was 1 year so we had 3 adults and 2 kids in the unit but I thought at 2 yrs, we could only have an occupancy of 4 in a DVC 1-bed. But then I read somewhere that 2 yrs or under was acceptable. Do you know the rule? You know that a 1-bed at OKW definitely has enough space for 3 adults and 2 kids!Thanks for the parking tip on Sabal and Royal Palms. I'll definitely steer clear of those to avoid the extra parking fees. We really like the convenience of parking right outside our unit and don't like to mess with valet parking and bellmen. Anyhow, I'll be checking thenext

Milldew, thanks for the encouragement on Horizons! So is the Grande Vista or Horizons more convenient to Disney? We plan to spend time at the Disney Water Parks and Downtown Disney and possibly Magic Kingdom before moving onto the Dolphin. Why do you say Horizons isn't as well maintained as Grande Vista? Would you say they have more traffic and things look more worn down or the furnishings weren't as high quality to begin with so they are already looking worn? Or maybe it is because Horizons hosts more families with young kids who are more destructive? So if I had a choice between a 3-bedroom at Grande Vista or a 2-bed at Horizons, which would you go for? Right now Interval is showing a Horizons 2-bed unit for a Friday check-in and also a Grande Vista 3-bed unit for a Saturday check-in. Since I have the Dolphin ressies for a check-in on Thurs, that means either 6 nights at Horizons or 5 nights in a 3-bed at Grande Vista. But if a 3-bed at Grande Vista with a Friday check-in were to show up, I'd be really tempted to snatch it up!

 

[Salisbury5]

I can categorically state that the Sabal Palms (on the property of the big Marriott) has parking space that allows you to park next to your villa, without charge, for the entirety of your stay.

The units have been extensively renovated - and are larger than most timeshares these days.

You do not get the feel of a brand new unit - but with the specials being offered at these "older' timeshares like Sabal Palms- they are worth it expescially since you have full use of the resources of the big Marriott which are extremely extensive.

I am extremely picky - and I stay at Marriots on the Executive floor throughout the world.

I will return to Sabal Palms (because it is so close to the Marriott).

 

[Milldew]

Horizons is slightly more convenient to get to Disney because it is a little closer to the highway but the difference in time is minimal. They are both very close to Seaworld.

Because Horizons is very new...everything is in great shape... inside and outside of the villas. I wouldn't hesitate to stay there again. I also think that I would recommend Horizons more to a family due to the pool areas (and beds!). But again...you honestly can't go wrong with either one (if they were exactly the same price for a rental I would agonize over where to stay). This might be an unfair statement but I just think that the Grand Vista is designed to attract a higher end (golfing) crowd and because of it's size (larger) and cost (more expensive to buy timeshare there) I think it get's a bit more attention from a maintanence perspective....nothing that I would be concerned about in regards to renting this year.

I personally would avoid Sabel Palms because I like the idea of being close to the main pool area which you are guaranteed at Horizons. If you end up going with the Grand Vista be sure to try and request a room near the pool. Here is a link to the property map http://www.tug1.net/pics/flpics/marga99.jpg you'd want building 95 (that's were we stayed), 94 or 81 as your first choices to be close to the main building/pools.

I'd be happy to answer ANY more questions you might have on either resort.

I just found these links…maybe they will help give you a better ‘picture’ of the resorts…

Horizons:
Pirate Ship Pool http://www.tug1.net/pics/flpics/fl-horiz7.jpg

Waterpark Area http://www.tug1.net/pics/flpics/fl-horiz8.jpg

Kitchen Area http://www.tug1.net/pics/flpics/fl-horiz2.jpg

Living Area http://www.tug1.net/pics/flpics/fl-horiz3.jpg

Master Bedroom http://www.tug1.net/pics/flpics/fl-horiz4.jpg

Grand Vista:
Pool Areas http://www.tug1.net/pics/flpics/marga68.jpg , http://www.tug1.net/pics/flpics/marga65.jpg , http://www.tug1.net/pics/flpics/marga62.jpg

Master Bedroom http://www.tug1.net/pics/flpics/marga59.jpg , http://www.tug1.net/pics/flpics/marga58.jpg

Kitchen Area http://www.tug1.net/pics/flpics/marga57.jpg

Living Area http://www.tug1.net/pics/flpics/marga55.jpg , http://www.tug1.net/pics/flpics/marga54.jpg

Location Map http://www.tug1.net/pics/flpics/marga53.gif (Horizons is directly across the street from Cypress Harbour)

 

[madelyn]

Milldew, thanks for all your tips and links to photos! I think I actually prefer the decor of Horizons and was leaning towards it until I read some reviews about the smaller size and noisy location of Horizons. I also think the 2 double beds at Horizons vs the king bed/sofa sleeper in the second bedroom at Grande Vista is preferable. If I were to go on an all-adult trip, I would probably go for the Grande Vista, but my 5 year old son saw the photo of the Horizons pool area and said he wanted to stay there! The prices are "the same" since I am doing a trade with my sister-in-law's timeshare through Interval International. I may wait a week or two to see if anything better shows up and if anything DVC or a Grande Vista 3-bedroom fails to show up when we need it, I will probably go with Horizons. Hopefully Horizons will still be available then.

Salisbury5 , it's great to know that close parking is available at Sabal Palms. I like the location and would be happy to stay there as well, if Horizons and Grande Vista are unavailable to me.

 

[chessie]

You mentioned Marriott's Cypress Harbour in you original post. We stayed there this past December and thought it was absolutely beautiful. The entire resort has been newly renovated. It was very conveniently located. Only a few blocks from I-4 and Sea World, and about 10 minutes to WDW. We were a party of adults but we would like to stay there again when we take my 5 year old GS.

 

[wuv tigger]

Madelyn,

Horizons has two Queen size beds, not double in the second bedroom. I have stayed there 6 weeks in the last 2 years and have never heard any traffic, so I would not take that comment too seriously. The only noise you really hear is the "white noise" from the pool which is constantly running. If you are really concerned then ask for building 1200 which overlooks Lake Willis and is very quiet, even on the balcony.

David

 

[melissa6631]

We stayed at the Mariott Grande Vista Resort last August and just today booked our room again for this July.

I can't tell you enough about this place. I have never stayed anywhere else and our trip last time was so nice that I don't even want to look anywhere else. There are tons of things to do there and the rooms were nice and clean and very spacious. The pool was nice and for us, our room was right next to the pool, so that was cool.

We also went through intervalworld.com to get the room. They also give you a free 5 X 7 photo while you are there, of course they try to sell you more. A few coupons for a casino boat and TONS Of activies and things to do arranged by the hotel themselves.

The only weird thing that we found is there was no pay per view in the rooms, lol Why my dh wanted it, I have no idea. But he was shocked.

It was a nice time, great price, and very clean!

 

[madelyn]

Thanks for all your input. This morning I ended up trading for a 1-bedroom at Old Key West for June 5-12. So no Grande Vista or Horizons for me this trip. I was almost going to go with Horizons, but then the week at Old Key West came up. We've stayed there before twice and really enjoyed it. Thanks again for your help.

 

[ppganga]

I stayed at the Grande Vista and visite Horizons. No comparison: Grande Vista is more luxurious and has better facilities than Horizons; I stayed in a 1 BR unit in Grande Vista but I don't know if they have larger units.

I've also stayed in the Royal Palms, very nice, with large 2 BR units.

For a party of 5-6. I would go to Royal Palms
For a party of 3-4. I'd go to Grande Vista
I didn't like Horizons. On top of that you have to listen to their 1-1/2 hour presentation of the resort.