We just returned from a seven night stay and I would be happy to answer any questions about the apartments, hotels or the area surrounding Calypso Cay. We were extremely happy with the apartment(actually an over 900 sq. foot condo). They are brand new and really nice. The clubhouse has a beautiful pool and most times my family was the only one in it. My teenagers enjoyed the pool hall and clubhouse. We ate at the breakfast at Country inn most days and Amerisuites a few times. They were basically the same. The drive to Disney was short and the restuarants were close by. I can recommend Flippers pizza to those staying there.
Runaway Bay Apartments at Calypso Cay
- Thread starter mar3990
- Start date
Having just returned myself from CI&S at Calypso Cay (thread on this board), I know first hand how much you must have enjoyed the property as much as we did. We stayed in the hotle obviously.
If I may, can I ask if you own a time share there or did you rent the apt through some other means. Also, if not too personal, what was that cost. My family would love to return but I think I would prefer something a tad larger than the King suite, although it was more than adequate for our needs.
Thanks!
If I may, can I ask if you own a time share there or did you rent the apt through some other means. Also, if not too personal, what was that cost. My family would love to return but I think I would prefer something a tad larger than the King suite, although it was more than adequate for our needs.
Thanks!
I called the 888 number on the website and thru their marketing people got the apartment for $529 for seven nights. When I checked out I owed $41 in hotel taxes which I wasn't aware of. Even so it was a great deal for the size of the unit and the amenities. I did not agree to a timeshare and was not pressured into taking a tour. At check in they asked if I would be interested and told me what I would receive as a gift(two tickets to any theme park) but I said no and I was never asked again. We do not own a timeshare and hate the tours so I would never have stayed there if that was a condition. At the 888 number it was never even mentioned but I'm sure you saw all the salesmen at breakfast. It was annoying to hear their pitch every day. My only two complaints (and they aren't that bad )would be that the reservationists assured me that both bedrooms had t.v.'s and cable and only one did and the vcp unit wasn't hooked up in the living room. This was one of the reasons I booked this place as I have three teenagers and at night they love to watch cable, of course all different channels(we don't have cable at home). Even so I would stay again at that price in a minute. It was so nice to have all that room and a full size washer and dryer.
I am looking into staying at the CI&S in October. From the website it looks like the pools are shared by CI&S and Amerisuites and possibly the condos. I know you said your kids were almost the only ones in the pool, but how far away are they from CI&S? On the site it looks like they are in the middle of all the units but hard to tell how far away from them.
Also, approx how far away from MK are you?
Thanks in advance for any info. b
Also, approx how far away from MK are you?
Thanks in advance for any info. b
Actually I believe there are 4 pools, but the three you are referring to are located within the prximatey of two hotels and the apatments. If you've gone to "Calypso Cay's" website you can see that the three structures form a three sided box with the pools located in the center. If you exit the breakfast room of CI&S (going towards the pools), there's another outside eating area. Just beyond that there is a kidney shaped pool. I would consider this the Adult pool belonging to CI&S only because of it's depth and proximatey. About 10-15 steps away from this pool (walking towards Amerisuites) there is what I refer to as the main pool and hot tub. The main pool is zero enty flanked by two sculputed crabs that spray water. There is a decent slide at the deeper end of the pool. Walking towrds Amersuites still but exiting the main pool area but a gate that surrounds the 2 aforementioned pools, you walk though another gated area and ther is a rectangular "adult" pool that I consider Amerisuites pool, again only because of its proximatey to that hotel. Now. it seems my description implies lots of walking.. on the contrary.. I would imagine that the three pools put together are perhaps a bit larger than one pool you'll find at a very upscale resort. My point being is that the pools are not terribly large nor is the area that they are confined in .. however, we never saw them anywhere near capacity.
I would say that the "main" pool got the most use with the other two having at most 4-6 people in them at any one time. Hope this helps
I would say that the "main" pool got the most use with the other two having at most 4-6 people in them at any one time. Hope this helps
If you stay in the apartments like we did there is an additional pool for your use only not the hotels. It is huge and very nice. Its located at the clubhouse in the middle of the apartment units. We were about a block away walking to the CI & S. The walk never bothered us and if it was raining or we were in a hurry we just drove since parking for our apartment was right outside our front door. We requested a ground floor apartment and like I said it was really like a townhouse or condo unit. We had a two bed room and there was a queen bed in each and a pullout sofa sleeper in the living room. We used all the three beds and they were all comfortable. Keep in mind there is a full size kitchen if you want to make soup, sandwiches ect. The snack bar by the pool was never open and so on days where we hung around the hotel I let the kids make mac- n-cheese ect.
