Orange Lake Information Thread

[BigredNole]

One small bit of advice...know what day it is!!! I read the wrong day on the activity schedule and was sitting around like a crazy person by myself for an activity. Turns out I read the Monday schedule. The resort schedules are built Monday - Sunday. Normal calendars are Sunday - Saturday.

 

[TamaraQT]

One small bit of advice...know what day it is!!! I read the wrong day on the activity schedule and was sitting around like a crazy person by myself for an activity.

 

[BigredNole]

OK, here are travel times to some of the parks. Of course, these are my times and no guarantee that yours will be similar. Any number of issues may come into play including traffic, room location, missing a monorail by seconds, etc.

These times are from the second I left my room to the time I was putting the Magicband to the sensor OR walking under the exit at the park until the time I got to my room at OLR. So far, both each way trips were the same. The time difference was negligible.

OLR to/from MK: 50 minutes each way.

OLR to/from AK: 20 minutes each way.

 

[BigredNole]

Because we have had so much fun at Orange Lake, we had to have a sitdown to see what we really wanted to do our last 3 days. It is hard traveling with 1 child. You have to weigh going around everywhere and kid play time. It was more difficult at WBC for her to meet other kids to play with. At OLR, she has met other kids every day to play with. Either they are single kids as well or siblings that are big age differences.

I can certainly verify the statements others that have been here when they say kids prefer to stay than go to the parks. If we were only here 1 week total for the trip, the attitude would be different. But since OLR is the 2nd week of the trip, it is much easier to decide to stay instead of going to a park.

It is becoming more difficult to compare WBC to OLR. They are completely different experiences. Because I have to compare the 2, the edge does go to OLR. Where WBC gets dinged is the lack of activities in the afternoons. They are limited and most are geared in the mornings or nights when people go to parks. OLR gets its ding from some of the people that are here. I would say 99.5% of the people are perfectly fine. Then that 0.5% that makes you take a second look, keep a closer eye on things, and decide to just relocate or avoid the activity. Its such a small portion of the people, but it is something that I recognized me running the mental decision checks in my head.

I would definitely stay at OLR again, hands down. However, I would have to truly weigh going to the parks if staying there. If parks were important, I would probably look elsewhere...at least that would be my decision right now.

 

[MommyinHonduras]

I would definitely stay at OLR again, hands down. However, I would have to truly weigh going to the parks if staying there. If parks were important, I would probably look elsewhere...at least that would be my decision right now.

We are planning our trip for 8 nights with 6 park days and 3 resort days. Arrival is 9am and flight out is 9 pm. I was already leaning away from here for this trip, but this confirms it, along with the 50 minutes to MK. Thank you for your honest thoughts on your trip.

 

[BigredNole]

50 minutes is from leaving my room to walking to the turnstiles. It is not much different than WBC (maybe 5-10 minutes more to MK). People staying onsite refuse to put actual travel times. If I timed Disney transportation from when I left the room, walked to a bus stop, waited for a bus, go to 2-3 more stops, wait for ECV to load, the travel times is almost always more. Instead, people only time from when they leave the resort which is wrong.

For MK, it really doesn't matter much with the new opening and everyone in at the Hub anyway. I know the last time I was onsite and wanting to be at rope drop for MK, I had to leave or room at least 90 minutes and usually 2 hours before park opening. This is how the MK trip works out...

Leave room, drive to TTC (~20 minutes), walk to bag check (~10 minutes), walk to Ferry/Monorail (2 minutes), wait/board/ride ferry/monorail (~10-15 minutes), and walk to entrance (~2 minutes).

Onsite, it usually goes like this...
Leave room, walk to bus stop (10 minutes), wait for bus (15-45 minutes), ride bus through the resort (10 minutes), bus to MK bus stop (10-15 minutes), walk to entrance (5 minutes). The big issue is the wait for an MK bus. In my experience, buses are ALWAYS slower.

 

[BigredNole]

Had another fun partial day at OLR. Everything is a blast still. However, there is another ding. It is minor, but a resort with full kitchens need this item. They don't have a pizza cutter.

I know it is minor. After making a pizza, looking for a pizza cutter, a kitchen knife is simply not the best option for something that cost about $5.

 

[Cdn Gal]

What other things should I bring? What's the kitchen comparison to WBC? I'll be leaving in less than 2 weeks for WBC/OL/VP!! Wish we could have met up!

