Need some help!

[Tygerlilly]

I'm in the beginning stages of planning our late Sept/early October 15 day trip for 2016. There will be me, hubby, our almost 1 year old daughter and hubby's 22 year old son.

I'm trying to find a resort that offers two bedrooms. I thought I found an awesome one (grand beach resort) but I read somewhere on here that it was a timeshare? I really don't want to deal with the pushyness of sales pitches.

Anyway, if possible, I'd prefer it to be near DTD just so hubby and son can go off and do whatever and take the car and me and baby can go to Disney for a day and take the shuttle bus. But that isn't really a deal breaker.

Any recommendations on decent 2 bedroom hotels?

 

[GoBears 1980]

but I read somewhere on here that it was a timeshare? I really don't want to deal with the pushyness of sales pitches

Just because a resort is a timeshare resort, that does not mean they are going to give you a sales pitch.

If you mean the Grande Lakes Marriott, it is a fabulous hotel and they won't pitch you, or at least there is no obligation to listen to a pitch.

 

[Tygerlilly]

My mistake, it was called Grand Beach Resort.

I can't find where the website says it is a timeshare, so that is where I was confused. I'm probably booking thru hotels.com because I have the extra nights I can use.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Most timeshare resorts will offer you the chance to take part in their timeshare presentation (or "resort preview" or whatever they happen to be calling it that day), but as a general rule you can politely decline and get on with your holiday. The exception will be if you booked a deeply discounted stay at the resort for which your attendance at a timeshare presentation is necessary. Most often, though, attendance is voluntary and a polite but firm "no" at check-in (and a request that no one from the sales team follow up at a later date) is all that's needed.

Staying at a hotel versus a timeshare resort will not necessarily keep you immune from being haggled to attend a timeshare presentation. We stayed at a Marriott-owned hotel (Residence Inn) in Orlando a couple of years ago, and they too tried to get us a to attend a timeshare meeting at one of the local timeshare resorts. Again, a thanks-but-no-thanks was all that was needed and we were not hassled for the rest of our stay.

Caribe Royale is a hotel that is very close to Downtown Disney and offers two bedroom accommodations. Many Residence Inns and Homewood Suites also offer two bedroom accommodations, so those are worth checking out as well.

There are also several other timeshare resorts close to DTD that you might want to compare for price and amenities. Sheraton Vistana Resort is one of them. Blue Heron Beach is another. Marriott World Center and Marriott Sabal Palms are nearby options. Floridays, Marriott Grande Vista, Sheraton Vistana Villages are all pretty close to DTD, too.

 

[bankr63]

Anyway, if possible, I'd prefer it to be near DTD just so hubby and son can go off and do whatever and take the car and me and baby can go to Disney for a day and take the shuttle bus. But that isn't really a deal breaker.

Just to be clear here, if you are thinking you can take a shuttle from DTD to the parks that is not possible. DTD buses only go to Disney Resorts (from which you can take another bus to the parks). You can take a bus from DTD to a resort close to a park (say the Contemporary for MK) and then walk the rest as well.

If you want to take a shuttle direct from a non-Disney resort, most in the area offer some kind of service, sometimes at a fee, sometimes free. However most run a much more restricted schedule than Disney - maybe 3-4 trips each way per day for most.

Don't be shy of a timeshare resort; they are probably the most likely to give you the space and amenities you need, and as Gina says avoiding a pitch is easy peasy.