Orange Lake Orlando. . .Help

[mickeymommy3]

Okay folks I wanna know about Orange Lake. Give it all to me, The good, the bad, the ugly!! Our home resort is Summer Bay Resort, and we really love. Looking to do two weeks in Orlando next summer, so we were thinking adding Orange Lake the week before or after. Tell me the things their website doesn't share, like your experiences. What area is the best, and especially where are the pool bars with the fruity drinks, lol.

 

[ginarella221]

We stayed at Orange Lake in Orlando last November. It was a very nice resort. We are not part of the time share, but we did rent our room. It was a 2 bedroom, 2 bath. The master bedroom was huge, and had a jacuzzi tub. The really nice thing was that we had the washer/dryer in our room. We had 6 people in our room-4 adults and 2 kids-ages 6 & 8. It was comfortable, not crowded. If I was staying in the area, and not going to Disney, I would definitely return without hesitation.
That said, I really prefer staying in Disney's Resorts. That was "not in the cards" for us for this particular trip. My In-Laws were paying for the room, and buying the admission tickets (FL residents) for them and our kids. So, it woult not make sense to stay on Disney Property for this trip. I am very grateful for this, and I am in no way complaining, so please don't take it that way. We did have a nice time, and the resort was really nice. The weather was chilly for swimming, so we did not take advantage of the lazy river or any of those other amenities that were available.
I think you will be happy with the resort!!

 

[ccgirl]

I have a friend who owns here. He frequently goes down and just enjoys the activities at the resort and doesn't go to the parks (I personally can't imagine that but I hear some people to do to Orlando and don't go to see the mouse).

 

[swilshire]

I've stayed at both resorts and I'd take a second week at Summer Bay if I could get one. Or choose one of the many other nice resorts in the area.

We stayed in the West Vlg before it was remodeled, but weren't happy there at all. Lots of little things added up to general dissatisfaction.

I'd go to Mystic Dunes, Vistana, HGVC or even one of the Westgates before I'd go back to OLCC.

Sheila

 

[Julie*]

We have stayed at Orange Lake 4 times and have really enjoyed it. It's a HUGE resort though and you want to have a car if you are staying there.

River Island is the newest location and the condos are beautiful. It's right next to the huge lazy river etc and is a fun spot. We found that our kids were a bit overwhelmed though by the place we enjoyed the other pools more.

Our last location was in the West Village and we could walk to the main pool over by check in. The unit was nice and recently renovated but not as "beautiful" as the ones in East Village or River Island. The one big change was the lack of jacuzzi tub in the master bedroom. We loved having our car right outside our unit though and it was right on the golf course.

Have a great trip!

 

[steelebug]

We have stayed at Orange Lake many times. We love it there. We have also stayed on site at Disney and the kids 9,7, and 4 all say after a day they wish were at Orange Lake. I like the West Village it is quieter than the River Island section. There is alot to do and the pizza delivery is very good and reasonable. I think everything except the rooms where check in is have been remodeled by now. Just our families opinion.

 

[wdwislife]

We've owned a president's week timeshare in the west village at Orange Lake for about 4 years now.
It's two bedroom, two bathroom with a kitchen and a living room--we call it our "other house"
That's one advantage of OL over onsite hotels: the spaciousness and privacy of separate bedrooms.
Like previous posters have said, recent expansions have made the property even more HUGE than it was when we first went, so rent/bring a car!
Overall, we really enjoy this resort and recommend it--have a great trip!

 

[MousekaMaddi]

and love it! Enjoyed 3 previous trips there!
We leave in 32 days for a week there and can hardly wait!
Huge living area and bathrooms! Love the pools and are looking forward to the new lazy river area. I have no prob driving our rental car there, as I understand its far from our rooms! Im at disney and not at work!


Love the washer/dryers!

 

[Wis2InTink]

We went in March and October, 2008. Grandkids loved the pools. I loved the easy access to the toll road right next door. We did not take the tour, but our daughter did in March. Not worth it. Vacation time is always too precious. We had a view of Mt. Everest from our condo.

 

[bmurr33]

My wife and I own a 2 bedroom condo during week 41 and week 42 in the west village. This place is great. The pools are awesome, River Island is amazing, even the new resturaunts are very nice. They even have a sports bar that carries all of the football games on sunday..GO GIANTS!...Every unit has complimetary high speed wireless internet as well. There are so many activities on site also, they have nice mini golf, a few arcades, and a luau that is fun, jet skis, tennis, golf, all kinds of things.

