Houses at Summer Bay or Orange Lake?

[neash Member Find all posts View Profile Close neash]

I need help!

I have both on hold for August 2010. Going with DD (17), 2 of her friends, and probably a friend of mine. I have 3BR units on hold in both resorts.

Which of these 2 resorts would be better with teens?

OLCC is mega resort - but will I have to drive them from one place to the other within the resort?

Do any of these resorts offer free shuttles to the parks? or will I have to drive them back and forth?

Anything else I may need to consider?

Thanks

[rikkis_playpen Diamond Club Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close rikkis_playpen]

I like the privacy of the houses. Most (but not all) of the houses have a private heated pool and hot tub.

Orange Lake offers a more comprehensive activity plan.

I'd recommend a rental car regardless of which you choose.

[Chap7 Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Chap7]

Are you familiar with the Houses at Summer Bay? It is a free standing unit with a garage and your own small private pool. The pool is great upon returning from the parks or late at night.

[lawren2 Malibu Beach Barbie & A Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close lawren2]

Have not stayed at Summer Bay but have stayed at OLCC. I think OLCC may be set up better for your teens to entertain themselves. That is if you aren't going to the parks the whole time.

It is a very large campus but they can get themselves where they want on their own.

Me? I'd like the Houses but it is a quieter and more private experience.

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

More to do at OLCC, but it is an effort to get to it all. There is a shuttle wandering around seemingly on no apparent schedule. Walking is good for you, and them.

Less to do at Summer Bay, but the Houses are all right there, where the less to do is located.

We've done the 3-bedroom OL's and they are nice, but the place itself does not trip our triggers. It is huger than huge, and we feel the public areas could be kept cleaner. We call it vacation feedlot style. It is so big that things don't get done, cuz there's always someone else to do em. They are also always in sales mode.

If we had to go there . . . Orlando . . . and could get a House, we would, just cuz it would be such a unique experience.

[neash Member Find all posts View Profile Close neash]

What about the smell in the East Village? Is it known to be there in August?

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

What about the smell in the East Village? Is it known to be there in August?

Boy, you have been paying attention.

When the wind is from the east, any time of year.

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

Which is better with smaller children... 3 & 5 y/os? What about Summer bay non houses are they nice also?

[Beaglemom3 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Beaglemom3]

I stayed in a House at Summer Bay and liked it. Really enjoyed the private pool. It was clean and spacious. Nice one car garage and convenient to the little center they have there, although I did not go there except for a couple food items.

See previous discussion here: http://www.timeshareforums.com/forum...ummer-bay.html

Dori wrote a very good review either here or on Tug.

TUG users rated it an 8.96 (Summer Bay)

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

Which is better with smaller children... 3 & 5 y/os? What about Summer bay non houses are they nice also?

Yes, in a similar to a lot of other stuff in Orlando sorta way.

Last I paid attention, which is awhile back, there were three resorts at Summer Bay.

[Nancy Platinum Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close Nancy]

I would rate the Houses as my favorite timeshare to trade into. We loved having our "own" pool, hot tub, and garage. These are things we don't normally have.

JMHO
Nancy

[Beaglemom3 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Beaglemom3]

I would rate the Houses as my favorite timeshare to trade into. We loved having our "own" pool, hot tub, and garage. These are things we don't normally have.

JMHO
Nancy

My feelings exactly.
I enjoyed the Houses at Summer Bay. No big deal to me re: the odd glassed-in shower in the bedroom, stuff that I can live with. I'd go there again, but have to wait out the 1-4.
They rent fairly easily in the summer as I've seen in some ads.

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

Sadly, we can't trade back in until February of 2012.

The Houses are our very favourite, out of all the exchanges we have done over the past 17 years.

Dori

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

Dont know if i can pull off the houses... how are the condos?

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

Just make sure you don't book the Villas of Summer Bay.. They do not have balconies.

It has been a few years since we were in the regular 2-bedroom units. At that time, they were quite nice. We have a back-to-back next February in a 3-bedroom.

Dori