Orange Lakes or Vacation Village at Parkway?

[chrisann]

They both look very nice, and I'm just wondering which one would be better? Thanks!

 

[klynn]

They both look very nice, and I'm just wondering which one would be better? Thanks!

I vote or OLCC! I've stayed at both and much prefer OLCC!

 

[bearzabout]

It depends on what is important to you. VVAP is a much shorter drive. Make sure to get the "A" unit with the full kitchen and whirlpool tub. We loved it. The second bedroom is actually a separate one bedroom unit with one double or queen size bed which is something to keep in mind if you have more than one child.

OLCC is a larger resort. It is further away but offers a choice of different pools and more activities. Some units are older than others. The traffic on 92 can be heavy in the morning and evening. There is a Publix very close so shopping is a breeze. The back road (Black Lake) lessens traffic, but still count on a 15-30 minute drive each way.

 

[TotoToo]

Yes you need to decide what you want out of the resort. OLCC is one of the mega if not super mega resorts. Far out on 192 and you really need to drive around the resort just to get to things. But that means you have plenty of on site stuff to do and a significant drive to anything offsite. As mentioned there are many ages and unit styles so exactly what you will get could range from new and great to old and questionable. VV is less than a mile from the entrance road to Disney on 192. Short drive. The resort is only 8 buildings and has no where near as many on site amenities. The units are all reasonably new - some brand new and well equipped. Do get an "A" side if you take a one bedroom to get the full kitchen. Much better chance of a really nice unit, less drive time but at the cost of far fewer things to do at the resort site. Which is more important for your trip? Ease of access, assured unit quality or on site stuff?

 

[riu girl]

I haven't been to either but have read a lot about both properties.
Our choice would be, it depends on what you are interested in.
1) if we were planning on all theme park days, we would definately choice VV (A side) since all we would be doing is sleeping in the unit, and the units looks fabulous, plus very close prioximity to theme parks.
2) if we were planning on just a few theme park days and want a lot of resort time , we would book Orange Lake since there is just so much to do at Orange Lake.

We are planning a week in Orlando in December and have booked a 2 bedroom at OLCC. The reasoning is because we are only planning 2 theme park days and the rest resort days. We could have booked VV for a bit less $ but really are looking for a resort type holiday this time.

 

[chrisann]

I'm not sure what to do, we'll be there for around 8 days, 3 or 4 disney, 1 universal, then 2 or 3 days at resort. However, we'd prefer something a little newer. Is OLLC really THAT spread out? Will we be able to just hop in an elevator and go to the pool? As for transportation, we'll have a rental car, so that's not a problem.

 

[TotoToo]

I'm not sure what to do, we'll be there for around 8 days, 3 or 4 disney, 1 universal, then 2 or 3 days at resort. However, we'd prefer something a little newer. Is OLLC really THAT spread out? Will we be able to just hop in an elevator and go to the pool? As for transportation, we'll have a rental car, so that's not a problem.

Yes, OLCC is THAT spread out. It is a big minus in our opinion. Too big, too variable & too spread out. Heck, there is a highway through the middle now. Thats too large. Westate Villas, Vistana and others suffer from the same problem. Bigger is not always better.

 

[gjw007]

They both look very nice, and I'm just wondering which one would be better? Thanks!

I own at both; OLCC wins hands down. Vacation Village @ Parkway (VVP) is my entrance into RCI Points. If you stay at VVP, you need to stay in a 1-bedroom suite A. I wouldn't recommend the 2-bedroom unless you like to have a nice long wall seperating the living room (that is how they divide the 2-bedroom unit into 2 1-bedroom units). OLCC is a large resort, about 1250 arcres, so you will have to use transportation within the resort. There are resort shuttles if you don't want to drive. VVP has the rooms crammed into hirise units with very little amentities other than a pool. OLCC has plenty of amentities including several pools, golf, theater, tennis, beach, etc. If you don't use the amentities, it means nothing but if you don't spend all your time at the theme parks, it may be a nice way to relax.

OLCC is on 192 but I wouldn't say that it is far; in fact, when Disney completes its road to the Western Beltway, OLCC has almost a straight shot to the Magic Kingdom bypassing all the traffic lights that people complain about. Of course, currently taking the Black Lake road eliminates all but 2 stoplighs. VVP is a little quicker to get to some of the theme parks (there are still a couple stop lights) but the times are not as far apart as people might lead you to believe. Using Bob Sehlinger's Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World 2006 as a reference, these are his times starting on page 225 and you decide if the time difference is really significant.

