Orange Lake area

[holdem]

I have only been by this area once and it's been awhile. I heard there is an entrance to DW there now. Is there restaurants and shopping in the area? Thanks.

 

[spiceycat]

this is a big, big place. the only one in fact that I had to drive to a swimming pool.

yes there is shopping. but nothing is close. so don't even think about walking to these places.

there is a publix on their property. but again not possible to walk to it.

some people will disagree but because of the traffic light on US 192 - it took an unreasonable amount of time to leave OL for anything. that light can and will hold you for 10 minutes - believe me I timed it. It would be okay if there was that much traffic on Us 192. but a couple of these times there was NO traffic on US 192. very, very irriating.

now that say to get to WDW it is not a long trip - you can get on the new 417 toll road - to get off at WDW there is no toll. to get on here there might be.

or you could just turn left out of OL - go down a couple of block - turn left on black lake road when it stops - turn left on Sherberth road, at the traffic light turn right - now you are on WDW property - the parks signs are a few blocks away.

 

[holdem]

Is there shopping etc. on that part of 192? Thanks.

 

[spiceycat]

there is a Publix, walgreen

there is no outlet malls if that is what you are asking?

 

[f7prez]

As SpiceyCat said, This place is big, HUGE. However, we loved it. Stayed there for the first time this past spring. While it is quite a ways out on 192 (Main Gate West), the new highway 417 provides a quick route onto Disney property. One of the things we liked about OLCC was its size. There was soooo much to do. The resort is broken into 4 villages, and offers golf tennis, water craft, miniature golf and multiple pools.

They have also completed the new River Island pool and water slide park, which is free to guests and where my DD8 wanted to spend all her time.

The rooms were colorful and spacious. We we in the North Village, and the room was in good shape.

I have read reviews that were not complimentary of the west Village, but I was told they are in the middle of refurbishing all the units there.

 

[holdem]

What about restaurants in the area?

 

[bunny213]

We're owners at OL....twice a year....
JT's down on 192 is excellent...and try restaurant.com for a discount...and there's Carrabas...Bruno's .....some really great restaurants at OL....there's Holligans and Beef O Brady's too. There's lots of Fast Food places...and the Chinese place down from Public is very very good too. Barb

 

[holdem]

Thanks for the help. What about the closest shopping mall?

 

[holdem]

Is the driving time to Universal about 20 minutes? Thanks.

 

[gjw007]

The driving time to Universal is probably close to 30 minutes, give or take. It takes about 5 minutes to get onto Disney property through the Animal Kingdom area and another 10 minutes roughly to leave Disney property (depending on the lights) and another 15 minutes to get to Universal from there.

The fact that OLCC is large size resort is a positive for me but it may be a negative for others. As an example, I have heard that Bonnet Creek is roughly 2500 units whereas OLCC has slightly more units but Bonnet Creek is on a much more acreage (I want to say 10 or 12 acres but I'm not sure; OLCC is roughly 1250 acres).

As far as shopping, there really are no major shopping centers in that area but there are a number eating places and tourist-oriented shops. There is a Wal-Mart roughly 6 or 7 miles away off I-27 going West. My experience with the area is that the shopping centers are a bit spread out as the Florida Mall is off Sand Lake, Millenium nearer to Universal, Outlet stores at various locations including close to Disney, etc. The question is what type of stores are you looking for?

I'm not sold that the 417 highway provides the quickest way to Disney unless the roads are really busy. The irony of this is that the Northern section of OLCC in the East Village is a stones throw from the exit from 417 to Disney Way, the road on Disney property. Given that this area will be developed in the future, it would not be unreasonable to expect OLCC to have an entrance in this area in the future. Now that would solve the traffic problem on I-192 for OLCC owners and guests.

 

[Keacc]

Hey Bunny213,
When did you last got to JT's? It has been getting some bad reviews on this forum. Some one also said that they thought they saw a "FOR SALE" sign out front. We were thinking of trying it in December when we will be at Orange lake because we have a $25 coupon from restaurant.com. Now we're not sure.

 

[bunny213]

Just back yesterday - yes we did go to JT's with a rest.com certificate...it was one of the best meals we had! There is a for sale sign up, but it doesn't seem to have affected the service or the food.
It really was a nice night and our dinner was very good. DH had the fried fish and I had the prime rib...it was cooked just right, the baked potato was very good too. We had one drink a piece....and the meal came with rolls and a salad (which was nice cold and crispy).
The service was wonderful too. It wasn't crowded at all and there was a football came that night. Some of the other customers were really into the game and it added to to the fun of the night.
I wouldn't hesitate to go back there. In fact...I'm hoping to get another certif. for when we go back in May.
I hope you all enjoy it as much as we did. I think I only paid like $4 for the certificate...it was a great night for us.
We also ate at Carrabba's - no coupon or certificate, but it was wonderful. You need to get there a little early though - it gets crowded about 6ish. They have a happy hour ... I had "white" sangria for the first time ever...it was so good.
Hope you have a great time. Any more questions....just ask and I'll help as much as I can!
Bunny213

 

[tl_swift]

I can't wait!!!!!!!

