Which RCI resort?

[LoveMyLAP-BAND]

Hey!

My aunt heard I was planning a trip to WDW for December and she said I could exchange her timeshare week for one near WDW!!! Her timeshare is with RCI. Please help me choose.

My main criteria is to be the closest to WDW. Please give me your top three choices.

Do you think I will have a problem exchanging for the first or second week of December?

THANKS!!!!

 

[AJKMOM]

We stayed at Silver Lake, and it is close to the back entrance near AK, Sherberth Rd. It has a nice pool, playground and community area. Only thing I didn't like was they charged me $25 as a deposit to take the tour. I wasn't interested, but went so they couldn't keep the money.

We stayed at Cypress Point, too. It is very close to DTD entrance of Disney. There was a nice pool and play area there,too.

People here like Orange Lake, but it's further out on Rte. 192, past Silver Lake. I noticed there was also a Hilton, that is supposed to be great. If you don't get a lot of replies, try TripAdvisor.com, I always look there for opinions of places.

 

[gjw007]

Closest RCI timeshare is Fairfield Bonnet Creek; it is surrounded on three sides by Disney property and I-4 on the other. Two other resorts that I know of border Disney property, Orange Lake (OLCC) and Silver Lake. Other choices, Sheraton Vistana Resort and Vacation Village at Parkway (VVP). Bonnet Creek may be hard to get as Fairfield point users may wish to use the resort before it is available to non-Fairfield owner; just a thought on my part. VVP is okay if you have the 'A' suite but the 'B' suite lacks some of the amentities that I look for in a timeshare such as a stove (it provides a hotplate). This is not an issue if you don't plan to spend time cooking and there is a lack of activities at Vacation Village. I don't know too much about Silver Lake but OLCC is a mile up 192 from Silver Lake.

You might look at the maps at this site, http://www.kissimmee-us192.com/map/ushwy192mapindex.htm, to show where on 192 the resorts are. There are some others on this map as well that are close to WDW, http://www.orlando-lakebuenavista.com/map/lbvnorth/hwy535map1.htm#535palmparkway. Hope this helps

 

[mbb]

Gary just said

 

[DianeV]

I think what I would do is first see what resorts are coming up for when you want to go and let us know..

 

[LoveMyLAP-BAND]

That's a good idea. I told my aunt to check availability on Fairfield Bonnet Creek, Orange Lake and Vistana Resort. She's a little older and insisted I give her three names.

Thanks. I'll post when I hear.

 

[f7prez]

Bonnet Creek is actually surrounded by Disney property

Vistana Resort is the next closest

These two RCI resorts get high marks from fellow Diser's

 

[gjw007]

Bonnet Creek is actually surrounded by Disney property

Vistana Resort is the next closest

These two RCI resorts get high marks from fellow Diser's

You got me to laugh, when did Disney buy I-4 since Bonnet Creek is bordered on one side by I-4? I also don't believe that Vistana is the next closest to Disney property but it is very close (it's like asking who is your closest neighbor, the one you share a property line with or the neighbor across the street). The question that really is being asked is how much time does it take to get to WDW. Using the Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World 2006 by Bob Sehlinger, these are his times for some of the resorts (starting on page 225).

Grand Lake Resort
MK: 9:15
EP: 8:30
MGM: 8:30
AK: 6:15

Orange Lake Country Club
MK: 8:45
EP: 8:30
MGM: 8:00
AK: 5:30

Sheraton's Vistana Resort
MK: 11:15
EP: 6:30
MGM: 9:00
AK: 9:30

Silver Lake
MK: 8:15
EP: 8:00
MGM: 7:30
AK: 4:30

Summer Bay
MK: 14:15
EP: 13:45
MGM: 13:30
AK: 11:15

Vacation Village @ Parkway
MK: 8:30
EP: 8:15
MGM: 7:45
AK: 6:45

Westgate Resorts
MK: 8:45
EP: 8:30
MGM: 8:00
AK: 5:45


Most of these times are very similiar. I put in the Inns at Summer Bay to provide some information on resorts that are a little further out. I don't know too much about the Grand Resort except that unlike OLCC, Vistana, HGvC, and several othes, it is not gated (neither was Vacation Village at Parkway), and that it doesn't have as high a rating. Most people will tell you that the units at Westgate are nice but to stay away from the place because of the sale people.

