Orange Lake Resort

[Tinkerbellah]

Once again I am on the hunt for a deal near WDW. I am having trouble seeing any reason to stay off site. I'm open to the idea but it seems w/ other Resorts there are always hidden costs. I always go back to staying on property b/c of this. I was really excited about the Orange Lake Resort near WDW. Untill I read a negative review about hidden charges & a nagging timeshare staff. Anyone feelthis was true for them??? The property looks beautiful & seemed like a good value @ 1st. What do you think? Have you stayed here before?

 

[nancy155]

We stayed there a few years ago with our RCI exchange. It is a VERY LARGE spread out property. The rooms were really nice although yes they do pressure you for the time share speil.. The thing I was most upset about was on check out day housekeeping began ringing the doorbell at 7:30 am and check out isn't until 10 am. We were going to be out in plenty of time prior to 10am but it really made me mad when they rang the door bell at 7:30 am and every 15 mins. after that. They kept at it even though I told them I knew they were there and we would be out prior to 10am. I highly doubt we will ever stay at Orange Lake again! RUDE people, but nice condo.

 

[haPevraftr]

Wyndham Bonnet Creek is the closest "offsite" to onsite. It might be just what you are looking for. Read through the "We LOOOOVe Bonnet Creek thread". I learned alot about how to get a good and trusting deal on a stay (that is significantly less that stying onsite). We haven't stayed there yet, but the pictures make it look amazing! We are staying there next year.

We are staying at Sheraton Vistana this spring break (Easter Week) and it comes highly recommended as well. DSIL stayed there last year and raves about it now that it has been completely refurbed. We got a great deal ($688 for the week) because we paid for it through DMIL's RCI. It wasn't an exchange or anything, but I did book it last April which is why I think we got such a good deal.

 

[i*heart*minniemouse]

We stayed at OL-East Village in October...no hidden fees and we just told them upfront at check in, no thanks to the timeshare talk. We did not need any extra money or free gifts they were offering so it was not even tempting to us. We have our 2 timeshares, DVC and another that we are very happy with and have plenty of weeks to keep up with our vacation plans.
Overall, it was a nice resort with good amenities. We would stay there again but only in the East or the West Village...they looked the newest and most attractive to us.

 

[swilshire]

Orange Lake is way down our list of resorts in the Orlando area, but it's certainly acceptable. I'd go for Sheraton Vistana, Bonnet Creek, Mystic Dunes, Summer Bay, Lighthouse Key and probably others that don't come to mind before Orange Lake. It's just too spread out for our taste and we didn't care for the West Village at all.

Sheila

 

[DVC California]

*snip*
I was really excited about the Orange Lake Resort near WDW. Untill I read a negative review about hidden charges & a nagging timeshare staff. Anyone feelthis was true for them??? The property looks beautiful & seemed like a good value @ 1st. What do you think? Have you stayed here before?

We stayed there a few years ago, here's a link to short review we posted:
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=6046851&postcount=2

We didn't have any hidden charges. As far a nagging timeshare staff, the answer is simple...unplug the phone in your unit. Staff do not come knocking making cold calls, they like to call and call until someone gives up.

After you check-in, you can also skip whatever "Free Gift" or promotional desk they try to send you to. Just go to your unit and enjoy.

HTH, Steve

 

[kathy884]

We stayed at Orange Lake last March. There weren't any hidden fees. You do have to pay for the intertubes at the waterpark area, if you want one. I thought it was a lovely resort. We never get welcome packets or go to timeshare presentations. I just say we're not interested and Mickey, DHS, SeaWorld, and the Kennedy Space Center are just a higher priority. We were always gone too, so never got phone calls.

We've stayed at the Sheraton Vistana resort and Cypress Point many times too (other very nice timeshare condos).

I personally love staying offsite in a two bedroom condo that runs less than a moderate at Disney (my personal preference). But I get claustophobic in a hotel room after a few days and really like being able to eat some meals in, in my own kitchen, etc. Love having a balcony at this inexpensive price and a washer and dryer too.

You really do, though, I think need a car with these offsite options. Much easier to be onsite without one than offsite.

Have a wonderful time whatever you decide.

 

[shalom]

I'm open to the idea but it seems w/ other Resorts there are always hidden costs.

For us it's Disney that has the "hidden cost" (it isn't really hidden but it's in the fine print -- an extra $95 when trading in through DVC). There are a lot of offsite places with no hidden costs unless you count their attempts to sign you up for stuff when you get your parking pass, and sometimes not even that. Wyndham Bonnet Creek, Sheraton Vistana, and the Fountains are three I can think of with no hidden costs, listed in order of their distance from WDW (Bonnet Creek is inside the gates).

I've not heard that Orange Lake has any extra fees, but on the timeshare forums it is notorious for pushy salespeople.

 

[bostonparkplaza]

If you are looking for a good place for your kids as well as for you, this is the hotel to go. If you think Disney Community and other points of interest are too costly then just remain here, as there are a lot of kid activities for the whole weekends.

 

[jeff968]

Orange Lake was the one time we strayed from a name brand resort and we were not happy. The place is too big, you have to get in the car to go to the pool, and our unit was dirty, and the food at the retaurant was terrible. Big difference in quality compared to what we are used to. We won't go back. And I'm surprised to hear you say you think Disney resorts are fee free. That has not been my experience. Anyway, I would recommend any of the marriott, hilton, or sheraton resorts. They are trusted name brands and ensure the quality stays in place at their resorts. Our favorites are the marriott Cypress Harbor and Hilton's new Parc Soleil. Both "A" rated resorts in our opinion.