I just called the CI&S to make a reservation and got an Entertainment rate of 39.50/night + tax. (for the room with 2 queen beds) On the site it says every room has a fridge and micro but when I asked she said only the "suites" have the micro/fridge. She said Amerisuites has them in every room. Does anyone know how Amerisuites is?
Alde, what type of room did you have?
Alde, what type of room did you have?
Hercamore- sorry I missed one of your questions. We either took 535 to 536 which goes right onto Disney property or Osecola Parkway which has a $.50 toll but is right behind the hotel and also goes right onto Disney property. We never took 192 but the traffic never seemed that bad on there when we went that way to the flea market and Krispey Kremes.
We, too, just returned from Runaway Bay last Sunday. It was NOT one of our favorite accommodations in Orlando. We always look for full kitchens and in-unit washers and dryers which Runaway Bay has, along with all the kitchen utensils and dishes
First, even though we always stay in timeshare condos, this was the FIRST time when given keys we actually got keys. You know, the little metal things. Have never seen those at vacation condos in Florida, but we bit.
We were booked in a third floor, 2 bedroom unit. We spent about five minutes looking for the elevators. Guess what.... THERE ARE NONE. Not happy about hauling luggage even the airline tagged as heavy up 3 flights, but there was no choice.
The apartments ARE HUGE. As Mar3990 says, there are not televisions in every bedroom. I looked at the promotional material before hand and they clearly state all rooms are cable ready. They are. They DID NOT say all rooms had televisions, though.
Next, security of the units. There are alarm systems. That seemed appropriate as there are no security bars or bolts on the door. Unfortunately, vacationers are not given access to the security system. We put chairs under the door handle.
This comes to another point. One day when preparing to leave, I noticed a cat sitting in the window of one of the units. Said to my group, "How nice. You can bring your pets. Would have brought my cat if I had known that." Then I noticed U-Haul trucks with people moving in their belongings. I'll admit, I'm not the brightest bulb in my family's marquee, but that seemed strange. Fortunately, my timeshare presentation was scheduled after these sightings. I asked if there were permanent residents living at Runaway Bay and I was told, "Yes." It's a new concept. As the promotional materials say, the apartments are for extended stay residents, too. You stay on-site with people who live in the apartments. The intent as told to me was for "Snowbirds," people who escape the winter months in colder climes and come to live at Runaway Bay in the winter. I get the feeling those people live there year round since this trip was in August.
You could always tell the permanent residents because they roared through the parking lot as if it were the Indy 500. There is a security gate that lets in one car at a time when you punch in the code. The permanent dwellers (or their guests) raced past us when we punched in the code. Did not like that at all.
Another thing I didn't like was having to walk about half a block (no exaggeration) to discard garbage. The compacter is on the other side of the security gate, opposite the club house.
If you need hangars for your clothes, bring you own. They don't provide them.
It was not totally disatrous. The boys loved the clubhouse with the half court. They also loved the pool available for Runaway Bay. All the pools were available to us.
Another thing. The timeshare condos are really beautiful. They are centered between CSI and AmeriSuites and they have the computerized entry key cards. They have gotten away from a recent practice at the timeshares of having an open bathroom in the master bedroom. I really liked that. Again the AmeriSuite Vacation Club units are SPECTACULAR.
For those of you who are familiar with the area. the site is VERY close to Irlo Bronson Highway which is a big plus. It NEVER had the bad traffic we've experienced in past years.
Would I go to Runaway Bay again? I think NOT. Even with the TERRIFIC rate we got, the minuses outweighed the plusses.
Sorry this is so long, but I had to vent. It's something we'll laugh about in a couple of years, but my knees are still talking to me.
First, even though we always stay in timeshare condos, this was the FIRST time when given keys we actually got keys. You know, the little metal things. Have never seen those at vacation condos in Florida, but we bit.
