Who LOVES the Marriott Horizons??

[moopdog]

Now that we've booked I feel nervous staying off-site. I need some motivational "good vibes" tell me all the great things about staying here and and give me some good material to get my family excited too! I already know about the great pool, though. Any tips or info would be great.

There are no shuttles, right? What parks should we avoid while at Horizons? We have two nights at the Pop that I'll use Dis Transportation for, so which two are least convenient from Horizons?

Is there any kind of continental breakfast - I know that most places don't have that - but I thought I read somewhere that they did - maybe wishful thinking.

And most of all: can we request a certain room and which one should we get?? 4 of us are going in September, me, DH and younger two kids (5 & 7).

 

[littlestar]

I'm a big Horizons fan. No, they don't have a continental breakfast. It's a Marriott Vacation Club resort.

I would ask for a new building. There's a brand new building being built right now. My guess is it will probably be open by September. We like Building 28/29.

No shuttles to parks, although the I-ride trolley has a stop (if I remember correctly) either in front of Horizons or Cypress Harbour across the street. When we go to Downtown Disney, we always take the back way from Horizons/Cypress Harbour on Palm Parkway. The location of the resort on Westwood Blvd is very convenient to anywhere you want to go. Probably the max drive time to any Disney park is about 15 or 20 minutes. And you're super close to Seaworld. I know we watched Seaworld's fireworks from Cypress Harbour a few weeks ago. And Cypress Harbour and Horizons are directly across the street from each other.

Here are some pictures of the resort:

http://share.shutterfly.com/action/pictures?a=67b0de21b339407405f4&sid=0CbOGThs5YsXGA

 

[moopdog]

Thanks a lot! I am not at all familiar with the trolley you mentioned though. Can you tell me about it?

 

[dioxide45]

I would suggest going to Magic Kingdom during your onsite stay if you will be using Disney Transportation. Having to go to the TTC, a parking lot tram, and then take the monorail is a little more hectic than the bus dropping you off near the entrance.

 

[moopdog]

It sure sounds like it... whew, what a run-around just to get IN the park!

 

[littlestar]

Thanks a lot! I am not at all familiar with the trolley you mentioned though. Can you tell me about it?

Here you go:

http://www.iridetrolley.com/

 

[3kidsfordis]

I love Horizons! I've only stayed once in April 2007 but making a return visit April 2008. Prior to our 2007 trip, I had stayed at All Stars and then the Polynesian. However, in 2007 our group was six and we would have to get two rooms, so the Polynesian was out. I posted here asking about staying off-site and another poster suggested Horizons. I was very leary about staying off-site but decided to give Horizons a try.

We were first put into a lock-off unit which is like a one bedroom and a studio with a connecting door. My kids were way too young for this arrangement so we went back to the front desk. They gave us a first floor in Bldg 10 (I think). From what I've read this is an older unit, but I'd take it again in a heartbeat. No signs of wear and tear anywhere.

This was the most relaxing vacation I've had. My intention was to do the parks morning to early afternoon, go to Horizons to swim and possibly go back to a park with my older child. It never happened!!! They loved the pool too much. We ended up doing the parks, leaving before dinner and hitting a restaurant or ordering delivery. We would spend the evening out by the pool. We also ate some suppers at the on-site bar/grill. They had turkey roll up sandwiches, chicken fingers and such. My kids also played with staffers who ran water games and spent one night watching a movie by the pool while I watched them from the hot tub. Hot tubs are big!

I did not pay attention to the time it took to get to the parks but I know we never hit traffic. We were there between 9:00 and 9:30 every day. It was great to have breakfast in the room and hit the parks without having to stop for a snack. Having a washer/dryer was abig plus. I packed fairly light last year and will pack even lighter this year. When planning for this year, I thought about other off-site places but felt that since we were so happy at Horizons-why switch?

 

[tinkerbell60]

I would suggest going to Magic Kingdom during your onsite stay if you will be using Disney Transportation. Having to go to the TTC, a parking lot tram, and then take the monorail is a little more hectic than the bus dropping you off near the entrance.

We just returned from our first off site visit - yes, you do have to drive to the TTC then take a monorail or boat over to MK but really it is not bad at all. The trams pick you up at your car and drop you off near the transportation to MK. We stayed at Pop last summer, and the bus stop at MK is the furthest possible from the MK. I truly believe that there is less walking when parking at the TTC. At then end of a long day that Pop bus stop is a really long walk.

 

[spiceycat]

sorry wrong post.