Reviews of Grand Beach I?

[LuvSW]

A friend has offered us her 3-br timeshare for next March at Grand Beach I, which is a Diamond Resorts property. I tried to do a search for "Grand Beach" but must not have done it right, because too much came up.

Their website looks great. Anyone have personal experience there?

Thanks!

 

[Brian Noble]

I haven't stayed there yet, but it's definitely on my list of places to try. I *almost* took an exchange there for this February, but I had already nabbed Vistana, and didn't want to spend another exchange fee.

 

[muffyn]

A friend has offered us her 3-br timeshare for next March at Grand Beach I, which is a Diamond Resorts property. I tried to do a search for "Grand Beach" but must not have done it right, because too much came up.

Their website looks great. Anyone have personal experience there?

Thanks!

try tripadvisor.com
they have reviews over there.
I'd like to try it also

 

[bearzabout]

I love Grand Beach but like anywhere, there are pros and cons.

I really like the lake location with hammocks on the beach. It is convenient to Seaworld and Disneyworld.

The units aren't perfect, but large and very comfortable. Check in early so you can ask to move it you get a bad location / view.

Do a search on this board to find out other information about this resort.

It ranks in my top 5 timeshares in Orlando.

 

[KEVD]

We stayed there in Oct 2006 and we enjoyed it. The location was great, it was quiet and they didn't hassle you to attend the sales seminars. The unit was spacious, and the bathrooms were nice. We found the furniture and carpet in the living rooom to be a little dated but that was no big deal. We had one small customer service issue where the bathtub faucet in one of the bathrooms was broken. We called about it. It appeared as though they came in and worked on it it one day while we were out but they never called, left a note to give us an update. And it did not get fixed all week. It was a 3BR / 3 bath unit so it was no big deal since there were two other tub/showers we could use. So, quite honestly, we did not even pursue it. We were having so much fun we could have cared less.

 

[GoofyG]

We stayed there last Sept and will be staying there this Sept. My parents bought a timeshare there. We were in a 3 bedroom and it was huge, 1546sqft. There are 2 master suites and one very small bedroom with 2 twin beds. Here is the website. You can look at the floor plan and pics.
https://www.diamondresorts.com/resorts.aspx?property=GBR
It was a very quiet resort and it didn't take us more than 10-15 minutes to get to any of the parks. Our only complaint was that the carpet was dirty. Diamond Resorts is the new owner so hopefully they have replaced the carpet or at least cleaned it. Last Sept it was owned by Sunterra.

 

[tjlamphere]

We just booked an RCI exchange for Grand Beach during President's Day Week. Is there a "newer" and "older" section? If I am doing an RCI exchange and I am the guest, can I request a specific section, or do I get what I get when I check in? Do you recommend checking in as early as possible, to get the best possible building or area ????

Any tips on Grand Beach would be greatly appreciated...thanks.

 

[tjlamphere]

BUMP...I need info on Grand Beach and which section is newer, as that is the one I want to reserve.

 

[GoofyG]

Grand Beach 1 is the older section. To get the newer section you have to book into Grand Beach 2. It is usually more money or points. We stayed in phase 1 and actually prefer it. The 3 bedroom in phase 2 is actually a 2 bedroom with a lock off 1 bedroom that they unlock the door for.

 

[tjlamphere]

I need more info on Phase I vs. Phase II. We have stayed there before, and I am considering buying on the resale market. We have always stayed in the buildings closest to the check in building...either the last building to the far right as you enter the resort or the one just to the left of the main pool as you are looking out to the lake from the check in building. I am thinking those buildings are Phase I? The Phase II have a lockout option? How does that work...I mean, I am familiar with what I think is a Phase I unit, so how would the lockout look in a Phase I unit...I just can't get it in my mind how the lockout works...is there a wall or something that divides the Phase II unit up that is not in a Phase I unit?

I like the location of the Phase I units, and am thinking that if I can buy a unit, I might opt for an older Phase I unit vs. a newly renovated Phase II unit.

Anyone out there that is a Grand Beach owner....please respond....thanks !!!