RCI suggestions close to wdw

[tlcdoula]

I have been offered use of a friends points that are going to expire and am going cross eyed.

The only time we went to WDW we stayed on site so I am not sure where to start.

Are any of the ones listed below close to a bus or have a shuttle? We could rent a car but then have the added expense of parking and rental.

We are looking at going the last week of August and it will only be my husband and myself. I would like a kitchen so we can eat some meals in.

Here are a few that came available on our dates.

Holiday Inn Club Orange lake
Silver Lake Resort
Orbit One
Festiva Orlando resort.

Thank you
Tlc

 

[Upatnoon]

I have been offered use of a friends points that are going to expire and am going cross eyed.

The only time we went to WDW we stayed on site so I am not sure where to start.

Are any of the ones listed below close to a bus or have a shuttle? We could rent a car but then have the added expense of parking and rental.

We are looking at going the last week of August and it will only be my husband and myself. I would like a kitchen so we can eat some meals in.

Here are a few that came available on our dates.

Holiday Inn Club Orange lake
Silver Lake Resort
Orbit One
Festiva Orlando resort.

Thank you
Tlc

There are many options. The closest are Silver Lake -- very close to Animal Kingdom -- and Wyndham Bonnet Creek.

Bonnet Creek is right in the middle of Disney next to the Caribbean Beach resort. It's very popular, so a bit harder to land on RCI than some other resorts. They have a shuttle you pay for. I think its $8 per person for a RT. You can also use Uber.

Sheraton Vistana is also very nice. I don't know about the shuttle. It's about 15 minutes away.

 

[akaler2010]

There are several posts about Orange Lake on here, but in generally, my family loves it! The pools are wonderful, it's very large, but the rooms are good.

 

[disneysteve]

We've stayed at Orbit One numerous times, most recently in November 2015. It is pretty low key. Nothing extravagant or fancy but great location, about 5 minutes from Animal Kingdom and you don't need to take 192 or I-4 to get to property so traffic is pretty non-existent. The units are clean and nicely equipped. The beds are comfortable. The master bath has a huge tub. Washer and dryer, full kitchen, fridge and freezer, wifi, all the usual amenities. Screened in lanai accessible from both the living room and master bedroom. Staff has always been very nice and accommodating.

I haven't stayed at any of the others on your list.

 

[tlcdoula]

Thank you for all your replies.... I really appreciate it. Not sure what I am thinking going back at the end of August again, when we went before it was so humid but we had a blast. One that popped up today was Vacation Village at Parkway, they have a shuttle although not one that will work to go back and forth but might be ok.

Have any of you stayed there?

 

[disneysteve]

they have a shuttle

I would never stay anywhere offsite without a car of my own.

 

[bearzabout]

Do you already have your park tickets? If not, you can save a bundle by getting an annual pass for the water parks (either Aquatica or the Disney ones). August is a great time of year to hang out at the waterparks during the day and the resorts or Disney Springs in the evenings.

First decide what parks you want to go to, then determine if you are going to rent a car. Also decide if you want to spend time at the resort or want to spend more time in the parks. How important is the resort pool? Is a hot tub important?

Be careful renting one bedroom units. Some resorts like Silver Lake have 3 different one bedroom configurations. One is as small as a hotel room. Another has no whirlpool bath. The Deluxe is nice. Read the reviews on trip advisor and look at the pictures so you are not surprised or disappointed with the resorts you choose. Some are much better than others. Some that were nice have gone downhill while others have improved. The reviews I read last fall on VV at Parkway were not so good.

 

[tlcdoula]

No passes yet and not concerned if we have a hot tub or not. Just pricing everything out. I have been thinking if Disney releases free dining for August like prev years maybe just staying onsite at a value hotel would be fine. In all honesty I am going to be spending as much time in the park as I can and will need a car if we stay off site to go bank and cook meals. Won't be as comfy as a condo but might work out better for the ease of getting back to the room to change etc.


Off to think some more. I appreciate all the help.

 

[bankr63]

Just be sure that the shuttle is free as well, or at least reasonably priced. From our resort, the shuttle does not have particularly convenient times, and the cost per day for a family of 4 is about the same as a rental car and parking. With the car you can come and go as you please, take advantage of all the other amazing things that Orlando has to offer, and access shopping and dining easily.

Another vote for either of the Sheraton Vistana resorts if they come up for your week (but only with a car). We also own at Silver Lake. A very nice resort just out the "back door" of AK. I would certainly stay there, but we prefer to use our Vistana ownership over SL as it has many more amenities, is higher end, and has better access to everything offsite.

