Whats the best RCI timeshare in Disney area?

[donnabc]

Have an RCA week to use or loose...thinking of using it at Disney (since nothing else seems open but deluxe on site)
Anyone have recommendations of what would be the best place to try and get in?
And would it even be worth going? I mean how hard is it to drive into the parks each day? Any chance we wouldn't be allowed in d/t over crowded in the begining of December?

 

[jctwizzer]

Marriott's....I think Royal Palms and Sabel Palms are RCI. Also, look into Vistana, and Orange Lake CC.

 

[AJKMOM]

Orange Lake and Silver Lake are 2 we recommend.

 

[Misa]

Hi,

We've just returned (yesterday) and stayed at the Sheraton Vistana Resort which is RCI. It's very easy to get to the parks from there. Take a right turn out of the resort...then your next right, and then it's a straight shot from there.

The grounds are nice too and there are 7 different pools at your disposal! Have fun!

 

[Lisa P.]

For RCI, these are my personal preferences, in order:

Fairfield Orlando at Bonnet Creek, Lake Buena Vista - 6369
Houses at Summer Bay, Kissimmee - 6884
HGVC on International Drive, Orlando - 6309
Sheraton Vistana Villages, Orlando - 6059
HGVC - Hilton Grand Vacation Club at Sea World, Orlando - 3517
(Marriott) Cypress Harbour, Orlando - 2619
(Oasis Lakes at the) Fountains Resort, Orlando - 4852
Fairfield Orlando At Cypress Palms, Kissimmee - 3995
(Marriott) Royal Palms, Orlando - 1699
(Marriott) Sabal Palms, Orlando - 1276
Orange Lake Country Club, Kissimmee - 0670
Cypress Pointe Resort Grandevillas, Lake Buena Vista - 3996
Cypress Pointe Resort, Lake Buena Vista - 2750
Sheraton Vistana Resort, Lake Buena Vista - 0450
Vacation Village at Parkway, Kissimmee - 4940
Silver Lake Resort-Silver Points, Kissimmee - 6815
Silver Lake Resort, Kissimmee - 2610
Sunterra Polynesian Isle Resort, Kissimmee - 5095
Embassy Vacation Resort at Grand Beach, Orlando - 3664
Sunterra Resorts Grand Beach, Orlando - 6315
Orbit One Vacation Villas, Kissimmee - 5109
Summer Bay Resort, Kissimmee - 3175

I might consider those last few and even a Westgate if I really wanted certain dates and they were all that was available. The top half of this list are, IMHO, all extremely nice resorts. The rest would be considered wonderful in any other location and simply have very tough competition in the Orlando region. We don't care personally for the location or perhaps the street appeal of a few others (not on this list) though they're well-regarded so YMMV. There are more we would gladly accept if we had limited options.

Would it even be worth going???? Are you serious? When is it not worth vacationing? LOL!

It's easy to drive to the parks each day. Plan for 5-20 minutes in your car instead of walking to a bus stop and waiting at least that long for your desired shuttle to arrive.

And, no, there is virtually NO chance that the parks will fill or the gates will shut down to day guests in early December. It has never, ever happened at that time of year. You're thinking of Easter weeks, July 4th & Christmas week through New Year's Eve. Otherwise, you may certainly expect to get in. It's not even very crowded in early December and all the holiday decorations are up.
Enjoy!

 

[jamzots]

Orange Lake Country Club was very nice!!
And my Mom owns at Village @ Parkway and raves about how nice it is!

 

[webprinter]

The nicest timeshare in the Disney area that we have stayed in was Vistana Villages. They are new, the grounds are beautiful and the units are immaculate!! Our runner up would be Orange Lakes if you get a nice unit in one of the newer areas. We were given an older, very run down, smelly unit at first and requested a change. They then gave us a gorgeous new unit.
Debby

 

[donnabc]

Great ideas...thanks DISer's...now just have to deside SOMETHING today so I can lock in that $39 Southwestern flight for my DD

Still holding out a slim hope we can squeeze into two units at Shades of Green! Oh why oh why won't this darn computer work with me?

 

[2ofUs]

I TOTALLY AGREE with the post above that recommended:
Fairfield Orlando at Bonnet Creek, Lake Buena Vista - 6369

Keep in mind that this resort is inside WDW grounds, but not WDW owned. Apparently when Disney was buying up land to develop WDW way back in the day, they were unable to obtain this one plot and it has stayed within a single family ownership. Sennett negotiated to buy the property (don't know when) and build this grand resort which opened in mid-late 2004?

