Mini Orange Lake review

[blitzkrieg048]

Stayed at Orange Lake for first time on my in-laws dime so that made it better than it actually was. We stayed at the West Side which is the oldest and largest. Room size was great we had a 2 br and it was more than adequate. The room was dated as far as appliances and furniture. The unit was right on the golf course, literally, I could walk out the back porch and right onto the fairway. I didn't like the west side so much that it seemed like a average neighborhood in Florida rather than a resort. The pool in the West Side was nice and the River Island section was great. The units in the the East Village, Norht Village, and River Island looked nice and was much newer. The layout is huge, thank god we had a car. The restaurants we're ok, nothing special. I found the location a little furhter away from Disney parks and downtown Disney than I would like, with the exception of AK. Again this didn't cost us anything so it was better than if I had to pay. Let me also say that I'm a DVC member and am spoiled by the Disney was and service. I found the staff at Orange Lake not as friendly and the resort shuttle vans drive really, really fast around the resort. I would probably not go there again and definately not if I had to pay. I would much rather spend my money at the Vistana, which in my midn blows Orange Lake away, if I didn't have DVC, which I'm glad more than ever that I bought.

 

[Wishing on a star]

Thanks for your review!

We will be at Orange Lake (NORTH section) in a couple weeks.
This will be our first visit. And, like you, is thru my inlaws timeshare.

Your review of Orange Lake sounds like many others that seem to mention that they are seriously lacking in the customer service department, with less-than-friendly staff, and no services to speak of.

We have stayed at Vistana. We were very lucky and were given a top floor suite in the then-new Cascades section overlooking the pool. It was fantastic!!!! But, I remember being very underwhelmed the remainder of Vistana.

 

[blitzkrieg048]

See, and I thought the Vistana was great. Oh, well hope your stay at OL is a little better than mine. The North Section is newer so I'm sure it will be better than our units. Have fun.

 

[lawgs]

See, and I thought the Vistana was great. Oh, well hope your stay at OL is a little better than mine. The North Section is newer so I'm sure it will be better than our units. Have fun.

you must have been assigned to one of the newer (not as old as the first units built ) west village units since they have been actively refurbishing the west village for a couple of years now

the new digs inlcude granite counter tops and they completely gut the units when they do these "refurbs"

we were under the impression this refurb in the west village was finished but from what you say they are probably still in progress

was this an exchange through RCI, that might explain your placement since all resorts seem to relegate exchangers to lesser unit it seems ( we have experienced this on numerous exchanges to various resorts...topped off by being told by sales that if we owned there, we would not be treated thusly...to us a weird way of wanting someone to own at a location where you are placed in the lowest appearing accomodations )

would definately give them the x rating on your rci survey if you get one, and would even suggest you contact them and tell them they have not received a "glowing" review due to your concerns and treatment while there ( you might even want to contact the RCI office at Orange Lake to inform them also )

you should certainly be asking questions about why you were placed in a non-refurbished unit at OLCC as an exchanger


we are owners at OLCC but not in weeks, we have formerly Global Access Points now Holiday Inn Vacation Club points ( they constantly change the parameters of the club with little or no advisement to owners )....we too find customer service is often lacking when we call/visit and we often have to escalate our concerns to the next level before we find resolution (we like the resort but not the constant need to push for resolution ...heck the cost to just step up to the front desk costed out in our MF is approximately 75$, for that amount the experience should be top notch but rarely is

 

[blitzkrieg048]

Yes it was an exchange thru RCI, and to be honest I probably will never go back. My inlaws let us use there time since they weren't going to use it. I'm a DVC member and it is absolutely worth the money, every penny! I'm sure there are nicer resorts off property Vistana being one, but I know every DVC resort I stay in will be clean and friendly. If my inlaws don't use there time again next year we mite try the resort right next to Sea World.

 

[shoney]

I am so sorry your experience wasn't good. I hate to hear things like that. Vacations are precious!
We hated Orange Lake and had customer service and other hotel guest issues. I called RCI when we got home (it was also an exchange) and they gave me back my week. We used it to book HGVC @ SeaWorld and loved it.

Please voice your concerns. It is important for others to know.

 

[blitzkrieg048]

I am so sorry your experience wasn't good. I hate to hear things like that. Vacations are precious!
We hated Orange Lake and had customer service and other hotel guest issues. I called RCI when we got home (it was also an exchange) and they gave me back my week. We used it to book HGVC @ SeaWorld and loved it.

Please voice your concerns. It is important for others to know.

did they give you a hard time about gettingmyour weeks back, how was sea world?

 

[shoney]

Not really. They were pretty understanding. While we were at orange lake, we spoke to the RCI rep. She was unhelpful and down right rude. I just called and explained our complaints and they offered to refund our exchange fee or put another week in our account. We choose the week.

HGVC is just very different. It is much more upscale and a lot smaller, which we prefer. The kids club was great. The restaurant/bar served good inexpensive food. It was just a much nicer atmosphere. It is a bit isolated, but we don't have a problem driving.

