summer bay resort

[susieeQ]

Hi. I have previously stayed at Orange Lake and Vistana resorts.
This time we have booked into Summer Bay resort. Has anyone stayed there? How does it compare to the other resorts? It's supposed to be a Gold Crown Resort.

Thanks
Susieeq

going dec 3-10 2005!

 

[HappyLawyer]

i would not say gold crown it is nice, there is already a thread for sumber bay i just returned from there, the description says it has a resturant it does not, and no snack bar either, villas were clean and very cozy

 

[bwvBound]

Going Dec 3-10, 2005? We'll be there, too! (Just booked it last week.)

From what I posted in another recent thread:

We had two 1BR units at "Summer Bay Resort" (not the houses nor the villas) earlier this month. Both units were spotless and felt "brand new." Each unit had a king bed, jetted-tub, washer/dryer, full kitchen, living room w/ dining area, and private patio. FWIW, we were in building 404, 2nd floor.

The resort hosted various activities -- but we didn't participate due to our own busy schedules.

For comparison, we've also stayed at the following local resorts (listed in order of personal ranking):

• Disney's Boardwalk Villas: Our favorite. We have everything we need at our fingertips including easy access to two parks (Epcot and MGM). This is a "must stay" location for our annual work-related trip in January ... as we'll need to be able to walk to the conference centers in the Dolphin, Swan and Yacht Club.
• Summer Bay Resort: The farthest drive ... but if you are staying in the parks all day you might not notice. Cleanest rooms of any we've visited in the area.
• Wyndham Palms: Nice units ... but we didn't enjoy the staff, check-in procedure, or the pools.
• Vistana: We enjoyed our unit in the Cascades ... and thought the pools were fantastic. (I'm ranking it below Wyndham Palms only because it has such mixed reviews depending on which phase you stay in.)
• Westgate Towers: This is a high-rise apartment complex located in a cement lot directly on HWY 192. The location makes for a very short drive to Disney ... but it doesn't offer a "resort feel." The units are clean and large and it was fine for my work-related purposes.
• Orange Lake Country Club: We were assigned a very old cottage unit and were completely dissatisfied with our experience. (Your experience may be different depending on where you are housed, your plans for golfing, etc.)

 

[susieeQ]

Thanks for the info! We are staying in the condo's. We have reserved 2 two-bedroom units. I hope that they can put us close together. We havent been to disney since 2001. I am really using these boards to see what has happened to the parks since I was there.
I am taking my daughter/son in law and GD(4). and its their first time to disney.(First time the SIL has ever traveled in fact) I got the Summer Bay resort for their xmas present, so Just wanted to make sure the resort was nice. I under stand that there is a lake onsite. Does anyone know if the lake is warm enough to swim in during December?

 

[spiceycat]

you can't swim in any lake in Orlando/Kissimmee - there is a bacteria - that can damage your ears and sinus(???).

so most places have no swim rules - you also have to watch out for the alligator .....No I am not kidding - most of the lakes I have send - have another sign about alligators (don't feed them) (warning)

Lots of people really like Summer Bay - some even love it - I haven't stayed there yet.

I was surpose to stay in Orange Lake this July - but I cancelled it - work....

I have stayed in the Sheraton Vistana (springs) loved it - although the service/maintence left alot to be desired.

I like the Marriott's Grande Vista, Hilton Grand Vacation Club at Seaworld - too both are very nice resorts!!!!

I own DVC so I have stayed at all of them except SSR. I will stay here shortly this May.

My favorite is probably VWL, followed closely by OKW, BCV, then BWV.

Now I own at OKW, VWL and BWV - would love to own at BCV but the budget won't allow it.

the family favorite is OKW.

 

[Queenie]

We're Summer Bay people, my partner's parents own timeshare there so I was over in Sept. You are allowed to swim in the lake, part of it is cordened off and has inflateable things in it that you can climb on, I think it costs about $5 to use it though. There's two swimming pools (one for kids) and an adults only hot pool which is bliss after a day in the parks!!! I can give you a link to our pictures of our condo and the resort if you'd like?

 

[Jane E.]

We stayed there several years ago. While they had those water toys in the lake I would not swim in there. I thought that they were nutz for encouraging people to swim in the lake. First of all, being cordoned off does not help at all. Believe me, gators can get anywhere. I was always told any fresh water in Florida can have a gator, or snakes for that matter. Also we stayed in the condo section. At that time dh & I saw two gators in the water behind our building. (As a teenager I swam in a freshwater lake in Florida but as an adult I would never allow my children nor would I. And never ever ever swim in a freshwater lake at sunset.)

By the way, we loved the hot tub, tiki bar & pool. When we were there it was quiet & relaxing - a great get away.

 

[webray]

My sister and her friend stayed there this past fall, she said it was beautiful.

They had a rental car, had no problem zipping around from park to park.

 

[HappyLawyer]

We're Summer Bay people, my partner's parents own timeshare there so I was over in Sept. You are allowed to swim in the lake, part of it is cordened off and has inflateable things in it that you can climb on, I think it costs about $5 to use it though. There's two swimming pools (one for kids) and an adults only hot pool which is bliss after a day in the parks!!! I can give you a link to our pictures of our condo and the resort if you'd like?

There is no adult only pool, there is a hot tub/jacuzzi thing for adults only it is not that big, tey have a heated pool by the clubhouse all can swim in, there is a kiddie pool also, only 1 heated pool on property, there are some other pools near some of the villa units and the houses have pools.
have fun