Which timeshare resort(s) do others own? What others have you tried out?

[Mono~rail]

Dh and I own at Liki Tiki Village in one of the newer high rises. The Liki Tiki Lagoon water park was one of our deciding factors in buying there. I'll be the first to admit that the water park has gotten a bit shabby over the years.

A few years ago, we traded into Holiday Villas. We stayed in one of the older condos, and overall we enjoyed it there.

I'm just curious as to all the places those here on the Disboard own.

 

[luv2crash]

We own bluegreen vacation club points. Last year we stayed at The Fountains and it was nice. They also have Sunshine Village but I haven't stayed there yet.

 

[Lisa P.]

We own Fairfield points and we've stayed at FF Cypress Palms and FF Star Island resorts. We've toured FF Bonnet Creek. We love our resale FF points and find them to be very flexible and fairly reasonably priced to buy and maintain (not the cheapest but not the highest either). The FF resorts are great for families and adults in varying sized groups, with many good locations for our family.

We used to own a Marriott week on Hilton Head. In Orlando, we've stayed at M Grand Vista. We've driven through the other Marriott resorts (except Horizons) but haven't seen the rooms inside at any of those. The M resorts are lovely and well-located in many places but mostly exchange for full weeks only (a few exceptions) - maint fees can be a bit higher than most unbranded weeks, higher than FF.

We used to own DVC points and we've stayed at DVC OKW and BWV at WDW. We've visited the other DVCs to look around. Love the resorts and flexibility. Don't like the limited number of locations nor the very high maint fees.

Through RCI, we've traded into these Orlando area resorts:
Westgate Vacation Villas
Cypress Pointe (Sunterra)
Cypress Pointe Grand Villas
HGVC (Hilton) at Sea World
Sheraton Vistana Resort

We've also visited or toured these:
Sheraton Vistana Villages
Summer Bay
Oasis Lakes
The Fountains (at Oasis Lakes)
Orange Lake Country Club
The Palms

I'm sure there are others, too.
What do you want to know?

Also, consider visiting TUG (see my sig below) to learn more about area timeshares from tons of owners and exchangers. The reviews (for members only) are very worthwhile. HTH!

 

[carolina traveler]

I own at Summer Bay Resort and Disney Vacation Club (SSR)
I have stayed at Hilton GVC at Sea world and visited :
Fairfield Bonnet C, Vistana Villages, Orange lake among others.
At this point I'm using summer bay for exchanges and stayed this summer at Fairfield Sea Watch in Myrtle Beach,SC

 

[spiceycat]

own at Westgate (don't buy here); DVC (OKW, VWL, BWV); Landmark holiday beach in PCB, Fl; tennbury, South Africia

stayed at OKW, VWL, BCV, BWV, SSR, HH, VB in the DVC.

Marriott Grande Vista
Sheraton Vistana Resort
Celebration World resort
Landmark Holiday Beach in PCB, FL
Hilton Grand Vacation Club at SW
Orange Lake
Westgate Villa
Westgate Lakes & Spa
Marriott grande ocean, HH, Sc
Marriott Manor Club at Fort Colony, Williamsburg, Va
Calypos Cay Vacation Villa

visted
Marriott Cypress Harbour
Horizons by Marriott
Marriott Imperial Palms
Fairfield Destin

will stay at this year
Cypress Pointe
Vacation Villas At Parkway

next year
Sheraton Vistana Resort

plus all my visits offsite include one day at OKW (if not more)

 

[connorsgram]

We own 3BR at Marriott Imperial Palms. We've traded for 3BR at Marriott Grande Vista the last two years. Love it there! Maint. fees are less than price of most hotels for a week.

 

[sticker231]

We own at Westgate Lakes. We got a two bedroom and three bedroom through resale on tug.

 

[magiroux]

Don't own in Orlando, but trade often thru RCI.

Have stayed at;

Summer Bay Resort
Houses at Summer Bay
HGVC @ SeaWorld
Vistana Resort
High Point World Resort
Sunterra Resorts Polynesian Isle
Cypress Pointe

Staying at
OLCC Christmas 2006

 

[utahkennedys]

We own DVC at OKW, my favorite. I may add on soon at BWV just for a change once in a while.

We have stayed at the Marriott Grande Vista - nice place but we weren't crazy about the location. It was a nice resort though, and we had a room that had been refurbished.

We just stayed at HGVC Sea World and it was also very nice. Again, not wild about the location.

Once you stay in Disney, it's hard not to. I grew up doing that, but we do sometimes snag amazing deals when we can get them elsewhere.

I would like to try Marriott Horizons and Marriott Cypress Harbour.

DVC is the best value to us by far. We got a small resale contract and have lots of flexibility with low fees.

