Which Marriot resort

[SoonipiLady]

I will be going to Orlando to visit EPCOT for Festival of the Arts. I’m flying solo for the first time and will spend 3-4 days in the parks and 2-3 at the resort. My choices are:

Sheraton vistana Resort
Sheraton Vistana Villages
Sable Palms
Cypress Palms
Royal Palms
Imperial Palms
Harbor Lake
Grand Vista

may or may not have a car

what do my Orlando gurus think?

 

[CarolynFH]

Number 1 - I'd want a car instead of having to depend on hotel shuttles that may or may not travel when I want to. However, I've been to WDW numerous times and have stayed offsite as well as on and am comfortable driving back and forth.

The closest to Epcot, easiest to travel back and forth no matter whether you rent a car or not, will be the 3 Marriott timeshares in the World Center - the Sable Palms, Royal Palms and Imperial Palms. That's probably my first choice. The next closest would be Sheraton Vistana Resort. All of them have access to lovely pools and activities for resort days, and the rooms themselves are probably more or less equivalent. There's a big thread up at the top of this board that focuses on the Vistana Resort, for more details.

 

[HopperFan]

I would never stay offsite without a car so I don't use shuttles, can't help there.

I am at Grand Vista right now, it is right in the middle of Disney and Universal. Pretty resort geared around golf. We are park centric and they put us by golf course so we haven't been over to the main pool area.. We have stayed before overlooking it and it's very nice. Well there are two of them across lake from each other.

In July stayed at Imperial Palms, they are huge 3 bedroom units. We were six adults and did very well. The pool at condo is small like at home but the main pool at hotel is very nice. A jaunt but I think they offer a golf cart shuttle to it. Super close to Disney parks. Would be same for other timeshare units. I like the look of Sabal units.

I have stayed at Sheraton Vistana Resort several times. Units are nice inside but complex is more like an apartment complex than resort. Lots of pools and amenities but they aren't necessarily walkable from your unit. I stay because it is very close to Disney and gives me space.

Folks stayed at Harbor Lake and they liked it there. I was hoping to try this trip but Grand Vista worked best for points/dates.

 

[maverik85]

I'd say if staying at the first you could probably get by without a car and Uber. If you aren't travelling around much through the day except to the park and back it might be cheaper. You'll be close so price shouldn't be too high and won't have to pay the rental and parking fees at hotel and parks. If you plan to drive around elsewhere then the Uber might get pricier and the convenience of own car might be better.

 

[HeatherC]

With any of them I would definitely want a car. We love Grande Vista…great pool areas and on a pretty golf course.

 

[SoonipiLady]

Thanks for all your suggestions and info. Will be probably stay at one of the World Center properties. Still undecided on a car, but will most likely rent one, just in case.