Offered Marriott Grande Vista

[shoes99]

My sister traded her Aruba Marriott timeshare for the Marriott Grande Vista during ESPN Weekend. She got a 3 bedroom, so she asked us if we wanted to join them for a week. This "always stays on site AP holder" said YES.
We will join them for 5 of the 7 nights that they have the 3 bedroom.
I've looked at the reviews and they seem favorable. I am just so spoiled by staying on Disney Property. 8 miles from WDW seems so far away.
I'm looking forward to the experience. Last year I stayed in a Grand Villa with friends at OKW. How does Marriott Grande Vista accommodations compare to OKW Grand Villa. Are there local roads to avoid I4 getting to Epcot?

 

[littlestar]

If you get a new building/Grande Vista unit, they are fantastic. Very upscale with granite countertops, plush bedding, etc. My sister would rather stay at Grande Vista than on Disney property! Her family takes Vineland over by Dixie Stampede near the outlets to get to Downtown Disney whenever staying at Marriott. Sometime next spring 2008, the new Seaworld waterpark should be open - Aquatica. Seaworld is real close to Grande Vista.

 

[shoes99]

We passed the new water park construction on our last trip when we took International Drive South... We didn't realize at the time that we would be staying at Marriott Grande Vista. We are familiar with Vineland and the Premium Outlets so it shouldn't be so bad. I'll tell her to request a new unit.
Thanks.

 

[chezza]

Hi, we've just spent 2 weeks there & enjoyed every moment. We were in the main reception building, although I had read to ask for one of the newer buildings. We thought if it was really bad we would ask to change. We were happy with our room, it was overlooking the pool area on third floor & to be honest if we had been in one of the newer blocks you would have to walk some distance to get to the pool, the shop and more importantly the Pizza Hut (had a few of those).

We did the time share thing as they offered us $200, it seemed a good deal, but we live in England and it is along way to come just for a week & plus we hadn't checked it out against other timeshares on the internet before we traveled. We obviously went to one of the new rooms on out tour & to be honest it just looked the same as our room, same bedding same bathroom fittings & same kitchen area. So we were pleased we didn't kick up a fuss.

Can recommend the Nick Faldo restuarant, we had a very nice meal there, the steak was to die for, although it did cost us $125 dollars for 2, but we did have wine.


Enjoy your trip.


Chez

 

[shoes99]

bump up

 

[Detailor]

I think that you'll find that the OKW Grand Villas are larger than the three-bedroom units at Grande Vista - I think that the Grand Villa square footage is nearly as much as my house. But Grande Vista is a really nice resort (we'll be there for the third time around the same time that you will be there). You should be happy there. I'd suggest that your sister ask for a unit in one of these buildings: 77, 78, 79, 84 or 85. These are all new(er) buildings that are near the new pool area She should call - not email - the resort with her request. It seems to me that the reservation staff at most Marriotts are quite accommodating when a guest makes a request - they can't always match everyone up, but they do try.

As an alternative route to Epcot, I'd suggest that sometimes Vineland gets very busy with traffic and it can take a while to get where you want to go. In my opinion a better route is to continue past Vineland staying on International Drive, then cross SR 535 to SR 536 which becomes Epcot Center Drive. Getting to the various parks is easy from there.

Dick Taylor

 

[shoes99]

Just bumping up.

 

[shoes99]

We are leaving this Friday....flying from New Jersey on JetBlue. Dear Sis and Dear Brother-in-law are flying from Philadelphia and we will meet up at MCO.
DS requested a lakeview for our 3 bedroom, can't wait.