 

[LoveMyLAP-BAND]

Hi guys! Thanks for all your info. My aunt was able to upgrade to a two bedroom at no additional charge at the Silver Lake. Please tell me that's a good resort!

 

[AJKMOM]

It is nice there and close to AK. We liked it.

 

[pxlbarrel]

Hi guys! Thanks for all your info. My aunt was able to upgrade to a two bedroom at no additional charge at the Silver Lake. Please tell me that's a good resort!

It's ok. We had a 3-br in December. It's not the most fancy of time-shares but it's clean (although I did find some blue gooey stuff on some of my bathroom cabinet areas...I think it was cleaning fluid but...I didn't really want to check it out...I just left it).

When we checked in, they told us to go to another desk to get our parking pass. I think it was to assess us as potential sales victims. They asked who I was travelling with and lost all interest when I said I was with my brother and parents. She just handed me my parking pass and that was it. No sales calls or anything.

It is VERY close to AK. 5 minutes from AK. A very easy drive to AK and to the other parks if you use the back entrance. There's a Publix for groceries nearby. Free coffee in the lobby (in the main building), free internet/computer in the games room/rec centre, there's even a restaurant (but we didn't try it out so we don't know how it is.)

I think they need to redecorate the public areas of the 1700/1800 building and the furniture in the units themselves are a little dated. Washing machine and dryer in each unit but the dryers that we had were a little anemic. Took a long time to dry anything. Still, we like being able to wash clothes and not pack a ton of clothes.

It's still better than a ole hotel room somewhere (with the exception of the Grand Floridian.)

I may or may not go there again...depends on what else is available.

 

[spiceycat]

next time she offers - go register on
www.rci.com
you will need her RCI member number.

then you can see what is offered - this thing has reviews too.

Silver Lakes is okay. It use to get some great reviews - but lately people seem to prefer Cypress Pointe.

 

[Straitlover]

Glad you were abe to get soemthing. I stayed at Silver Lake once, and it was fine. Not the fanciest, but that's Ok.

For anyone else who might be researching and reading this, don;t count on being able to get Bonnet Creek thru RCI. I have a friend who owns a Fairfield time share (Myrtle Beach), and enven she could not get into Bonnet Creek. She was told right now it is strictly for owners. I guess maybe once they get more units built, you might be able to trade into it.

 

[klynn]

My choice would have been Houses at Summer Bay if it was available. You get a private 3BR/3BA house with your own private pool! I think they are wonderful! I can't comment on SL as I've never stayed there.

 

[klynn]

I just checked RCI for the first two weeks in December and this is what I saw for an exchange. I only looked for 2+ bedrooms.

Sheraton's Vistana 2BR/2BA
check-in 12/3; 12/8;12/9; 12/10

Sheraton's Vistana Villages 2BR/2BA
check-in 12/1; 12/2; 12/3; 12/8; 12/9; 12/10

Hilton Grand Vacation Club at Seaworld 2BR/2BA
check-in 12/2; 12/3; 12/9; 12/10

Cypress Point - 3BR/3BA
check-in 12/1; 12/3; 12/9; 12/10

Cypress Point Grande Villas 2BR/2BA
check-in 12/1; 12/8; 12/9; 12/10

Orange Lake Country Club 2BR/2BA
check-in 12/1; 12/2; 12/3; 12/8; 12/9; 12/10

Summer Bay 2BR/2BA
check-in 12/3; 12/9; 12/10

If there is a different resort you'd rather have iyou must contact RCI before the close of the following business day that you made the exchange without paying additional fees.

Also, here is another thought. Your aunt paid about $200. to RCI for the exchange fee and guest certificate in additional to her normal yearly maintainance fee. Maybe she doesn't know but she can get you a week without using her own week. They are called "Extra Vacations". For your time frame the weeks are priced between $300.-$400. which is probably less than what your aunt has invested into her one week. Just a thought...