 

[runner26.2]

We own at Liki Tiki. I bought a week on ebay for $500. I think it is a great place for young kids. The water park provides endless hours of entertainment for the preteen child. We have one of the older townhouses that have been "updated" and find it terrific.

 

[Lisa P.]

DVC is reasonable for fees if you only have points for a studio. Most people who stay at offsite resorts enjoy a 1BR or larger. Then the annual maint at DVC is generally considerably higher than it would be for a comparably sized room at an offsite resort. At least that's been my experience when comparing. YMMV.

 

[jordansmomma]

My fiance owns Trendwest/worldmark.We live in the Pacific Northwest and there are several with in an hours drive. They have Yellowstone, Nashville, Hawaii, San Diego, Oregon, Idaho, Oklahoma, Figi, Australia and quite a few other places. We stayed for the first time this past August there. They have several places all over. Kingston Reef was the name of the place we stayed at on International Drive. It was very nice and clean. I am thinking of buying into DVC but i am not sure what the costs are and how much. On our next trip in Aug 07 I am thinking of taking the tour thing.

 

[MIDisFan]

We converted our 2 week/2BR in Australia into RCI Points and we just purchased DVC at SSR. We have used the RCI points to stay at:

Coral Sands - Hilton Head
South Beach Resort - Myrtle Beach
Grand Lake Geneva - Wisconsin
Gatlinburg Town Square - Tennessee
Bent Creek Golf Village - Tennessee
Orange Lake CC - Orlando
Fairfield Skyline Tower - Atlantic City, NJ
Fairfield Williamsburg Kingsgate - Virginia
Escapes! Stonebridge - Branson, MO

We have only had the RCI points for close to 3 years and have been very pleased with the resorts we have stayed at (All Gold Crown). We thought about selling it since we joined DVC, but we got such a great deal on it, we would be crazy to give it up. I better go ask for more vacation time!!

 

[mrsstats]

We own Westgate Vacation Villas, 2 bedroom with loft. Purchased resale. Very happy with it. I cant understand the problems people have with the resort. We have always been satisfied with the service. They are pushy about sales but we just say no. We have also stayed at Orange Lake as my brother owns 2 weeks there.

 

[spiceycat]

DVC is reasonable for fees if you only have points for a studio. Most people who stay at offsite resorts enjoy a 1BR or larger. Then the annual maint at DVC is generally considerably higher than it would be for a comparably sized room at an offsite resort. At least that's been my experience when comparing. YMMV.

Hey that is one reason while on DVC property I go for a studio unless I have guest.

Disney has a free laundry and every pool at any DVC has a whirlpool tub (spa) next to it. So although like everyone else I prefer the whirlpool tub in my room - just having excess to one is nice and I can live with that.

 

[jeff968]

We own on Cape Cod MA but only rent in Orlando. We have stayed in many of the timeshares (see my sig). The marriotts are our favorities, Orange Lake was our worst experience but it wasn't that bad.

 

[mickeymousemom]

We own points thru BlueGreen and have stayed at(some we've traded thru RCI):

Orange Lake Country Club(didn't care for it)
Fairfield International(small, but love it here, the employees treat us like family)
Sunshine?? Resort(BlueGreen)
The Fountains...this is our favorite. Have stayed there twice this year.
Gatlinburg(can't remember the name..a BlueGreen resort)


We've stayed at a few of these more than once. I finally talked my DH into staying onsite at WDW a couple years ago, and now our main vacation is at POR! We have points we don't use that much because we only take one big vacation each year and that's to WDW. Thank Goodness for the rollover points. We also have lifetime bonus nights, which means we can stay at any Bluegreen resort for $59 a night. We've used this to stay at the Fountains twice this year for a quick Disney fix!

 

[jx3smom]

We've owned at Vistana for 18 years before DVC was ever around. In 2000 we bought into BWV and then BCV when it opened. Last year we bought into SSR, too.

 

[MIDisFan]

We own on Cape Cod MA but only rent in Orlando. We have stayed in many of the timeshares (see my sig). The marriotts are our favorities, Orange Lake was our worst experience but it wasn't that bad.

Same experience for us. The resort is nice, the rooms are OK, but we had issues with some of the staff.

 

[swilshire]

We own six weeks and have tried dozens of resorts, but I assume you are only interested in the Orlando resorts.

We own two weeks at Sheraton Vistana (one in the Fountains and the other in the Spas) as well as a week at what was called Wyndham Palms until a recent name change to Mystic Dunes.

Orlando resorts we have stayed in are Embassy Grand Beach, Orange Lake Country Club, and Summer Bay. That's all I can recall without checking my list.

Sheila