Upscale villa or suite recommendation?

[minnieandfamily]

Hello!

We (DH, 4 year old DD, and I) are headed back to WDW in October. I am hoping for a promo so that we can stay onsite at BLT but if not, I am researching some off-site alternatives that might be more reasonably priced.

We're looking for a 1 or 2 BR villa with a kitchen/ette and washer/dryer. I am looking for a new/newer resort with an upscale feel (nice decor, granite countertops, etc). Also, hoping for a nice pool area and obviously, the closer to WDW, the better.

As far as cost, we would like to spend less than $300/night.

We are considering Parc Soleil, Cypress Harbor, and Ginn Reunion. We stayed at Lighthouse Key two years ago and, while we did like it there, I would like to try somewhere new.

I am open to any other suggestions! Thanks for your help!!

 

[HeatherC]

Check out the BONNET CREEK thread. It has everything you are looking for. And...it is pretty much onsite...just not Disney owned. It is next door to the Caribbean Beach Resort.

If you book less than 60 days out, you can rent a 2 bedroom for like $120 a night including all taxes! Best deal in Orlando...truly.

Beautiful units, awesome pool areas with 2 lazy rivers.

Recommend it highly. We have stayed at many resorts in the area over the years, and this one is truly one of the nicest.

Hope this helps!

 

[minnieandfamily]

Great, thank you! I will check out Bonnet Creek! Sounds nice!

 

[softballmom3]

What about Windsor Hills? It's really close and you could definitely get less than $300/night and have a beautiful 3 bdrm townhouse w/ splashpool or even a 4 bdrm house w/ pool.....

I, too, loved the pics of Bonnett Creek!

 

[spiceycat]

wbc is nice - but upscale - my 2-bedroom condo was not upscale.

you might be better off going with the Marriott.

they almost as close as WBC.

would try
Marriott Royal Palms
Marriott Sabal Palms
Marriott Imperial Palms (3-bedrooms)

that say not sure how upgraded these. they are not new - they were the first vacation clubs that Marriott build.

hilton grand vacation club are a little further from disney - but again they are definitely upscale.

the newer Marriott
Marriott Grande Vista
Marriott Cypress Harbour
and the other one use to be Horizons can't remember the new name
are like HGVC a little further from WDW. but definitely upscale.

most of the others closer to WDW - are not going to be upscale - because they were build in the 80's (some in the 70's) - but most have been rehab.

those are all timeshares

for condo

http://www.lbvorlandoresort.com/

 

[kathy884]

Here is a list of other condo resorts from TUG2.net that all have average point ratings that are higher than Bonnet Creek, and the list includes some you've stayed at or are considering and the resorts that Spiceycat mentioned. Bonnet Creek has a good rating too. Anything eight or above is usually very nice, but not necessarily as upscale as you might be looking for. Also, I wouldn't give that much weight to ratings if there are fewer than 10 reviews/ratings because you just don't know, and I tend to only go with one of these if I have other information too. There are so many great resorts in the area. I don't know about granite counter tops, upscale features, but if you joined TUG2.net for $15 a year you could read about all these places and find out. There are super detailed reviews and people who have recently stayed who offer to answer any questions that you can email. I love that site for helping me pick condos that I'd like to rent -- not just in Orlando, but anywhere. I do know that at the Sheraton Vistana Resort if you get a remodeled unit these have granite counter tops just because I've stayed there very recently. The remodeled units are beautiful / very upscale.

Spiceycat, The ratings here strongly support your observations about the Marriott and Hilton properties being some of the top ones in the area. It's interesting how all the Marriotts get high ratings, but how the newer Marriott properties have higher ratings than the older ones by a little bit, etc. just like you mentioned.

Numbers skip in the list below, because I took out the resorts in the list that aren't in the Orlando/Disney area. Central Florida and Gulf Coast resorts are all listed together on the TUG2.net site.

I'm usually very happy with any resort with a TUG rating of an eight or higher with 10 or more reviews. That's how I often pick condos to rent.

1 Villas at Disney's Wilderness Lodge, The (DWL)
USA,FL,Lake Buena Vista
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9.57 (49)
41 days

2 Parc Soleil by Hilton Grand Vacations Club (7979)
USA,FL,Orlando
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9.50 (2)
57 days

3 Disney's Old Key West Resort (RD05 DVO)
USA,FL,Lake Buena Vista
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9.41 (115)
18 days

4 Disney's Animal Kingdom Villas (DV01 DAK)
USA,FL,Orlando
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9.33 (6)
70 days

5 Disney's BoardWalk Villas (RD03 DBW)
USA,FL,Lake Buena Vista
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9.30 (62)
14 days

7 Marriott's Cypress Harbour (2619 MCP)
USA,FL,Orlando
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9.17 (207)
40 days

8 Disney's Beach Club Villas (RD02 BCV)
USA,FL,Lake Buena Vista
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9.13 (52)
88 days

9 Hilton Grand Vacations Club on International Drive (6309)
USA,FL,Orlando
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9.11 (41)
124 days

11 Marriott's Grande Vista (MGV, MGR)
USA,FL,Orlando
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9.04 (159)
13 days


15 Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa (DSS)
USA,FL,Lake Buena Vista
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8.97 (35)
14 days

16 Houses at Summer Bay Resort, The (6884)
USA,FL,Kissimmee
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8.96 (13)
Review Award Available
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17 Hilton Grand Vacations Club at SeaWorld Intnl Ctr (3517)
USA,FL,Orlando
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8.94 (155)
23 days -- I haven't stayed here, but my brother thought this place was really nice

21 The Fountains (7605)
USA,FL,Orlando
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8.75 (6)
14 days

22 Lighthouse Key Resort & Spa (LKE)
USA,FL,Kissimmee
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8.75 (2)
Review Award Available
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24 Marriott's Imperial Palm Villas (MIP)
USA,FL,Orlando
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8.69 (18)
156 days

25 Holiday Inn Club Vacations at Orange Lake Resort - West Village, formerly Orange Lake Country Club (0670)
USA,FL,Kissimmee
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8.69 (300) -- I've never stayed here, but my brother and parents love this resort.

