First visit to Cypress Pointe Villas

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

Am leaving tomorrow AM from an 8 day visit to Orlando and Cypress Pointe Phase II. My family used two 1st floor 2BR units, one pool view and the other facing the parking lot.

Overall, we would rate all of CP a 3 out of 5. Challenges include an aging resort, skimping on things like coffee filters and dish washer soap, and the necessity to rent a box for WIFI Internet access in CPII. Pluses are location, a back road route to Seaworld, proximity to Disney, pools & hot tubs, cleanliness, on-site store & snack shop, and service.

In general, we loved it and won't bother to look elsewhere. CPII will be our choice for future semi-annual Orlando visits!

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

Wireless Internet box? It says so by the resort and information binder in the unit.

I was able to pick up very good signals without the box and free of charge inside my unit by the pool in Phrase II for the whole week in the summer last year.

I agree CPII is an aging resort, but still better than lots of resorts, except the brand names, in Orlando.

[timeos2 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close timeos2]

CPGV has improvements planned

Cypress Pointe Grande Villas - Phase 2 - does use a wired, not wireless, system for Internet. The wireless is at Cypress Pointe Resort - Phase 1. Both currently have a fee - $4.95/day or $19.95/week to use. Of course there may also be free signals in the area as there are most populated place now days. Just FYI the WiFi system at CPR is currently undergoing a total revamp with new, more powerful transmitters and a fiber optic backbone which should be on line in February or March this year.

The CPGV Board seems to be aware that the units are in need of an overhaul. They are basically still the original design from 1995 with carpet, some appliances, tv's, etc replaced piecemeal over the years. There has been no planned upgrade or renovation to the units since it was built.

That may be changing. Like CPR did in 2004 the HOA has commissioned a model unit with a whole new look and update. I think they plan to showcase that at the February Annual Owners meeting for comments. The next step will be to actually get a schedule for implementing the renovation for the resort. I have no idea what type of time frame they are looking at to do that. They are also facing roof replacements, have proposed a new laundry / housekeeping building, pool deck replacement and more. At one point it was tied to a special assessment but, so far, that has not moved ahead. There will be a new Board elected at the February meeting (our own Spence is one of the strong candidates for the open seat) so after that change occurs things will most likely start to happen fast.

Like CPR CPGV is under VRI management and they like to have plans in place to not just bring resorts up to snuff but keep them properly funded and maintained/upgraded. While CPGV is a few years behind CPR in that process as they had a newer group of buildings to work with, now they seem to be getting the system set up to renovate soon and then properly fund for future renovations and improvements going forward. Both Cypress Pointe Resorts are built out and have something few others do - a premier location. As they were developed in a planned community they don't suffer from the commercial sprawl around them that so many other resorts have. Plus they offer pedestrian friendly environments with plenty of services (even Downtown Disney) within a short walk as well as easy vehicle access to all the theme parks and services. It is a pleasure to not need a car for everything and the hassles of traffic to enjoy a week or two at these resorts.

Meanwhile the original Cypress Pointe Resort (Phase 1) already has an aggressive upgrade and maintenance plan in place for the next 30 years. You'll find improvements there every time you visit with major unit work scheduled every 6 - 7 years. The model for the 2010 renovation work is already in it's second revision and will be finalized in 2009. That after the complete unit renovation of 2004-5 that brought the resort back to Gold Crown status in 2006-7. My guess is CPGV will also have a similar plan in place soon and both resorts will continue to offer a top quality experience in a great location for years to come with stable fees for the owners.