Lisa P.
Peaceful, Worshipful, Joyful
- Joined
- Aug 27, 1999
- Messages
- 2,372
Thought I'd post a resort review of our stay at Silver Lake, as I recall there are others here planning to stay there soon. We are: DH (42), myself (39), DD (13), DS (11), DS (11). Here it is:
Our family had a very pleasant week in a 2BR villa, sleeps 8, room #725, second floor walk-up. We traded via RCI into this Gold Crown timeshare resort and IMHO, it deserves this award rating. It's a very nice resort with spotless, well-maintained rooms, friendly staff, good resort amenities and a very convenient, offsite location near 192 just west of the World Drive entrance to Disney.
Our MBR had a comfy king bed and a very large bathroom with double jacuzzi tub, large separate shower, a pedestal sink between bath/shower and another countertop sink w/make-up vanity. The MBR also had a small chair and a digital code floor safe (didn't need to use it though it was large enough for a camcorder or small laptop). The kids shared the 2nd BR's 2 double beds and the 2nd bath w/ standard combo tub/shower. This bath is accessible via either the BR or the kitchen area. Each bathroom offered 2-3 small soaps, 2 rolls of bath tissue, a box of facial tissues and 4 sets of towels (so double all that for the whole 2BR villa). Each BR had a ceiling fan and a 19(?) inch TV.
The stacked washer/dryer was in a small utility closet near the 2nd BR and worked well. Another utility closet near the front door held a carpet sweeper, iron & board.
The kitchen was well-stocked with cookware, cutlery, table service for 8 and small appliances but the frypan was not no-stick. Several packets of dishwasher powder, a small bottle of dish soap, a new scrubber sponge, paper towels and a single filter pack of each coffee (both reg & decaf) were all provided. The dishwasher, stovetop, oven, microwave, sink disposal and full size refrig/freezer w/ice maker all worked well. There was a garden window above the kitchen sink, where we put tomatoes and fruit to ripen a bit more during our stay.
The glass DR table was huge and seated 6 with room to spare. There were 2 taller seats at a kitchen counter, if needed. The LR contained a queen sleeper sofa (we did not need it), 2 comfy swivel rocker armchairs, coffee & end tables w/ lamps, a floor lamp, a 25(?) inch TV and a VCR. The sofa could have used a couple of small throw pillows so, we used the extra bed pillows for more lower back comfort (we're average to short and the LR furniture would suit taller people w/longer legs). Plastic-wrapped linens, extra pillows and a blanket for the LR sleeper sofa were found in the MBR closet. Off the LR, through sliding glass doors, there was a screened balcony. It contained a white resin picnic table and 4 chairs.
Ours was the first family to sleep on the brand new mattresses in our room, as all of the "older" buildings had had them replaced throughout September. The entire resort is undergoing refurbishing, with some buildings closed (during this slower season) while the work is being done. Our villa's furnishings were all in excellent condition. Our unit had a LOT of mirrors (more than we care for - some entire walls), but it was a very nice, comfortable villa in one of the older buildings, next door to the pools. We never heard any noise from our neighbors nor outdoors, though the rooms on either side of us were occupied (vacant above us).
It's about a 5 minute drive to Disney's Animal Kingdom: Go Left out of resort on Black Lake Road, then Left onto Sherberth. This takes you around a loooong block, past the back of the resort. Then go Right at the traffic light. To visit AK, take the first chance for a U-turn to enter the park gates. To visit other Disney parks, do not U-turn, just follow the signs.
To return to Silver Lake Resort: Follow signs toward Animal Kingdom until you see signs for Animal Kingdom Lodge. At the highway fork (AK Lodge to left, AK to right), stay Left to go to the traffic light. (AK Lodge is one block further, straight ahead at this light). At the light, turn Left. This puts you on Sherberth, though it's unmarked. Pass the back of Silver Lake Resort on your right then turn Right onto Black Lake Road to get to the resort entrance.
Silver Lake Resort's pool area is much larger than it looks to me by the website photos. It's really made up of three, large, connected pools... a lap pool, a donut-shaped pool around a tiny, landscaped island and a freeform pool - with a water volleyball net between the latter two pools. Our family appreciated the nice, warm water temperature of the heated pools whenever we took evening swims until closing at 11 p.m. We've also never seen so many poolside lounge chairs... all with cushions. There are umbrella tables for poolside lunches and a poolside bar/grill serves meals, snacks, drinks.
