Orange Lake pictures

[JenDaveBrendan]

We stayed at Orange Lake for a week Jan.8-15. Had a great time, room and ammenities were nice. We stayed in the East Village - the room was exactly the same as the room we stayed in last year in the North Village. Here are some pictures (hope the link works!) - the first 2 are of the East Village pool, the other pool pics are of Splash Lagoon in the North Village. The last 4 are of the living area/kitchen of our room. The bedrooms followed pretty much the same decor, and there was also a screened in porch off of the living room.
http://community.webshots.com/user/jdb2000100

Jen

ETA: Just wanted to add that both of the pools had a zero depth entry area, and Splash Lagoon also had a kiddie pool with a mushroom fountain also.

 

[riu girl]

Thank you so much for sharing these photos. It looks like a great place. We are hoping to stay here in December for the first time in a one bedroom (offered in the west and north village).

Did you attend any of the activities that Orange Lake offers?
If we go to Orange Lake we are hoping to attend the luau, beach campfire, guided nature walk, indoor play area (west village), movies at the on site small theatre.

We also hope to swim a lot. Were the pools reasonably heated? I love the disney pools since they are all 84 f, hoping Orange Lake will be as warm.

Any info. would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks
Suzy

 

[JenDaveBrendan]

Thank you so much for sharing these photos. It looks like a great place. We are hoping to stay here in December for the first time in a one bedroom (offered in the west and north village).

Did you attend any of the activities that Orange Lake offers?
If we go to Orange Lake we are hoping to attend the luau, beach campfire, guided nature walk, indoor play area (west village), movies at the on site small theatre.

We also hope to swim a lot. Were the pools reasonably heated? I love the disney pools since they are all 84 f, hoping Orange Lake will be as warm.

Any info. would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks
Suzy

I would definatly try and request to be placed in the North village (we called a week before our trip with our request, or maybe you could request it at booking). I have never seen the West village units inside, but just from what I have read on these boards I know it is older and more outdated. Plus I think you would get a great view and be within walking distance of the splash lagoon pool in the North village.
We didn't do any of the activities offered this year - we were running around to all the parks that first week of our stay. We did go over to the arcade and I used the business center- both were good. Sorry I can't offer any more info on the activities!! I was talking to another guest while there though, and he mentioned he went to the luau and enjoyed it.
They also have a kids check-in where they give out balloon animals, popcorn, and do face painting for free - my son enjoyed that when we arrived.
As far as the pools go, I thought they were reasonably heated (probably to about 80 degrees?) We swam every day, even when it was in the low 60's. It was cold getting out of the pools those days, but while we were in it, we were fine. I don't think you will have a problem, but just remember that the West Village olympic pool is not heated, the others all are.
Hope that helps!

Jen

 

[riu girl]

Thanks so much for all the info. We can hardly wait to go. We have tentatively chosen Orange Lake due to the activities mainly (and river island). The week we hoping to go to Orange Lake , we are only planning two days at SeaWorld and spend the rest of the time at the resort. We just did 8 night in Disney (and all 4 theme parks) so will be skipping Disney this trip. Thats why I am really interested in Orange Lake. Since we are not doing much in the way of theme parks taht week , we are really looking for a resort/pool type holiday.

Thanks again for the pics and info.
Suzy

 

[luvdisney14]

Thank you for the great pictures. We are considering staying at orange lakes this year because we will not be going to the parks. The pool area looks great. Did you happen to notice if the lazy river is almost completed. Also, do you know if they are building a new village area with rooms near the lazy river? Thanks again

 

[riu girl]

I have spoken to Orange Lake and have been told that the new on site water park (River Island) will be open late May/June. I don't know what time of the year you are planning on vacationing but the staff at Orange Lake told me that the new waterpark will "probably" be heated. We are hoping to go to Orange Lake in 12/06 so I hope that it will be heated.

I have also read that the units nearest the waterpark (East Village) are reserved for Orange Lake owners.

 

[arkansas mom]

How far is the drive from Orange Lakes to WDW?

 

[gjw007]

How far is the drive from Orange Lakes to WDW?

OLCC borders the Animal Kingdom. If you exit the East Orange Blvd (East Gate) exit from OLCC, take a left on 192, take a left at the first stoplight (Black Lake Road), drive straight on Black Lake Road until you come to a stop sign, turn left (Sherberth Road), and this will get you onto Disney property. Once on Disney property, at the stop sign take a right (if you take a left you head to the Animal Kingdom Lodge), get in the left lane if you wish to go to the Animal Kingdom (you will see the toll gate for the parking lot on your left) or if you wish to go to the other parks, go straight ahead and follow the directions to the parks. Straight ahead will lead you to Downtown Disney. The distance from OLCC property to the Disney property is 3 to 4 miles with the deciding factor how long you have to wait for the stoplights. You might be interested in this map to help follow the directions I gave above http://www.kissimmee-us192.com/map/map1/kiss192map1.htm. Of course, you could get on 192 E and take the road that says Disney. It is about 4 miles but there are more stoplights that you have to go through.

