Which resort to stay at?

[MickeysFan]

Hello! For the first week of our trip to Orlando this November, we will be staying at a resort available through a timeshare ownership. We have it narrowed down to our top four choices, and I was wondering if anyone would weigh in their opinions of them?

1. Orange Lake Country Club
2. Summer Bay Resort, our first choice would be one of the houses, or a 4 bdrm
3. Sheraton Vistana Resort
4. Driftwood Maingate

We've also discussed the Hilton Vacation Club on International and the Silver Lake Resort. We only know what it shows us in our books and online, it's always nice to hear from people who have been there or done other research. Thanks!!!

 

[MickeysFan]

Read some unpleasant remarks about the Silver Creek on another post, so that's out.

 

[MickeysFan]

Anyone?

 

[ttfn3]

Of the resorts on your list, we have stayed at the Vistana Resort. My family likes the activities at this resort. We have also been lucky and gotten nice timeshare units here. The resort has lots to do for all ages. We have taken trips and just hung out at the resort. It's very close to Disney - a very easy drive! The only negative is that some of the units do need to be refurbed - and the checkin can be a pain. Once you get past those 2 hurdles, the staff here are wonderful!!

We stopped by Orange Lake last summer to take a look. I wasn't thrilled by what I saw and have no desire to stay here. Plus, I did not like the location. Enuf said.

We also stopped by HGVC on International Drive and it's a very beautiful resort. More upscale in feel than the other 2 resorts. Not as much going on as Vistana Resort - and more expensive. I like the location - near the quieter end of I-Drive and around the corner from the Premium Outlet Malls. I would stay here if we got a good price.

 

[swilshire]

We've stayed at the first three on your list. Never heard of the fourth. Vistana would be my first choice unless you can get a Summer Bay pool house (which would move it to the top of the list). Summer Bay would be my second choice. We didn't care much for Orange Lake but others like it better than we did.

Sheila

 

[MickeysFan]

Thank you, that helps so much! All the things I've read and seen online made Orange Lake seem like the best resort in Orlando, so it's great to have some real peoples experience to balance all the propaganda. Thanks again. It seems like from real experience people really love the Vistana. Trip advisor agrees with that. Does anyone know how you avoid the older out of date condos?

 

[spiceycat]

I happen to like Springs.

with those choices you have have seem Cypress Pointe.

I would go with it.

both Orange Lake and Sheraton Vistana are BIG resorts. Cypress Pointe is small.

Orange Lake and Summer Bay are pretty far from WDW. Sheraton Vistana and Cypress Pointe are closer.

of course my big problem with Orange Lake was the lack of swimming pool - not nearly enough for stuff a big resort and the stupid traffic light on US 192 - it holds for a long, long, long time. You can be stopped at this light long enough for you to get to WDW from SV or CP.

 

[MickeysFan]

I thought that Orange Lake has 8 swimming pools plus the beach/Lake? I was concerned when I google mapped it and saw how huge it is...if you are at the far end it seems like it could take 10 minutes just to get to the main road!!!

We have stayed at Cypress Point before, and we liked it. We have tennage boys with us this time so we are looking for a variety of fairly independant activities for them. I have heard that both Orange Lake and the Vistana have these things. I don't recall CP having anything organized or really appealing to older children, although their pool was a huge hit with the younger ones!

Is there anyone who knows anything about the Driftwood Maingate? It seems to be kinda off the raidar.

 

[spiceycat]

I thought that Orange Lake has 8 swimming pools plus the beach/Lake? I was concerned when I google mapped it and saw how huge it is...if you are at the far end it seems like it could take 10 minutes just to get to the main road!!!

.

Sheraton Vistana Resort has 7 pools - and it is less than half the size of OL.

I really didn't like having to get in the car to go to the swimming pool. that was a definitely pain. OL did have an internal bus - but it never seem to come down our street.

OKW about 1/10 the size of OL has 4 pools. A resort OL size should have (my opinion) at least 20 pools and one within walking distance of every villa. They don't.

SVR and OKW do.

 

[spiceycat]

Is there anyone who knows anything about the Driftwood Maingate? It seems to be kinda off the raidar.

I haven't heard of it - going to look at RCI. it really sounds like a name change to me.

you are correct CP didn't have alot for the older crowd. but I like small resorts..

 

[spiceycat]

this resort is NOT listed on tug.

and it looks like remade hotels rooms. - but won't know for sure until someone stays there and reports it on tug.

