Marriott Grande Vista Resort

[disney4life2008]

I loved the resort. However, a few complaints.

On check in day. I was told my room would be ready at the check in time - when I arrived to my room - housekeeping was still in the room cleaning the oven. She stressed that a housekeeper had cleaned the room earlier in the day but that she did not clean the oven well enough and left the room dirty - so she was cleaning after the original housekeeper. She then told me that I could come back in a hour and she could finish cleaning or she suggested we call the front desk. I called the front desk to complain and they were rather oblivious about the situation (this was at 630pm at night) and after a long day I was furious that the front desk was not more helpful. In the meantime, the housekeeper disappeared - never to be seen again. I called the front desk again and they said, they would get on it ASAP. The 2nd day, I went to front desk to remind them about my oven needing to be cleaned (it was filthy) - they said they would personally go to the room after a housekeeper went there to make sure it was up to "Marriott Standards". However, when I got back to the room that night, the oven was not touched. It was ridiculous.

My other complaint is that the whirlpool tub in the room did not work really well - after several calls to the front desk, they sent a maintenance person who got it working but several minutes after he left, it stopped working again.

A minor beware- there are ants in the room. I found a whole bunch of them by the balcony area before we left and did not realize they were there.

The grounds are beautifully maintained. The main pool area is stunning as is the lake and other pools. Construction shut down a lot of the amenity areas but those were not missed.

Oh yea, one more complaint: Every morning between 6am and 10am (automated calls came in from Marriott Vacation Club about going on a tour. Im not talking one call, im talking several calls all morning long and to top it off, all day long with additional calls from the MAZE about their activities for the day. It got very irritating.

The MAZE activities were great and the nightly entertainment at the bar was nice.

On check out day, beware that housekeeping will begin knocking on your door between 6am and 7am. My 1st knock was at 630am and continous knocks lated until 8am when I opened the door and the housekeeping lady told me that it was check out day and I had to be out soon. VERY RUDE. From up to the second we left the room for good, she kept pacing back and forth in front of the room waiting for us to leave.

I loved the resort but I had a very disappointing personal stay at the resort.

 

[dioxide45]

IMy other complaint is that the whirlpool tub in the room did not work really well - after several calls to the front desk, they sent a maintenance person who got it working but several minutes after he left, it stopped working again.

I wish they would just tear those things out. They look great and grande, but are not really practical.

A minor beware- there are ants in the room. I found a whole bunch of them by the balcony area before we left and did not realize they were there.

We never experienced any issue with insects, just a lizard that came in the door ahead of us once and never left. He hid under the counter until he died I guess. Maintenance couldn't catch him.

The grounds are beautifully maintained. The main pool area is stunning as is the lake and other pools. Construction shut down a lot of the amenity areas but those were not missed.

Oh yea, one more complaint: Every morning between 6am and 10am (automated calls came in from Marriott Vacation Club about going on a tour. Im not talking one call, im talking several calls all morning long and to top it off, all day long with additional calls from the MAZE about their activities for the day. It got very irritating.

We only get one call about the TS presentation. We sometimes go to one and sometimes not. Any other calls about activities and such were just automated messages. They were not actual ringing calls, just had to get the message. Not really anoying at all.
The MAZE activities were great and the nightly entertainment at the bar was nice.

On check out day, beware that housekeeping will begin knocking on your door between 6am and 7am. My 1st knock was at 630am and continous knocks lated until 8am when I opened the door and the housekeeping lady told me that it was check out day and I had to be out soon. VERY RUDE. From up to the second we left the room for good, she kept pacing back and forth in front of the room waiting for us to leave.

This is what the Do Not Disturb Sign is for, if the room has one (ours went missing, guess stolen, mid stay). We have never had housekeeping knock on the door on checkout day and we have stayed many times.

I loved the resort but I had a very disappointing personal stay at the resort.

I wish your stay was better as it is truely a great resort that we are proud to be owners of.

 

[Lisa P.]

Does Marriott Grande Vista have PCs for guests to use to check email? Do they offer free wireless in the rooms? Anywhere on property? If there's a fee, how much is it?

Thanks for the info.

 

[dioxide45]

Does Marriott Grande Vista have PCs for guests to use to check email? Do they offer free wireless in the rooms? Anywhere on property? If there's a fee, how much is it?

Thanks for the info.

Yes, in the main lobby to the left of the check in desk. It is 20 cents a minute. So $1 gets you 5 minutes. I don't know how much printing is but it used up ~4 minutes of my time when I printed off a four page document. So it might be 20 cents a page also if not more.

There is free wireless in the rooms and I believe in the main clubhouse area. We haven't had problems with the wireless in the past but had lots of connection problems when staying in building 79 on our most recent visit in Jan 2009.

 

[Lisa P.]

Free wireless in the rooms - great to know, thanks!!!

 

[autumnblue]

I will be staying at the Grande Vista the second week of March for the first time and we will not have a vehicle.

Are there any restaurants in walking distance or good places the deliver?

Also we going using a friends timeshare so I realize we will not get daily housekeeping. Are there washer/dryers in the studio units to wash towels? How much would it cost for daily housekeeping?

Thanks in advance...

Autumn

 

[dioxide45]

I will be staying at the Grande Vista the second week of March for the first time and we will not have a vehicle.

Are there any restaurants in walking distance or good places the deliver?

Also we going using a friends timeshare so I realize we will not get daily housekeeping. Are there washer/dryers in the studio units to wash towels? How much would it cost for daily housekeeping?

Thanks in advance...

Autumn

Not sure of the cost of daily housekeeping. They do have laundry facilities available at no cost in common areas near the pools except for the main pool. There are two onsite restaurants, Nick's Grill and Copa Loca Bar & Grill. Copa Loca is a full service restaurant while Copa Loca has more of the sandwich, salad, and burger fare. They have a Pizza Hut Express that is currently closed, though should be opening back up shortly. Many of the local pizza restaurants will deliver. Just don't order from any that slip solicitations under your door. There really isn't anything located within walking distance off of the resort. There is an I-Ride trolley stop at the entrance (a long walk from the many rooms) that you can use to get to many restaurants on I-Drive.

I would seriously consider getting a car.

 

[deedeetoo]

We stayed there last year. I can't imagine being there without a car. You are within walking distance of nothing! As the pp said, the villas are even a very long walk from the main road. And there is nothing on the main road near the Grande Vista. The main road is a busy road, divided by a grass island. Get a car!

There are washers and dryers in the villas though they only give you enough detergent to do one load. I have no idea about daily housekeeping costs.

 

[dioxide45]

There are washers and dryers in the villas though they only give you enough detergent to do one load. I have no idea about daily housekeeping costs.

It should be pointed out that studio units do not have a washer or dryer. That is why laundry facilities are available in common areas of the resort also.

 

[autumnblue]

Thanks for the advice on the things nearby- I use an electric wheelchair and renting an accessible vehicle will cost more than our flights and hotel combined. I suppose we will look at the trolley and use cabs to get around.

Thanks

Autumn