Which Marriott Resort?

eventamy

DIS Veteran
Joined
Jan 6, 2008
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We are planning a family trip for next February with Grandma. She is an Interval owner and would like to use one of their resorts, specifically Marriott. Something close to WDW and we will be using the pool and amenities in the afternoons. Does anyone have any recommendations?
Our daughters will be 14 and 10 during the trip, so water slides and other cool things are definitely a plus.

Last February we did Universal for 3 days plus Epcot and MK. So not doing the Universal thing again anytime soon... come to find out, even though I love Harry Potter, I am a Disney girl through and through!!
Thanks!!
 
We LOVE Marriott Sabal Palms! We just got back from another stay there. It's about 5 minutes from Epcot on 536 (the other side of Epcot center drive, across I4). The Sabal is quiet and relaxing, and you can use the amenities at the huge World Center pools, including the water slides. The just added a laser light show at night at the World pool, which teens might like. Music and lights while swimming. They have other resort activities for adults and kids and shuttles to take you around the Marriott resort (World, Royal, and Imperial Palms)
The units are large, 2 bedroom and 2 bathroom. If you need a 3 bedroom one of the other Palms (Royal or Imperial, I can't remember which) have them. Still on the World Center property with all the amenities.
 
Thank you! So far that was my first choice as well. Good to know about water slides!!
 
The better pools between the three Marriotts is Marriott Royal Palms.

Marriott Sabal Palms just did a unit renovation and they are nice, but there is the dreaded step into the living room and all the way in the back of the Marriott World Center and there are a lot of speed bumps to get there.

Marriott Royal Palms are the 2 bedroom units and the Marriott Imperial Palms are the three bedroom units. They are next to each other. There is a pool at the Marriott Imperial Palms and the larger pool is by the checkin area (which is the Marriott Royal Palms). If your grandma is an interval owner, make sure she adds e-plus to the exchange. The 2 bedrooms are easier to get, but the 3 bedrooms are huge and will give you your own space and own bed (without sharing) or using the sofa bed. Just before 60 days out all units open up and she can exchange into the bigger unit.
 

I have stayed at both Sabal and Royal Palms. Royal is closer to the exit (and the parks) and has a nice leisure pool but is a long hike or shuttle ride from the water slide pool at the world center complex. I would lean toward recommending Royal Palms but both are great.

Also, it's not a Marriott but I'd also recommend looking at the nearby Sheraton Vistana Resort - there is a detailed thread on SVR up in the offsite reviews forum.
 
I was going to mention that the World pool is close enough to walk to easily from the Sabal, but you would have to take the shuttle from the Royal or Imperial.

Honestly, the ride to the Sabal is less than a minute from the entrance, not far at all. And the "dreaded step" in the living room shouldn't be a big deal unless you have mobility issues or a toddler just learning to walk. Obviously I like the Sabal, but we almost stayed at the Imperial this year (the 3 bedroom) and I'm not opposed to any of the three on World Center property. You can't go wrong with any Marriott, IMO.
 
We really enjoyed Sabal Palms also. You can use any of the pools in the whole complex. The World Center even has an indoor pool. There are tennis courts right by Sabal Palms and a nice video game room to use. We also borrowed movies from the Royal Palms lobby. There is a shuttle that will take you between the different resorts. The shower in the master bedroom is the largest shower I have ever seen.

We are hoping to stay at Imperial Palms next time since we need 3 bedrooms.

The Vistana is also a good choice for proximity to the parks.
 
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The better pools between the three Marriotts is Marriott Royal Palms.

Marriott Sabal Palms just did a unit renovation and they are nice, but there is the dreaded step into the living room and all the way in the back of the Marriott World Center and there are a lot of speed bumps to get there.

Marriott Royal Palms are the 2 bedroom units and the Marriott Imperial Palms are the three bedroom units. They are next to each other. There is a pool at the Marriott Imperial Palms and the larger pool is by the checkin area (which is the Marriott Royal Palms). If your grandma is an interval owner, make sure she adds e-plus to the exchange. The 2 bedrooms are easier to get, but the 3 bedrooms are huge and will give you your own space and own bed (without sharing) or using the sofa bed. Just before 60 days out all units open up and she can exchange into the bigger unit.
What is e-plus? We are Interval Members but we only exchange every couple years. We are disappointed they charge a unit upgrade fee now. :(
 
I love e-plus on Interval International. Here are the rules...I copied this from tug. Please note that this is a rather inexpensive way to extend a week also.

