Review: Orange Lake Country Club

[Jya-Ning Silver Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close Jya-Ning]

Following is an overview of the review that was added:

Hugh resort. Great golf club. A lot of water activities. Great outdoor pool. Orlando, close to Disney

Please see the review here!

Please use this thread to discuss the review.

[Jya-Ning Silver Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close Jya-Ning]

The check in day is Nov 18, 2006.

Jya-Ning

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

You mention not knowing how many of the West Village Golf Villas have had the total rehab. Per a recent OL newsletter, 100, with the second 100 to be finished by first quarter, 2007.

The other 600 will be done approximately 200 per year.

Were you an RCI exchanger, did you request an area, and what unit did you get? Do you recall the number?

[Jya-Ning Silver Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close Jya-Ning]

Were you an RCI exchanger, did you request an area, and what unit did you get? Do you recall the number?

Yes, I was RCI exchanger. I did not ask any area in specific. I was assigned room 3007 at first. Then request to reassign and get unit 4003 (I believe it is called Lake Kem Way, the 1st left after you pass the West Registration Club house if you come from Orange Lake Blvd.)

The unit that is close to completion is on the right side pass the club house. When I look around, the HK team just put in new plate, glass there. The unit that in painting process is somewhere between Lake Kem Way and North Club house.

Jya-Ning

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

Well, you almost made it to the North Village!

What was wrong with 3007?

[Jya-Ning Silver Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close Jya-Ning]

What was wrong with 3007?

It is corner unit, has two large trash bins on the side. Plus, when we arrived, there are like hudrends small bugs fly on the front-door. I looked inside anyway, look o.k., but DW does not like the idea to see bugs in front of the door.

Jya-Ning

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

The Four Villages of Orange Lake

It is often asked which village is best at OL. Each has their own personalities and advantages. But all the activities and amenities of the resort are available regardless of which village you stay at. I recommend all of them because you will be staying at Orange Lake and that is a real treat!

West - (Convenience Plus) Oldest but closest to lake, beach, original recreational clubhouse with huge indoor activity area (Holidome style), outdoor kids playground, movie theatre, original mini golf, tennis courts, and largest "traditional" pool complex, and where most evening activities are held. The pool complex is not a kid oriented as River Island or Splash Lagoon, but is laid out to accommodate all size children. Units are mostly one story on fairways, which gives you a driveway to the front door, a backyard to play in and no stairs to climb or noisy upstairs neighbors. And lots of open green space in this village. There are some (10%) two-story units, which take away that advantage, as well as 3 highway-front high-rises and four tennis villa high-rises around the tennis courts. Floor plans are more dated (except the tennis villas which have the newer plan), but furnishings are not. All are 2 bedroom units (except Tennis villas which also have some 3 br units) and the clubhouse units which have 1 bedroom, hotel and "double hotel" units. If you don’t want to be close to the clubhouse/pool and Lake, you can request (at check in) the more remote "Lake Kem" section of west village, but then that is also where the 2 story units are.

North - (Nice area and Pool Takes second place), OLs Phase II has the more modern floor plan and are also on golf courses clustered around another pool area "splash lagoon" and surrounded by a golf course. Mostly it is only the 3 bedrooms that are one story and the 2 bedrooms are either upper or lower level units. There is also a single two or three story building with all 1 Br units adjoining the pool complex. Except for splash lagoon (second most kid friendly pool geared more to the under 7), two tennis courts and the restaurant you will have to drive to the rest of the resort for activities (or take the shuttle). This area will be a little more quite with less traffic than some parts of west village.

East - (Remote and Boring) OL's phase III has 6-story high-rises with the modern floor plan of 2 and 3 br units with modern floor plans, clustered around nothing but golf courses and a single golf clubhouse. You must drive everywhere (except River Island is "walkable" from a few of the buildings, but not close) and deal with elevators and up and down neighbors, but these are nearly the newest units. There is one small pool between two of the 8 or 9 buildings, but too far to walk to from all but 3 or 4 of the buildings there.

River Island (New but Busy) - The newest section (phase IV) consists of two (to be 4) 6 story high rises buildings in front of the new water park (with a lazy river and water slides and geared more to the over 7 Kid crowd) and new clubhouse. Behind it is a nature preserve. No open green space and a lot of concrete and pavement. Also adjoins new mini golf, movie theatre and shops and restaurants. These units are the only 3BR lockoff units (2 Br unit adjoining a 1 Br unit) at OL which give you the extra living room, but rooms are a bit smaller than the North and east and much smaller than West. This is however the most popular location and the hardest to get into because it is newest and because it adjoins the new water park. I think that pool/park is gorgeous, but just too crowded. It is great for a single "been there seen it" visit, but not in itself worth staying in this village for. You can always drive to it from one of the others.

Rick M

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

The thing about OL is that it does have variety. What one likes another might not.

Unfortunately, some owners have taken offense to people expressing their preferences, taking it personally, so to speak.

For instance here, what Rick calls remote and boring (East Village), has been my family's preference for years, likely because it is remote, but never boring for us. Perhaps quieter, more peaceful, less crowded and hectic, without vehicle traffic constantly going by the front door, but definitely a fun and relaxing place for my 11, at least when the wind is not from the east.

IOHOs, the East Village by itself would be a very nice resort. Then, so would the North Village, with it's own deluxe poolplex and lighted golf course, without much vehicle traffic running through it. It is probably the most quiet and least hectic village.

For right now, RI is not desireable for my family, because it is the focus of congestion, not only from guests but from the hundreds of tours of that area and the model in that building every day.