Review: Grand Beach Vacation Resort

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

Following is an overview of the review that was added:

Grand Beach is a smaller intimate resort with lots to offer. This can be on anyone list if they have a family and want to stay in Orlando.

Please see the review here!

Please use this thread to discuss the review.

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

Very detailed post. Thanks!

We're new owners there and will stay for our first time in Dec 2010.

I want to respond to the comment about Internet Access. Having stayed at numerous resorts and chain hotels, I would say the trend is to free and open access. However, we're not there yet! The standard is still a charge for Internet Access of around $40 a week. We take the position of planning for it, and if it doesn't occur, then we're happy!

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

That's an early reservation

Very detailed post. Thanks!

We're new owners there and will stay for our first time in Dec 2010.

I want to respond to the comment about Internet Access. Having stayed at numerous resorts and chain hotels, I would say the trend is to free and open access. However, we're not there yet! The standard is still a charge for Internet Access of around $40 a week. We take the position of planning for it, and if it doesn't occur, then we're happy!

December 2010? How were you able to book so far in advance? Well the renovations on the lock offs should be just about complete when you get there.

Maybe by the time you get there they will have changed the intenet pay structure. I guess I am so spoiled by not having paid when I go Marriott. However, I know that Marriott does charge at their J.W. Marriott hotels for the internet.

Have fun and don't forget your fishing rods.

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

Carlos,

We've closed on two units recently, and will close on two more withing the next couple of months - for family reunions. No reservations yet! We'll pay 2010 MFs in Dec 09 and make the reservations for New Years week 2010 then.
We've had the pleasure of touring the resort in detail with a security guard instead of a salesman - much more knowledgeable too! We also loved it and can't wait to visit again. Until we found Grand Beach, we were big Cypress Pointe fans. We've now switched allegiances.

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

I switched too

Carlos,

We've closed on two units recently, and will close on two more withing the next couple of months - for family reunions. No reservations yet! We'll pay 2010 MFs in Dec 09 and make the reservations for New Years week 2010 then.
We've had the pleasure of touring the resort in detail with a security guard instead of a salesman - much more knowledgeable too! We also loved it and can't wait to visit again. Until we found Grand Beach, we were big Cypress Pointe fans. We've now switched allegiances.

You find it difficult to make your reservations either. For some reason the membership does not scoop Grand Beach up that quickly. I made my reservations 13 months in advance but really did not have to. I began to wonder if I could have gotten it in flex time. However, as we got closer to the date I realized that the resort was filling up and was glad I did book in advance. I believe there are renters and other exchangers who come to the resort. We met families from all over the world there.

I stayed at Cypress Pointe last year and thought it was nice until I saw the Grand Beach. They were doing an upgrade an refurbishment there. The salesman told me flat out not to come there for two years. He said it should be complete by then. I liked the Grand Beach because it was a little more quiet and did not have as many kids running around. Cypress Pointe is more spread out although the DRI's villas there are on the quiet side. I also visited the Polynesian Isles in Orlando and they too were pretty quiet and well kept.

Well, enjoy. I see you are from NY. I am from the Bronx, but have been living in California for 25 years. I left NY shortly after graduating from college and have not looked back. I like to visit, but then I am ready to return home.

[Ryne08 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Ryne08]

This was a very detail resort review. I might try this resort over Cypress Pointe next year.

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

We stayed in a three-bedroom last year and loved it! We have already booked two back-to-back weeks for next February when our DD, SIL and toddler granddaughter will join us . It is a great resort, except for the WiFi charges. Thanks for the great review.

Dori

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

The DRI resorts in Williamsburg have switched over to Wayport as the wireless provider.

Wayport is owned by AT&T. We have AT&T wireless for phone and wireless internet.

A few months ago, when at Powhatan, we found out that if we plugged in our AT&T wireless USB antenna, and used that software, that it found the Wayport Connection and did some sort of loopback, connecting us for free. I don't understand all the technicalities, but at AT&T customers, we get free internet access at both Powhatan and Greensprings. Now if DRI standardizes as they are prone to do at resorts they manage, then we may also have free internet access from all DRI resorts. Now that would be very nice!

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

You're In Luck

The DRI resorts in Williamsburg have switched over to Wayport as the wireless provider.

Wayport is owned by AT&T. We have AT&T wireless for phone and wireless internet.

A few months ago, when at Powhatan, we found out that if we plugged in our AT&T wireless USB antenna, and used that software, that it found the Wayport Connection and did some sort of loopback, connecting us for free. I don't understand all the technicalities, but at AT&T customers, we get free internet access at both Powhatan and Greensprings. Now if DRI standardizes as they are prone to do at resorts they manage, then we may also have free internet access from all DRI resorts. Now that would be very nice!

Well, you're in luck because it was Wayport at the Grand Beach. It will be a freebee for you.

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

Carlos, Thank you so much for this review. We stayed at Polynesian Isles a few weeks ago and loved it there. It was very beautiful. Although there's not a lot to do there, it's so close to major attractions and restaurants we didn't miss that much. I liked the quiet and the ease of access to major highways. When I bookeed PI, I had looked at Grand Beach, but decided against it because I was afraid it was too big and would be very noisy and crowded. Next time we're in FL, I definitely will book at Grand Beach. One question - did you have any trouble getting out of the resort? We drove by and saw that it was just off a very busy main road. Thanks!

[Y-ASK Member Find all posts View Profile Close Y-ASK]

It's actually pretty easy to get into and out of the resort but sometimes that left hand turn into the resort can sneak up on you. There's a light not to far down from the resort so if you're making that left turn into the resort and there's a lot of traffic all you have to do is wait for the light to change.

Y-ASK

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

Getting out was ok

Carlos, Thank you so much for this review. We stayed at Polynesian Isles a few weeks ago and loved it there. It was very beautiful. Although there's not a lot to do there, it's so close to major attractions and restaurants we didn't miss that much. I liked the quiet and the ease of access to major highways. When I bookeed PI, I had looked at Grand Beach, but decided against it because I was afraid it was too big and would be very noisy and crowded. Next time we're in FL, I definitely will book at Grand Beach. One question - did you have any trouble getting out of the resort? We drove by and saw that it was just off a very busy main road. Thanks!

My wife and I looked at Polynesian Isles along with all of the other DRI resorts before deciding on Grand Beach. I liked Polynesian Isles,. The grounds were very well maintained. However, it was really, really quiet and the pool was small and it seemed more like a senior center to me. Just my perception of the place.

There was no problem getting in and out of the resort even without a light. Making a right out of it was not a problem and the left out was not a problem except one time I had to wait a couple of minutes to make a left because someone else in did not know how to drive and had difficulty making turn thus causing me to wait to do what I wanted to do. Turning in and out was not an issue.