Timeshare questions--Silver lake, Grand Beach, Summer Bay

[Beccabunny]

I'm hoping to book a vacation through Armed Forces vacation Club. We usually go in early May. There is little availability now for any of the nicer resorts for May 2012, but in the past few years they have usually had Summer Bay, Silver Lake Silver Points, and Grand Beach available. Any idea how far in advance the timeshares become available?

We definitely need an in-unit washer/dryer. At Silver Lake, "B" and "D" units do not have a washer/dryer. Any idea what they mean by "B" and "D" units?

Also, I have read that some buildings at Silver Lake don't have elevators. We would definitely need one if we're not on the first floor, as my daughter sometimes uses a wheelchair. Anyone know which buildings have elevators?

Grand Beach looks nice but only has a two diamond rating and gets mixed reviews on TripAdvisor. Is there one section that has been recently updated?

Summer Bay would probably meet all of our needs, but just how far down on 192 is it located? How long to get to the parks?

Thanks for any help you can give me!

 

[swilshire]

Summer Bay is almost to Hwy 27, but it's not a bad drive at all except at the very busiest times.

Sheila

 

[Beccabunny]

Thanks, Sheila! That's not as far as I had thought. Still hoping to get some more info on Silver lake, as that would be our first choice for location.

 

[spiceycat]

Grand Beach is very nice. most of their units are 3 bedroom.

they have elevators and parking below the building.

have yet to stay in Silver Lake - and yea it is a great location.

 

[Leajess99]

I'm hoping to book a vacation through Armed Forces vacation Club. We usually go in early May. There is little availability now for any of the nicer resorts for May 2012, but in the past few years they have usually had Summer Bay, Silver Lake Silver Points, and Grand Beach available. Any idea how far in advance the timeshares become available?

We definitely need an in-unit washer/dryer. At Silver Lake, "B" and "D" units do not have a washer/dryer. Any idea what they mean by "B" and "D" units?

Also, I have read that some buildings at Silver Lake don't have elevators. We would definitely need one if we're not on the first floor, as my daughter sometimes uses a wheelchair. Anyone know which buildings have elevators?

Grand Beach looks nice but only has a two diamond rating and gets mixed reviews on TripAdvisor. Is there one section that has been recently updated?

Summer Bay would probably meet all of our needs, but just how far down on 192 is it located? How long to get to the parks?

Thanks for any help you can give me!

Not sure how Silver Points works but Silver Lake is pretty good with requests.

Silver Lake has elevators in the 600 building. Distance is quite close being out the back gate for Animal Kingdom. We just stayed at Silver Lake (not silver points) in June and it was great. Nice and clean and we actually requested a top floor regardless of elevator.

 

[Beccabunny]

Thanks! What was your unit like? Was it updated? I had heard of outdated rooms with floor-to-ceiling mirrors in the older part of Silver Lake. Hopefully they've renovated by now.

 

[Dan1]

Not sure how Silver Points works but Silver Lake is pretty good with requests.

Silver Lake has elevators in the 600 building. Distance is quite close being out the back gate for Animal Kingdom. We just stayed at Silver Lake (not silver points) in June and it was great. Nice and clean and we actually requested a top floor regardless of elevator.

Great to hear. I am staying there with my special needs daughter for two weeks the end of April / early May next year. The front desk sounded accomodating but one never knows.

Dan

 

[SharonK0527]

We are owners at Summer Bay Resort and we use our unit every year - we never trade through RCI to go somewhere else. We love Summer Bay! It is a very nice resort with great amenities and is a little smaller and more intimate than some of the huge resorts like Orange Lake.

I believe Summer Bay is only about 5-7 miles from Disney property and it never takes us more than 10-15 minutes to get there. We usually take the back way that puts us onto Disney property over by Animal Kingdom and it not only shortens the drive, but we avoid a lot of the 192 traffic.

I would highly recommend Summer Bay to anyone considering staying there. We have never had a bad experience there yet and we have been owners since 2005.

 

[momto2js]

I think for AFVC you are too far out. The inventory changes regularly and properties are likely not making much available for the reduced price this far in advance. We were looking at a november trip earlier this week and one night there were 3 pages of options, the next day none, and now several days later, 3 pages again.

I might hold on a little longer for a May reservation and see if something you like better comes up.

 

[Beccabunny]

I think for AFVC you are too far out. The inventory changes regularly and properties are likely not making much available for the reduced price this far in advance. We were looking at a november trip earlier this week and one night there were 3 pages of options, the next day none, and now several days later, 3 pages again.

I might hold on a little longer for a May reservation and see if something you like better comes up.

Thank you! This is what I suspected. We had considered this option last year before deciding to stay at WH, and I seem to remember around January there was quite a bit of inventory.

 

[momto2js]

Just another option, if you are willing to wait it out a little. I was going to use AFVC for a trip in November as mentioned above. At one point there was nothing available so I started looking for options. On Ebay I found several "nicer" resort weeks for less than AFVC. You need to do a little digging and get a little lucky but it is something to consider.

 

[BubMunkeyBles]

A few friends of ours and their families stayed at Silver Lake for our wedding at Shades of Green. We dropped some packages off there and it was pretty nice. Not fancy and the decor was outdated, but its really close to the parks and would definitely do the job for us. We're hoping to book a week in March.

 

[Beccabunny]

Just another option, if you are willing to wait it out a little. I was going to use AFVC for a trip in November as mentioned above. At one point there was nothing available so I started looking for options. On Ebay I found several "nicer" resort weeks for less than AFVC. You need to do a little digging and get a little lucky but it is something to consider.

Thanks for the tip! I can definitely wait. I would only book this early if something amazing was available.

 

[Kat&Dom]

Grand Beach is very nice. most of their units are 3 bedroom.

they have elevators and parking below the building.

Grand Beach is really nice and the 3 bed/3 bath condos are huge. You basically get 2 master bedrooms, both with king beds and ensuite with separate shower and jetted bath tub. The 3rd bedroom has twin beds with a full bath with shower in tub across the hall. You have laundry in the unit, a full kitchen, living room and balcony - there is a TV in every bedroom and one in living room.

I think the negative reviews that you see on tripadvisor are people who rent the one bedroom suite - it is apparently really small. I have only stayed in the 3 bed condo and it was huge - I think it is 2,100 sq ft.

I hope you have a wonderful trip where ever you stay!