Marriott Newport Villas

[Merilyn]

We leave next week for CA and the Newport Villas. Does anyone have any suggestions for us as to what to do or see. We are taking my brother who is handicapped and now has 2 broken elbows. We are taking a wheel chair for him but he can walk some. I hope we can enjoy our trip even though my brother has cast on now. It should be interesting. Keep us in your thoughts and let me hear if there is anything we just can't miss. Thanks

 

[Melynny]

Merilyn,
I just wanted to tell you to have a good time and How nice it is that you are taking your brother! Broken elbows and all! I wish all of you the best trip and quick healing with those elbows! Have a great time!

PS.. I have a special needs uncle and I take him camping with us and some of our trips together have been the most fun! I am trying to get up enough gumption to take him and his "girlfriend" to WDW.. but I am not brave enough yet!

 

[ocdb8r]

Merilyn,
I live in the are and would be happy to answer an ?'s you may have....Unfortunately living here has kind of spoiled me, nothing really seems "don't miss" anymore. Off the top of my head in the area:

Fashion Island (Big Shopping Area, only 5 minutes from the villas)
Balboa Island/Fun Zone (kind of a neat little carnival area on the bay, only a 10 minute drive away or a 5 min. auto ferry ride)
D-Land and DCA of course
I'd also try to get down to Laguna Beach. It's about 20 minutes down the coast. Beautiful little Art town on the beach.....

Other than that, if you have specific interests, just ask.

Charlie

 

[Werner Weiss]

Given that this is a Disney-oriented bulletin board, I assume you have an interest in Disney. For over 45 years, the "must see" attraction of Ornage County, California, has been Disneyland. The drive time from Newport Coast to Anaheim is only around a half hour, but allow an hour from when you leave your condo at Newport Coast Villas until you get into the gate at Disneyland Park. There's also the new Disney's California Adventure, which I haven't visted yet, but which could be fun even though it offers less to do than the original Disneyland Park.

By the way, we're owners at Marriott's Newport Coast Villas. It's a wonderful resort -- even for people like us who are spoiled by DVC.

 

[Niagara2]

We are DVC owners and Marriott owners and had the opportunity to trade into Newport Beach last month for Easter. It is beautiful! Only 50 units out of a planned 700 are done and we had the pool (all three!) to ourselves most of the time!! The location is great. The coast is beautful with Huntington Beach with the famous surfers, Laguna Beach with alot of art studios and great little boutiques, to many coves. We tried a different one everyday but never made it to the state park that Marriott uses as a beach! The Fashion Island Mall is great shopping and eating too. There are grpcery stores and drug stores only a five minute drive away on the main drag. This city is the Mercades Benz capital of the USA. We were at a light and surrounded by Mercades Benz when a Rolls Royce pulled behind us!
We went to Disney and the drive was easy. The desk will give you a nice little card with instructions. The homes in the area are in the $2 million dollars and up range. They are something to see themselves. Many gated communities. We went to Legoland. If you have kids under 10 this is a must!!. The park is clean and new and fun and different. A nice front desk clerk gave me her discoount card as they were out of pre sell tickets.
San Diego is 1 and a half hours away and there is a whole new adventure with miore beautiful beaches and the zoo and even Mexico!
The next seven days we spent on site at the new GC and hopped both parks. We did not do anything in Anahaim, just Disney and the two parks and DD. We did go back to the beautiful beaches for a day in the Newport area. I have been to CA several times and this is my new all time favorite area. We saw seals, whales, and more. The Babao Island area is touristy but quaint.
Try the barge you drive your car on - it is cool. We plan to go back again we enjoyed it so much. You know Disney had this land first and choose not to build DVC there....what a mistake, I feel it would sell out faster than WL is now!!

 

[Merilyn]

Thanks for all the info. We do have DVC membership and love to go to Orlando. We thought we would just trade this year. Always wanted to see CA and we are taking the whole family. There are 8 of us, so it should be great. I will post to the boards when I get back and let you all know how it went. I really enjoy all the post and info I get off these boards. Disney fans are the greatest and most supportive people. Thanks again

 

[Emolly]

Merilyn,
Hi! I'm just curious - was this a trade using DVC points? If so, how many points did it take? Did you have to book a week ? and what kind of room are you getting?
Thanks
Amy