Orbit One Vacation Villas

[maggiew]

What are your thoughts on Orbit One? We can get it really cheap for our week. This is a last minute, thrown together trip. We are doing an Alaskan cruise in August as our main vacation this year, but wanted to go to Disney/Universal for a cheap trip. We have Universal passes already. We probably won't go into Disney parks but will do some restaurants, downtown disney, etc. Will Orbit One fit the bill? We stayed at Bonnet Creek last year so I am afraid we might be dissapointed?? Although I looked at the guest pictures on Trip Advisor and the pictures don't look too bad. One of the comments from the hotel said they were refurbing some areas. Any ideas about when they did the last refurb and if I can request a refurbed unit?

I know that Orbit One is closer to Disney and not Universal, but that doesn't bother us. We will rent a car and have no problem driving around the area.


The other condo that was available was Legacy Vacation Club Orlando Resort II in Kissimmee. However the guest photos of this place on Trip Advisor look dismal. I'm also looking at a couple units in Windsor Hills, but those are double the price of Orbit One (but still reasonable).

My last resort is to use Marriott points at Cypress Harbor timeshare, but it is a lot of points for a 2 bedroom unit and I would like to save those if I can.


Maggie

 

[halfpintpeggy]

How much time will you be spending at your resort? I think you'll be just fine so long as you're not looking for an upscale accommodation.

 

[Macprincess]

I’ve stayed at condos all over the Orlando area. We’re a Florida resident family of five who live about two hours away from Orlando. We have three teens and are WDW and Universal annual pass holders. In the past few years we have gone from being an onsite family to the family that does the condo thing offsite. We need the space and with two teenage boys the kitchen has become a necessity to keep our food budget from skyrocketing. I have stayed at Bonnet Creek, Windsor Hills and Orbits One. To be honest if you’re looking at a comparison of Bonnet Creek or even Windsor Hills to Orbit One then yeah, you will probably be disappointed with the property. Orbit One is what I would consider a clean, safe, budget friendly condo option. You’ll get a good night’s sleep, have the extra space of a condo, and a basic decent pool with a small slide. Staff is friendly as well. However, don’t be fooled to thinking this is a resort type stay. If you want that you’re going to have to pay more.

I’m not certain what your budget is, but as a side note we just did a three day trip last weekend to Sheraton’s Vistana Villages which is on International close to Sea World. If you have a car it’s pretty much in the middle of Universal and Disney. Lovely resort style condo. We paid $130 a night for a gorgeous two bed room unit that sleeps 8. We booked via bookit.com. This was still high season here, spring break, so we had to pay a bit more then were used to paying. If you’re going in the offseason I suggest looking around as we never pay more than $125 a night for two bedrooms and that’s at the nicer resorts.

 

[maggiew]

We aren't looking for something to compare to Bonnet Creek. What I am looking for is something cheap-ish that is still clean and decent that has 2 bedrooms/2 baths. I am just hoping that by staying at Bonnet Creek last year we didn't ruin it for all other places!!

We won't spend a huge amount of time at the resort but maybe a day or so lounging around. We tend to fill our days by going to the 2 outlets, Universal a few days, Downtown Disney, etc.

I will look at Vistana Villages.

I'm maybe leaning towards one of the Windsor Hills condos. I just can't decide if it will be worth it in the long run to pay double the price compared to Orbit One. We are going in summer, so the availability of condos is low. I tried to get Bonnet Creek, but nothing available.

Maggie

 

[disneysteve]

We've stayed at Orbit One multiple times, most recently a week in December 2015. We are very happy there. The units are clean, spacious, comfortable, and well-equipped. The staff has always been friendly and helpful. The location is tough to beat for Disney since all you do is come out, turn right, cross 192, and you're on Sherberth Road which leads right onto property. You don't have to deal with 192 or I-4 at all. Of course, to Universal you will. When we're able to get Orbit One through SkyAuction, we grab it. For under $50/night, I think it's a steal.