Nearby, we used the free business center to check our email (3 computers for resort guests) and the kids liked the large game room next door (free ping pong, coin billiards, coin video arcade games). A videotape rental dispenser was fairly expensive and we had no time for that. The fitness center was huge, with many modern machines. Pool towels were signed out at the activity counter. Access to everything indoors (and towels) was obtained with a room key card.
We did not make use of the basketball court, nor the indoor movie theater, nor the scheduled activities, though there were several offered daily. The resort's gift shop offered plenty of Florida and Disney merchandise, candy and other goodies. The concierge desk offered slightly discounted tix to all area attractions. We did not make use of either of these services.
The "one-hour timeshare owners breakfast, to explain RCI Points" (i.e., sales pitch) was offered for Wednesday morning. At check-in, we declined the $75 offer to attend (with a $25 commitment on our part, no thanks), but we later accepted their free offer on Wednesday, for $125 cash to attend the same day. It was informative and moderately low pressure but lasted a little over 2 hours. The model was smaller than our room but the colors were more appealing, subdued, without mirrored walls. Judging by the model, these newest rooms will each have their own computer as well as high definition, flat wall TVs. Nice layouts too... including 3BR lock-offs.
Silver Lake has a pleasant, small resort feel - less busy, quieter and perhaps a bit less festive for teens or young adults seeking many, new acquaintances than a very large resort like Vistana. We were there during quiet season, also, so perhaps this is different during holidays and prime season - and the resort is getting bigger.
All in all, we enjoyed a very nice stay. It provided everything we needed for a nice resort close to Disney. We would return and would recommend this resort to anyone who doesn't need the high intensity and numerous sports activities of a very large resort. With an all-white kitchen, white tiled showers, light colored walls/furnishings and many mirrors throughout, the villa's cleanliness was noticable and appreciated. Request a unit in the 700 building for the largest rooms close to the pool area. For an attractively landscaped resort in a good offsite location, with nice pools and some fun resort amenities and activities, Silver Lake is a good choice. If it had had a pool slide, resort mini-golf and a sitdown resort restaurant, I'd have rated it about a 9 on a scale of 0-10. As is, I'd rate it a solid 8+
.
I know this was wordy but hope it helps someone and answers most questions. If you have additional questions, feel free to email me personally, as I don't anticipate being able to read this forum very often in the coming month or so. Thanks!
Our family had a very pleasant week in a 2BR villa, sleeps 8, room #725, second floor walk-up. We traded via RCI into this Gold Crown timeshare resort and IMHO, it deserves this award rating. It's a very nice resort with spotless, well-maintained rooms, friendly staff, good resort amenities and a very convenient, offsite location near 192 just west of the World Drive entrance to Disney.
Our MBR had a comfy king bed and a very large bathroom with double jacuzzi tub, large separate shower, a pedestal sink between bath/shower and another countertop sink w/make-up vanity. The MBR also had a small chair and a digital code floor safe (didn't need to use it though it was large enough for a camcorder or small laptop). The kids shared the 2nd BR's 2 double beds and the 2nd bath w/ standard combo tub/shower. This bath is accessible via either the BR or the kitchen area. Each bathroom offered 2-3 small soaps, 2 rolls of bath tissue, a box of facial tissues and 4 sets of towels (so double all that for the whole 2BR villa). Each BR had a ceiling fan and a 19(?) inch TV.
The stacked washer/dryer was in a small utility closet near the 2nd BR and worked well. Another utility closet near the front door held a carpet sweeper, iron & board.
The kitchen was well-stocked with cookware, cutlery, table service for 8 and small appliances but the frypan was not no-stick. Several packets of dishwasher powder, a small bottle of dish soap, a new scrubber sponge, paper towels and a single filter pack of each coffee (both reg & decaf) were all provided. The dishwasher, stovetop, oven, microwave, sink disposal and full size refrig/freezer w/ice maker all worked well. There was a garden window above the kitchen sink, where we put tomatoes and fruit to ripen a bit more during our stay.
The glass DR table was huge and seated 6 with room to spare. There were 2 taller seats at a kitchen counter, if needed. The LR contained a queen sleeper sofa (we did not need it), 2 comfy swivel rocker armchairs, coffee & end tables w/ lamps, a floor lamp, a 25(?) inch TV and a VCR. The sofa could have used a couple of small throw pillows so, we used the extra bed pillows for more lower back comfort (we're average to short and the LR furniture would suit taller people w/longer legs). Plastic-wrapped linens, extra pillows and a blanket for the LR sleeper sofa were found in the MBR closet. Off the LR, through sliding glass doors, there was a screened balcony. It contained a white resin picnic table and 4 chairs.