7. (a) For Members who wish to change their Host Accommodations
subsequent to receiving a Confirmation, but without canceling their
Confirmation, E-Plus is available to allow Individual Members to
“retrade” their original Confirmation, up to a total of three times for
different Host Accommodations and/or alternative vacation periods,
upon the payment of an additional fee. The use of E-Plus may be
purchased at any time commencing at the time an exchange request
is initially placed and continuing up to five (5) days following the
issuance of a Confirmation, so long as the purchase is prior to the
first date of occupancy of the Host Accommodations and the Host
Resort is in good standing with II. E-Plus may be used to secure up
to three (3) retrades of the Member’s Host Accommodations and/or
vacation periods, at any time up to 12 months after the first date of
occupancy of the Host Accommodations of the original Confirmation
(the “E-Plus Usage Window”). Once established, the E-Plus Usage
Window does not change upon any subsequent retrade.

(b) When transacting an E-Plus retrade, the member may view available
Host Accommodations and a Confirmation will be instantly issued if
the desired accommodations are available at the time the retrade is
initiated. Retrade requests may be made by online or by telephone.
6(c) (i) When the Member transacts an E-Plus retrade 60 days or more
from the first date of occupancy of the Confirmation or, if applicable,
previously issued retrade, he or she will be entitled to select
available accommodations with travel dates any time up to the
expiration of the E-Plus Usage Window.
(ii) When the Member requests an E-Plus retrade 59 days to 24 hours
prior to the first date of occupancy of the Confirmation or, if applicable,
initial retrade, the Member may only select from accommodations
that have occupancy dates commencing up to 60 days after the first
date of occupancy of the Confirmation or previously issued retrade.
Any subsequent retrade request may only be for Host Accommodations
with occupancy dates 60 days or less prior to the first date of
occupancy of the current retrade.
 
Thanks. I think we might do that next time. We might have to book Mystic Dunes to make sure we get a 3 bedroom but I really want Impereal Palms. :)
 
I would put Sheraton Vistana and Sheraton Vistana Villages on your list. Vistana Villages has a fun slide. The Marriott World Center Vacation Clubs are nice, but they do not have gated security if that matters to you.
 
Thanks. I think we might do that next time. We might have to book Mystic Dunes to make sure we get a 3 bedroom but I really want Impereal Palms. :)
We stayed at Mystic Dunes in 2014 and liked it a lot. We got one of the newly renovated (at the time) units and it was very nice.

I would put Sheraton Vistana and Sheraton Vistana Villages on your list. Vistana Villages has a fun slide. The Marriott World Center Vacation Clubs are nice, but they do not have gated security if that matters to you.
Which Sheraton is right behind the Marriott on 535? I never remember which is which? Or which one is better?
 
Sheraton Vistana is the resort off of 535 and is the older resort (although it is totally refurbished and nice) and has pretty mature grounds/trees. Sheraton Vistana Villages is the newer resort over off of International Drive. I like both resorts. I guess if I have a favorite between the two it would probably be Sheraton Vistana Villages because I like the Key West section (reminds me of Disney's Old Key West resort) and the St. Augustine section (two bedrooms have a large kitchen island with a great setup for families. Also, St. Augustine has the themed slide.)
 
Now with the Starwood and Marriott merger, you can stay at Swan/Dolphin and take advantage of the Disney perks afforded to hotel desks there. It's an "on-site" property without actually being Disney owned.
 
I just checked the Interval site and didn't see either listed.
I wonder if I can use Marriott reward points there?
 
I'm sorry I was confused with the different Marriott programs. You can use Reward points at Swolphin.

You can definitely use Marriott points at the Swan and Dolphin, I just booked, and they told me how many point to transfer (the ratio is 3 marriott pts for every Starwood Pt) It cost us the same amount of points as it would have to book the same nights at Marriott One World.
 





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