Suggestions for Orlando without the mouse!

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

I have two trips to Orlando that I am planning. Both of these will be in high season and I plan on avoiding Disney. We have stayed in just about all the Marriotts in the area already and am looking for something different.

This will be a 'resort vacation' with 2 adults and a 6 year old. Would like nice pool, full kitchen and restaurants on site.

Any suggestions for II resorts?

[stan2u Member Find all posts View Profile Close stan2u]

I don't see what you are after here. Are you doing other parks, like Universal, Sea World, etc? If not, why Orlando? My non-Disney preference for FL would be along a beach, either in the Canaveral area, so I could spend some time at the Kennedy Space Center, see the historic stuff up in Jacksonville, and wander around the Canaveral National Seashore, plus hit the beaches, like at Daytona or New Smyrna. Or do the Gulf side south of Tampa.

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

The Marriotts are always nice. I like Mystic Dunes as well.

RCI seems to dominate the Orlando market with DVC, Hilton, and Orange Lake.

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

The people I know who like the Orlando Marriotts also like the Sheraton Vistana and Cypress Pointe resorts, however Cypress Pointe does not have a restaurant so far as I know (although there are tons right outside of it). They all have full kitchens in the 2 BRs but I've never looked into the smaller units.

Sheraton Vistana has a bunch of pools (seven?), one of them pretty snazzy if I remember rightly, and a couple of casual restaurants. Last year there was a big thread on the Dis discussion board that listed what had been refurbished when, since there was a big difference between refurbished and the rest, but I'm pretty sure they were all scheduled to be done by now. Sheraton Vistana Villages gets nice reviews but is smaller and has only one restaurant.

Cypress Pointe gets good reviews on the Dis board and has a volcano pool:

Cypress Point Resort/Grand Villas - The DIS Discussion Forums - DISboards.com

I don't see what you are after here. Are you doing other parks, like Universal, Sea World, etc? If not, why Orlando?

I would totally do Orlando for the Charles Hosmer Morse Museum. Wouldn't take a six year old there, though. But when it comes to six-year-olds, tons of stuff to do in Orlando, and the resorts tend to be a bit more over-the-top than other places, so I can get that, as well.

Don't see why mdurette's request deserved a scold.

[stan2u Member Find all posts View Profile Close stan2u]

That wasn't a scold - just a question. There are two trips being planned, and there is a lot to do and see outside the Orlando area.

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

That wasn't a scold - just a question. There are two trips being planned, and there is a lot to do and see outside the Orlando area.

no problem - not taken as a scold.

Orlando to us is cheap. We can easily fly in and out for free (points) and the the resorts just themselves alone are a vacation in Orlando. We have annual passes for Disney and Seaworld. So...why not....if we want to head over to the theme parks for a day, we can.....but we most likely will not

The first trip will be end of December to 1st week in January. Hard to find inventory because the first part of the vacation is still "busy season". The second trip is April school vacation. We already have a Disney cruise planned for the end of the week.....simply looking for a great resort to stay at the beginning of the week. Yes, we may head over to Sea World for a day - but that is it.

Orlando does have alot to offer ..... even without the theme parks. Just looking for a nice resort that we haven't tried to spend a few days. That's it.

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

My wife and I are going to Grand Beach in late Oct. I have not been there for a few years so will wait until then to see if I would reccomend it.

[bigfrank Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close bigfrank]

If your looking for Pools then OLCC or Summer bay wins it, Not sure if they trade with II or not.

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

mdurette

I know that you said you didn't want a Marriott, but have you tried Marriott's Lakeshore Reserve? I think that might be a nice place for a "resort vacation."

You get access to the amenities of the JW Marriott/Grand Lakes & Ritz Carlton.

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

That wasn't a scold - just a question.

Okay, sorry. Sounded like a "you're not vacationing right" routine to me, but I was admittedly in a snippy mood yesterday.

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

Thanks all for your suggestions. I have narrowed my search down. Again, this is just a resort trip as a place to stay, swim, relax before a Disney cruise with a 6 year old.

I am trying to use an AC to book this trip - I've recently discovered ACs just are not what they use to be. So, in order to get a 1BR - I need cross my typical Marriotts and Sheraton Vistiana off the list - they only show up as studios.

What does shows up with the AC for 1BRs are:
Calypso Cay
Cypress Point Grand Villas
Liki Tiki
Vacation Villas @ Fantasy World II

What I am trying to decide now......
Worth it to use the AC and take one of the above or scratch the AC, use a deposit and get into something I know will be fine (Marriott or Sheraton).

[stan2u Member Find all posts View Profile Close stan2u]

Cypress Pointe is the only one on your list that we have stayed at; we would give it high marks, also very easy to trade into most times of the year. Both my brother and niece own there and like it very much.

I went out to TUG and checked the member reviews of those four. They are

Calypso Cay -7.85
Cypress Point Grand Villas - 8.57
Liki Tiki - 7.76
Vacation Villas @ Fantasy World II - 7.0
all are average results out of a scale of 1-10.

I'm wondering if you belong to TUG (Timeshare Users Group)? If not, I would highly recommend joining for anyone trading or buying timeshares. I think it's dues are only around $5/year, and is well worth it for the reviews alone. You can check it out @ tug2.net

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

1 bedrooms at Cypress Pointe Grande Villas are a bit on the small side. The location is nice though. There are restaurants and stores within walking distance.

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

All are comparable. Since you have a small child- I'd probably recommend Liki Tiki because of the themed pool area for children.

Have a great trip..