Calling all Orlando veterans...

[shmuggee Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close shmuggee]

Looks like we might be spending some time in Orlando, next month.

We've already stayed at the Westgate Lakes (anyone know Lou Sebio...aka Sebio @ Orlando Jai alai?)...and let's just say that it wasn't our cup of tea.

Maybe a tall order (given the area) but if you were exchanging on II, looking to stay in the Orlando area, couple in their 40's - no kids...and wanted a resort that didn't cater to the family thing...

...you would stay...WHERE?

Thanks.

[GeoPatSK Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close GeoPatSK]

We have traveled to Orlando many times. Some with kids in tow, and more recently just the two of us. All of the resorts had activities, most of them family or kid oriented. But when we go alone, and don’t use the pools or partake in bingo, miniature golf or craft activities, we never noticed that the place was full of kids.

Part was how we used the resort, part was the seasons we went, and part was how we used the area attractions.

We have stayed at:

Orange Lake (Recommend)
Cypress Pointe (Recommend)
Hilton Grand Vacation Club (Recommend)
(Sea World and International Drive)
Westgate Vacation Villas (Neutral)
Westgate Blue Tree (Neutral)
Orbit One (Not Recommend)
Vistana (Not Recommend)

[tonyg Goomba & Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close tonyg]

We liked Summer Bay.

[GrayFal Silver Contributor and supermoderator Find all posts View Profile Close GrayFal]

Any of the Marriott resorts - love Grande Vista - but the 3 marriott's on the grounds of the Marriott World Center Hotel/Conference Center Orlando Resort: Marriott World Center, an Orlando Golf & Spa Resort in Orlando Florida would be more 'adult' and afford u the amenities of the hotel as well.

Marriott's Sabal Palms (2BR), Marriott's Royal Palms (2BR) and Marriott's Imperial Palm Villas (3BR)

[odaddy Gold Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close odaddy]

[QUOTE=GrayFal;272509]Any of the Marriott resorts - love Grande Vista - but the 3 marriott's on the grounds of the Marriott World Center Hotel/Conference Center Orlando Resort: Marriott World Center, an Orlando Golf & Spa Resort in Orlando Florida would be more 'adult' and afford u the amenities of the hotel as well.

We Just stayed at The Imperial palms 3 weeks ago, and thought it was a very nice resort. You really can't go wrong with any of the Marriotts, Also there are a lot of DVC deposits for November, check out the exops.

[jgtragesser Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close jgtragesser]

Calling all Orlando veterans...

I believe that timeshares are designed for families ... and I am a senior who mostly travels only with his honey... and LOVES timeshares ... unless you are planning on spending ALL of your time at the resort, what is the difference???... travel when the kiddies are in school... some resorts are nicer than others... but with the right attitude, you can have a GREAT time in MOST resorts... Joe Tragesser... jgtragesser@yahoo.com ...

[idahodude Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close idahodude]

We liked Vacation Village at Parkway, but I'm not sure how many kids are there. We had one, so I know there were at least a few.

It might be hard at this late notice, but you'd probably like some of the less family-focussed DVC resorts. Look into the Boardwalk or Beach Club Villas. Still a lot of kids around, but not totally family-focussed.

[bbingham Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close bbingham]

Exchange questions

I own an II red week in Park City and am interested in exchanging for a week in early December (09) in Orlando at Disney's Beach Club. How successful have other timeshare members been at this kind of trade?

[bnoble Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close bnoble]

That might be tricky---those weeks are in demand by owners, because the holiday stuff is up but it's the cheap points season for owners. Because DVC seems to prefer depositing things that are lower-demand internally, there might not be that many that go in. You'd have a better shot if you broadened to all of the Orlando DVCs, especially if you are looking for something other than a studio.

[bbingham Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close bbingham]

Thanks bnoble. Is it best to plan well in advance for a better opportunity at a Disney Timeshare. We have a flex week and are not based on points. However, I'm worried that not many units are available at on-site Disney resorts. The book says there are 73 or more units available, but are they ever available?

[bnoble Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close bnoble]

I don't normally search that time, but I would say that no, they are not generally available then.

DVC owners do not decide what time gets deposited. The developer chooses. And the developer chooses low-demand weeks. Relatively speaking (and a bit surprisingly) early December is high demand. BCV also tends to be in high demand relative to the other resorts (except perhaps VWL during the Holiday season). So, yes, planning well in advance is important.

[bbingham Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close bbingham]

More exchange questions

I'm a bit curious, the II manual lists the first two weeks of December being extremely available times for exchange into Disney Beach Club. If rooms are not available then (considered value season at Disney), it's likely to never find an available Disney Resort timeshare for exchange. Is that possible?

[bnoble Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close bnoble]

You are mis-reading the chart, and over-simplifying the process. I'm getting the sense that maybe you are new to exchange.

The chart suggests that availability in Orlando, in general, is good for those two weeks. And, in general, that's true. However, individual resorts sometimes deviate from general patterns for a variety of reasons.

Disney will start getting ready for the winter holidays in November, but they start getting serious with the Christmas stuff as soon as Thanskgiving ends---lots of extra decoration, special events, entertainment, etc. Lots of people want to see all of this stuff.

Add to that the fact that the first two weeks of December, along with January and September, are the cheapest times for DVC owners to book units. However, unlike September (hurricane season, miserably hot) and January (cold, boring) early December has a reason people want to go. So, the resorts tend to book faster during those two weeks in December than you might otherwise expect---it's a good deal, and a fun time to be there. This is especially true for the DVC resorts closest to the theme parks---Beach Club, Boardwalk, and Wilderness Lodge. So, Disney will tend to try not to deposit these weeks from these resorts if it can be helped. It can happen, but it's not as easy as it looks.

If you want to go to Orlando in the first two weeks of December, but don't need to stay on Disney property, you'll have pretty much your pick of resorts---even for 2008, there are tons of Marriotts, Vistana Villages, etc. etc. But, if you want to stay on Disney property, and in particular you want to stay in one of the most in-demand resorts for those two weeks, then you'd be well-served to get your request in early.

[bbingham Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close bbingham]

Continuing on DBC

Thanks again bnoble.
You're right on the mark; we are just getting started with the exchange opportunities.
We often begin to plan our vacations up to a year in advance, so we will be looking for an open room for more than a year in advance.
I understand there are many people trying to stay at Disney at that time period. However, would it be of value to try to deposit our 2 bdr (in red season) in hopes of landing a 1bdr lockoff at DBC.
Or, is it as simple as there are never any rooms available at DBC at that time of year?

[bnoble Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close bnoble]

There's a chance---I wouldn't say "never".

But, to have a better chance, you should at least expand to include Bordwalk in your search. If you really want to stay "at Disney", you should enter all six current Orlando-area DVC resorts.