VRI or Interval Timeshare Suggestions Orlando

[nmanning19]

Has anyone stayed at an Interval or VRI timeshare in Orlando and can recommend a place?

 

[pixiemama91]

We have stayed in few resorts in the Orlando area. We own with interval and have transferred to a resort in Orlando a number of times. Our recent stay in May was at the Marriot Harbour Lake. It was very nice. If you have kids, I would highly recommend staying here as the pool areas were very nice and they had activities all day long for kids of all ages. We had a 2 bedroom unit that was nicely updated with a nice screened in deck area. You can rent movies and games for what I believe was a $3 fee. The staff was very friendly. It was right down the street from Seaworld and about a 10 min ride to Disney and International Drive.

In the past we have stayed at Star Island and the Blue tree resort, however it probably has been about 10 years since our last stay in either of these resorts. I remember them being very nice, but can't speak for the current state of these resorts. We have also stayed at what I believe was a Sheraton, but I can't remember the name. It was a beautiful resort, but not one of our favorites.

Hope you find a Great resort!

 

[DisneyAndRedSox]

I have a week with Interval- we always stay at Marriott Grande Vista. When DD was a baby to 5yo we stayed at Marriott Harbour Lake. Love both very much!

 

[itutorfortravel]

We have stayed at Marriott Grande Vista, Sheraton Vistana Villages, and Marriott Cypress Harbour and loved all of them but enjoyed Sheraton Vistana Villages the best! Just to note, there is a Sheraton Vistana as well...that is a different resort and I cannot comment on that one because we have not stayed there...

 

[chalee94]

for a disney-focused trip, i might look at sheraton vistana resort (rather than villages) and the imperial palms/sabal palms marriotts. they are closer to the wdw gate for easier access.

but there are a number of good resorts in orlando. you might also want to join tugbbs ($15 annual fee) for their resort review section (or at least search their forums for info for free)...

 

[burnurcomputer]

I am not a member of interval, but I own at Marriott Harbor Lake. It is very family oriented, Key West themed in its décor of buildings I like it enough to stay there for every Disney trip! That's why I bought there!

 

[ZehnJahren]

I'm interested in the same thing, but also interested in how far from Disney these places are. I see the Marriott Harbour Lake (one of our possible choices) is about a 10 minute drive; how about the other ones mentioned? How far from WDW? How far from Universal?

 

[delmar411]

I'm interested in the same thing, but also interested in how far from Disney these places are. I see the Marriott Harbour Lake (one of our possible choices) is about a 10 minute drive; how about the other ones mentioned? How far from WDW? How far from Universal?

The only one that I know for sure mentioned is Sheraton Vistana (not the villages) and that is right by Disney. If you exit to the right you can enter the road to the parks at the first stoplight and if you exit to the left you can get to DTD quickly. We've stayed there just once and it was ok. Very nicely done up rooms but it just wasn't for us. And the building we stayed in had no elevator which was kind of pain.

 

[GatorMomInNC]

The only one that I know for sure mentioned is Sheraton Vistana (not the villages) and that is right by Disney. If you exit to the right you can enter the road to the parks at the first stoplight and if you exit to the left you can get to DTD quickly. We've stayed there just once and it was ok. Very nicely done up rooms but it just wasn't for us. And the building we stayed in had no elevator which was kind of pain.

We just stayed at Marriott Harbor Lake last month. It was probably our sixth time staying there. We love it and our kids love it. We have also vacationed there with friends and they really enjoyed it too. I stayed at the Sheraton Vistana a couple times and I didn't think it was as good, especially if you have kids, though that was several years ago.

Keep in mind that the traffic around Disney World is really bad. Marriott Harbor Lake is nice because it's close enough to drive to Disney easily, but far enough away that you're not stuck in all that traffic. There is a CVS pharmacy right down the road. And you're 5 to 10 minutes away from a Publix, Walmart, or whole foods. Dave and busters is about 5 to 10 minutes away and Universal Studios is about 10 minutes away. See world is also about five minutes away. You can see the fireworks from sea world from the resort.

There is at least one other Marriott property right across the street, although I don't remember the name off the top my head. We have never done this, but I believe your allowed to go over there and use their pool.

 

[cinderella97]

The Imperial / Sabal Palms are at the World Marriott Center, It is right outside of Disney and the closest. We will be staying here for the first time in June. Grande Vista is right on I-Drive. Its very nice, has a golf course, nice pools. Cypress harbor is the largest units and only has 2 bedrooms. Harbor Lake and CH is the closest to SeaWorld. In my experience you can not go wrong with a Marriott. We have also stayed at Cypress Pointe Resort - its an "ok" resort, but not up to Marriott standards. I would join the tugg board and look at the reviews. It's a great resource.

 

[jaimjaim1]

What about the west gate vacation villas? Anyone stayed there?

 

[chalee94]

What about the west gate vacation villas? Anyone stayed there?

the westgate timeshares tend to have a miserable reputation on TUG, mainly due to hyper-aggressive sales techniques. so i have never stayed at one and likely never will. too many good-to-great options in orlando to take a chance.

 

[jaimjaim1]

the westgate timeshares tend to have a miserable reputation on TUG, mainly due to hyper-aggressive sales techniques. so i have never stayed at one and likely never will. too many good-to-great options in orlando to take a chance.

If I don't have to do the sales thing because we are owners In interval already have you heard any general thoughts on the resort it self from TUG?

 

[cndij]

I want to third the suggestion for Sabal Palms/Imperial Palms, both Marriott properties and part of interval, plus on the grounds of Marriott World Center, which is directly across I-4 from Downtown Disney. Also the World Center just opened a huge water slide feature last summer on top of the beautiful million gallon pool they already have, and you have access to the whole property if staying at one of the 2 time shares with free shuttle to the Marriott. Grande Vista is very nice as well, but you can't beat having a3 BR (Imperial) or the water slides if you have teens or preteens.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

We love the Sheraton Vistana Resort (enough that we bought two weeks there following our August 2013 stay). Awesome resort and so close to DTD. Every amenity you can think of....you could easily spend a week at the resort and never leave the SVR property. Beautifully maintained. Spacious villas that have all been redone right down to the studs. Wifi and parking are both free.

You can check out my August 2013 trip report (see the link in my signature) for tons of pics of our two bedroom unit and the resort common areas (pools, playgrounds, etc.).

 

[sweetdana]

We stayed at sheradon vistiana as well. It was pretty good, pools a little chilly (and we went in July). I would settle there, but try somewhere else given the option.

 

[chalee94]

If I don't have to do the sales thing because we are owners In interval already have you heard any general thoughts on the resort it self from TUG?

TUG ranks the westgate vacations villas as the #65 resort in the orlando area (includes RCI resorts as well as II). resorts like blue tree, star island and liki tiki look like they would be better choices if the marriotts and sheratons are not an option.