Orange Lake Time Share?

[Gillennj]

We have the opportunity to use a family members time share in Kissimee. Does anyone have any experience with the Orange Lake Resort? We may be getting it at a ridiculously good price for the week.

How close is it to the parks and shopping?

 

[JNorris]

We have the opportunity to use a family members time share in Kissimee. Does anyone have any experience with the Orange Lake Resort? We may be getting it at a ridiculously good price for the week.

How close is it to the parks and shopping?

LOVE LOVE LOVE Orange Lakes! That is our favorite time share to stay at when we go to WDW. It takes about 10 minutes to get from Orange Lakes to Disney property. It is not close to any shopping malls, though.

Our favorite units are the single story duplex/triplex/quadruplex units. We just love parking right in front of the unit, and being able to walk out the back sliding doors onto our own patio overlooking either the golf course or a lake. You generally have to drive to one of the pools, but that's not a big deal for us.

 

[Puccaw]

We stayed there back in 2005 and would stay there again in a heartbeat if I wasn't now awestruck with staying on site. I cannot think of one thing to complain about with Orange Lake....I wouldn't be suckered in to the sales pitch though, that was very loooong and very high pressure.

 

[swilshire]

LOVE LOVE LOVE Orange Lakes! That is our favorite time share to stay at when we go to WDW. It takes about 10 minutes to get from Orange Lakes to Disney property. It is not close to any shopping malls, though.

Our favorite units are the single story duplex/triplex/quadruplex units. We just love parking right in front of the unit, and being able to walk out the back sliding doors onto our own patio overlooking either the golf course or a lake. You generally have to drive to one of the pools, but that's not a big deal for us.

Our experience was much different. I believe JNorris is referring to the West Village part of the resort. We stayed there a few years ago and it was not up to our standards. The kids called the houses Monopoly houses (after the little ones you buy during the game). The bathrooms were tiny, we had bugs, there was only a tiny overhang instead of a nice covered patio, the view was of construction on the golf course and other houses, on and on. The West Village is generally thought of as the least desirable area, though there is, indeed, parking right in front of the unit.

I also hated the nickle and diming. $1 for calling a toll free number?

We have stayed in many, many Orlando resorts and this was the only one that the whole family disliked from the git go. We've never gone back.

As for distance to the park, it's not a bad drive. Several stop lights on the way, but it's a straight shot. A bit far away from the shopping areas.

Sheila

 

[Wishing on a star]

Hello, I haven't stayed at Orange Lake yet... We have it booked for our next trip thru my inlaws timeshare week!

When you book thru RCI, you actually book a specific section.. not just any unit in Orange Lake. So, you can book either West, East, North, or the new River Island (which is probably the hardest to find any availability)

I have done a lot of reading and research...
The units at the West section have all now been completely renovated! There is one building at West which has (I believe) Studios and two bedroom units... (probably create three bedroom unit when combined???) It is unclear whether all renovations are complete in this one main building. All the individual villas are now done. Most of the units in the building seem to be completed from what I hear... But, generally, from what I have read, I would still NOT recommend this building, the Clubhouse Building, at the West section.

Our reservation is for the North section... The units there are two story, and not the bigger buildings. It should be one of the quieter sections, and this helped us to decide on North! the East section is larger six story buildings... And the new River Island section is small highrise buildings.

Of course you should go to the Orange Lake website... just do a quick search on Orange Lake Resort and that will pull it up for you.

Also, for a TON of information and traveler photos, go to tripadvisor (oooops edited to correct, I had accidentally typed in travelocity) and just type in Orange Lake Resort. Once you click to pull up Orange Lake Orlando, just click <more> to expand the user reviews... When you do this, you will see that a section for Traveler Photos pops up with Hotel Photos on the top of the page... You will find a ton of photos there!

Orange Lake has to be the biggest resort... Therefore it has SO much to offer. The new River Island waterpark style area with lazy river, two slides, a zero entry pool at each end, restaurants, bars, occasional weekly entertainment, etc.. sounds impressive.

Hope this helps!

 

[TotoToo]

Our experience was much different. I believe JNorris is referring to the West Village part of the resort. We stayed there a few years ago and it was not up to our standards. The kids called the houses Monopoly houses (after the little ones you buy during the game). The bathrooms were tiny, we had bugs, there was only a tiny overhang instead of a nice covered patio, the view was of construction on the golf course and other houses, on and on. The West Village is generally thought of as the least desirable area, though there is, indeed, parking right in front of the unit.

I also hated the nickle and diming. $1 for calling a toll free number?

We have stayed in many, many Orlando resorts and this was the only one that the whole family disliked from the git go. We've never gone back.

As for distance to the park, it's not a bad drive. Several stop lights on the way, but it's a straight shot. A bit far away from the shopping areas.

