Need opinions: hotel that we’d never want to leave...

[Milldew]

For our summer vacation (July 31-Aug 8th) we are considering a trip to Orlando but with the possibility of never entering the Theme Parks. I know that that may sound crazy but my family and I are frequent Orlando visitors (my 6 year old son has been to Disney 13 times!). We love going to Florida (we are from Massachusetts) because we always have great luck with the weather, the flights are cheap & you can always find an awesome place to eat!

What I’m thinking is that we book a resort where we could spend a week…a place that we’d never want to leave (ok maybe we’d go the the parks 1-2 days ;-)

This is where I need your help… where should we stay?…and most important - how can I get the best possible price? I’m thinking Gaylord Palms or something like that but I’d really like your opinions on where to go. Florida beach locations are also an option (we’ve stayed at Disney’s Vero Beach Resort in the past) but I don’t know anything about any of the other properties. We have grown accustomed to the villa type arrangement (I love having a microwave and washer/dryer – just so that I don’t have to pack as much clothes) but would be very open to an upscale resort hotel (we stayed at the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress last summer and really enjoyed it – great spa!).

Ideally the resort would have an awesome pool(s), a spa (need that massage), and high speed internet access (I still need to run the business while I’m away).

Your thoughts?

In the past we’ve stayed at:
The Boardwalk Villas (3 times)
The Polynesian (2 times)
Wilderness Lodge (2 times)
Dixie Landings/Port Orleans (2 times)
Old Key West (1 time)
The Hyatt Grand Cypress (1 time)
The Marriott Grand Vista (1 time)
Horizons by Marriott (1 time)

 

[spiceycat]

there is a new Ritz Carlton - it is not a villa

Hilton Grand Vacation Club - was very nice.

Orange Lake is surpose to be great!

Gaylord as you already know.

I really like VWL for non park visit - there is alot to do there plus FW.

as far as discounts sites - you might have to wait until tomorrow - there are on my work computer not home.

 

[UKDEB]

We spent 4 nights at the Ritz Carlton in January followed by a week in a private pool home. We hardly left the RC whilst we were there and ended up doing a lot less Disney during the entire trip than we normally do. We were with my brother and his wife and they regretted their decision to book Discovery Cove during our time at RC because they couldn't bear to leave! The entire resort is stunning and still looks shiny new and untouched - the lobby, the rooms, the restaurants. Everything is immaculate.

The staff are in a class of their own. All companies should take a lesson from the RC! <b>Every</b> one of them, bar none, was the epitomy of friendliness, helpfulness and courteousness. Reception, bar, golf shop, spa, restaurants, housekeeping. One morning as we walked from our room and out through the lobby, no less than 9 members of staff said, "good morning". We even had a 'thank you' note from housekeeping for the tip we left! I had a manicure and pedicure at the spa and commented on the standard of customer care. She told me that they are very selective about who they take.

The Grand Lakes resort is huge and includes the RC, the RC Greg Norman designed golf course, the RC spa and the JW Marriott. The two hotels are connected by their conferencing facilities (miles of opulent space!) and the RC spa. Each hotel has a pool (you can use both) and the spa also has its own pool. The pool at the JWM has a lazy river.

We ate at Norman's, the Vineyard Grill, Fairways Pub (golf clubhouse) and Primo at the JW Marriott. We'd booked Norman's months in advance and I was really looking forward to it. There were a couple of things which let it down a little on the night in question and so I was a bit disappointed, but isn't that always the case when your expectations are way up there? I'd like to try it again. The Vineyard Grill was a really pleasant surprise - we had dinner here the first evening and breakfast the last morning. We also loved Fairways - so much in fact that we re-visited for lunch on our last day before setting off for the airport. Primo is a stunning space, but I wasn't bowled over by my entree (the house signature dish). Again, though, I would go back.

The JW Marriott is a cheaper option than the RC, but is a stunning resort in itself and I would happily stay there. We were on an adults only trip for my brother's 40th birthday and I liked the fact that we saw very few children at the RC - there were definitely more around at the JWM. I think your son would love the pool there.

The grounds are beautiful too and we spent ages just strolling around.

