Sheraton Vistana or Orange Lake Resort?

[mommy23boysazh]

Hello! We have a week that we traded into RCI and both of these resorts have 2 bdr units available for the week we plan to come (Nov. 29-Dec. 6).
I have been looking at the web sites for these resorts and at tripadvisor and have conflicting feelings.

We are used to staying at nice resorts and I do not want this trip to be ruined because we are stuck with a dirty or old or dark and dingy room!
I see there is a lot of renovation being done and since it will be almost a year before we go, and we will be there at a fairly quiet time, I'm hopeful that we will be given a decent room, but I'm still nervous...

I see RCI also has Disney Villas available, but of course at the moment there are none available. I thought about doing an ongoing search to try my luck at getting one of those.
I am new to the whole RCI thing so I don't know how probable that would be.

Any advice would be appreciated!

 

[steelebug]

Our family loves Orange Lake. Every 2br we have stayed in has been clean and bright. I have stayed in the West Village and River Island sections. All the units I have stayed in were newly renovated, granite countertops, etc. My kids love the pools and all the things the resort has to offer. We have never stayed at the Vistana. We actually stayed on property and my kids wanted to go to Orange Lake for the space and the pools. I think you have to go with your gut. What one family thinks may be totally different from another family. Good luck.

 

[mommy23boysazh]

Thank you for the response. I have done some more research on both places and my gut tells me to take the chance on the Orange Lake Resort.

Too many negative reviews of the Vistana Resort.
Keeping my fingers crossed!

 

[KelnRon]

We stayed at Orange Lake (the newer section) and had an awesome time! The rooms were wonderful, super clean. The pool was great!! I am very picky and would in a second return to Orange Lake!

The next year OL was booked and we stayed at Vistana and no way was it anywhere close to OL!!! I know alot of people love Vistana but not us! The first room we had was on the 3rd floor w/ no elevators & the room was old & dingy. Husband called down to the office and they did move us to a nicer room! So we were very thankful for that. The 2nd room was much newer & nicer! Not as nice as the OL room but it was doable for us.

 

[Brian Noble]

Orange Lake West Village and Vistana suffer from pretty much the same problem---they're both huge, with sections of various vintages, and each have some rooms that are in sore need of an update.

Look for one of Maria's recent posts on the Vistana refurbishment schedule. Most of them might be done by November, in which case you're likely to get a very nice unit there. If you're looking at any village other than West in OL, you're chances of getting a bad unit are much lower. But, even in Vistana and West, I think you're odds are pretty good.

As for DVC---it might be worth a try, but you will need a top-flight trader to see it. Even then, early December is tricky, because it is the cheapest point season, and the holiday decorations are up, so it is a very popular time with Members. DVC tends to deposit things that aren't in high Member demand, and that doesn't bode well for the week you are considering. The week *before* Thanksgiving will have much better odds if they follow the pattern they used in Interval.

You might also consider putting in a request for Bonnet Creek. That's a relatively low-demand time for that resort, so there's a decent chance that Wyndham might deposit something. It looks like Wyndham hasn't deposited Orlando resorts past August '09, so if it's going to be deposited, it would be in the next several months.

You have a low-enough demand week overall that you can probably afford to be a little patient.

 

[swilshire]

My family MUCH prefers Vistana to Orange Lake and it's a lot more convenient to the parks.

Sheila

 

[MiaSRN62]

Hi....I'll post some of my recent info on Vistana's remodeling schedule in hopes it will help you in making a decision :

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2052979

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2054644


Maria

 

[DWFan4Life]

Hi....I'll post some of my recent info on Vistana's remodeling schedule in hopes it will help you in making a decision :

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2052979

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2054644


Maria

Thanks for taking the time to share it with us! I'll be check it now and decide where to stay.

Have a nice day.

 

[MiaSRN62]

You're welcome DWFan4life.

Again, the rehab schedule at Vistana is as follows :
REHAB SCHEDULE :
Springs : Feb -June 2009
Spas : April 2010--Jan 2011
Falls : Jan --May 2009
Courts : Aug--Dec 2010
Cascades : May 2009 to May 2010 (largest section)
Lakes, Fountains I and Fountains II are complete !

And by rehab, I can tell u alot was totally replaced with brand new : carpets, tile floors, drapes, furniture, tiles in shower stalls, bedding, appliances, counter tops, flat screen TV's.......

I was even pleasantly suprised the outdoor patio furniture was replaced with brand new (an upgrade from the old white plastic set) :

I suggest that anyone request the Cascades or a newly remodeled villa when they make their reservations.

Ok....with the good comes the negative. I was not happy with the closing of the full service restaurant Flamingo Cafe. The place where this restaurant was (over by Lakes and Fountains I & II) is now a Pizza Hut/KFC. Yuck. I felt this was a downgrade and wrote to the Food and Beverage manager there last year. I got a general form response where he said it was "what owner's wanted" ? Well I own and don't ever recall a poll being sent out or even a poll online at the owner's site. There is still one full service restaurant (Zimmies), but we found it extra crowded. I assume because now it's the only one. There is also the pool side snack bar at the Cascades as well as the new General Store now called the Marketplace and you can purchase deli meats and rottisserie chickens there. However, all these food places on property do offer a room service menu. So you can have a roasted chicken meal with the trimmings brought right to your villa for a $3 charge (and tip if you choose). I do like that convenience.