 

[TamaraQT]

Because we have had so much fun at Orange Lake, we had to have a sitdown to see what we really wanted to do our last 3 days. It is hard traveling with 1 child. You have to weigh going around everywhere and kid play time. It was more difficult at WBC for her to meet other kids to play with. At OLR, she has met other kids every day to play with. Either they are single kids as well or siblings that are big age differences.

I can certainly verify the statements others that have been here when they say kids prefer to stay than go to the parks. If we were only here 1 week total for the trip, the attitude would be different. But since OLR is the 2nd week of the trip, it is much easier to decide to stay instead of going to a park.

It is becoming more difficult to compare WBC to OLR. They are completely different experiences. Because I have to compare the 2, the edge does go to OLR. Where WBC gets dinged is the lack of activities in the afternoons. They are limited and most are geared in the mornings or nights when people go to parks. OLR gets its ding from some of the people that are here. I would say 99.5% of the people are perfectly fine. Then that 0.5% that makes you take a second look, keep a closer eye on things, and decide to just relocate or avoid the activity. Its such a small portion of the people, but it is something that I recognized me running the mental decision checks in my head.

I would definitely stay at OLR again, hands down. However, I would have to truly weigh going to the parks if staying there. If parks were important, I would probably look elsewhere...at least that would be my decision right now.

So it sounds like OLR is the place to be for those NOT going to parks too often or not at all. For us, it will be not at all. No Disney this trip. My DD11 is loving the idea of not having to do parks this year. She would be ok for 3 or 4 days at parks, because like you, we will be there for 2 full weeks at 2 different resorts. If OLR has all of that activity I know she will rather be there. Thanks so much for all of your updates and reports. It has truly helped many of us.
I will REMEMBER to look for a pizza cutter and call for one before I order Flippers!!

 

[greenclan67]

So it sounds like OLR is the place to be for those NOT going to parks too often or not at all. For us, it will be not at all. No Disney this trip. My DD11 is loving the idea of not having to do parks this year. She would be ok for 3 or 4 days at parks, because like you, we will be there for 2 full weeks at 2 different resorts. If OLR has all of that activity I know she will rather be there. Thanks so much for all of your updates and reports. It has truly helped many of us.
I will REMEMBER to look for a pizza cutter and call for one before I order Flippers!!

Brunos pizza is way better then Flippers right out the resort turn right uo about 3 mins on left. So good.

 

[BigredNole]

There is another BIG difference between WBC and OLR. At WBC, almost everything is included being a guest. At OLR, everything cost money. WBC has free putt putt, free pool. OLR charges for putt putt (and it is not cheap but much better). Pool is in the arcade and it cost money.

Kitchens at WBC and OLR are very similar. The only real difference that means anything is OLR does not have plastic cups nor a pizza cutter. Both are minor.

 

[BigredNole]

Well, it has been 3 night since someone walked off with my DD's crocs. That is the limit to me for someone accidentally picking them up and returning them. Someone purposely stole her shoes. I know the amount for them is relatively small, but they were brand new before we went on vacation.

This is the one thing I noticed more at OLR than WBC. It is a very small portion of the people there, but you do see the ones that when they are around you have to keep an eye out much more. I even watched it happen, although nothing was stolen. They were definitely scoping things out. They were setup in one area. They watched as people would get up from their seats, go to the bar or join in an activity. One would go over and sit in a chair right where the people got up from. They would look around, look (not touch) at what was on the person's seat. As I watched it happening, I went over to the chairs the people left, sat next to the guy that went over, and just tried to have small talk. He looked at me with a bad look, got up, and went back to his group. As I got up, I went back to the bar, watched them, and they were up to it again. Looking for that next set of chairs with things on it to go to. I told the bartender, they called Security out, and when the security guard stood near them, they all left. I assume they were heading off to River Island to continue. Security asked me what I saw, I told him and that nothing had really happened. He called security at RI to keep an eye.

As I said, this was just one group and it was about 6 people from a family. I am sure they got one of those $99 deals for a night or two if they take the tour.

 

[Cdn Gal]

Holy cow that's terrible! Thanks for the update! We will be careful when we go! Good for you to tell security!! I would have done the same

 

[TamaraQT]

Well, it has been 3 night since someone walked off with my DD's crocs. That is the limit to me for someone accidentally picking them up and returning them. Someone purposely stole her shoes. I know the amount for them is relatively small, but they were brand new before we went on vacation.