Sheila

Agreed. Too far out 192, too big and far too variable in what type of unit you might get. There are much better resorts in Orlando and many much closer not only to Disney but restaurants, stores, services than OLCC. Everything you do - even go to the pools on site - you have to drive. And naturally to anything off site. Not our favorite but, if thats all thats available or the price is right, then it can be OK. Still far better than some tiny hotel room on or off site.

 

[Gillennj]

Thanks for all the info. This is my SIL's family's timeshare, and we will get it for the cost of the annual taxes on the week (or however it works out). Basically, our share should be ~$250 for 7 days, so I'll put up with a little inconvenience .

I won't be able to choose which site, but SIL has stayed there a few times, so she knows what to get.

 

[riu girl]

Thanks for all the info. This is my SIL's family's timeshare, and we will get it for the cost of the annual taxes on the week (or however it works out). Basically, our share should be ~$250 for 7 days, so I'll put up with a little inconvenience .

I won't be able to choose which site, but SIL has stayed there a few times, so she knows what to get.

Gillenj,
WOW!! $250 for 7 nights. What an incredible value.

We stayed in a two bedroom (north village) for a week Dec 2006 and LOVED it. It was a huge unit and was also immaculate (about 1200 sq. ft I think) .It is the kind of resort that you could spend an entire week and not leave. The activities are non-stop and no pressure to participate if you don't want to. The River Island Pool area includes a very long lazy river , a water splash pad for kids with dancing fountains, a couple decent slides, very large hammock/white sand area etc. I believe Orlange Lake just opened up a another huge pool complex called Rivers Edge that also sounds great.
Regarding activities, we participated in a Hawai Luau (small charge but good buffet and entertainment), Vacation Welcome party (no fee), Childrens unbirthday party (no fee and includes food and games), kids games poolside, dive in movie (no fee of course) etc.

We did get called a few times and were asked to attend a sales presentation but simply told them we DO NOT attend presentations. Also, when we got our parking pass at check-in we were also asked but we simply said NO.

 

[inkkognito]

Orange Lake is right by a Publix (with a Target being built across 192), and you can take the back roads to WDW and be on property by Animal Kingdom within minutes with virtually no traffic. Just take Black Lake Road to Sherbeth. There are a ton of restaurants of that area of 192 too. West 192 is building up BIG TIME.

 

[BosDub]

We just stayed at OLCC last month. It was awesome! Probably one of the best units we have ever stayed in and we have been in RCI since 1986.

That being said, I think you could also end up with an older run down unit as well. As one poster said there can a huge discrepancy between the quality of different units here. We were in the West Village high rise in a unit that looked like it had only been used once since it was renovated.

For $250/week, it's a no-brainer

 

[Wishing on a star]

Thanks for all the info. This is my SIL's family's timeshare, and we will get it for the cost of the annual taxes on the week (or however it works out). Basically, our share should be ~$250 for 7 days, so I'll put up with a little inconvenience .

I won't be able to choose which site, but SIL has stayed there a few times, so she knows what to get.

Is this just for you??? Or are there several in your family traveling with your SIL in charge of accomodations... In the latter case, of course you are simply going with the flow!

If your SIL will be booking a week, just for your unit, thru RCI, be aware that you do actually book a section... ( West, East, North, River Island...) You can go to RCI.com and pull these up.

Report back here after your trip!!! I am always interested in learning more before we are there next spring.

 

[jeff968]

We also had a "not so great" experience at Orange Lake. We stayed there a few years back and found it dirty, too big, and way out of the way. We have stayed at many other Timeshares which we liked much better.

 

[Tropigal]

We own at Orange Lake and love it. We actually stayed the first time in 04 in the West Village and that is the one we bought, bought it from my DH's aunt. So it was a great deal and we split it with 2 friends so even cheaper and we can use it every 3 years which is even better so it's a big trip every 3 years.

We just returned from there a few weeks ago, we were at OL for a promo for 3 nights for just over $100. We were in North Village and out of our balcony we watched MK's fireworks. We had to do the tour again and learned where Animal Kindgom is related to OL. It's just on the other side of the black fence you pass when driving in the entrance by Publix. That's right OL is literally next to Animal Kingdom.

We loved North Village but DH loved West where it's our smaller building and we don't have too many neighbors. I loved the size of our master bath in North vs. West but I'll compare again in Jan when we are going again.

I never thought we'd own a timeshare but LOVE LOVE OL. We intend on doing the luau this time and we hit the kids pool area and it was so nice. We love the new Highway that runs through it. No cars are ever on it and it leads to the backdoor of Disney for $1.00 and we never hit any traffic leaving the parks!

Have fun and let us know what you think!!