Having never seen or stayed at Orange Lake, I can't say how that resort compares. I don't think I've even ever seen photos from that resort posted here ? It would be nice if someone who had some could post.


Maria

 

[mommy23boysazh]

Thank you all for the great responses.
Since I've never dealt with RCI before, does anyone know if I book with either Orange Lake or Vistana, can I then call the resort directly and request a refurbished room?
Right now there is availability in the West or East village at OL. Not sure where I would end up at Vistana.

How far from Disney are each of these resorts?
Oh, and BTW, we will have a rental car so that won't be an issue.

I've been doing a lot of reading on Trip Advisor and that may have confused me even more!

Thanks again!

 

[jeff968]

We've stayed at both and i would recommend the Vistana. We found Orange lake dirty and although they are both large resorts, OL is much larger. We had to get in the car to go to the pool at OL.

 

[tink621]

We have stayed at Orange Lake 5 times and love it. The first being about 6 or 7 years ago. We stayed in an older unit at that time that is ground level that you drive up to the door. I don't remember what section it was called but it was close to the entrance. This unit was fine and not dirty at all. I am a clean freak, so if it was at all dirty I would have noticed. The last 4 times we have stayed in the East Village and it was more modern and very clean also. We have never stayed at the vistana and never would. We have rented from redweek a couple of times and the one time we asked about Vistana we were treated very rudely. This was someone that worked for Vistana. My husband is half hispanic and because we chose not to rent from them he called us wetbacks in an email. We reported this to the resort (with emails attached), they did apologize, and admitted that he did work for the resort. But they didn't seem overly concerned. Everyone at Orange Lake has been nothing but kind. I hope your happy with whichever resort you choose.

 

[spiceycat]

cypress pointe has a 3 bedroom for that week, HGVC @ SW has a 2-bedroom, too

 

[mommy23boysazh]

Spicey Cat,
What do you know about Cypress Point? And forgive me, but what is HGVC @ SW? I've wracked my brain and I just can't figure that one out!

Thanks!

 

[mommy23boysazh]

Oh, I got it! Hilton Grand Vacation Club at Sea World!!
I will check them both out, as well!
Thank you!!

 

[karensi]

Thank you all for the great responses.
Since I've never dealt with RCI before, does anyone know if I book with either Orange Lake or Vistana, can I then call the resort directly and request a refurbished room?
Right now there is availability in the West or East village at OL. Not sure where I would end up at Vistana.

How far from Disney are each of these resorts?
Oh, and BTW, we will have a rental car so that won't be an issue.

I've been doing a lot of reading on Trip Advisor and that may have confused me even more!

Thanks again!

We are owners at OL and therefore have stayed there quite a few times.
If you still have a choice available, I would say to pick the East Village, I believe it is the newest section.

OL is very close to WDW. There is a toll highway ($1) that is right next to OL. Get on that highway, (sorry I can't remember the name, but someone here will), go one exit, get off and you are practically at Disney. All in all, about a 5 minute drive.

We've never stayed at Vistana,but can tell you that OL has always been very clean. There are quite a few pools and a few (at least 2,can't remember for sure the exact number) places to eat on property. There is also a lazy river pool, alot of fun for the kids. You have to pay (of course ) to rent tubes, but lots of fun. You can also make arrangements, before you arrive, to rent a cabana at the lazy river pool.

Good luck with whatever you decide


Karen

 

[swilshire]

Orange Lake refused to entertain any location request when we checked into there a few years ago on an exchange. Vistana does accept requests.

Sheila

 

[Wishing on a star]

I am not so sure about the above post????

When you book at Orange Lake thru RCI, they not only can, but actually DO require a section request... Each section (West, North, East, River) is an entirely different resort#....

For more info and lots of photos, check out Tripadvisor. Once you look up Orange Lake, and click to expand traveler reviews, you will then see a section for Traveler Photos in the choices at the top of the page.

West - Oldest (original) village... but now completely refurbished. Most units are the free standing, single drive-up villas.. And the others are in the one main building. The units in the building are the only ones that I would be concerned about, based on everything I have read.

East - The next newest section (followed immediately by North) These are buildings up to 6 stories... The units look like most of the ones that you will see photos of.

North - A lot like East... The units look the same... Three story buildings on golf course and some wooded boundary areas. (This is where we will be staying this spring)

River Island - The very newest section. It is closely packed high-rise buildings around the major river-country water-park-style area. The other areas may feel more spread out, peaceful, etc... This one seems like it would feel like being right in the thick of things. As it is the newest, with the lazy river, etc., This one is hard to find open availability.

We haven't been yet, but are planning for this spring. I have done a lot of reading and research, so I thought that this info might be helpful.

 

[swilshire]

Orange Lake refused to entertain any location request when we checked into there a few years ago on an exchange. Vistana does accept requests.

Sheila

Our exchange was before they split the resort into sections. We were in the West section in what my kids called "Monopoly houses". Lots of issues. I'd hesitate to go back there.

Sheila

 

[Wishing on a star]

Our exchange was before they split the resort into sections. We were in the West section in what my kids called "Monopoly houses". Lots of issues. I'd hesitate to go back there.

Sheila

OMG!!!! Yep, in my research I have seen the negative stories!!!
That is the oldest building on property, and was NOT nice at all...
I know that there has just now been a complete refurbishment, but I think I would still be afraid to be assigned in that building!!!

Thank goodness, most reports of the newly refurbished WEST units are good.