Marriott Timeshares in Orlando - any good?

[ZehnJahren]

Hello all,

Might have an opportunity to stay at one of the following through a family member; anyone have any opinions?

Calypso Cay Vacation Villas

Floridays Orlando Resort

Grand Beach

Grande Villas and Cypress Pointe Resort II

Lago Vista at Buenaventura Lakes

Legacy Grand Eastgate

Legacy Grand Maingate West

Legacy Vacation Club Lake Buena Vista

Legacy Vacation Club Orlando
Magic Tree Resort

Marriott's Cypress Harbour

Marriott's Grande Vista

Marriott's Harbour Lake

Marriott's Imperial Palms Villas

Marriott's Lakeshore Reserve

Marriott's Royal Palms

Marriott's Sabal Palms

 

[Detailor]

I think that, of those listed, the Marriotts should be at the top of the list. My family's preference is for Cypress Harbour but we've not stayed in them all but I am fairly familiar with all of them expect for Lakeshore Reserve which looks very nice. I'd rank the others as follows...
Cypress Harbour (all two-bedroom villas)
Grande Vista
Imperial Palm Villas (all three-bedroom villas)
Sabal Palms (all two-bedroom villas)
Royal Palms (all two-bedroom villas)
Harbour Lake

Basically, you can't go wrong with a Marriott.

While I don't personally think that its level of resort quality is quite as high, I think that Cypress Pointe Resort is a really nice resort, too. The adjacent Grande Villas Resort is okay but the villas aren't as nice as those at Cypress Pointe (unless they've refurbished since our last visit there).

Dick Taylor

 

[eandrsmom]

We stayed at Marriott Royal Palms a few years ago. Being a family of six, accustomed to staying on Disney property, we were impressed. We were in building 42, and had a room on the golf course. Our room was updated, clean, and quiet. We found it easy to access the Disney parks. We've gotten a good deal at Bonnet Creek so we're trying them our next trip. Otherwise, we wouldn't hesitate to stay at Royal Palms again.

 

[jeff968]

Stick with the Marriott's. The brand ensures a high quality experience. Cypress Harbor is also our favorite but they are all great. When you pick one out do a search for more detailed reviews.

 

[Juniortrooper]

I've only stayed at a one-bedroom at Marriott's Grande Vista in Nov 2007. It was beautiful! We used the w/d every night because there was a heat wave and I only brought a couple of warm-weather outfits for the family. We didn't use any of the amenities like the pool, but it was right behind our building and looked really nice. We left early and returned late. It was really really nice and I'd stay there again in a heartbeat. It was about 15 min from Disney and pretty close to Sea World too.

Hope this helps a little!

 

[chalee94]

definitely recommend the marriotts.

marriott's lakeshore reserve is probably the nicest resort but it is farther away (and can be tougher to book.)

all 3 of the marriott palms resorts are right outside the sign to disney property - great location.

harbour lake has a fun pool area for kids.

but i've enjoyed all the marriotts i have stayed at so far...

 

[ZehnJahren]

Thank you all for the replies; I'm considering booking one of them, but needed input into how close they were to the parks and if they were nice enough! I'd never even run across a thread on this board discussing any of them, so it's good to know people have stayed there and enjoyed them.

 

[Detailor]

....but needed input into how close they were to the parks....

Approximate distances/average times from these Marriotts to the TTC parking lot which is used for the Magic Kingdom...
Imperial Palm Villas 6.75 miles/~14 minutes
Royal Palms 7.00 miles/~14 minutes
Sabal Palms 7.25 miles/~15 minutes
Harbour Lake 10.75 miles/~20 minutes
Cypress Harbour 10.75 miles/~20 minutes
Grande Vista 12.00 miles/~22 minutes
Lakeshore Reserve 14.00 miles/~25 minutes

CH, GV, HL and Lakeshore are all fairly centrally located for the Orlando theme parks. They're all in the general SeaWorld neighborhood (CH & HL are about a mile and a half to the parking lot, maybe a little longer to the walk-in entrance - sidewalks all the way if you wanted to walk over; GV is 2.5 miles away and LR is 3.5 miles away). The tri-Palms resorts are roughly 6.5 miles from SeaWorld.