We were booked in a third floor, 2 bedroom unit. We spent about five minutes looking for the elevators. Guess what.... THERE ARE NONE. Not happy about hauling luggage even the airline tagged as heavy up 3 flights, but there was no choice.
The apartments ARE HUGE. As Mar3990 says, there are not televisions in every bedroom. I looked at the promotional material before hand and they clearly state all rooms are cable ready. They are. They DID NOT say all rooms had televisions, though.
Next, security of the units. There are alarm systems. That seemed appropriate as there are no security bars or bolts on the door. Unfortunately, vacationers are not given access to the security system. We put chairs under the door handle.
This comes to another point. One day when preparing to leave, I noticed a cat sitting in the window of one of the units. Said to my group, "How nice. You can bring your pets. Would have brought my cat if I had known that." Then I noticed U-Haul trucks with people moving in their belongings. I'll admit, I'm not the brightest bulb in my family's marquee, but that seemed strange. Fortunately, my timeshare presentation was scheduled after these sightings. I asked if there were permanent residents living at Runaway Bay and I was told, "Yes." It's a new concept. As the promotional materials say, the apartments are for extended stay residents, too. You stay on-site with people who live in the apartments. The intent as told to me was for "Snowbirds," people who escape the winter months in colder climes and come to live at Runaway Bay in the winter. I get the feeling those people live there year round since this trip was in August.
You could always tell the permanent residents because they roared through the parking lot as if it were the Indy 500. There is a security gate that lets in one car at a time when you punch in the code. The permanent dwellers (or their guests) raced past us when we punched in the code. Did not like that at all.
Another thing I didn't like was having to walk about half a block (no exaggeration) to discard garbage. The compacter is on the other side of the security gate, opposite the club house.
If you need hangars for your clothes, bring you own. They don't provide them.
It was not totally disatrous. The boys loved the clubhouse with the half court. They also loved the pool available for Runaway Bay. All the pools were available to us.
Another thing. The timeshare condos are really beautiful. They are centered between CSI and AmeriSuites and they have the computerized entry key cards. They have gotten away from a recent practice at the timeshares of having an open bathroom in the master bedroom. I really liked that. Again the AmeriSuite Vacation Club units are SPECTACULAR.
For those of you who are familiar with the area. the site is VERY close to Irlo Bronson Highway which is a big plus. It NEVER had the bad traffic we've experienced in past years.
Would I go to Runaway Bay again? I think NOT. Even with the TERRIFIC rate we got, the minuses outweighed the plusses.
Sorry this is so long, but I had to vent. It's something we'll laugh about in a couple of years, but my knees are still talking to me.
Popscicle were you in a unit that was to the left of the clubhouse (standing in the parking lot)? We were in a unit way to the right of the clubhouse that seemed more like a condo than an apartment. There were only two stories and we had a first floor(I requested) and pulled right up to our door so the elevator wasn't an issue. I thought the whole permanent resident thing was weird too but for us it presented no problems and actually left the amenities open for us while they were all gone at work. The garbage bin was a ways away but since we only had to empty once, I just drove it up in the back of my van on my way to run an errand. If anyone is going to stay there just request a ground floor unit and you will love it!
chell
Mushu's Best Friend
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- Sep 23, 2001
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- 19,859
Popsicle - what was your "gift" for sitting through the timeshare presentation? I've been trying to figure out what they offer and I still don't know. We will be there in 11 days and I would like to know for sure what their gifts are before I sign up. Thanks!
Mar3990, you're right, we were in the 3 story units to the left of the clubhouse as you were going in. Didn't know we could request the other places. Did not want to push too much. You'll know why when I tell Chellnjr what our gift was.
Chellnjr, out gift was our room rate...... $45.00 per night. That's what we paid for sitting through the timeshare presentation. That was the best price since the out of this world $25.00 per night we paid at Westgate Lakes a few years ago.
Theirs was the least pressure of any I've been through. It was also the longest.... 2 hours. The salesman was very nice.
Chellnjr, out gift was our room rate...... $45.00 per night. That's what we paid for sitting through the timeshare presentation. That was the best price since the out of this world $25.00 per night we paid at Westgate Lakes a few years ago.
Theirs was the least pressure of any I've been through. It was also the longest.... 2 hours. The salesman was very nice.
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