Has anybody done a post trip report after staying at OLCC??

 

[holdem]

Is JT's a sports bar?

 

[bunny213]

It is...but we've been there many times and never found it "loud and noisy" like some of them can be. This last time - a football game was on...the one where both teams hadn't lost at all yet, so it was fun but not too noisy. We were able to enjoy our dinner, have our conversations, but yet still enjoy the fun of the game. It's pretty large - with a bar area at one end and then dining tables on the other end. It's a casual place and the service whenever we've been there was very good. There is a video game area in the back, but you don't hear it in the dining room and you can only see it from the doorway. The decor is rustic...I think a few years ago they had deer heads and such on the walls. It's like a log cabin type decor inside.
The menu consists of ribs, steaks, barbeque, chicken, fried fish, baked potatoes, hamburgers and such. It was all very very good...especially since we had the restaurant.com certificate. But we've eatten there many times without a certificate, and would do so again.
I hope you enjoy it as much as we do. It's a casual place..where you can just relax and they don't rush you at all.

 

[DisneyHereWeCome!]

We just bought a timeshare at Orange Lake this year. We haven't used it yet, but have just exchanged our summer week for a week in January 2009. We reserved a 3 bedroom in the East Village. Hopefully, we'll be happy with it! It will be me and my husband, our 4 year old and one year old, 11 year old stepson, the in-laws and his aunt. We couldn't decide between staying on Disney (like we normally do) or trying out Orange Lake. We finally decided on Orange Lake because I think it will be much nicer and easier to be able to spread out, especially with a 12 month old!

I do have a few questions for the Orange Lake veterans:

1. Do you have to bring your own sheets and towels??
2. How difficult is it to get into the parks from the parking lots if you drive in? We'll have our own stroller.
3. Where can you see the fireworks from on Orange Lake property and how well can you see them?
4. For those of you who have stayed on Disney AND at Orange Lake, which did you prefer?

Thanks for your help!

 

[gjw007]

We just bought a timeshare at Orange Lake this year. We haven't used it yet, but have just exchanged our summer week for a week in January 2009. We reserved a 3 bedroom in the East Village. Hopefully, we'll be happy with it! It will be me and my husband, our 4 year old and one year old, 11 year old stepson, the in-laws and his aunt. We couldn't decide between staying on Disney (like we normally do) or trying out Orange Lake. We finally decided on Orange Lake because I think it will be much nicer and easier to be able to spread out, especially with a 12 month old!

I do have a few questions for the Orange Lake veterans:

1. Do you have to bring your own sheets and towels??
2. How difficult is it to get into the parks from the parking lots if you drive in? We'll have our own stroller.
3. Where can you see the fireworks from on Orange Lake property and how well can you see them?
4. For those of you who have stayed on Disney AND at Orange Lake, which did you prefer?

Thanks for your help!

1) No, everything is provided. Here is a list of items that are there and what you should consider bringing, http://www.olcc.com/plan_your_vacation/what_to_bring.html.
2) Not too difficult to drive as OLCC borders the Animal Kingdom. The simplest method is to take I-192 east toward World Drive and you are on Disney property. Depending on the traffic light, it should take less than 10 minutes. The fastest method is to enter through the Animal Kingdom area which takes roughly 5 minutes. Either way, it is easy to get to WDW from OLCC.
3) It depends. There are areas on OLCC property where you can see the fireworks but there are others where you will not be able to see the fireworks. In the East Village, the higher up you are, the more likely you are to see the fireworks than if you are on the ground level. Also, the building location also affects the view.
4) I own at DVC and at OLCC. I prefer OLCC but I do enjoy DVC during the Xmas season. I normally stay at OLCC about 4 weeks a year and 1 week at DVC. Different people like different things, even within the same ownership. As an example, there are people who like the hotel-style resorts, such as Board Walk or Beach Club Villas in the DVC membership but dislike the open layout of the Saratoga Springs so much that have declared SSR to be a disaster and wished it was never built. They don't like to drive and want everything in front of them whereas other like the spacing between neighbors and the quiet comfort that a more spacious layout of the property. Neither is right or wrong, just a matter of personal tastes although some responses sometimes are over the top.

I believe that you will enjoy your stay at OLCC.

 

[DisneyHereWeCome!]

Thanks for your reply. It was very helpful. I'm looking forward to our trip! I was very nervous about staying on Disney with a 12 month old. I couldn't imagine a week in a hotel room, dragging a stroller on and off the buses, waiting at the bus stops, walking forever to get to your room, etc., etc. Now that we have decided on Orange Lake, I feel much better about it. It will be just like being at home. We can all spread out and do our laundry. If we want to skip a day at the parks, we won't all be cramped into a tiny hotel room (as nice as they are, they just aren't my idea of relaxing.) I don't mind driving at all, so the large resort actually appeals to me.

 

[holdem]

Do they rent boats at Orange Lake?

 

[gjw007]

Do they rent boats at Orange Lake?

Yes, there are a variety of small boats that can be rented.