And as for Universal Studios/Islands of Adventure...
Cypress Harbour and Harbour Lake are just over 7 miles away, Grande Vista is about 7.5 miles away, Lakeshore is about 9 miles from US/IOA, and the tri-Palms are about 10 miles away.

Dick Taylor

 

[ZehnJahren]

Wow, Detailor, that is very helpful to me and I really appreciate it! That was my concern - I didn't want a half-hour trip to the parks.

 

[happymommy]

Dick Taylor - you are the Marriott Orlando expert!

I've only stayed at Harbor Lake and Grande Vista of all these. I absolutely loved Harbor Lake - the small size made it safe for my kids to walk the couple seconds down to the pool without me, and it was very easy to get on and off the highway (and it's across the street from Cypress Harbor). Grande Vista - we got a unit that wasn't quite remodeled and ground floor, so that really had something to do with my not preferring it. Also it's a huge resort, which is something either you love or don't - if I were with my husband as well I'd love it more, but most trips it's just me and the kids.

The three Palms are closer to Disney - I think they may run shuttles too? And you have the huge complex of the Marriott World Center so I guess you could have a whole vacation there, with the pools and dining options.

 

[disneyscrapper74]

We have stayed at the Royal Palms twice, and just absolutely love it. You can't beat the location and ease of travel to and from the parks. Just jump back onto World Center Drive for a minute (maybe two), and you are on Disney property.

I believe the Royal Palms is 2BD's only. That being said, the second bedroom is perfect if you are sharing with another couple or your kids, however, it might be a little tight if you are sharing with another family. You might have to put kids on the sofa bed in the living room. Other than that, this place is great! The units are lovely and well-stocked, the pools are well-maintained, and you also can use the enormous pool at the main hotel onsite. It is supposed to be the largest hotel pool in Orlando, and it has a water slide for the kids. All in all, you really can't go wrong staying at any of the Marriott properties, from what I hear.

Hope this helps!

 

[disneyfanjan]

We have been very happy with the Marriott's. People there are very nice. Just like checking into a hotel..no high pressure sales. Imperial Palms only has 3 bedroom units.

 

[ZehnJahren]

Dick Taylor - you are the Marriott Orlando expert!

I've only stayed at Harbor Lake and Grande Vista of all these. I absolutely loved Harbor Lake - the small size made it safe for my kids to walk the couple seconds down to the pool without me, and it was very easy to get on and off the highway (and it's across the street from Cypress Harbor). Grande Vista - we got a unit that wasn't quite remodeled and ground floor, so that really had something to do with my not preferring it. Also it's a huge resort, which is something either you love or don't - if I were with my husband as well I'd love it more, but most trips it's just me and the kids.

The three Palms are closer to Disney - I think they may run shuttles too? And you have the huge complex of the Marriott World Center so I guess you could have a whole vacation there, with the pools and dining options.

Thanks for the info!

We have stayed at the Royal Palms twice, and just absolutely love it. You can't beat the location and ease of travel to and from the parks. Just jump back onto World Center Drive for a minute (maybe two), and you are on Disney property.

I believe the Royal Palms is 2BD's only. That being said, the second bedroom is perfect if you are sharing with another couple or your kids, however, it might be a little tight if you are sharing with another family. You might have to put kids on the sofa bed in the living room. Other than that, this place is great! The units are lovely and well-stocked, the pools are well-maintained, and you also can use the enormous pool at the main hotel onsite. It is supposed to be the largest hotel pool in Orlando, and it has a water slide for the kids. All in all, you really can't go wrong staying at any of the Marriott properties, from what I hear.

Hope this helps!

Thank you for so much more information, especially on a specific hotel. The timeshare will be a two bedroom (the boys will get one room, and the girl will either sleep with me or sleep in the living room). I'm glad to hear that they're so well stocked! Wow, though nothing at ALL is finalized, I'm starting to feel good about this trip!!

