Orange Lake studios - Where are they?

[ffugitive]

We are staying at Orange lake April 28-May 5 in a studio (3 of us) as a GUEST of an RCI exchange guest. Just wondering if the studios are in any one particular area of the resort? Also, has anyone stayed in a studio and how was it (primarily concerned with smell / cleanliness)?

Thanks.

 

[Suzyq9241]

but dont quote me...

They are in the main building....

 

[Melynny]

I hate to tell you, I stayed in one Once... I won't be again. They are ok, but just be prepared. They are SMALL. Take some air freshener.. maybe some kind of small air cleaner would help also. I felt that the air was so "stuffy". In some units there are windows that do not open to the outside, only to another interior area. Now for the good stuff.. they are close to to checkin, restaurants, parking and the main pool... and there is a really nice swimsuit shop really close... Oh.. the furnishings were very nice and they were in nice repair. Of all my timeshare experiences this was probablly the worst... sorry to be honest.. There are some that open to the outside... try to get one of those.. Ours had a window but it looked out to the inside of a building. Sorry..


it was clean by the way!

 

[gjw007]

The studios are in the clubhouse where you check in. They are okay, nothing special (at least when compared to a 1- or 2-bedroom unit) but I don't think that timeshares should have studios as they really don't provide the home-away-from-home feel. They are about 430 sq. ft. and include a kitchen with a stove. As a comparison, Vacation Village @ Parkway's 2-bedroom unit can be divided into what they classify as 2 1-bedroom units. The B-side unit is 500 sq. feet and doesn't include a complete kitchen. By that, there is a hotplate that you can use if you wish to cook food. The Vacation Village B-side unit really is a nice size studio in the arrangement that it has but since VVP refers to it as a 1-bedroom, it must be rated as a 1-bedroom and for me, it is lacking. HGVC I-Drive also has studios and unlike the OLCC studios, it also doesn't have a stove. Like DVC, the HGVC studio includes an area for a sink (actually considerably larger than DVC's area) with a sink and a coffee pot. DVC's studios also don't have a stove. As a comparison, the studios at DVC's Saratago Springs are 310 sq. ft. If you cook, then the arrangement at OLCC will be okay.

There is also a clothes washer and dryer on the floor that you can use if you wish to wash clothes. At HGVC, I don't know if that was available - I never saw it. At Vacation Village at Parkway for the 1-bedroom B-unit, the washer/dryer was down the hall. For DVC, the washer/dryer is located near the pool areas. All the washer/dryers are free but you may get fooled into thinking there is a cost at some of them as they do have the coin unit attached (DVC in particular) but they will work without inserting coins.

The studios at OLCC do not have windows outside. It is important to recognize that studios are nothing more than hotel rooms, usually a little larger but not always. The studios at OLCC have 2 beds. I could be wrong on this but there are a few different styles of studios with the ones that I described as going to exchangers and another style that goes for rental purposes. There was a review on tug where an exchanger said that he exchanged a 2-bedroom Westin for the studio at OLCC and was disappointed. Given that exchange, I would be disappointed as well. The studio are in the midst of a hub of activities. I especially liked being near the Olympic-sized pool and the small beach area in front of the lake.

The key is to enjoy your vacation.

 

[Melynny]

I just wanted to add, that as you can see from the floor plan, the studios at Orange lake are equipped with a larger sofa, a table with 4 chairs and a apt. size stove & (i think) full size refrigerator. If these units had windows that opened to the outside, they would be the better equipped "studio" units in the Orlando area. Even better than DVC. I was just really disappointed because the previous occupants had cooked something very strong, and it seemed to linger our whole trip. Other than that Orange lake has been one of our favorite places to visit.. we do love the resort as a whole.

 

[MousekaMaddi]

we are timeshare owners there and love it but stayed one extra nite in a studio once and it was awful, smelly, tiny and non opening windows, windows had view of a brick wall, ugg,,,,,, was right next to washer dryers, so convenient to do wash (which we didnt need) but was sweltering hotdue to dryer vents,,,,,uggh
Place is lovely, studios ...not so much,,,,,,,

 

[ffugitive]

Uuuggghhh. Sounds fairly awful - and there's no way out for us without paying penalties. Don't care so much about the lack of views as I do the lack of ventilation. Guess we'll grin and bear it.

 

[Straitlover]

Is there any way to pay for an upgrade? If not, you may not be in the room much (there's a ton of things to do at OL), so I would just grin & bear it. Hey, at least you'll be in walking distance to the big pool and the beach!