We stayed there in late January of this year and the rooms are beautiful. The main area and one section were completed and open, but they are building two more.

We stayed in a 2 bedroom unit with a great kitchen and extremely comfortable chairs/sofa, and the beds were very comfortable.

This resort is close to Downtown Disney (toward the WEST) and some areas have a partial view of the fireworks at Epcot.

CAUTION: Though they provide transport to/from the parks, it is not very time friendly. We ALWAYS rent a car at WDW whether we are on-property or not, so it didn't matter to us.

Where ever you stay...enjoy!

 

[Queenie]

We've just come back from Summer Bay a few weeks ago, can't recommend it highly enough. Very close to Disney (we can drive it in 15 mins) and the apartments are top quality.

Unfortunately they have karaoke on some nights down by the clubhouse but if you're at the far end of building 204 onwards you don't hear a thing. Even so it's a small price to pay, stunning place.

 

[Ride Junkie]

We LOVED the HGVC at Sea World! The grounds were beautiful, and the units were awesome. Biggest & best jacuzzi tub yet!

 

[marshallandcartersmo]

thanks for the great reviews..........We are staying a week in late April at Wyndham Palms Resort and Country Club. Does anyone have any reviews on that resort?? We tried to go through RCI to get a week but decided to trade our week with Interval International instead.........thanks so much!

 

[monarchsfan16]

Shertaton Vistana Resort. Can't say enough good things about it. Have stayed there three times in the last 8 years and we've loved it. We've also stayed at Cypress Pointe but were not overly impressed with it.

 

[Lisa P.]

Marshallandcartersmo, AFAIK, Wyndham Palms Resort and Country Club only trades thru II, not RCI. We toured a few years ago and thought it was lovely. I'd definitely enjoy a stay there.

Jamzots, I agree w/your mom: Vacation Village @ Parkway is another nice one (edited my notes above).

Monarchsfan16/Heather, we loved Vistana Resort too - especially our teens! It's just a bit uncertain as to whether you'll get one of their terrific rooms (most are) or an odd one that's due for refurbishment. Same problem at Orange Lake. These are the two largest timeshare properties in the region and they offer tons of great resort amenities and activities! I only hesitate to wholeheartedly recommend them for someone who is making a rare trip to Orlando (particularly during busy, full occupancy periods) and they're hoping for that ideal room every time. But we'd definitely enjoy a return visit.

 

[mickeymousefan]

We've just come back from Summer Bay a few weeks ago, can't recommend it highly enough. Very close to Disney (we can drive it in 15 mins) and the apartments are top quality.

Unfortunately they have karaoke on some nights down by the clubhouse but if you're at the far end of building 204 onwards you don't hear a thing. Even so it's a small price to pay, stunning place.

I agree with Queenie.... Summer Bay is beautiful. Here is the link to my pictures if you are interested.
http://www.snapfish.com/share/p=774221124715916636/l=57651133/cobrandOid=1000131/otsc=SYE/otsi=SALB

 

[swilshire]

thanks for the great reviews..........We are staying a week in late April at Wyndham Palms Resort and Country Club. Does anyone have any reviews on that resort?? We tried to go through RCI to get a week but decided to trade our week with Interval International instead.........thanks so much!

We bought a week there without ever seeing the place and have stayed once. It's a very nice resort and quite convenient to the parks. It's just off 192. You can either go left just a bit and turn on Sherbeth Rd to go to the Animal Kingdom side, or turn right and go a mile or so to the rest of the World.

My kids loved the huge TV in the living room, the free mini-golf and the free continental breakfast every morning by the pool. DH loved the patio that overlooked the golf course. I found the kitchen well equipped and the bed comfy.

We had two weeks, one our own and the other an II exchange. We had ask in advance to stay in the same unit, but when we got there also ask to be on the ground floor. They cheerfully punched buttons until they found us what we wanted and moved us.

The only glitch at checkout was that they tried to charge me several dollars for toll-free phone calls. The person checking me out was not convinced that 866 numbers were toll-free, but the other ladies quickly corrected her and told her how to fix the invoice. That gave us a zero balance for the two weeks.

We went to the social hour that they invited us to where they try to sell you weeks, but once they heard how much I had paid for my week 52 3br lockout, they didn't even try.

If you have any specific questions, feel free to PM or email me and I'll try to answer them.

Sheila

 

[marshallandcartersmo]

thanks so much swilshire! I didn't even know they had complimentary breakfast. Nothing better than free food!! I think I'll check back with you closer to April with lots more questions.........thanks again!