Which Marriott? Grande Vista, Horizons or Cypress Harbor?

[Magical-Memories]

Hi everyone,

We were given use of brother-in-law's timeshare. We booked a week in mid-November (before Turkey Day) at the Marriott's Grande Vista. We have 4 kids ages 6-11. I *thought* I had done my research on the resorts that the timeshare offered..and Marriott came up very highly with the Grande Vista looking very good. But did a search here (after I booked..duh!) and of course I'm 2nd guessing myself.

I don't know if I can 'change' resorts at this point..but should I reconsider and try to get Marriott's Cypress harbor or their Horizon's resorts instead?

What would you do?

I am probably putting way too much thought into it sincce my kids are thrilled with any old hotel room. But I think they are going through some renovations?

Also, if anyone has stayed at the Grande Vista do you make any requests beforehand? I know at the Sheraton Vistana people request certain building areas? Should I be aware of this at the Grande Vista as well? And if so, any ideas of the 'chances' of request being honored for that time frame?

Thanks so much everyone..these forums have been such an immense help already!

Gin

 

[spiceycat]

up until your 11th year would probably love Horizons - for your 11th year it might be too kiddy....

I would definitely try - now you realize it will cost your exchange fee to cancel - and you fee to consider that too.

both had slides.

As I say in my other post - if you can get a new or rehab unit at Marriott Grande Cypress - you will love it - amazing resort and beautiful.

if you get one of the other units (that hasn't been rehab) you will wonderful that the fuss over Marriott is - they are that different.

go read my other post.

 

[mommyx2]

I have stayed at both cypress harbour and grande vista, and really loved both of them.

This is our first year to stay somewhere other than those two resorts!

 

[jeff968]

I would vote for Cypress Harbor. We toured Horizons, very nice but the rooms are smaller and the resort is closer to rt 4 so i heard a lot of highway noise. MCH is a beautiful resort which my family loves. We've stayed there twice now. Lots to do for all ages.

 

[Magical-Memories]

Thanks Everyone!

I called to try and switch but as SpiceyCat warned me...the reservation was already confirmed so I would have lost my money on it. So we will be at the Grande Vista. I'll just hope and pray that they clean up their act by November and that they honor our request for a renovated/refurbished room.

If anyone has any specifics on what to request..I'd love to hear it!

Thanks again for such great advice too

 

[janets]

were you given your BIL's actual week or did you exchange it out? I'm interested in a Marriott for the week 11/5-11/12 and have checked RCI but nothing is showing up in November for any of the resorts.

Wondering how you snagged it at this early date. I've tried contacting timeshare owners who are interested in renting their weeks but the one I spoke with told me that there was nothing open yet and I just have to be patient and wait a bit.

What was your particular experience, if I can ask?

 

[jeff968]

Thanks Everyone!
So we will be at the Grande Vista. I'll just hope and pray that they clean up their act by November and that they honor our request for a renovated/refurbished room.

This won't be an issue. the Grande Vista is a new resort so all the units are new. Cypress Harbor was opened in 1992 so they have started to redo the rooms there. We had a renovated room during our last visit.

 

[spiceycat]

this was an exchange thru II.

the Grande Vista is not in RCI - neither is Horizons

I would contract a person who is in II (not RCI) and can exchange a week for you NOW.

Marriott doesn't release their inventory into the getaways until around 90 to 60 days before.

or go on the
www.tug2.net
you can sign up and ask questions without joining - then you can see the advertising part. I would also ask on the Marriott board about when these resorts might appear in the getaways section of II. Hopefully anyone with a AC (accomodation certificate) that they wouldn't be using would then contract you.

also try here - around 60 days before you leave
www.condodirect.com

 

[Magical-Memories]

this was an exchange thru II.

the Grande Vista is not in RCI - neither is Horizons

I would contract a person who is in II (not RCI) and can exchange a week for you NOW.

Marriott doesn't release their inventory into the getaways until around 90 to 60 days before.

or go on the
www.tug2.net
you can sign up and ask questions without joining - then you can see the advertising part. I would also ask on the Marriott board about when these resorts might appear in the getaways section of II. Hopefully anyone with a AC (accomodation certificate) that they wouldn't be using would then contract you.

also try here - around 60 days before you leave
www.condodirect.com

Another question for you SpiceyCat. (ANd thank you for your wealth of knowledge on this!) My Sister's family is now interested in coming down when we go. The timeshare week at the Grande Vista was given to us by my Husband's brother and it is through Interval International.