Ours was the first family to sleep on the brand new mattresses in our room, as all of the "older" buildings had had them replaced throughout September. The entire resort is undergoing refurbishing, with some buildings closed (during this slower season) while the work is being done. Our villa's furnishings were all in excellent condition. Our unit had a LOT of mirrors (more than we care for - some entire walls), but it was a very nice, comfortable villa in one of the older buildings, next door to the pools. We never heard any noise from our neighbors nor outdoors, though the rooms on either side of us were occupied (vacant above us).
It's about a 5 minute drive to Disney's Animal Kingdom: Go Left out of resort on Black Lake Road, then Left onto Sherberth. This takes you around a loooong block, past the back of the resort. Then go Right at the traffic light. To visit AK, take the first chance for a U-turn to enter the park gates. To visit other Disney parks, do not U-turn, just follow the signs.
To return to Silver Lake Resort: Follow signs toward Animal Kingdom until you see signs for Animal Kingdom Lodge. At the highway fork (AK Lodge to left, AK to right), stay Left to go to the traffic light. (AK Lodge is one block further, straight ahead at this light). At the light, turn Left. This puts you on Sherberth, though it's unmarked. Pass the back of Silver Lake Resort on your right then turn Right onto Black Lake Road to get to the resort entrance.
Silver Lake Resort's pool area is much larger than it looks to me by the website photos. It's really made up of three, large, connected pools... a lap pool, a donut-shaped pool around a tiny, landscaped island and a freeform pool - with a water volleyball net between the latter two pools. Our family appreciated the nice, warm water temperature of the heated pools whenever we took evening swims until closing at 11 p.m. We've also never seen so many poolside lounge chairs... all with cushions. There are umbrella tables for poolside lunches and a poolside bar/grill serves meals, snacks, drinks.
Nearby, we used the free business center to check our email (3 computers for resort guests) and the kids liked the large game room next door (free ping pong, coin billiards, coin video arcade games). A videotape rental dispenser was fairly expensive and we had no time for that. The fitness center was huge, with many modern machines. Pool towels were signed out at the activity counter. Access to everything indoors (and towels) was obtained with a room key card.
We did not make use of the basketball court, nor the indoor movie theater, nor the scheduled activities, though there were several offered daily. The resort's gift shop offered plenty of Florida and Disney merchandise, candy and other goodies. The concierge desk offered slightly discounted tix to all area attractions. We did not make use of either of these services.
The "one-hour timeshare owners breakfast, to explain RCI Points" (i.e., sales pitch) was offered for Wednesday morning. At check-in, we declined the $75 offer to attend (with a $25 commitment on our part, no thanks), but we later accepted their free offer on Wednesday, for $125 cash to attend the same day. It was informative and moderately low pressure but lasted a little over 2 hours. The model was smaller than our room but the colors were more appealing, subdued, without mirrored walls. Judging by the model, these newest rooms will each have their own computer as well as high definition, flat wall TVs. Nice layouts too... including 3BR lock-offs.
Silver Lake has a pleasant, small resort feel - less busy, quieter and perhaps a bit less festive for teens or young adults seeking many, new acquaintances than a very large resort like Vistana. We were there during quiet season, also, so perhaps this is different during holidays and prime season - and the resort is getting bigger.
All in all, we enjoyed a very nice stay. It provided everything we needed for a nice resort close to Disney. We would return and would recommend this resort to anyone who doesn't need the high intensity and numerous sports activities of a very large resort. With an all-white kitchen, white tiled showers, light colored walls/furnishings and many mirrors throughout, the villa's cleanliness was noticable and appreciated. Request a unit in the 700 building for the largest rooms close to the pool area. For an attractively landscaped resort in a good offsite location, with nice pools and some fun resort amenities and activities, Silver Lake is a good choice. If it had had a pool slide, resort mini-golf and a sitdown resort restaurant, I'd have rated it about a 9 on a scale of 0-10. As is, I'd rate it a solid 8+
.I know this was wordy but hope it helps someone and answers most questions. If you have additional questions, feel free to email me personally, as I don't anticipate being able to read this forum very often in the coming month or so. Thanks!