OLCC

Magic Kingdom: 8:45
Epcot: 8:30
MGM: 8:00
Animal Kingdom: 5:30
​

VVP

Magic Kingdom: 8:30
Epcot: 8:15
MGM: 7:45
Animal Kingdom: 6:45
​

 

[chrisann]

you've helped a ton. Now, I just have to wait for a good deal!

 

[TotoToo]

OLCC

Magic Kingdom: 8:45
Epcot: 8:30
MGM: 8:00
Animal Kingdom: 5:30
​

VVP

Magic Kingdom: 8:30
Epcot: 8:15
MGM: 7:45
Animal Kingdom: 6:45
​

Is this guy using a helicar? I happen to be in the area & was heading out to 192 for dinner so, as a test, just drove to both. Here are the results:

From the parking garage at VV - as far back as you can go into the resort - 4:30 to the entrance to the park lots at Disney. From there you have to add the time to get to whatever areas you plan to visit within the complex.

From the front gate at OLCC (remember, you still have to drive to the area you are actually staying in and that will add a few more minutes) to the same entrance area at Disney - 18:25.

That is a BIG difference. The test was run between 5:30PM & 6:30 PM - first to OLCC the to VV. One reason is the traffic, actually not bad today, the other the stop lights. There are but 2 between VV & the gate - I counted 16 between OLCC & the same gate. I may have missed one.

If there was heavy traffic it would be worse. There may be a secret back road near OLCC but I took the route most would use - up 192 & up the Disney entrance road.

I agree the amenity level is much higher at OLCC but if your goal is easy park access VV wins hands down. DISCLAIMER: I do not own at either resort but do use RCI to trade in.

 

[gjw007]

Is this guy using a helicar? I happen to be in the area & was heading out to 192 for dinner so, as a test, just drove to both. Here are the results:

From the parking garage at VV - as far back as you can go into the resort - 4:30 to the entrance to the park lots at Disney. From there you have to add the time to get to whatever areas you plan to visit within the complex.

From the front gate at OLCC (remember, you still have to drive to the area you are actually staying in and that will add a few more minutes) to the same entrance area at Disney - 18:25.

That is a BIG difference. The test was run between 5:30PM & 6:30 PM - first to OLCC the to VV. One reason is the traffic, actually not bad today, the other the stop lights. There are but 2 between VV & the gate - I counted 16 between OLCC & the same gate. I may have missed one.

If there was heavy traffic it would be worse. There may be a secret back road near OLCC but I took the route most would use - up 192 & up the Disney entrance road.

I agree the amenity level is much higher at OLCC but if your goal is easy park access VV wins hands down. DISCLAIMER: I do not own at either resort but do use RCI to trade in.

The times should be used as a comparison. If you throw in other variables, all bets are off. The time from OLCC to the AK is about right but I think the other times are a little low. I also think they are a little low for VVP going to places such as the Magic Kingdom as well. But again, rather than use it as an absolute, it is best to use as a relative comparison. VVP has an advantage but I don't think it is as great as some people make it out to be but the route you take from OLCC does make a great difference. I don't know what parking lot you referred to unless you are referring to Downtown Disney which is much closer to VVP than OLCC is and your times using the 192 route are about what I would expect to go to DTD. The times that you used does show the difference that the stoplights may have. It is also, realisticly, probably the route that most people take. It just isn't the quickest.

If you use Black Lake road, there are two stoplights: one when you exit OLCC from the East Orange Blvd, the next about a mile up at Black Lake Road (take a left, drive until you hit Sherberth Road (the stopsign that you hit is Sherberth Road), take a left, drive until you hit a stopsign - you are now on Disney property, take a right and stay in the left lane if you wish to go to the Animal Kingdom). If you ue 192 up to the main Disney entry, there are plenty of lights that will add delay. Using route 192 is easier to explain - just follow the signs - but the Black Lake Road is faster. Likewise, instructions for VVP are straightforward. For OLCC, if you really want to take a shortcut, there is an access road to the Animal Kingdom Lodge near the Black Lake Road light but that coul be confusing.

 

[f7prez]

5 Minutes or 20 minutes. Not really a big deal. The extra 15 minutes is well worth being at a true resort. I don't have to drive twenty minutes to golf (I'm on the golf course). OLCC offers several options for swimming, including the new water park area with slides and lazy river. It could be worse, you could be stuck spending that extra fifteen minutes waiting for a Disney bus.

 

[jeff968]

We've only stated at OLCC and did not have a good experience there. The place is huge. we had to get in the car to do anything there.