 

[disneysteve]

we never pay more than $125 a night for two bedrooms and that’s at the nicer resorts.

I would never spend that much in the Disney area. With Skyauction, you can easily get 2 bedrooms for under $50/night. At Windsor Palms you can get a 2-bedroom condo for about $85 and a 3-bedroom house for about $100.

 

[maggiew]

We've stayed at Orbit One multiple times, most recently a week in December 2015. We are very happy there. The units are clean, spacious, comfortable, and well-equipped. The staff has always been friendly and helpful. The location is tough to beat for Disney since all you do is come out, turn right, cross 192, and you're on Sherberth Road which leads right onto property. You don't have to deal with 192 or I-4 at all. Of course, to Universal you will. When we're able to get Orbit One through SkyAuction, we grab it. For under $50/night, I think it's a steal.

I think I am going to jump on the Orbit One deal. It is $1 bid plus $299 + $20 fees. So $320 for a week during high summer! (plus $8 per day resort fee).

Maggie

 

[halfpintpeggy]

I think I am going to jump on the Orbit One deal. It is $1 bid plus $299 + $20 fees. So $320 for a week during high summer! (plus $8 per day resort fee).

Maggie

I think you should go for it! And please let us know how you liked staying at Orbit One!

 

[maggiew]

Hi all. We are back from our week at Orbit One and I thought I would give a little report. As mentioned above, I got Orbit One for a $1 bid plus $299 + $20 fees. So $320. Then there was an $8 per night resort fee. So in total, the week cost us $376.

I was really happy with the condo. If you have the expectation that this is a clean place, close to Disney that has 2 bedrooms/2 baths, this one fits the bill. It isn't a resort type atmosphere like you get at Bonnet Creek. I didn't stroll the grounds looking at the pool and landscaping, etc. like I did when I stayed at Bonnet Creek. But if you are ok with that, then Orbit One fits the bill.

Pros:
Close to Disney
Clean
Washer/Dryer in unit
Decent pool (not resort style, but more regular hotel style with a little slide)
2 bedroom/2 bath
Full Kitchen
Some supplies provided (paper towels, dish detergent, dishwasher tabs (2), laundry soap (1), box of kleenex (1 per bathroom), toilet paper, trash bags, coffee, tea, sugar, etc.)
towel and sheet refresh on Wed during week upon request
no harassing phone calls from time share agent (there were notes left on our door twice to stop by the concierge for our "free gift" but I didn't go)
close to all kinds of offsite restaurants

Cons:
A little dated
The second bedroom had 2 twin beds instead of 2 double or queen beds
furniture/appliances basic and a little worn


This place fit the bill exactly for what I was looking for (a cheap, clean place for a last minute trip). I would stay here again if that is what I was looking for. If it was a more relaxed trip where we had a lot of time to lounge around the resort, I would pick Bonnet Creek.

Maggie

 

[disneysteve]

Thanks for the report, Maggie. I'm glad you were happy with Orbit One.

 

[BadgerGirl84]

Thanks for the report! I will definitely keep that option in mind. Anyone know if they offer 3 bedrooms as well?

 

[disneysteve]

Thanks for the report! I will definitely keep that option in mind. Anyone know if they offer 3 bedrooms as well?

I'm almost positive it is all 2-bedroom units.

 

[spiceycat]

glad your were pleased with Orbit One it was on the list. Now since only live around hour (sometimes more, sometimes less - depending upon traffic) - really can't justify staying anywhere. I miss the offsite places..... (the budget doesn't at all)

 

[halfpintpeggy]

Thanks for your report Maggie! Glad you had a good time at Orbit One. I have a question though - was the Orbit One community packed during the summer? Did you feel that it was too busy like what happens at other resorts?

 

[maggiew]

No. It didn't seem busy at all. The only people I ever saw at the pool was the hotel worker changing the trash bags. We were able to park right in front of our door every night even though we came home late (after park close). There were people in the lobby at check in time, but that is about all.