Tell me about Orange Lake West Village

[kathy884]

We'll be staying in a two bedroom condo that sleeps six privately / eight all together in the West Village at Orange Lake. I realize that this is the older original area, but that units were rennovated at some point. I'd love to hear from anyone who has stayed here recently and your impressions. Reviews I read on TUG2.net were pretty good.

Please note we frequently stay in timeshare units in Orlando, and I already know to say no to the tour (which is really a sales presentation). I'll also ask if they could please refrain from calling us about this (I've heard reports of early calls and later afternoon calls daily). Places like the Sheraton Vistana Resort in Orlando, Cypress Point in Orlando, Big Cedar Lodge in MO, and even the Mayan Palace in Purerto Vallarta have done this when I've asked at check in when I made it very clear that I in no way shape or form wanted a call and wanted to know up front if they could accomodate this and if not wanted to make sure to disconnect my phone first thing upon check in. From what I've read though it sounds like they are pretty hard core here / over the top on phoning daily at least twice at Orange Lake, and I probably couldn't count on their being able to follow thru on a request like that. We would never answer the phone, but I still don't want it waking us up. Can you disconnect the phones here (unplug them from the walls)? If not, I'll at least turn the volumne down as far as a can (off if that's an option) and wrap a big towel or extra blanket for hide-a-bed we won't use around them. (I think I'll ask for an extra blanket at the front desk when I check in to do this so I have one for each bedroom and tell them what I plan to use them for to let them know I really really really do not want to get any calls big time.) // Don't want to be woken up by the phone on our three sleep in days when we aren't doing rope drop at the park (I'll be up early, but really want my often sleep deprived teens to be able to sleep in little on three days and will not be hanging around the condo to answer the phone right away to make sure they don't get woken up.) (Any info on ability to disconnect phones, turn off phones, ringers, volume, reduce number of rings would be great too.) // Just a pet peeve of mine. Condos timeshare resort are so great to stay in, though, (my favorite), so despite this inconvienece I go through this rather than doing an owner rental or a hotel. I usually rent from timeshare owners or my parents who have a timeshare week for Sedona, AZ they bought on the resale market do an RCI timeshare trade (That's what this stay is.).

 

[swilshire]

My kids called these "Monopoly houses" when we stayed there. My husband hated the unit because he had only about a 12 inch overhang to sit under instead of a nice covered and screened patio. About all I remember is being annoyed that they charged $1 to make a toll free call and that we had a bad ant infestation. The units have been remodeled since we were there.

Sheila

 

[MerMom60_94]

We have had good luck staying at Orange Lake and have always stayed in West Village. You are right to avoid the sales pitch. We have been fine when we have said we didn't want to attend and have never gotten any early calls. Usually the calls have been left as messages when we have been out for the day. The West Village typically isn't close to the pool area, although the last unit we stayed in had a quiet pool nearby. Usually we have had units where we have to drive to get to a pool. If I get a chance I will see if I have any pictures of the last unit we stayed in (post refurbishment).

 

[MerMom60_94]

As promised, here is a picture of the living room area from a little over a year ago. Unfortunately, I cannot find pictures of the bedrooms or kitchen.

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As you can see, it is well kept and clean.

 

[kathy884]

Thanks so much for the information and picture. It sounds like we should be fine.

 

[charlielinda]

We loved West Village. We stay at different timeshares in the Orlando area for 1-2 weeks a year for the past 10 years. We are in our early 50's and travel without children. I was a bit apprehensive about West Village because it looked different that the other Gold/Silver Crowns we have stayed in and it turned out to be our favorite. We would stay there year after year if they didn't have the 1-4 rule.

Our two-bedroom "monopoly" unit was great. It wasn't the most up-dated or elegant place we've ever stayed but it was just fine. We enjoyed having one floor and the patio off the living room. We were overlooking the golf course and loved seeing the cranes walk by while reading a book on the patio. We called it our "little" home in Orlando. It was great to drive up after a long day, park at our front door and walk in. My husband loves Starbucks and was able to get his morning fix right on property (just a quick drive down the street). We went to the pools in the West Village area because they were calmer than other pools on property and would drive there -- which wasn't a problem at all. There is a back short-cut onto Disney propery via Sherberth road and that was fun using -- our "private" road.

As for phone calls they don't seem to bother me -- we are usually out and a message if left and I delete every day. I do know we said "no" to the sales presentation at the beginning but can't remember if we got calls or not. I do recall getting calls about golf outings every day that seemed to be "blast" messages that left a message. But this didn't affect our trip at all.

Have fun and enjoy! We would definately stay again at West Village if given the opportunity.

 

[kathy884]

Thanks CharlieLinda. Great to hear how much you enjoyed the resort. I'm really looking forward to checking it out. Soooo many great timeshares in the area and will be great fun to try one I've never been to before.