Anyway..I tried calling II again to see if I could get a 'getaway week' price at the Grande Vista for their family. But there wasn't anything.

In reading your above post it looks like we might have some luck if we try back 60-90 days before our trip? (In the meantime she will probably book elsewhere).

Thanks again!
Confused Gin

 

[spiceycat]

right now there is a Sheraton Vistana 2-bedroom Nov 12 -19 at $609 on the getaways. It looks the best of what is now out there. Since the one bedroom is $549.

it is closer to WDW than where you are staying.

I think Marriott are nicer - but that is a personal opinion.

of course I can also understand not wanting to pay this amount.

II use to have sales on the Marriott - I got a 1-bedroom once for $199 - got the studios for that price a couple of times....I don't think the getaways will ever be that cheap again.

 

[Magical-Memories]

Thanks Again SpiceyCat! I think that price for the Vistana is a good one.
I think my Sister and her family will probably have to stay a different resort than we are. But for those prices..I don't think she'll mind

 

[twinmomplus2new]

Thought I would chime in here, Spiceycat gave me alot of good advice when I exchanged for Grand vista last Month.


First of all, Overall I did like Grand Vista. There are some good and bad things about the resort. first to address your question about Getting another unit here. I was in the same boat wanting to add, and could not get availability through anyone! About 6 weeks out I was able to secure a studio through Getaways. It was somewhere in the area of $375 for Saturday to Saturday.

I was in Building 95. The location could not have been better it was 2 minutes to the main building! However, I guess not a newly renovated one. The 1 bedroom itself was very large and well appointed more than enough room for me and my 4 kids. Usually for dinner etc... we had 7 people there, And it never fealt crowded.

The outside walkways like to the elevator were not visably dirty but if the kids were to walk on it they would have black socks..I was apprehensive staying off property and did feel safe there, HOWEVER..... and this is somthing I intend to address in the getaways feedback section. The cars fly through here at all hours of the day and night, Not just guests, Laundry, maintance etc..We noticed it from the second we checked in till the second we checked out. It is somthing to be very mindful of traveling with your young kids.

They had craft type things to do for the kids all day every day. I did not leave my kids at any activities that were on the par of kids night out. All we did was project type things where I stayed with them, so thats all I can comment on. My boys did Spin art frisbees, $3 and tie Dye t-shirts, which were either 10 or 12 dollars. They loved the activties. And there was a very nice younger man from tampa, Maybe John, running them? In any event they loved it, ( And I stayed and watched as did most of the parents I saw)

There is a wonderful indoor playspace which my kids utilized. And about 10 couches from which to supervise your kids. The problem was I did notice an awful lot of unsupervised kids in there, Not once but every time. There is no playground monitir and No lifeguard. Both of these things I thought were a huge liability on MArriotts part!

Any more specific things you would like me to answer, feel free to ask away!

 

[leebee]

My Dsis, BIL, and their 2 girls ALWAYS try to stay at Grand Vista (they are timeshare owners with Marriott). Although I personally prefer the layout/decor of the 2br unit at Cypress Harbor, they love GV, and so do the nieces, ages 5 and 8. GV has an indoor ball pit-climbing area (i.e., air conditioned) and they run a kid's camp every evening, which the girls love- they'd rather do this than go to DTD! The pool area is quite nice- great big pool near the main check in area, with smaller pool and hot tub in the same area- don't know about other pools. When we've stayed with them, there have always been organized things poolside- theme days, night time movies (kinda fun, watching a movie from the pool!), hair wrapping, face painting, etc. When they were there in Jan. there was also a Pirate B'fast for the kids, where the "pirate crew" stopped by for the kids around 7 am(pics are so cute, with kids in bandannas and eyepatches!), fed them b'fast and took them on a treasure hunt, back around 10am. The girls loved it! My DD (10) did the evening camp last year with her cousins and said it was ok, a little boring (sometimes we are too cool to enjoy ourselves with the little ones!), but she said the dinner was good and they did make very cool sand bottle sculpture aliens- it was a space week theme. Dsis and BIL LOVE GV, and each time we have stayed with them, we have NOT been disappointed!

 

[Magical-Memories]

Thank you so much TwinMom (I'm a twin mom plus 2 myself ;-)
and also thanks to LeeBee!!

TwinMom..did you request a room a few weeks before your trip?