Marriott's Grande Vista: detailed REVIEW of resort

[Magical-Memories]

Our family just returned from a Saturday-Saturday stay at the Marriott's Grande Vista this weekend. I had asked a bunch of questions on the DIS boards before we left on our Disney trip and wanted to post a detailed review of this resort.

After spending most of the day at Epcot we arrived at the Grand Vista at around 4:30 on Saturday. No lines, no waiting at check-in. Gentlemen that checked us in was VERY nice. I told him I had called a few days before with requests (although I somehow don't think those request were ever recorded). He gave me 2 options. A 2 bedroom that is close to the Original pool and 'village' area (Magellan building), this would be an 'older' unit that had been refurbished within the last 2 years. OR a new unit in a building (Ibiza) that would be about a 3 minute walk to the 'new' pool that has a better kids play area.

I let the family decide and they wanted to be closer to the village area so we ended up on the 2nd floor of the Magellan building. This was an 'older' unit but we found it to be nice and perfectly adequate for our family of 6. (After the fact..I do think either would have been perfectly acceptable to us.)

It had the 'lockout' suite as one bedroom. So we had a kitchen area, dining area and living area in one room. The Master bedroom with a large jacuzzi tub and separate sink area. Master bath had glass shower and sink. (Hairdryers in both bathrooms worked great.) The 'kids' bedroom also had a mini kitchenette area with fridge, cabinets, sink. A regular bathroom. An open balcony area of this room. There was alos a little screen porch area off the master bedroom and also access to this through the living room. Washer & Dryer in the kitchen area in a closet. (Used this a lot...so nice to have this!)

There was some minor wear and tear...some dings on the fridge and some rusting type spots on the inside of the microwave. Two pillows on the couch had some minor fringing. There was a dent in the drawer at the bottom of the stove. The TV's reception in the living room and the kids bedroom wasn't as good as could be. We never ended up calling them on it though as we just didn't spend that much time there and I forgot all about it.

We found the beds to be very comfortable. And throughout our stay we did NOT hear one single noise from above us or next to us.

We took them up on their time share offer of $100 (we took them in Disney Dollars) to take the tour one morning. We found it to be pretty low pressure. It does seem like a pretty good deal for our family. For about what we pay to stay in a 'dumpy' little cabin up in Maine we could stay in locations that are much nicer and have all the amenities we want. We did not buy..but we may sometime down the line. We felt the sales rep got a teensy bit abrupt with us at the end because we didn't sign. But he wished us well and we had no problem getting the Disney dollars. We did stay for the 90 minutes..it seemed to go by quickly. (BTW..they were offering us a resale at Cypress Gardens for $13,900 with like 12.9% financing. I picked up a flyer at the Publix Grocery store a few days later with resales in the same are for 8-$11K...don't know what the difference is.) I definitely think we would lean towards Marriott if we did purchase a time share. As we are probably not the Disney-every-year types..if we were than I definitely would look into the DVC program.

The pools were very nice. We did find ourselves walking over the bridge to the 'new' pool with the water cannons though. It seemed warmer than the pool we were closest to. It wasn't a bad walk though...2 or 3 minutes. There is a bar area and hot tubs/spas near both pools. At the old pool area there is also a lap pool with handicap access...a few large 'spa/hot tubs' and a sauna. After we arrived the kids wanted to spend the next day just at the resort (and this was our first time down to Disney with them...LOL.).

There is also a children's indoor playground area. Climbing structure type thing like what is in a Chuck E Cheese. We were there about 9pm, only a few other kids and my kids had a blast in it.

Also is a sandy beach area with volleyball nets. Basketball area/tennis area. Golf of course. They offer some daily activities..some for a fee..some not. We did not partake in these as our week was full with Disney stuff.
There is a little Pizza Hut onsite as well as a small store. Oh and arcade area and pool tables. We did not eat at their restaurant onsite..Nick's.

We would definitely stay there again. We used a family member's timeshare week through Interval International. We only wish we had had more time to just lounge about the resort.

Oh...I found it was about 10-15 minutes to get to most Disney parks. Not bad at all.

Another nice plus is that they have free wireless internet access. I took my laptop and was able to download my pics and than share 'trip reports' with my family back home. Hubby was able to check in with work.

I know a lot of people were looking for names of buildings to request. I took home a map and there are 22 buildings. (Sorry..don't have a scanner to scan this in.)

I won't list them all..but the buildings that are near the pools:

Near the Older or 'Village/Actitivities Center and on either side of the Village Pools:

#80: Plaza De La Vida (which also houses the front desk area)
#81: Marbella

#94: Magellan which only has the parking lot and the road way seperating it from the pool/village area. (We stayed in this and were very happy with location.)


The next two are on either side of the 'new' pool that have the water cannons and the gradual entry with water sprinkler type things for the kids. Pool water seemed warmer here.