 

[MickeysFan]

Sheraton Vistana Resort has 7 pools - and it is less than half the size of OL.

I really didn't like having to get in the car to go to the swimming pool. that was a definitely pain. OL did have an internal bus - but it never seem to come down our street.

OKW about 1/10 the size of OL has 4 pools. A resort OL size should have (my opinion) at least 20 pools and one within walking distance of every villa. They don't.

SVR and OKW do.

Sorry, not sure what OKW stands for?

I am so glad you posted this info about OL...I DO NOT consider it an option to drive to the pool when we want to relax!! Sometimes you only have 1/2 an hour after getting back from the parks, you want to soak in the hot tub while the kids swim and then all go to sleep!!! You're right, it doesn't matter if there are a hundred pools if it is a pain to get to them.

Is the pool siuation the same at the Vistana?

The Driftwood is still hard to track down. The website, http://www.dhmvacations.com/ says it is under construction, although you can get some ideas about it. It seems to be linked to the Radisson Worldgate, I think it uses the same ammenaties, pool, game room, ect. If it is at the same location and we can get condos with full kitchens with our RCI points, I will be all over it...that is close to WDW!!! I am curious if anyone has stayed at the WG Radisson, and whether or not they enjoyed it. I am assuming that the cleanliness, friendliness, customer service and convinience will apply to both places.

 

[MickeysFan]

Wow, spiceycat, just looked at your sig and realize you are going to WDW in 2 days!!! Have Fun!!!!

 

[Dis1978]

Hmmm I am really stuck now. We are having a few days at universal, then a few at disney. Wanted to have more space and was thinking of being off site for a bit. Also am worried about vistana because if we get older villas they sound pretty awful. We are going next month so I should sort something out I guess!
We are also thinking of a few days at the tradewinds at st petes - anyone stayed there?

 

[Ksquared]

I have stayed at both Vistana and OL. I loved both resorts. And OL just added a new lazy river/water area to the resort that was not open when we went. Personally, I didn't mind driving to the pool although I must say we spent more time at the pool the 2nd week when we had a room that we could walk to the North Village pool. But the rooms were spacious and there was a supermarket right inside one of the entrances so that was convenient.

Vistata has many pools to choose from so we never had to drive to one there. Our room at Vistana was nice and there's lots to do at resort. And it's a close ride to WDW. Turn right out of resort, make a right turn and you are on the entrance road into WDW.

I want to try Summer Bay but it seems further away to me. Never heard of Driftwood although I know the Radisson Worldgate looked like a nice resort.

 

[leanan]

My BF owns at Summer Bay. It has typical time share staff. If you own they really do not feel compelled to do as much to make you happy if there is a problem. They feel you are stuck with them so who cares.

Other pros and cons include: (in no particular order)

No real maid service. You have to ask 24 hours in advance in order to buy maid service.
The condos are nicely kept up.
The decor is easily timeless.
The little gift shop in the back of the lobby building is kind of sleezy.
The pools were clean.
There was a minor maintence issue which was not quickly resolved so I would say problem response was lacking.
If you have to attend one of their sales meetings while you are there they can be super pushy and rather unsincere.

 

[MiaSRN62]

As for getting the olders sections at Vistana....

Best way to avoid this is :
Fill out the online request form and state your preferences :
https://www.svosecure.com/starwoodvo/diamond.jsp?resortID=5

Check in early---and again let them know you're willing to wait for a newer unit. Even though you cannot usually get into your room before 3 or 4 pm, if you can check-in around noon, you might have a better chance of requesting a specific location.

I'm assuming you are doing an II or RCI exchange ? Exchanges are usually given the lowest priority of requests for locations. Owners and cash renters seem to get first dibs. But checking in early is your best bet. There are older sections slated for every day of check-in.....to avoid the oldest section (Courts), do not check in on a Saturday.

At Vistana, there is pretty much a pool close to every section. Certain sections are larger than other and you might have a tad bit more of a walk depending on where your room is. For instance, some Cascades rooms (newest section), are pool front....while others could be a 8-10 min walk to the pool. You may have to cross a parking lot. The parking lots tend not to be too busy except around the Cascades section I feel. Even though it is the newest section, many buildings are situated in the middle/hub of the resort where there is a lot of car traffic. If you desire a room close to a pool request as such---but this may affect the request for a specific section. So if you don't mind having maybe a 5-10 min walk to a pool, don't put this in a request. If the section you are placed in is the most important request, then I'd put only that or it may confuse the room controller.