The only bad thing I have experienced is that the sales people are overbearing. Trust me on this, if you tell them to bug off, they will. When you check in and they offer you the "welcome tour" tell them you have no desire to attend the tour, but be firm, and they will then leave you alone. They really only get to you if you go on the "welcome tour" other than that, no one should bother you.

Everyone is different, but we have stayed at many different RCI resorts, and this one is by far our favorite. We really feel like we are "home" when are there. Especially when we get back at night! If you have any specific questions, I will be more than happy to give you the low down, so don't be afraid to ask!

 

[tazdeb]

This place is now affiliated with Holiday Inn and we stayed there on "points" this summer. They put us in a 2 bedroom at the east village and the room was fantastic. Full kitchen, 2 baths, washer ,dryer, enclosed balcony etc....The river island pool complex rivals any pool at a Disney hotel. That said, the complex is huge and some of the areas seem a little run down and with the economy being bad some owners are dicruntaled that their resale values and quality of the food etc at orange lake has declined. Some of the resturants around the resort were a little overpriced but isnt everything around Disney? Overall I would give this resort an 8. I would return.

 

[Wishing on a star]

Stayed a week at OL thu my inlaws timeshare... It was great!

We were in North Village... and the only drawback was it was more like just being at an apartment..
We did, however, enjoy the quiet and the pull up and park right at your front door (literally) convenience!
The other possible caveat, from what I hear, you do not want to be in the original clubhouse building in WEST Village.
I hear that WEST has now been completely renovated. (But I still would avoid that main building)

If you can get River Island, and/or request a unit close to the public pool areas..

The River Island area, pools, etc... are fantastic!
this is where you will find the pool bars, frozen libations, music, etc...
We had lunch at Tradewinds (the nicest poolbar/cafe) It was great.
There are also two other pool bars, one at either end of the River Island area.

We also visited Splash Lagoon in our North Section. and it was great as well.

 

[Wishing on a star]

Double post! ???????

 

[sarabell]

I have stayed at both Summer Bay and Orange Lake and love them both. I have stayed in the West Village at Orange Lake three times. It is very nice, not quite as nice as the condo at Summer Bay, but it was more comfortable and homey. I noticed that there is more storage space at Orange Lake than Summer Bay. The unit we stay in has two bedrooms and two baths, and the layout is very good. The master bedroom is large and has a normal size bathtub with jacuzzi jets. The River Island pool area is beautiful, and I enjoyed going there to relax after a long day at the parks. I am not sure about the other activities because I spend all my time at WDW.

Good luck planning your trip!

 

[Portugal1000]

Has anyone booked through an owner at Orange Lake. I have booked through owner at Bonnet Creek a couple of times with great success but a friend who is new to all this would love to stay at Orange Lake but nervous about booking the first time. Any recommendations would be great.
Thanks

 

[TheRustyScupper]

We like Orange Lake Resort and Country Club.
More to do than at ANY Orlando area Timeshare.

. . . Studio, 1bdrm, 2bdrm and 3brm units
. . . Two championship golf courses
. . . Two walking golf courses, one lighted for night play
. . . Home of McCord Golf Academy (Top-25 Golf Magazine golf schools)
. . . 80-acre lake
. . . Sailing
. . . Jet-skis
. . . Beach Volleyball, including tournaments
. . . Tennis, including tournaments
. . . Basketball, including tournaments
. . . Putt-Putt, including tournaments
. . . Olympic Pool
. . . Party Pool, with entertainment stage
. . . Five satellite pools
. . . Several hot tubs
. . . Daily pool games for kids and adults
. . . Rental cabanas
. . . Daily Afternoon Bingo
. . . Daily arts and crafts
. . . Internet Cafe
. . . Nightly themed parties (luau, BBQ, Beach Party, etc)
. . . Karaoke
. . . Water parks, with Lazy River Rafts
. . . Game and arcade room
. . . Free Movie Theater
. . . Pool or Beach party nightly (except Sunday)
. . . Planned family activities from 9:00am thru 6:00pm
. . . Arts and crafts, daily
. . . Daily adult and child exercise activities
. . . Daily adult and child water exercise acitivites
. . . Activities for kids under 12 all day
. . . Activities for kids 12-18 all day
. . . Nightly Cocktail Cruise on the lake
. . . Several on-site full serice restaurants and quick service resturants

 

[Suzyq9241]

Dont worry you be fine... We love Orange Lake... I just got back from the Vistanas... I thought that was bigger than Orange Lake...

We already planned our trip for next year already... And we have a 3 bedroom in the East... I cant wait...