Ron Jon/ Liki Tiki Resort ..........

[bethie]

Anyone ever stayed at the Ron Jon Resort, now renamed Tiki Liki? My friend is trying to swap for a Disney location, but this is the back up plan. Her home resort is Williamsburg if anyone is interested. I don't understand how it all works. I am just along for the ride! Thanks-Beth

 

[HookdonWDW]

Sorry, I don't know anything about this resort, but am I the only one who finds the name "Liki Tiki" funny???

 

[bethie]

I agree about the name. Actually the first one was no better!

Beth

 

[anniet]

I stayed there this past March for two nights in a really nice one bedroom. Very similar to DVC setup. Whirlpool bath, washer/dryer, full kitchen. Although I wasn't nuts about their layout....the TV was in the dining area, and the living area was behind it, so you sat on the couch and looked past the dining room table to watch TV, but that was minor, since I only watch the news on vacation.


It's pretty close to Disney, near the Animal Kingdom end of the property------ on 192 near Splendid China and there is a Publix near by. We took the timeshare tour and they said that prior to arrival, guests can order groceries from Publix and have them delivered at cost.

The grounds were well kept, and there is a small water park on the property.

Our only problem was the morning of checkout DBF went to put our bags in the car at 9:00am--checkout I think was 10 or 11---and when he came back his key didn't work. We tried mine and it didn't work either.....we chocked it up to them being miffed that we didn't buy there.

If your friend ends up staying here, I don't think she'll be disappointed, but she may need a rent a car, I'm not sure about transportation from this resort.

 

[bethie]

Thanks Annie for the insight! She is looking to book a two bedroom villa. She spoke with II about a Disney swap and I think after they laughed , they put her on a waiting list. The Liki Tiki place was her third choice. I was curious about the resort. She has graciously invited my family to join hers. I have found a few pictures of it on the internet and it looks very nice, not Disney, but nice. I am just spoiled by staying on site. Hey, beggars can't be choosers!

Thanks again!

 

[SleepyatDVC]

My family stayed there in a 2 bedroom 2 years ago, before the name change to Ron Jon. It was through an II exchange. We had stayed at the Mariott Cypress Harbor the trip before. This was all before buying DVC, of course.

The resort wasn't too bad but I really didn't care for it much. The Mariott was much, much nicer. This resort seemed less luxurious, I guess. Although, it wasn't too far away, it was far enough for me. Driving on I-192 depresses me for some reason - maybe because of all those years staying in the cheap motels located along that strip. LOL! There was traffic from construction when we were there, but I'm sure that's all done by now. The mini-water park was nice, but we saw a lot of locals coming over to use the pool.

We resolved after that trip if we wern't staying on-site, we would only trade into the Marriotts. It didn't feel like "home," it was just a place to crash.

Bear in mind, that this was all before the name change, so maybe the resort under went some renovations since we were there.

It wasn't bad, just nothing special and not my cup of tea. We're been to Disney enough times that we need more than the parks. Our accomodations play a much bigger role in our enjoyment than in the past. Thus, DVC made total sense to us even through we could trade easily into the Disney vicinity.

If your attitude is that you just need a clean, close place to stay while you visit the Magic, I don't think you will have any problems. Good luck and have fun!

 

[Dean]

She'll be better off with one of the Marriott's, Horizons, Vistana's or Orange Lake. Don't let the location limit what would be better choices otherwise.

 

[bethie]

Thanks everyone for the input! I will pass it along. It is rated 5 stars, but that means nothing compared to honest opinions of the folks who have visited. Thank you again.

 

[Dean]

Ron Jon (formerly Isle of Bali) is no longer a 5* resort.

 

[bethie]

Ahhhh, you learn something new everyday! Thanks!

 

[KCritter]

We toured it last May and we weren't overly impressed. The room layouts were OK, but the overall resort looked like it needed some maintenance - cracked stucco, rust, etc. They build the pool area up like it's a mini waterpark, but it's just a pool with a few kiddie type slides. It would probably be great for small children. I too find the I-192 drive depressing.

It's not that the resort totally sucks, but it just doesn't compare to Disney.

 

[Cricket2]

Room layout:

 

[brittsmum1998]

We stayed for a few days before going home to BWV. My DH couldn't wait to get out of there! He replied that he wasn't on vacation until he got to DVC. We were not overly impressed. We had a two bedroom villa and it was kind of run down. the two bdrms were upstais and shared the same bath in which you have to enter thru the master bdrm. There was a full bath downstairs, but thats kinda tuff in the middle of the night Especially compared to DVC. The water park looked awsome for our 4 yr old DD BUT it was soooooo packed it was hard to get a spot, nevermind keep your eyes on a 4 yr old. We only did SeaWorld while staying here. it was called Ron Jons at the time (and this was in April) I can't believe they have changed hands again already!! I agree w/ the rest, stay at the Marriott or the Vistana if you can.

 

[ncligs]

We stayed there in 98 because my brother did an exchange with his Cancun week, and couldn't use the week. Like the above posters said, rooms were ok, but the resort itself wasn't even close to being in DVC's class. The pool was average at best. Security at night wasn't very good.People were always walking around, and my wife did not feel very safe there.
As Dean has stated, it was called Isle of Bali when we were there.
The drive from the resort on 192 sometimes took us 40 minutes to go 4 miles. The construction was bad at the time.

After staying there and all the hassles of driving in traffic, that convinced us to buy into DVC and staying ON-SITE!!!!!!!!!!