 

[disneysteve]

Just be sure that the shuttle is free as well, or at least reasonably priced. From our resort, the shuttle does not have particularly convenient times, and the cost per day for a family of 4 is about the same as a rental car and parking. With the car you can come and go as you please, take advantage of all the other amazing things that Orlando has to offer, and access shopping and dining easily.

I agree 100%. Especially with the "convenient times" comment. Most of the shuttles have very limited service. They might have 3 departures during the morning and 3 or 4 return times at the end of the day. That's it. You can't go back for a break mid-day. You're stuck using Disney transportation to get around property if you want to park hop or visit any of the resorts or Disney Springs. And you have no way to get to the supermarket, offsite restaurants, etc.

If you're going to stay offsite, get a car.

 

[Mom2SamandJames]

Vacation Village is good. We have stayed there before and really liked it.

 

[Macprincess]

We stayed at Vacation Village at Parkway last summer for a week. Not all units have washers and dryers in them. If that's important to you place a request at booking. Very nice property. No issues at all. Would stay here again. Very close to Disney. We found the easiest way was to turn left on 192. Make a left on Intentional drive. Make a left onto Osceola Parkway (Gaylord Palms on the corner) drive over the 4 highway and your on Disney property. Just follow signs to which parks you want to go to. Super quick and easy...The shuttles at Vacation Village Parkway are, in my opinion, a pain in the rear end. Used it only one day and then used the car as our time is worth more then the coast of parking. The shuttles do not run often enough to allow time to take a mid break. In the summer we like to escape the mid afternoon heat and then return to the parks in the evenings. I would not stay here without a car. Shop around as car rentals are fairly inexpensive in Orlando if your persistent. By the time you pay for transportation to and from the airport your probably close to what a car rental will cost you. It's also nice to have the car to run to the market and have off site options for eating out. With what we save on food by not eating out every meal it more then makes up for the parking fees at the park.

 

[greenclan67]

I just returned on Sunday from my 6th stsy at Orange lake. Was there for 2 weeks....man i love that plave and cant wait to go back.

 

[DJinPA]

I just returned on Sunday from my 6th stsy at Orange lake. Was there for 2 weeks....man i love that plave and cant wait to go back.

We just returned Friday from our fourth stay at Orange Lake. Loved every minute.

We always get a car. If you are going through RCI, book the rental car through them too, it was so much less than any other deal we could find.

 

[dalton165]

We are going the last week of June. We were able to exchange our timeshare for one week at Orange Lake in the East Village. Most reviews are positive. My main concern is that the unit itself might be a bit old and in need of a refurbishment.

For those who have stayed recently - any tips to get a newer renovated unit?

 

[brazilian fan]

I don´t know if is too late to reply, but I´ve stayed in Orange Lake with my family (parents, brother, sister-in-law an wife) and it was very nice, but the resort is huge so I also advise to rent a car

 

[chicagoshannon]

Out of the choices listed I'd choose Orange Lake. I always hear good things about it.

If Sheraton Vistana pops up that's another good choice. That one might not pop up for another month though. I'd book Orange Lake because that one will probably disappear soon. People love that resort.

 

[spiceycat]

I have been offered use of a friends points that are going to expire and am going cross eyed.

The only time we went to WDW we stayed on site so I am not sure where to start.

Are any of the ones listed below close to a bus or have a shuttle? We could rent a car but then have the added expense of parking and rental.

We are looking at going the last week of August and it will only be my husband and myself. I would like a kitchen so we can eat some meals in.

Here are a few that came available on our dates.

Holiday Inn Club Orange lake
Silver Lake Resort
Orbit One
Festiva Orlando resort.

Thank you
Tlc

what are you going to be doing? - only WDW for all 7 days - only go to WDW for a day or two - then enjoy the resort or going shopping or US/IOA?

so what you are doing first

if only WDW then Silver Lake, Orbit One and Festiva Orlando - are pretty close.

the shuttles are for offsite generally pretty bad. So definitely rent a car - and yes you will have to pay for parking each DAY - not each visit. Now you could use taxi or that new service (sorry can't remember the name) - but generally you can get a good bargain on rentals - go give the transportation board for more information on that - here a link

http://www.disboards.com/forums/transportation.16/

 

[ajenks22]

I've stayed onsite and offsite, both through RCI. I swear getting onsite was pure luck. For both we had our own car and would never do WDW without one. We stayed at Sheraton Vistana last time. In December, we are going again and are staying at Holiday Inn Orange Lake. I'm super excited!