#79: Madrid
#84: Alicante

#85: Christobal is on the other side of Alicante and is not a bad walk to the new pool area too.

There are some other more 'quiet' pool areas. I did not see these pools so I don't know what the pools are like. Our week was pretty quiet...plenty of chairs and not too hectic around the pools at all.

Now if I can figure out pictures..I will post them.

Hope this helps someone. Happy to answer any questions if you have any

 

[kilee]

Thanks for the great detailed report!!!

 

[littlestar]

Nice report. Thanks.

We are DVC members, but I have family that ALWAYS stay at Marriott Grande Vista. They own timeshares in Gatlinburg and Maui, so they always like to grab the "Getaway" weeks through Interval International (the timeshare exchange company) for the Marriott Grande Vista when they come to Orlando. It really is a beautiful resort.

 

[suz72]

Thank you for the very useful review. I would love to see photos.

Thanks,

Susan

 

[luvdisney14]

Is there a charge to play golf on the course or is it included in the room rate?

 

[Harryo]

There is an extra charge to play golf.

 

[Magical-Memories]

Just bumping this up for someone who was looking for recent info on this resort )

 

[luvdisney14]

Thank you very much for bumping this up, this review is excellent. I will save it and refer back to it when August approaches. What is the village area? We are renting this from someone, so I don't know how we will be able to make requests. We will probably request the newer villas if possible. Do any of the pools are zero entry? I am glad to hear that they have basketball and volleyball courts for my boys. By looking at the pictures it looks as if there are walk ways to take walks. When we stayed at vistant resorts, that was one of the things I didn't like. My husband and I like to walk in the morning while my boys are still sleeping. Thanks again.

 

[Magical-Memories]

The village area is just the area closest to the main pool and front desk. There is a tiny little Pizza Hut there..and it is also close to the children's indoor play area and also the pool table area. The lighthouse that you may see houses a tiny little bar...very cute. The Volleyball area is in that vicinity as well. The 'new' pool area is a short walk across a bridge over the lake.

The only zero entry pool I saw was part of the 'new' pool and it was in the children's area that also has all those sprinkler type things. I did not see the quiet pools though.

We were basically given the use of this by my BIL & SIL. I called about 3 days before to make requests on where we wanted to be. However I don't think that person recorded any of my requests. He Okayed them so quickly I just felt like he didn't. I probably should have called back. But when I did get there the man at the front desk was great and gave me a few options.

Our accomodations were perfectly adequate for us..as we don't travel like this too often. Our kids thought they were in heaven compared to our usual yearly cottage rental in Maine..which we pay quite a bit of money for! However if you are a more seasoned traveller than I would try and get a newer unit with the granite and the flat screen TV's.

There does seem to be sidewalks and some pathways...we did not really explore the depths of the resort staying only within the confines of the two main pool areas. The basketball court was probably a 5 minute walk from the main village area.

I have read other people's complaints that they have stayed in buildings that are further out and have had to drive to the pools..but we were within a reasonable walking distance to everything.

I still can't seem to figure out how to post pictures here..it says I'm not allowed to post attachments? But I did submit the same review with pictures to tripadvisor so hopefully that will post shortly to give you an idea.

 

[luvdisney14]

Thank you for all the information.

 

[luvdisney14]

I just saw your pictures on trip adivisor - great pictures. It is nice to see pictures other than on the resort websites. thank you. I have another question - When renting from an owner, I was wondering if we get a new set of towels during the course of the week. I know that maid service is not included. Last year staying a vistana towels were available at the pool area to use. I dread washing towels everyday for showers and pool.

 

[abouna]

We stayed there a couple of years ago and are staying again next month. We own Marriott in Maui, but would never buy in Orlando. You can always rent or get a package at a good rate. For example, we have the visa package next month, five nights in a two-bedroom with two four day Disney Magic plus tickets for $1280.00 with taxes. If you remove the ticket costs, about $240.00 each or $480 total, that leaves five nights in a two-bedroom villa for $800.00 or $160.00/night. Can't beat that. That's about the price with tax of a moderate Disney resort with tiny rooms and so-so beds.

 

[Magical-Memories]

I just saw your pictures on trip adivisor - great pictures. It is nice to see pictures other than on the resort websites. thank you. I have another question - When renting from an owner, I was wondering if we get a new set of towels during the course of the week. I know that maid service is not included. Last year staying a vistana towels were available at the pool area to use. I dread washing towels everyday for showers and pool.

We did not get any new towels (we went through our BIL's timeshare through II). They did give us separate pool towels though. I did end up washing them...I was doing laundry for the 6 of us and I would just throw in a load or two daily. I know what you mean though. At first I was put off at having to make the beds...and not having the maid service. But we got such a deal..that It was totally worth it.

 

[luvdisney14]

Last year was the first year we didn't have maid service, I dreaded it before the vacation. It honestly wasn't bad at all. This year I will just have to wash towels daily. I did like having the washer - went home with all clean clothes.