We have been very happy with the Marriott's. People there are very nice. Just like checking into a hotel..no high pressure sales. Imperial Palms only has 3 bedroom units.

Great; they usually don't do the sales pitch at this family member's timeshare, but who knows with different areas of Florida.... They usually go to Key West or farther south, so Orlando might be completely different. We'll have a two bedroom for sure, so I guess we won't be at the Imperial Palms!

 

[Detailor]

We'll have a two bedroom for sure, so I guess we won't be at the Imperial Palms!

But you did include Imperial Palm Villas in your original list. If that resort is available I think that you should consider it. The extra space can be really nice to have. And the difference between sleeping on a sofa bed or on a real bed is substantial. Just something to consider if it's available for your dates.

Dick Taylor

 

[ccgirl]

Hello all,

Might have an opportunity to stay at one of the following through a family member; anyone have any opinions?

Calypso Cay Vacation Villas

Floridays Orlando Resort

Grand Beach

Grande Villas and Cypress Pointe Resort II

Lago Vista at Buenaventura Lakes

Legacy Grand Eastgate

Legacy Grand Maingate West

Legacy Vacation Club Lake Buena Vista

Legacy Vacation Club Orlando
Magic Tree Resort

Marriott's Cypress Harbour

Marriott's Grande Vista

Marriott's Harbour Lake

Marriott's Imperial Palms Villas

Marriott's Lakeshore Reserve

Marriott's Royal Palms

Marriott's Sabal Palms

Cypress Harbour was AMAZING!!!

My in laws usually stay at Grand Beach and like that as well. In general, I find the Marriott's to be fantastic.

 

[ZehnJahren]

But you did include Imperial Palm Villas in your original list. If that resort is available I think that you should consider it. The extra space can be really nice to have. And the difference between sleeping on a sofa bed or on a real bed is substantial. Just something to consider if it's available for your dates.

Dick Taylor

Yes; I took the list off the website! There were more but there were so many I just copy-and-pasted a few of them. I'm definitely looking to stay as close to property as I can; I'm hearing a lot of good things about all of these, though!

Cypress Harbour was AMAZING!!!

My in laws usually stay at Grand Beach and like that as well. In general, I find the Marriott's to be fantastic.

Thank you for the info; that seems to be the general thought!

 

[dh464]

We stayed at the Marriott's Imperial Palms Villas in Nov and we can not wait to go back this summer.It is 3 bedrooms and lot of space.We have stayed a 3 different time share place in the last 8 years I was really upset when my husband did not book our normal place.but after a week stay this is our new home away from home.I have tons of pics I just don't know how to post them.

 

[happymommy]

Turns out I was wrong - the three Palms resorts (Imperial, Royal, and Sabal) don't have shuttles to Disney (I had thought maybe through the big Marriott World Center they did) but they are so close.

If it were me, and Imperial Palms was one of the options, how can you turn down a 3 bedroom? Otherwise, Sabal Palms has a better second bedroom (two beds) I think Royal Palms second bedroom has one bed?

 

[Ed J]

We stayed at the Marriott's Imperial Palms Villas in Nov and we can not wait to go back this summer.It is 3 bedrooms and lot of space.We have stayed a 3 different time share place in the last 8 years I was really upset when my husband did not book our normal place.but after a week stay this is our new home away from home.I have tons of pics I just don't know how to post them.

Go to photo bucket and upload the photos there (kinda easy just follow the directions) I'd love to see some resent shots of the place, we're going there for the first time this fall.

 

[papertraveller]

Lakeshore Reserve is amazing, if you can get it. It's right beside the JW Marriott, my favourite hotel in the world! But the resort has not been completed, and consequently only a few buildings were built. This only adds to its appeal! It's beautiful.

We have also stayed at Grande Vista (and are booked there again); beautiful units and great location. And last Christmas we were at Imperial Palms. LOVED IT!

As a PP said, you really can't go wrong. The Marriott properties are superb.