This is the one thing I noticed more at OLR than WBC. It is a very small portion of the people there, but you do see the ones that when they are around you have to keep an eye out much more. I even watched it happen, although nothing was stolen. They were definitely scoping things out. They were setup in one area. They watched as people would get up from their seats, go to the bar or join in an activity. One would go over and sit in a chair right where the people got up from. They would look around, look (not touch) at what was on the person's seat. As I watched it happening, I went over to the chairs the people left, sat next to the guy that went over, and just tried to have small talk. He looked at me with a bad look, got up, and went back to his group. As I got up, I went back to the bar, watched them, and they were up to it again. Looking for that next set of chairs with things on it to go to. I told the bartender, they called Security out, and when the security guard stood near them, they all left. I assume they were heading off to River Island to continue. Security asked me what I saw, I told him and that nothing had really happened. He called security at RI to keep an eye.

As I said, this was just one group and it was about 6 people from a family. I am sure they got one of those $99 deals for a night or two if they take the tour.

Hey, I know exactly what you mean. I encountered a similar situation at Westgate Lakes before. It was "obnoxious" behavior by the pool. Bad language and being rowdy and disruptive. I approached them and got security involved. I told the group, security and others around me that owners pay WAY TOO MUCH in maintenance fees to have to put up with that !!! Security escorted the boys and a few girls away from the pool. One security guy said they would find out who the parents/guardians were and let them know that behavior reports can get them banned from the pool and activities at the resort. He said he will write up an incident as a warning because other guests complained about them before. I myself had 2 older teen boys at the time who had become very friendly with the staff at the resort. My boys were mannerly and well behaved and didn't associate with that type of crowd. One of the managers stopped by to see us the next morning so I knew it was reported. He said people like me help maintain the quality and integrity of the resort. They gave us vouchers for free breakfast and dinner at their smokehouse restaurant. Sent extra baked cookies to our room and we basically drank for free from the pool bar where it happened. So speaking up is well worth it. Not for the freebies, but like the manager said, to help maintain the quality and integrity of the resort. So I am so glad you reported what you witnessed to security. You probably saved someone and some families a lot of unnecessary aggravation.

 

[sylver2]

thanks s much for your trip updates. Is there a regular big pool there that we can lay by and bring our own floaters for?

 

[greenclan67]

thanks s much for your trip updates. Is there a regular big pool there that we can lay by and bring our own floaters for?

There is 7 pools in total. 3 in West Village, 1 in North Village, 2 in East Village, and 1 big pool on either end of the lazy river in River Island. You can bring them, just can't use them in the lazy river.

 

[TamaraQT]

If I rent a River Island Unit from an owner, will that rental include all the amenities at River Island or will there still be a fee involved? Do owners at River Island get the amenities for free or do they have to pay also??

 

[dantedisney]

You still need to pay. Owners in the Signature Collection get them for free.

 

[BigredNole]

It really depends on what amenities you are talking about. My observation/comparison with WBC is that OLR charges for everything that WBC includes in the rental. It may not be everything, but most of it. Putt Putt is $12 per day or $20 for the week at OLR. It is free at WBC. They do have 4x 18-hole putt putt courses. OLR charges for billiards in the arcade and it is free at WBC.

After spending a week at both, I have to say that I will not stay at OLR for a Disney vacation again. It is more driving than I want to do. I should have tried using 429 once for comparison and just paid for it. What I hated was going down 129 through the "low rent district". What I mean by this is all of the "inn" type hotels that I would not stay at in my life time. Then it is all of the cheesy tourist type shops "Disney Shirts $1.99" signs all over the place.

For a "stay at the resort" vacation, OLR cannot be beat though. They have so much going on all the time. We didn't golf or venture to the other villages (except the 1 hour trip to RI). There was just so much going on at West Village. Breezes is great with food and drinks. The Fun Team is excellent and engages kids all the time. Every afternoon when weather didn't cancel the activities, my DD met someone to join with for the games. All of them she played with for multiple days which is great for a single child traveling without a friend.

 

[BigredNole]

Travel Times to Parks (we timed our trips and they were fairly consistent)
These are from leaving our room to arrival. Room location could add a bit of time. It would sometimes take 5 minutes from our room to waiting for the 129 light.

MK: 20 minute to TTC parking lot; 25-30 minutes walk from parking lot, ferry/monorail, to entrance (45-50 minutes every time)
AK: 20 minutes to bag check
Epcot: 20-25 minutes (very consistent time to and from)
DHS: 15-20 minutes (very consistent)
Disney Springs/TL: ~25 minutes
BB: 15-20 minutes (took a little longer because 129 had more rush hour going on when we went since it opened at 10AM)