?'s about Grande Vista

[maciec]

I have a couple of questions about Marriott's Grande Vista if anyone can answer them for me. It will just be dh, 2yoa dd, and I. We are going the 2nd week in May and have a 1 bedroom booked.


Has anyone ever stayed in a 1 bedroom condo at Marriott's Grande Vista? and what are they like?

Is there one area of the complex that is better to request than another? We would like to be close to the best pool for the kids
And in a newer building ... if there are any that are actually old. I understand that this is a fairly new resort or am I wrong?

Do you know if they have cots?

Is there anything that I need to know about the resort before going there?

How far is it from Disney?

I am leary about staying at another time share, but this is a free trip from my mom and dad. We stayed at Vistana Resort last year and weren't impressed. We were placed in one of the oldest buildings and it just wasn't very pleasant.

Thanks in advance!
Melissa

 

[Lorix2]

hi maciec - When the search function comes back (if it ever does) there were quite a few wonderful reviews about this resort.

We will be there April 19-26th in a 2 bedroom unit and will post a review upon our return - can't wait! The pictures on Marriott's official site are just beautiful, 5 pools, restaurant, kids play area, golf, bike rentals, etc...

I'm sure someone will be along soon to give you first hand experience.

 

[sconstantz]

We stayed there last May over Mothers Day. It is a beautiful resort. I will try to tell you what I remember, and what we liked.

We were in a 2 bedroom. DH and I, mom and dad, neice and DS. If you look at a map of the resort, after coming in the guard shack, take immediate right, all the way at the end. Very quiet. walking distance to the golf clubhouse, which was nice for DH and DF. They have a decent restaurant there, easy walk for lunch or dinner. Across the street and behind a condo building was a nice quiet pool with a spa. With the 2 kids, I would have preferred to be closer the main pool and activities center. the kids loved it.

They have an inside playground, that DS loved. It is much bigger/nicer than the pictures on the website can convey. Make sure you bring socks with you to pool in case you want to go in. Kids must have socks on.

They have a nice game room for older kids Dneice (10) loved that. But it does cost a lot of quarters.

We really enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere of the resort, but found the service was a little lacking. They have a bar outside the pool area, which makes it difficult to have "cold one" or "frozen" something poolside.

Every day you will have a happenings calendar sent to your room. One night they had face painting and a singing group by the outside bar, and then some animals (baby gators and snakes) brought to the site for the guests to see and touch. The face painter was awesome. she does faces at Universal and was the best. We had DS and DN faces painted everyday at WDW, but they couldn't compare to what we got at the resort. There was no charge, but we tipped her handsomely. Go early, because she is only there a short while, and when she is done, she is done. Same with the band.

The resort is very spread out. Food isn't the greatest, but then it is a condo, so I guess they assume you will be cooking most meals inside.

there are grills out by the quiet pools.

The drive to disney was about 10 minutes. We never had a problem, and did like returning to our condo and the serenity after a day of the parks.

The rooms were very nice. We started to have a problem with ants about mid-week, but used some ant killer and made sure EVERYTHING was put away, and it went away.

All in All, I would stay at the Grande Vista again. I just don't expect much in the way of food.

We are staying at the Vistana Resort this time (feb. 2 through the 9), I hope our stay is better than yours was.

Shelly

P.S. if you have any other questions, I will try to answer them.

 

[MulanMom]

We were there last March in a 1 BDR. The resort is beautiful and we enjoyed our stay immensely, even with some slight service problems. The 1 BDR is more than enough room for the three of you and decorated very nicely. Our kids enjoyed eating breakfast out on the screened in balcony. We noticed some are screened and some are not.

We were initially placed in a smoking suite which showed some signs of wear and tear. We insisted on, and received, a nonsmoking suite (our reservation noted nonsmoking was guaranteed), and the rooms were in much better condition. I can't recall the building number, but we were located on a corner, just across from the hotel main entrance. It was close enough for an easy walk to the main pool and entertainment area, but far enough to be quiet.

As for amenities, there are plenty there. What I liked most for my kids, who were 2 and 4 at the time, was the kiddie pool, the main pool, the interactive water play area, the outside beach playground, and the indoor playground. The only food we had onsite was pizza and that was fine.

We, too, found the trip to WDW to take only 10 minutes and it was always a pleasant ride for us. Like scontantz, we found it very soothing to return to the resort after the hecticness of parks. Someday, I hope to make it back there!

HTH! Enjoy!

 

[Lisa P.]

The 1BR condos are comfortable, with a lovely MBR suite, a fullsize kitchen, dining area & regular living room, 1 bathroom.

Just ask to be near the main pool & recreation area. There are several buildings clustered there. Even though they are the first phase buildings (oldest), none of the buildings are very old. They are all in the same style and well maintained.

Don't know about cots - you could call the resort and ask. HTH. Have fun!