 

[ffugitive]

They told us they did not have anythin bigger than a studio - but that could change I suppose. We don't even plan to spend any time at OL - we will be going to WDW every day.

I have heard varying reports on how long it takes to get from OL to WDW - any opinons on that?

 

[gjw007]

They told us they did not have anythin bigger than a studio - but that could change I suppose. We don't even plan to spend any time at OL - we will be going to WDW every day.

I have heard varying reports on how long it takes to get from OL to WDW - any opinons on that?

When I stayed in the studios, I didn't have any problems and my unit looked down onto the ground floor activity area.

As far as time to get to WDW, the biggest determinate will be how long it takes the stoplights to change and the time of day. Best case, from the East Orange Lake Blvd (EOLB) to being on Disney property near the Animal Kingdom, about 5 minutes. You exit EOLB, taking a left on 192, the first stop light that you then come to is Black Lake road. You take a left at Black Lake Road. You actually have a couple options here. Shortly after you get onto Black Lake road as it starts to turn right, there is a road on the left that will take you to the Animal Kingdom Lodge (first option). You can take this and then exit the Animal Kingdom Lodge. I have not taken this option as if I mess up, I'm further behind than if I just follow Black Lake Road to where it comes to a stop sign (the second option) You take a left at the stop sign. You are now on Sherberth Road (you can also get there by staying on 192 until you get to Sherberth Road and take a left but there are at least a couple more stoplights on 192 that you must go through). Continue on Sherberth Road until you reach a stop light. Congratulations, you are now on Disney property near the Animal Kingdom. You need to take a right at the stop light. If you wish to go to the Animal Kingdom, you need to get into the left lane as the exit to the Animal Kingdom is about 3/4 of a mile from the stoplight.

As far as getting to the other areas, you have 2 options as well. You can continue until you see the first exit on the right. If you take it, take a left at the exit (you should see a McDonald's - I believe this is Buena Vista Blvd) and about 2 miles up you will drive past Disney's Typhoon Lagoon and Winter Wonderland miniature golf locations (they will be on your right). Staying on this will eventually lead you to Downtown Disney but there will be signs to get onto World Drive to get to theme parks. The second option would be to continue straight, drive past the exit to the Animal Kingdom but take the next left. You will cross over an overpass (2nd one as the first one is the 1st option listed) and take the exit. It will put you on World Drive. There are signs posted as well.

Again, the key factor will be the amount of time that it takes the stoplights on 192 to change. I have sat through complete songs on the radio waiting for the light to change but this hasn't happened to me often but it does add some time. I also don't get up first thing in the morning and head to Disney so I miss the rush hours but I understand that it can be very slow during rush hours as well. It seems to me that the lights on 192 are designed to help traffic flow on 192 but can be frustratingly long getting onto 192 and also taking lefts off 192.

 

[gjw007]

This map, http://www.kissimmee-us192.com/map/map1/kiss192map1.htm#1btm, provides information on what is off 192.

 

[ffugitive]

WOW - thanks Gary! The tips are invaluable, and the map is supreme as well. Mike

 

[ffugitive]

Gary - I have been looking at your shortcut, and I am just wondering why I would not prefer to access Hartzog Rd from the back of the resort and enter via the Western Entrance, thus avoiding 192 altogether. This seems possible from the maps I have looked at, but is this not correct?

 

[gjw007]

You can use the Western Beltway as an alternative as well. The road goes North for a few miles at which point there is a exit that you can take to get to Disney. The Disney road (Western Way) then winds southeast and comes out about 1 mile on Buena Vista Blvd from the McDonalds. It is a viable alternative but it is longer and it also costs $1. I think the easiest way to get on it is to use the East Orange Lake Blvd, turn right onto 192, and then right on the Western Beltway. You can also use Orange Lake Blvd but you must wait for the lights as you enter 192 and take a left onto Western Beltway.

As far as Hartzog road, I don't believe there is a direct connection within Orange Lake to the road yet. There has been some rumours floating around about a possible entrance but I'm not aware of one now although there is a service support area within Orange Lake that might actually use the road as it is adjacent to it. I was told its a dirt road but again, I'm not sure. I haven 't been adventurous enough to go exploring the possibility of using this road although I am aware that it follows the resort and then turns north.

 

[ffugitive]

Thanks again Gary! Good info. I'm going in late April and will explore if there is any way to access Hartzog from OL and will let you know if I find anything.