Orbit One Vacation Villas - OMG!

[disneysteve]

We checked in to Orbit One Vacation Villas yesterday afternoon. I booked the place through SkyAuction after reading multiple threads about the service. I’ll admit I was pretty skeptical of what we would find when we arrived. We won a Ready, Set, Go Auction for $261 - about $37/nite. How good could the place be at that price?

All I can say is OH MY GOD!!! Just when I think I’ve found all the good values down here, something else turns up. This place is absolutely incredible. I have no clue how they can afford to give it away for that price. We have a huge 2-bedroom, 2-bath unit. It has a full kitchen with plenty of counter space, modern appliances and pretty well equipped. There is a glass dining room table for 6. The living room area has a sleeper sofa and loveseat, 2 end tables, coffee table, and hutch with 27” tv and VCP.

The master bedroom has a king bed, 2 end tables, hutch with tv on top and safe inside. The master bath has a nice size counter and sink, toilet, and a large jacuzzi tub. There is a screened-in patio that you can access from the living room or the master bedroom.

The second bedroom has 2 double beds, a tv and a cd-stereo system. The 2nd bathroom is smaller with a standard tub shower.

The unit also has a washer and dryer. There was a bag on the counter with paper towels, soap, dish detergent, brillo pad, toilet paper, tissues, trash bags, laundry detergent and coffee.

Our unit is directly across from the pool which is very nice, has 2 slides, a kiddie pool and a whirlpool. The complex has 2 pools. There are 6 buildings, a game room exercise room, tennis, racquetball, volleyball, basketball, playground and more.

I’ll post a full trip report when I get home but I had to share this great find.

 

[trivial]

Cool, I look forward to reading more!

 

[Local_Girl]

Hooray! Glad to hear you found a gem in Orbit One! We felt exactly the same way in 2002 when we walked into a 2 bdrm unit at Hilton Grand Vacations Club after paying $249 for the week via AFVC. Had to scrape our jaws off the floor.

I think the choices on AFVC and Skyauction aren't as wonderful as they once were...many of the more deluxe resorts aren't showing up at all and the ones that are have very limited availability...but that said, I still think there are some nice resorts available at phenomenal rates, and thanks to your prelim report we wouldn't hesitate to try Orbit One! Can't wait to hear the details.

Have a great trip!

 

[Mom of Sleepy Bashful and BabyDoc]

I'm so glad to hear that we have another great resort to choose from.

You sound exactly like we did when we checked into Vistana for $301 a week. We felt like we were stealing something....

Have a great vacation, Steve. I know you worked hard with your planning and were hoping everything with Orbit One would work out OK. Well, I'm so glad everything is OK, .........and not just OK, but wonderful.

Say hi to Mickey for me. Oh, how I miss him!

 

[Paxtrist]

I am so glad that you are happy with Orbit One. You have put my mind at ease. We will be staying there next month and I was a little nervous because I haven't seen many reviews about them.
Enjoy your time there and have a great vacation!!

 

[DianeV]

Sounds like they have shaped up the place...reviews on TUG have been pretty average in the past..good to hear

 

[spiceycat]

glad you are happy!!!!

Diane I think tuggers (including me) are spoiled - I mean after you have stayed in the HGVC, DVC or Marriott - then how can anything else compare...

now if you have never stayed in a timeshare - everything is wonderful!

 

[Mom of Sleepy Bashful and BabyDoc]

Originally posted by spiceycat
glad you are happy!!!!

Diane I think tuggers (including me) are spoiled - I mean after you have stayed in the HGVC, DVC or Marriott - then how can anything else compare...

now if you have never stayed in a timeshare - everything is wonderful!

I think it also depends on how much you are paying a night.

Now mind you, I don't care if it is $5..........if it is a dump, I don't care how much I paid (good deal or not), I won't stay there again. But when you get a great place, for say, $35-$45 a night (like through Skyauction), as in 2-3 bedrooms, jacuzzi, washer/dryer, etc. and it's neat and clean..........You've got to be happy with that!!

If I paid thousands of dollars plus maintenance fees (plus the interest on the loan I would have to get to afford the timeshare ) for HCGV, it BETTER be good!! It better have all kinds of bells and whistles. So I think the rate you get has something to do with your expectations.

 

[laurabelle]

That's great news! It sounds like a nice, "small" resort...which is a good thing in my book!

 

[decaff38]

What is AFVC?? what is the web site? Glad to hear about Orbit One. How far is it to WDW and universal I've been looking at that one for a while. All advice is welcome. We are going Jan. 8-15th. Thanks

 

[spiceycat]

another thing that RCI puts timeshares through

Yes I think the HGVC may be considering also using II -

when there best resorts are going to outsiders it does get upsetting.

If RCI doesn't stop stealing it timeshares - then I would expect it to only have in the end those that its owns - Fairfield and the others that it owns only.

the best timeshares it has never owned.

I like the way that II does this much better - they offer to the public too - at a discount price - but only their getaways and their members get access to the same timeshares at a better price.

