Trying to make timeshare decision.....

[jdm]

Hi

Have been to Orlando several times and have stayed at Vistana, Cypress Harbor, Grand Vista, Harbor Lakes..... Really love all the Marriotts but really wanted to be closer to Disney this trip. Was planning to book the Vistana on II but had a family emergency and by the time I got to it there was no more availability for my dates (8/28 thru 9/4). Really struggling with what to do now. Royal and Sabal Palms are available but the reviews I'm reading, while OK make them sound not very resort like and I'm not crazy about having to shuttle to a nice pool at the hotel. Vistana Villages is another option but I'm not sure where it is in relation to Disney. Is it closer than the Grand Vista? Also, there are different price ranges for the Villages on II and I'mnot sure why. I don't usually see that for two bedrooms. Can anyone guide me? We like a real resort feel (snack shops, other families, some activities) and nice pools that are open late. Really having a tough time Thanks!

 

[Janet Hill]

I just checked and there is a 2BR available at Vistana Villages for your dates. This is a little farther from Disney than Vistana Resort, but not much and it is newer. We were there in May and it's a very nice resort. I'm sure you wouldn't be disappointed. You're within in 60 days so if you have multiple units to trade make sure you trade with your weakest trader.

 

[Detailor]

We stayed a Sabal Palms a few weeks ago and I walked from that resort to Royal Palms (and back) every morning.

Sabal Palms is a nice Marriott resort. While the resort (and Royal Palms for that matter) is not as big as the three Marriotts that you've stayed at, it's still quite good. There are outdoor pools at both of those resorts but not a large as the main pools at Cypress Harbour or Grande Vista. I think they're a bit more like the secondary pools at Grande Vista. There's no Marketplace store or food area at Sabal Palms but there's a small Marketplace Express and a food area at Royal Palms. Sabal Palms is quite close to the World Center Marriott hotel and all of its amenities - and there a lot of them. About a three minute walk from Sabal Palms is the hotel's Spa pool area and about two minutes further walk from that pool is the absolutely huge resort pool (with a neat looking water slide), a smallish indoor pool, fitness room and arcade. There a bar located on a rise overlooking the pool. Inside the hotel - at the same level as the pools - is a good sized food court. There are at least a couple of restaurants upstairs off the hotel lobby. Also at that level are a gift shop/convenience store and a Starbucks counter. The location of all of these features from Sabal Palms are no more challenging than the distance from most of the buildings at Cypress Harbour or Grande Vista to the main pool areas/food/Marketplace stores. Sabal Palms villas have recently been refurbished and looked to be up to the latest MVCI standards. Two bedroom villas at Sabal Palms are bigger than those at Grande Vista but a little bit smaller than those at Cypress Harbour. I thought that the living room/dining room area was much bigger than at CH but that may have been due to the configurations at each resort. Likewise, I thought that the master bedroom was at least as big as at CH and larger than at GV. Kitchen may be a bit smaller and maybe the second bedroom is a tiny bit smaller. Sabal Palms is a nice resort with buildings that are limited to two stories (no elevators). I'd already booked our winter 2010 Orlando visit at Cypress Harbour before our Sabal Palms stay but if I hadn't done that I'd have seriously considered Sabal Palms instead. The location (distance to Disney and an I-4 entrance/exit) was really nice and I think much more convenient to Disney than the Vistana Resort on busy SR 535.

Dick Taylor

 

[dioxide45]

I would stick with Grande Vista or Harbour Lake. If it is a resort feel that you are looking for these are some of the best. The Palms are much closer to Disney property. Though, Harbour Lake and Grande Vista while farther are just as easy to get to Disney from. You can take I-Drive all the way south to World Center drive and then right. You will pass all the Palm properties at World Center and then you are on Disney property after I4. I would say it is only about 10 minutes farther to go from Grande Vista and Harbour Lake vs. the Palms.

 

[Detailor]

I would stick with Grande Vista or Harbour Lake. If it is a resort feel that you are looking for these are some of the best. The Palms are much closer to Disney property. Though, Harbour Lake and Grande Vista while farther are just as easy to get to Disney from. You can take I-Drive all the way south to World Center drive and then right. You will pass all the Palm properties at World Center and then you are on Disney property after I4. I would say it is only about 10 minutes farther to go from Grande Vista and Harbour Lake vs. the Palms.

That's right, the newer Marriott resorts are about 10 or 15 minutes more drive from Disney, depending on traffic signals.

Dick Taylor