Marriott Villas - Horizons or Grande Vista

[lorilori]

Hi all. I'm looking for comments, good, bad or comparing the two for Marriotts Grande Vista and Horizons. I still cannot get the search function to work so I'd really welcome any comments. The Horizons website shows a great kids pool area; how is the pool area at Grande Vista for kids? Is it zero entry, any slides, etc.? Also, we just stayed at Wyndham Palms and the complex was HUGE - are Horizons and Grande Vista real big too? Not certain we want to have to deal with the whole driving to get to the main pool area again. Any noise from I-4 at Horizons? And lastly, I think Grande Vista is on a golf course. Is it super convenient to play golf if staying at Horizons? Thanks so much!

 

[HeatherC]

Hi - We stayed at the Grande Vista last October and loved it. The villas are great, the golf courses are beautiful as are the grounds and pool area. Horizons is only about 5 minutes away (and no traffic to get there). We drove through Horizons which was still under a lot of construction and just preferred Grande Vista...but none of the landscaping was done at that point. If you do stay at Horizons, you could always golf at the Grande Vista very easily.

The Grande Vista is also big but we were lucky enough to get a villa right across the street from the main pool area.

Happy planning!
Heather C

 

[lorilori]

Hi HeatherC - Thanks so much for the reply. Did you have a chance to use the pool(s) at Grande Vista. Are there any slides or anything to make them semi-appealing to kids ages 4,6 & 10?

 

[HeatherC]

Hi - We did use the main pool. It is the one you see on their website...but it looks bigger in the picture. THere aren't any slides, but my kids loved it. There is a spray fountain in the middle which my baby loved. There is also a little kiddie pool that is about 2 feet deep which is gated in. The large pool is kind of Ushaped and very nice and they have a rectangular heated pool. Two afternoons that we were there they had a "pool party" where they played music, brought out huge floats for the kids and played some games with them. The kids loved the pool.

We didn't get to see the pool at Horizons which is supposed to be really fun for kids. But mine were thrilled at the Grande Vista none the less.

They also have a kids room nearby with climbing structures as well as a video arcade which they loved.

Hope this helps!!!
Heather C`

 

[KProuty]

Lorilori,

I own at Grande Vista and the pool area is my sore spot. They have a fountain area where water sprays continuously flow up that the kids can run around in. They also have a "waterfall" in a large free form pool (not zero depth) that dumps a large amount of water continuously from about a three foot drop. There is a kiddie pool with a climbing area/pirate ship, water fountain sprays and a pool. (My kids, 7 and 10, are too big for it now. They are also great swimmers so we don't do that area.)

They have a lap pool too. They have hot tubs and a sauna. There is a small playground on the beach. (There are also more "quiet pools" sprinkled around the resort.)

What Grande Vista does have is an indoor play area that is awesome. My kids love it. It is like a smaller version of the hamster rat runs that they have at Bonkers or some Chuckie Cheeses. (It has a slide, a swing across a chasm, in addition to the tunnels, etc.) They also have a great "kids night out" program where the kids can play in that area, watch a movie, eat pizza, make science experiments or be a pirate, depending on the theme of the night. (You can also go watch the kids, meet other parents and talk, and read the paper while they run themselves ragged.)

I have stayed at Universal's Portofino, Disney's Yacht & Beach Club, etc. The Grande Vista pool just doesn't compare. I'm hoping that with the addition of the newer buildings that they will create a pool with a lazy river, etc. if they are worried about liabilities with a slide.

I'm sorry, I have never been to Horizons (but I wish they would add some of those things that I have seen pictures of to the Grande Vista!)

Hope this helps,


Katherine

 

[Harryo]

Actually, Grande Vista is in the process of building a new much larger pool complex across the lake in the Phase II development. I saw the plans while I was there this past August. It will be a 2 tier pool complex with zero entry and waterfall as well as water cannon turrets as well as a food court. My understanding is it will be up and running by Summer 04. We'll be there 1st week of July 04 , can't wait.

 

[lorilori]

Thank you! Thank you! for such detailed information; exactly what I was looking for.

 

[minijeanie]

stayed at Grande Vista and loved it loved it loved it....

but I would try Horizons.

the pool sounds fantastic & it will be all brand new.....

with Marriott, you always get quality anyhow, so

my vote is for horizons