The Fountains - Tips, Suggestions & Recommendations

[SIDA! Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close SIDA!]

Hello Everyone:

I have secured a rental at The Fountains thru BocaBum and I am very excited. We are doing a full week (Sat. - Sat.) and I none of us have ever been to Walt Disney World or Florida for that matter.

To be honest, Disneyland/Walt Disney does nothing for me...but, I have kids. It aint about me. LOL

I am pretty much considering the two Saturdays to be wasted traveling days. That leaves me with five solid days to enjoy at the resort. I do not think I have the ability to due themeparks for more than three days. Frankly, I am not even sure I want to do three days.

But I have been told that I need to plan to spend several days if I truly want to do more than scratch the surface. Anywho, does anyone have any tips, suggestions or recommendations on anything related to The Fountains?

I have heard nothing but great things.

This will be my first real Bluegreen resort experience. Is everything a la carte? I assume the pools and waterslide(s) are free. I assume the arcade costs money. Any general things I should be made aware of?

Are there any shuttles (free or for a fee) available to take to the amusement parks or should I count on renting a car for the trip?

I have also planned a horseback riding trip for one of the days we dont do the amusement park thing. I am taking an 8 year old and a soon to be 17 year old, fwiw.

[vacation_family99 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close vacation_family99]

We really enjoyed Sea World when we were in Orlando in March. My 11 yr old preferred it to Disney.

We also enjoyed hanging out at the pool - no fee. Wish it had a lazy river.

I recommend a car to fully enjoy the area. There were shuttles to Disney at set times. Don't know if there is a fee. We liked the convenience of being able to be on our own time schedule.

Have fun!

[vintner Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close vintner]

I am with you on the Disney thing, been there twice and that was about twice too much.

But, two things there that I did enjoy, Animal Park-the safari and at another park (that I can't remember which one) there is a stunt show with cars, motorcycles, crashes, fire and guns. Those two things were worth watching.

As far as the Fountains, they have added restaurants in the area which makes it a little easier to stay local. The Publix grocery store is to the right when you come out of the Fountains drive. I think it is at the next stop light on the right. Toll from the airport to the resort is about 75 cents to $1.00 on (I think) 3 places.

Oh, I believe that turn signals on Florida cars are very expensive option, so most people don't get them so suddenly without warning, someone will cut in front of you. .

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

I do not think I have the ability to due themeparks for more than three days. Frankly, I am not even sure I want to do three days.

But I have been told that I need to plan to spend several days if I truly want to do more than scratch the surface.

That's true. OTOH, you can spend eight days and still not do everything, so why worry about what you're missing? Doing Disney is immersing yourself in massive visual, audial and social stimulation -- in our world, three days of that a week is plenty.

But our Disney daughter would just as soon go to the resorts if she gets to eat there than go to the parks, while the rest of the kids far prefer SeaWorld, so we're a little weird.

Are there any shuttles (free or for a fee) available to take to the amusement parks or should I count on renting a car for the trip?

If you're doing the Disney parks, you need a car IMHO. If you just want to do Sea World, there's a trolley that goes up and down International Drive that'll take you there. We drive, but eldest son always gets a pass on the REGULAR bus service (not the trolly pass that the Fountains will offer you), because it runs more often than the trolley and gives him more options (he likes to transfer and go downtown). For him the price of a pass was competitive but dunno if that's true for full adults (I think the cut off is 18). The regular bus service will get you to Universal with a transfer but it's kind of a pain.

There's a ton of stuff to do up and down International Drive so you can easily use the bus or trolley and have something to do every day. But if your kids' hearts are set on Disney, I'd say get a car.

I am taking an 8 year old and a soon to be 17 year old, fwiw.

If the 17 yo is a fan of amusement park rides, Universal might be the way to go, although Sea World does have a couple of good roller coasters. Whatever park you do, get there at rope drop (opening) if you are roller coaster fans/want to do the more popular rides. The first two hours of any Orlando theme park are the smallest crowds and you can get the most done. The crowds peak around the time of the 3:00 parade at the Magic Kingdom (and in the afternoon in general at all the parks), so a lot of regulars go early, stay until around until noon or so, go home for lunch and a swim, then come back in the late afternoon/early evening to finish out the day.

But, two things there that I did enjoy, Animal Park-the safari and at another park (that I can't remember which one) there is a stunt show with cars, motorcycles, crashes, fire and guns. Those two things were worth watching.

The stunt show is at Hollywood Studios, which it seems to me is the park 17 yos most like and 8 yos least like. Hollywood Studios has the Rock 'n' Roll Coaster and the Tower of Terror, along with the stunt show, and Eisner was deliberately trying to compete with Universal in designing the park.

[Tom in GA Member Find all posts View Profile Close Tom in GA]

Things to Do

When at the Fountains, treat yourself by going to the 'other' pool by the clubhouse. It is more adult with a quieter atmosphere. The best time to go is around dinner time....you can eat later at Mug of Joe's right in the clubhouse...good food. You can also treat your self to the steam and sauna rooms which are located by the pool.

I would also recommend a rental car. It will save you time in getting around. There is a very nice high end discount shopping center right across from Publix. Just follow the directions given above or ask at the desk.

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

When at the Fountains, treat yourself by going to the 'other' pool by the clubhouse.

That's what everyone always says, but when we were there, the clubhouse pool was mobbed, and the snazzy dazzy pool was nearly empty. Apparently the clubhouse pool is heated, and the other is not -- seemed plenty warm enough to me but I guess most people disagreed.

Probably not an issue at this point.

[Tom in GA Member Find all posts View Profile Close Tom in GA]

Timing

The key to the clubhouse pool use is timing. Go when everyone else is eating dinner. We alos do that to use the the whirpools on cruises.

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

The fountains

You will enjoy the fountains. The units are the nicest of any bg resort I've visited (big cedar, cmv, seabreze, solara surfside). Don't expect that the other by resorts will be finished to a similar quality level or you'll be disappointed, as fountains is fairly unique in it's quality level among bg resorts.

It is an easy drive to any theme park.

If you think you'll have future trips to Disney, consider getting the longer term 10 day no expiration pass. Compare the prices n advance -- you'll pay rhe very most for a one day ticket and he price per day drops as you add days.

If going to universal, check your local Costco for te multi day passes.

The pools are nice at fountains and gives the kids plenty to do on non park days. The Publix just down the street is large, clean, and well stocked.

Enjoy - that will be a nice introduction to bg!

Anita

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

Look at a map of the area around the Fountains and Disney. Learn the roads so that you can stay off of International Drive. It gets bumper to bumper at times but do drive it at least once. There are lots of things to do on I-drive.

[smithiekid Member Find all posts View Profile Close smithiekid]

The Original oasis Lakes inside/outside pool ................ I remember many times being in that pool, just the 4 of us with no one else in sight .... those were the days back in the summer of 1999 and upto 2003 but alas those days have gone for ever