 

[lawgs]

riu

the new units at River Island are in the EAST area, but not in the east village complex of buildings which has two new high rises they are still contructing also

will be interesting to see how they "control" the stays of people once the river island opens, eg where they place people....

with respect to the quote about the west village....

yes it is OLDER but that does not necessarily mean "outdated" since they carry on "refurbishments" constantly with major upgrades being done if not mistaken on 15 to 20 year schedule... although we also have not seen inside a west village unit in a while, we do pay reserve fees which are suppost to be be used for "updates", unless they have been pulling a fast one over us the past 15 years and have not been using the fees to do what they say they would .....one of the thing some do not like about the older initial phase is the absence of "jacuzzi" tubs in the units....

 

[HappyLawyer]

thanksfor the pics they are beautiful. If anyone is interested in an owner referral your welcome to pm me i can tell you what special OLCC if offering and i can give you one. just let me know

i go in december also

 

[gjw007]

riu

yes it is OLDER but that does not necessarily mean "outdated" since they carry on "refurbishments" constantly with major upgrades being done if not mistaken on 15 to 20 year schedule... although we also have not seen inside a west village unit in a while, we do pay reserve fees which are suppost to be be used for "updates", unless they have been pulling a fast one over us the past 15 years and have not been using the fees to do what they say they would .....one of the thing some do not like about the older initial phase is the absence of "jacuzzi" tubs in the units....

It should be pointed out that some of units in the West Village does have the whirlpool tubs. I believe that the Tennis Villas do have them; in addition, I stayed in the Cypress Circle and the unit there had a whirlpool tub (regular size tub not the oversized tubs in the East/North Villages). I think the Cypress Circule may have been one of the last area developed in the West Village which would explain why it has the whirlpool tub unlike other areas of the West Village which don't have the whirlpool tubs. I believe the major updates are on an 18 year schedule (soft upgrades on a 6 year cycle).

 

[lawgs]

in what section do you own Happy

 

[riu girl]

Wow, thanks eveyone for all the info. I can hardly wait to see this resort.
If we stay at this resort, we will be in a one bedroom unit (west or north village).
I am going to call OLCC a week prior to going and request north village (mid rise) and hope for the best.

 

[MOMOFMNM]

where would I find info on this resort??

tia

 

[gjw007]

where would I find info on this resort??

tia

www.olcc.com or www.orangelake.com

 

[siobhan1997]

It should be pointed out that some of units in the West Village does have the whirlpool tubs. I believe that the Tennis Villas do have them; in addition, I stayed in the Cypress Circle and the unit there had a whirlpool tub (regular size tub not the oversized tubs in the East/North Villages). I think the Cypress Circule may have been one of the last area developed in the West Village which would explain why it has the whirlpool tub unlike other areas of the West Village which don't have the whirlpool tubs. I believe the major updates are on an 18 year schedule (soft upgrades on a 6 year cycle).

Are the Tennis Villas part of the West Village? We are exchanging into OLCC in march and while we have stayed there in the past and I don't find the golf villas too bad I would like to try a condo style unit. We have an 2 bed 8/6 exchange with RCI so if they tell me we have to stay in the west village I would like to tell them to place us in the Tennis Villas.

Is this possible ?

 

[gjw007]

Are the Tennis Villas part of the West Village? We are exchanging into OLCC in march and while we have stayed there in the past and I don't find the golf villas too bad I would like to try a condo style unit. We have an 2 bed 8/6 exchange with RCI so if they tell me we have to stay in the west village I would like to tell them to place us in the Tennis Villas.

Is this possible ?

The Tennis Villas are in the West Village. They are the highrise buildings next to the clubhouse. I would make the request and see what happens.

 

[siobhan1997]

The Tennis Villas are in the West Village. They are the highrise buildings next to the clubhouse. I would make the request and see what happens.

Do the 2 bedrooms in the Tennis Villas have the 8/6 configuration as well?

 

[jeff968]

We stayed at OLCC a few years ago and did not have a great experience. We had a unit that was in the front where you came in. I'm not sure what village it was. Our unit was not clean. There were old socks in the closet from the previous tenant. There was dirty laundry tied up in front of our building when we checked in. It stayed there for an entire day before it was picked up. The resort was huge and we had to get in the car to do anything. the food at the restaurant was terrible. i didn't like the resort's location off of 192. Hopefully you'll have a better experience.

 

[krismom]

Wow! What great pictures... your son is adorable!
We are atying here in mid March and are hoping for North Village near the splash pool. Do you have the number that you used to contact them prior to arrival? Thanks so much!