RCI is also now in the business of selling timeshares - talking about being in business with its members - conflict of issues ....anyway there is still that lawsuit....

 

[Local_Girl]

AFVC is the Armed Forces Vacation Club...website is:

www.afvclub.com

It's for active duty and retired members of the military. There is a similar site for government workers (federal, state, etc) also...I think it's:

www.getravelop.com

Hope this helps!

 

[dj2]

disneysteve,

great to hear that you're enjoying your stay! i've got this timeshare on my short list since it's so close to WDW, but haven't gotten very far yet with looking into all the details.

what do you think about it from the perspective of someone with a wheelchair or an electric scooter. are there lots of stairs? does it have elevators?

can't wait to read your report!

dj

 

[Kris-PA]

We stayed at Orbit One 4 years ago and were pleased. Imagine my surprise when I saw the resort on Skyauction. I won with a bid of $2!!!! All being said, with fees & faxes, we're paying $212 total for the week. We're leaving in 11 days and are anxious to
hear any current reviews. I can't wait to read your trip report.


dj2 -- from my memory, the condos are 3 story and there is no elevator. You would be ok if you could get a 1st floor. Otherwise, I wouldn't recommend it for a wheelchair or scooter.

 

[MsMulan]

Originally posted by Local_Girl
Hooray! Glad to hear you found a gem in Orbit One! We felt exactly the same way in 2002 when we walked into a 2 bdrm unit at Hilton Grand Vacations Club after paying $249 for the week via AFVC. Had to scrape our jaws off the floor.

I think the choices on AFVC and Skyauction aren't as wonderful as they once were...many of the more deluxe resorts aren't showing up at all and the ones that are have very limited availability...but that said, I still think there are some nice resorts available at phenomenal rates, and thanks to your prelim report we wouldn't hesitate to try Orbit One! Can't wait to hear the details.

Have a great trip!

What is AFVC?

 

[disneysteve]

spiceycat - Can you explain how SkyAuction actually works? What are the units they are auctioning? Is it the resort booking unused units or are they auctioning off weeks on behalf of owners who aren't using their time?

 

[disneysteve]

Originally posted by dj2 what do you think about it from the perspective of someone with a wheelchair or an electric scooter. are there lots of stairs? does it have elevators?

You would need 1st floor as there are no elevators.

There is a small step up from sidewalk to door. Once inside, unit is all one level. The hall to the 2nd bedroom is narrow - 30 inch. But the master bedroom doorway is standard size.

 

[dj2]

thanks!

dj

 

[spiceycat]

Steve - they are timeshares that timeshares owners have exchanged to them for other places - or put on deposit.

RCI was first claiming that they were excess inventory from the resorts themselves - but when resort that had been sold out for years start appearing - well it was obvious.

the problem is that in some cases they are sending their best to skyauction - but for owners they are saying there is nothing left....

so yes some timeshares owners are mad...

Now I understand why RCI is doing this and I have sympathy - lots of the timeshares were standing empty - lots of owners don't exchange - they deposit (or their resort deposits) - but they don't use the exchange system. Probably don't know how.

So instead of letting the room be empty they use skyauction and other sites to rent the room. I don't have a problem with this. I do have a problem with them lying about it. I also have a problem with owners trying to trade to a resort - being hold that is no availability coming to skyauction and finding availability.....

see why people are getting mad.

In some of the cases on skyauction there were no bids - so I don't see why RCI could not have just taken this one out and given it to the member who was requesting it. But so far RCI is not willing to this.

So the members complaint to their resorts - if they are in of the millions of timeshare that RCI has tons of - no problems - but in some cases like the Sheraton Vistana - they are also going with II. II will probably give their members better trades - and their website is not bidding and it is the same website that II members have access to -their getaways - but members pay less for it. I won't be surprised if Hilton Grand Vacation CLub does the same in the future.

there are also lots of other exchanges company that some members are now using. None of these are big yet and the member has to do some of the work - but the more of these that exist the more problems in the future for RCI.

I haven't heard lately about the lawsuit against RCI.

Now my trades with RCI have been great - but I do it long in advance - right now I am looking at 2006 - but some members are still trying to find 2005 and some even 2004. So you can see why they are mad and upset with RCI.

I traded my Landmark (which until this year the resort was only using RCI) to II - I got a Disney!!!!!! yes only a studio and I was trading a 2-bedroom - but much more than I expected.... I was only expecting to see 1-bedroom and studio on the Marriott - but I got 3-bedrooms on the Marriott and several other places. It was fun!!!! I am very HAPPY with my trade. and on top of that I got a bonus week (AC) that I can use next year 60 days before I travel.

I love my Landmark - wonderful views of the Gulf - no question about that - but it is not a Marriott and certainly not a DVC. So I am more than happy with my trade.

 

[teenmom]

This will be our first time to stay in a resort. We read the review by disneysteve. Could someone tell us how you got the $37.00 a night rate? Do you have to belong to the resort? Any help would be appreciated.