42 days

27 Marriott's Royal Palms (1699 MRP)
USA,FL,Orlando
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8.68 (61)
48 days

28 Marriott's Sabal Palms (1276 MSP)
USA,FL,Orlando
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8.58 (30)
Review Award Available
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29 Cypress Pointe Resort (2750 CYO)
USA,FL,Orlando
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8.58 (126)
88 days -- I've stayed here three times. They have a great Lake Buena Vista location, extremely close to Downtown Disney.

31 Sheraton Vistana Resort (0450 VIT, VIO, VI1, VO1)
USA,FL,Orlando
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8.53 (384)
22 days -- I've stayed here four times. The remodeled units are definately upscale (very nice) -- a major remodel / compete well with all the best properties. -- This resort is quite close to Downtown Disney too, but farther away than Cypress Pointe.

32 Marriott's Harbour Lake (MHZ)
USA,FL,Orlando
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8.52 (45)
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34 Encantada Resort (A434)
USA,Florida,Kissimmee
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8.50 (1)
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36 Holiday Inn Club Vacations at Orange Lake Resort - East Village (8896)
usa,fl,kissimmee
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8.50 (1)
150 days

38 WorldMark Orlando Kingstown Reef (7600 WOR)
USA,FL,Orlando
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8.50 (2)
Review Award Available
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39 Oasis Lakes at the Fountains (4852)
USA,FL,Orlando
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8.48 (26)
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45 Sheraton Vistana Villages (SVV/VKW/VVM)
USA,FL,Orlando
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8.37 (58)
16 days

46 Wyndham Bonnet Creek (6369)
USA,FL,Lake Buena Vista
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8.36 (36)
14 days

 

[HeatherC]

Now I've found the opposite at Bonnet Creek. We have stayed here 3 times so far and each time was better than the last.

I am not comparing it in regards to a "hotel" because it is a timeshare and you don't have the daily maid service or room service if that is important to you.

But we have stayed at tons of other places in Orlando over the years, and I think for the price ($120 - $150 a night), the location and the amenities, it is the best deal in Orlando right now.

These are just some of the places that I am comparing it to in my mind to give you an idea...if that helps.

Marriott's Cypress Harbor
Marriott's Grande Vista
Sheraton's Vistana Villages
Orange Lake
Cypress Pointe Resort ...didn't care for
Silver Lake...didn't care for.
Hilton Grand Vacation Club

We've also toured all the Disney Resorts and seen sample rooms in them over the years. I honestly feel like the rooms at Bonnet Creek are furnished just as nice if not nicer than anything I've seen at Disney. I realize it is NOT Disney, but just in viewing the rooms I don't think the furnishings or amenities are any more upscale. I also don't think the other places I mentioned are any more upscale either and the pools and grounds are also lovely.

As with anything, I believe it's a matter of preference and lots of things can come into play in ones perception of a place. Things like how many people you're traveling with, the weather, how you're feeling that week, etc..

The great thing about Orlando is that there are SO many nice places to choose from. Other places you're kind of limited with options.

Have fun choosing and have an awesome trip!

 

[spiceycat]

disney has granite and the upscale showers and whirlpool tub in both AKV and BLT - they are redoing BWV, OKW - think BCV and VWL are on the list.

my room at WBC did not.

plus the whirlpool tub was not a whirlpool tub. it has bubbles but that was all.

the showers at WBC were also the older type. trying to find lights at WBC was just silly. they were not in the normal places. You definitely had to go find them.

the trash was in the dinning room. kitchen would be okay - but the dinning room?

do you want me to continue. WBC is nice - but the great reviews it gets here just didn't see in my visit to it.

both the Hilton and Marriott were nicer (my opinion)

 

[HeatherC]

Spiceycat: That's why the Dis is so great! People with all different thoughts and views. Keeps things interesting.

Please don't think I was trying to prove you wrong....certainly not my intent. Just voicing my experiences. Sorry if it seemed that way.

I'm sure wherever the OP stays it will be great!

 

[spiceycat]

Heather - sometimes when I read the reviews here of WBC really think where they are staying and where I stayed were two different places.

was in the building with the mini golf in front - and it was nice. Great no. Nice yes.

Disney, Marriott and Hilton are more upscale. It says so in the name. you expect more of them. they have a reputation to protect.

Wyndham is just not. It is nice - but would put it with the Sheraton and Cypress Pointe - before saying it was better than Disney.

it is definitely cheaper than Disney but better - no.

lots of people are buying at WBC and in the long run think they will be disappointed - because WBC is not using the good stuff. what they are using will need to be replaced. that means higher fees and probably accessment.

next time you are there - really look around - see what they are using in the lights, plumbing, kitchen. they are not using high quality at all.