 

[blitzkrieg048]

That's the resort right next to the highwa, right?

 

[lawgs]

That's the resort right next to the highwa, right?

we also own at HGVC seaworld and have had issues at this resort also

make sure you ask for a refurbished unit and make sure that people at the resort know about any concerns you have while you stay there, they are usually responsive to your concerns ( ask for the general manager if the front desk cannot resolve the issue

no matter what resort you are at on an exchange, it is " always a "crap" shoot on what type of accomodations you will get. depending, largely on who assigns the rooms and what criteria they follow eg members first, renters and probably exchangers at the bottom of the list .....

 

[The Hendies]

We have been owners at Orange Lake for many years and have stayed 5 times and traded all of the other times. I won't defend our choice, and maybe we have been lucky, but we have not had any problems at the resort. I should also add, that we have NEVER actually stayed the whole day at the resort. We are usually at WDW, Universal, out to Kennedy Space Center, etc. We will be there 2 times in 2010, so maybe we will have a chance to be more objective. Sorry you had a rough time!

 

[tinkerbell423]

We have been owners at Orange Lake for many years and have stayed 5 times and traded all of the other times. I won't defend our choice, and maybe we have been lucky, but we have not had any problems at the resort. I should also add, that we have NEVER actually stayed the whole day at the resort. We are usually at WDW, Universal, out to Kennedy Space Center, etc. We will be there 2 times in 2010, so maybe we will have a chance to be more objective. Sorry you had a rough time!

It looks like we will be at Orange Lake the week befor you AND we are both from upstate NY.

 

[Wishing on a star]

Just back.....
Memorial Week visit at Orange Lake, North Village.
I am posting a detailed review in a new thread!!

 

[gjw007]

you must have been assigned to one of the newer (not as old as the first units built ) west village units since they have been actively refurbishing the west village for a couple of years now

Wayne,

There a still some golf villas in the West Village that have not been renovated. I stayed in one May 12 to 19th. There was nothing wrong with the unit other than the bathrooms are small. I really like being on the ground level, parking my car in front of the door, and walking out to the lawn through the back door.

I like Vistana and DVC but both have problems as well (I've seen carpet in poor condition while at the Boardwalk that I have never seen at any other resort (with the exception of SummerBay but that unit was so bad that it shouldn't have been issued to guests) and it took 3 different phone calls before I found somebody who would look at it - DVC doesn't upgrade units as a group or at a specific time but on a one by one basis where the unit next to you could have undergone an upgrade but none of the units around it are touched. Nothing wrong with this, just a difference in operations - people who who are really into Disney defend DVC more than they should). I don't think there is a resort that doesn't have some issue (I had issues at HGVC as well). But really, all these issues were minor and not worth making more out of them then they are worth.

I don't know about the other resorts but I think a problem with OLCC customer service is the fact that some areas, such as the front desk, are staffed by individuals who are part of a hospitality school who are there for a year. I have yet to run into the same front desk desk staff in the nine years that I have been there. Some are very helpful and will go out of their way to assist and other rely strictly on the computer screen and go no further. I think DVC's staff is better because of the long term employment with Disney so that they really know the resort and the operations. On the other hand, parking at DVC can be a real pain because it can be so far from the resort (i.e. with a resort full, try being at the far end of the parking lot at VWL or the Boardwalk - what a pain!).

 

[tinkerbell423]

When I called RCI and made my ressie they said I had a 3 bedroom in the west section. I got my paperwork in the mail a while ago but I was just putting it in my binder now. I reread it and it says EAST. I have read all about the west but I don't know much about the east. Is it pretty much the same? My brother is in the East the same week however my Aunt is in the West will we be far away from each other?

 

[gjw007]

When I called RCI and made my ressie they said I had a 3 bedroom in the west section. I got my paperwork in the mail a while ago but I was just putting it in my binder now. I reread it and it says EAST. I have read all about the west but I don't know much about the east. Is it pretty much the same? My brother is in the East the same week however my Aunt is in the West will we be far away from each other?

The 3-bedroom units in the East, West, and North Village are the same and the pictures shown on Orange Lake's website are picture of the 2-bedroom (East and North Village) and 3-bedroom units. The 3-bedrooms in the West Village are in the Tennis Villas which are right next to the clubhouse; as such, they are very near a center of activities such as the pool, the lake, putt put golf, restaurants, etc. The East Village will be quieter as the only real recreation is the golf course. There are two smaller pools in this section.

Personally, I'd rather have the 3-bedroom in the West Village near the Clubhouse.

And yes, you will be some distance away from each other so that you will need to take a shuttle or drive a car.

 

[Wishing on a star]

Just curious.... are you renting, or did you do an exchange with RCI?

We just got back from an RCI exchange. (posted a recent trip report here) They actually have each section of Orange Lake as a separate resort number. So, it definitely assigns you to that particular section/village.

Could there be some mistake with your confirmation?

Did you all try to coordinate to get into the same section?