Mickeysfan says : Sorry, not sure what OKW stands for?

OKW is one of the DVC (Disney Vacation Club) resorts. It is set up similar to a traditional timeshare with condo-like buildings sprawled out instead of a hotel-like setting. Many onsite disney guests express dissatisfaction because there is some walking required to get to certain areas of the resort if you get a building farthest away from the main lobby area. But OKW is small in comparison to Vistana and especially Orange Lake.

Have a terrific time in WDW Pat (Spiceycat) !!!!

 

[gjw007]

1. Orange Lake Country Club
2. Summer Bay Resort, our first choice would be one of the houses, or a 4 bdrm
3. Sheraton Vistana Resort
4. Driftwood Maingate

Like some of the other comments, I have never heard of Driftwood. I own at OLCC but I have stayed at the other resorts. I will be staying at OLCC on the 16th of March. The River Island pool at OLCC is a lazy river similar to Stand Alone Bay (SAB) at Disney's Beach Club but slightly smaller (SAB holds roughly 1200 swimmers while OLCC's River Island has a max of 854). In addition to River Island (which opened last spring), an additional pool has been built and is open in the East Village section (last fall). OLCC is about 5 minutes from the Animal Kingdom but as Pat mentioned, sometimes the stoplights seem to take forever. As I don't do the 8 - 9 AM rush, this has never been a problem for me. Summer Bay is just up the road and is further away from Disney. Vistana Resort is on the opposite side of Disney than is OLCC but takes roughly the same time to get onto Disney property. Once on property, there is an additional time to get to the theme parks or various destination. Depending on the destination, it could be quicker from Vistana or quicker from OLCC. Summer Bay will take longer in all situations

I like OLCC and I like Vistana. I stayed at the Villas at Summer Bay last December. I will probably never stay at Summer Bay again (in part, I like to try other resorts in addition to my annual stays at OLCC and DVC and there are a lot of resorts to try). The unit was in serious need of maintenance (water damaged walls in the bathroom between the tub and the sink where is was obvious a pipe had busted, garbage sprewing out of the master bathroom's tub, etc.) but the attitude of the resort staff turned me off more than anything (in fairness, most were very nice but maintenance's response and my visit to the sales department was disappointing). The Villas routinely get poorer reviews and even Summer Bay personnel downgraded it while I was there whereas the other sections, such as the Houses, get positive reviews. The Villas were undergoing renovations while I was there (which also was probably why maintenance took its I-don't-care attitude about the Villas) so in the future, other than the layout, they should be okay.

I have stayed at HGVC on I-drive and while it is nice enough, I don't like the layout. I didn't like the double size bathtub being in the bedroom but the bathtub jacuzzi was too big (it really could easy fit two adults) as I felt the size negated the effect of the jets. Vacation Village at Parkway has a larger whirlpool tub in the master bedroom and I didn't like that either. This is just my personal preference and others may like the layouts as the resort as okay.

At the end of the day, the important thing is to enjoy your vacation. Orlando is blessed with a large number of nice timeshares.

 

[MickeysFan]

Thanks to everyone for all the responses and information! We have talked it over and revamped our list based on our groups needs and the info here. We are doing an RCI exchange (in answer to MiaSRN62's question) so it is helpful when you call to have a list of choices, it's rare to actually get your first choice anyway. Our new list in order of prefference is:

1. Summer Bay, Houses only.
I can't resist the lure of the privacy, especially the private pool, even if it
is tiny!

2. Driftwood Worldgate.
Assuming we can learn more about it before booking by making phone calls,
the location is so tempting, and the Radisson offers nice ammenaties. Also
even tho this is a TS condo, it has daily housekeeping!!! Big plus

3. Shereton Vistana
Overall, I have heard so many positive things about this resort, it can't be
ignored. I also think it would offer a lot for the teens to do.

4. Hilton GVC on I-drive.
Nice location, good amenaties, and I think you can to some degree rely on
the reputation for good service.

5. Cypress Point.
Origionally, I didn't want to stay there because we have before, but we did
enjoy it, and it was nice and close.

So, all in all, what does everyone think of those choices? And thanks again.

 

[Ksquared]

I think you probably can't go wrong with that list, I hope you can get one of your first choices.