We got a really great room rate ($173), but be warned that it's not a cheap place to stay! My brother and husband played golf - $170 each, plus $50 each tip for the fore-caddie ("complimentary" for tee-times before 1.30pm). S-i-l and I drove the carts in the glorious Florida sunshine - a wonderful way to while away a day. In hindsight, we should have declined the caddie service - it put the men off a bit and it seemed that everyone else playing had opted out.

My manicure and pedicure were twice the price I'd paid the previous week at our hotel in New York. We also managed to rack-up a fair old bill in the lobby bar over 4 nights! And, of course, the tips mount up too. When you stay at a hotel, you seem to be reaching in your pocket every two minutes. If self-parking is available, they obviously keep it a closely guarded secret.

All that said, I'm a firm believer that you get what you pay for and I would stay again in a heartbeat.

Here are some links:

Ritz Carlton
JW Marriott
Grande Lakes

 

[spiceycat]

sometimes discount sites - only sometimes - I have found cheaper rooms on their home sites which deb has given you

www.hotelkingdom.com
www.expedia.com
www.travelocity.com
www.hotels.com
www.travelnow.com
www.hotwire.com


here is a website for orange lake
http://www.myorangelake.com/

here is one of hilton grand vacation club
http://www.hgvc.com

 

[Milldew]

Pat - thank you for the quick response you've been very helpful.

Debbie - thank you for taking the time to provide all of these details...RC is definitely on the list now. Can you tell me a little about the pool areas? As I mentioned my son is 6 and I also have an 8 year old daughter...we would be spending a HUGE amount of time at the pool. Also, coincidently my children have been asking to go to Discovery Cove (we’ve never been). In your opinion is Discovery Cove worth the price tag? We would have to buy the package that included a lot of interaction with the Dolphins because our daughter is now a Dolphin freak (on our last trip to Seaworld (last month) we were able to get a picture of her petting a Dolphin).

Any other opinions out there regarding resort choices?

 

[Lewisc]

You could try PBH (Universal). Has a great pool and a spa. Not as upscale (or expensive) as RC. If you reserve early enough you may be able to get an Entertainment rate.

 

[UKDEB]

We didn't use any of the pools, but there is a kids pool and playground right next to the main pool at the RC. My guess is that most kids would enjoy the Lazy River at JWM - I know mine would. The beauty is that you have use of all the pools if you are a guest at either hotel. The 'Grand Lakes' site (link in my previous post) has an excellent gallery with lots of photos of the entire resort including the pools. The gorgeous landscaping of the JWM pool makes it difficult to get a comprehensive photo, but there is a great ariel shot.

I don't swim so, after much deliberation, dh and I didn't do DC. Although it's not necessary to be able to swim to do the dolphin swim, I felt I would be missing out on a lot of the other activities, such as the reef and aviary. My brother and s-i-l loved it though and I've never heard anyone say otherwise. Apparently a disproportionate number of guests are Brits (compared with the numbers actually in Orlando at any given time). We are visiting again in July, this time with our two teenage daughters (19 & 16) and elder dd's boyfriend (20). I just booked for them to spend a day at DC (with the dolphin swim) and they are so excited!

Here are some photos of our stay, although I think you'll get a better feel for the place from the Grand Lakes photo gallery.

<b>Ritz Carlton</b>

Bar

Lobby

Pool

Pool from our room

Our room

Spa

 

[UKDEB]

<b>JW Marriott</b>

Lobby

Pool

 

[Sammy]

Milldew:

Thanks for posting this question...I am looking for the same info. We are looking to do a (very) last minute trip the end of Feb, but probably not to do any of the parks. I'm looking for a place that would keep my 3 kids occupied for the 4 days...you know: nice pool area, maybe some activities. We're really looking to do just a relaxing vacation at a relatively low $$.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!
Sammy

 

[spiceycat]

la Quinta - Lakeside - I am going in March I will tell you how much I like it or not.

http://www.laquintainnlakeside.com/

won't recommend this for upscale - but I think for what you are looking for it might work.

 

[Milldew]

Debbie - Thank you very much for the pictures...they give us a very good idea of the accomodations. You've been a huge help!