• The TUGBBS forums are completely free and open to the public and exist as the absolute best place for owners to get help and advice about their timeshares for more than 30 years!

    Join Tens of Thousands of other Owners just like you here to get any and all Timeshare questions answered 24 hours a day!
  • TUG started 30 years ago in October 1993 as a group of regular Timeshare owners just like you!

    Read about our 30th anniversary: Happy 30th Birthday TUG!
  • TUG has a YouTube Channel to produce weekly short informative videos on popular Timeshare topics!

    Free memberships for every 50 subscribers!

    Visit TUG on Youtube!
  • TUG has now saved timeshare owners more than $21,000,000 dollars just by finding us in time to rescind a new Timeshare purchase! A truly incredible milestone!

    Read more here: TUG saves owners more than $21 Million dollars
  • Sign up to get the TUG Newsletter for free!

    60,000+ subscribing owners! A weekly recap of the best Timeshare resort reviews and the most popular topics discussed by owners!
  • Our official "end my sales presentation early" T-shirts are available again! Also come with the option for a free membership extension with purchase to offset the cost!

    All T-shirt options here!
  • A few of the most common links here on the forums for newbies and guests!

Recs for an Interval International Orlando resort for upcoming Disney vacation

Stefien Quix

newbie
Joined
Jan 17, 2018
Messages
6
Reaction score
0
Points
1
Resorts Owned
Williamsburg Plantation (Vacation Village) (Interval International)
Hey everyone! New member here. I own multiple units at a timeshare resort in Williamsburg, VA. I've turned one in for an upcoming exchange with the II system for me to use to take my daughter (5 yo) to Disney for the first time.

Was wondering if anyone had any recommendations for great resorts/experiences they had doing the same?

Thanks in advance!

EDITED TO ADD: We're hoping to avoid a car rental, so a resort offering some type of shuttle service to WDW would be ideal!
Reading a bunch of horror stories about people fighting with shuttles on TripAdvisor, so I'm thinking we'll either get a car or use Lyft/Uber. So nevermind about the shuttle!
 
Last edited:

pedro47

TUG Review Crew: Expert
TUG Member
Joined
Jun 6, 2005
Messages
22,072
Reaction score
8,535
Points
948
Location
East Coast
Our grandkids loved Marriott Grande Vista more than Disney. Every amenities that they enjoyed were onsite.
 
Last edited:

mdurette

Sighting Expert & TUG Review Crew: Expert
TUG Member
Joined
Jul 2, 2008
Messages
7,693
Reaction score
5,289
Points
748
Location
New England
Welcome!

My first thought it Marriott Harbor Lake.

It is on the smaller side and easy for the both of you to walk everywhere. They have a fun pirate ship in the pool and also a splash area. Simple kids crafts are offered just about daily and they have a mini golf course which always breaks up an afternoon - even for a 5 YO!

What month are you thinking about? Always a good idea with Orlando to check out prices of Getaways instead of exchanging. Some travel months will only cost you a few hundred over the exchange fee of your week and you still get to use your week somewhere else.
 

Stefien Quix

newbie
Joined
Jan 17, 2018
Messages
6
Reaction score
0
Points
1
Resorts Owned
Williamsburg Plantation (Vacation Village) (Interval International)
Welcome!

My first thought it Marriott Harbor Lake.

It is on the smaller side and easy for the both of you to walk everywhere. They have a fun pirate ship in the pool and also a splash area. Simple kids crafts are offered just about daily and they have a mini golf course which always breaks up an afternoon - even for a 5 YO!

What month are you thinking about? Always a good idea with Orlando to check out prices of Getaways instead of exchanging. Some travel months will only cost you a few hundred over the exchange fee of your week and you still get to use your week somewhere else.


I'm looking at September. That's a good idea about the Getaways! I hadn't even considered it! And you've definitely got the right idea in regards to the resort. Definitely hoping to find a place that we can entertain the little one with amenities like a pirate ship pool when we take a day or two off from WDW to recover! :)

That being said, if it's an amazing resort, I'm willing to forego that perk! :)
 

pedro47

TUG Review Crew: Expert
TUG Member
Joined
Jun 6, 2005
Messages
22,072
Reaction score
8,535
Points
948
Location
East Coast
To the OP, I concur with the TUGS posted that recommended Harbour Lake our grandkids were teenagers. I would go with Marriott Harbour Lake. Please enjoy your vacation.
 

Panina

TUG Review Crew: Elite
TUG Member
Joined
Jul 13, 2015
Messages
6,781
Reaction score
9,968
Points
499
Location
Florida
Resorts Owned
Hgvc Anderson, Blue Ride Village Resort
Marriott’s Grand Vista....I would have said Marriott’s’ Harbour Lake until I experienced Marriott’s Grand Vista this past month.
 

Stefien Quix

newbie
Joined
Jan 17, 2018
Messages
6
Reaction score
0
Points
1
Resorts Owned
Williamsburg Plantation (Vacation Village) (Interval International)
Marriott’s Grand Vista....I would have said Marriott’s’ Harbour Lake until I experienced Marriott’s Grand Vista this past month.
Really? Why would you recommend Grand Vista over Harbour Lake if you don't mind me asking?

Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk
 

Panina

TUG Review Crew: Elite
TUG Member
Joined
Jul 13, 2015
Messages
6,781
Reaction score
9,968
Points
499
Location
Florida
Resorts Owned
Hgvc Anderson, Blue Ride Village Resort
Really? Why would you recommend Grand Vista over Harbour Lake if you don't mind me asking?

Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk
Grand Vista has a great program for kids as well as adults. It is a resort that you never have to leave, lots to do plus the units are large and nicely decorated.
 

pedro47

TUG Review Crew: Expert
TUG Member
Joined
Jun 6, 2005
Messages
22,072
Reaction score
8,535
Points
948
Location
East Coast
I also liked Grande Vista onsite golf course.
 

dominidude

TUG Member
Joined
Jan 15, 2015
Messages
794
Reaction score
104
Points
153
Location
maryland
Hey everyone! New member here. I own multiple units at a timeshare resort in Williamsburg, VA. I've turned one in for an upcoming exchange with the II system for me to use to take my daughter (5 yo) to Disney for the first time.

Was wondering if anyone had any recommendations for great resorts/experiences they had doing the same?

Thanks in advance!

EDITED TO ADD: We're hoping to avoid a car rental, so a resort offering some type of shuttle service to WDW would be ideal!
Reading a bunch of horror stories about people fighting with shuttles on TripAdvisor, so I'm thinking we'll either get a car or use Lyft/Uber. So nevermind about the shuttle!
I believe you'll need a car rental anyway if you'll be there longer than 2 nights, because you'll need food and buying food at Disney prices is more expensive and less nutritious than renting a car and buying food at the grocery store.
That being said, I'd consider Vacation Village at Parkway because they have a shuttle, so you dont have to worry about paying for parking or driving to the resort after a day at the parks.
Yes, people do get into fights to get in the shuttles, but my understanding is that this mostly happens on the last shuttle of the day, because no one wants to be left behind. So, to avoid that, I'd consider taking the shuttle an hour or so before the last shuttle. Of course, that'd cut into your park time, so you may be better off paying for parking anyway.
Unfortunately, VV at Parkway is only offered through RCI, not II, I believe.
Another reason I'd consider VV at parkway is that they might offer you 2 disney park tickets if you attend their timeshare sales presentation. Of course, that'd again cut into your vacation time, but hey, may be it's worth it to you.
I've done just what I described (taking the shuttle and attend the sales presentation) and I recommended it if you are on a budget, or if you want to stretch your dollars. I and the people I traveled with enjoyed our time in Orlando and at Disney, and would do it again.
 

pedro47

TUG Review Crew: Expert
TUG Member
Joined
Jun 6, 2005
Messages
22,072
Reaction score
8,535
Points
948
Location
East Coast
How long, how many minutes & hours, was that sales presentation at VV at Parkway for two (2) free tickets???
In Orlando, suggestion only go to Costco and they made sell discounts tickets to Universal and to Disney theme parks. I would also, check Costco for a car rental.
Are you a military family or a DOD employee check on your installation for discounts hopper passes for Disney.?
Good luck and enjoy.
 

HudsHut

TUG Review Crew
TUG Member
Joined
Jun 6, 2005
Messages
3,978
Reaction score
1,229
Points
548
mousesavers.com
Subscribe. They send out their newsletter on the 15th of every month. In that newsletter is a link to UnderCover Tourist, a travel agency in Orlando. They give you a small discount (a couple of dollars better than other sites). Purchase early enough so they mail them to you. Otherwise, you have to go to pick them up at their location in a strip mall in Orlando.

In the past, I have found that Costco sells vacation packages (including hotel), but not just the tickets.

***
Try for Marriott's Harbour Lake, Cypress Harbor or Grande Vista. Any of these are great. I agree that the pirate ship will make a huge impression at the age they're at now.
 

Stefien Quix

newbie
Joined
Jan 17, 2018
Messages
6
Reaction score
0
Points
1
Resorts Owned
Williamsburg Plantation (Vacation Village) (Interval International)
I believe you'll need a car rental anyway if you'll be there longer than 2 nights, because you'll need food and buying food at Disney prices is more expensive and less nutritious than renting a car and buying food at the grocery store.
That being said, I'd consider Vacation Village at Parkway because they have a shuttle, so you dont have to worry about paying for parking or driving to the resort after a day at the parks.
Yes, people do get into fights to get in the shuttles, but my understanding is that this mostly happens on the last shuttle of the day, because no one wants to be left behind. So, to avoid that, I'd consider taking the shuttle an hour or so before the last shuttle. Of course, that'd cut into your park time, so you may be better off paying for parking anyway.
Unfortunately, VV at Parkway is only offered through RCI, not II, I believe.
Another reason I'd consider VV at parkway is that they might offer you 2 disney park tickets if you attend their timeshare sales presentation. Of course, that'd again cut into your vacation time, but hey, may be it's worth it to you.
I've done just what I described (taking the shuttle and attend the sales presentation) and I recommended it if you are on a budget, or if you want to stretch your dollars. I and the people I traveled with enjoyed our time in Orlando and at Disney, and would do it again.

So, as it happens, my timeshare is with a Vacation Village property, so I could totally (if I were so inclined), trade in a property to stay at VVP. It's just an internal trade within VV instead of through II. I had looked at the property and it was in my short list (if for no other reason than the cheaper price for the exchange), but it didn't seem quite as 'exciting' as I was hoping to find for a 5 year old. But I'm not sure I'd be up for a sit-down to snag some free Disney tix since I'm a VV owner. Also, I've found those things to be a huge time suck. It's SOOO hard to get away from them and they can turn into a real 'hard sell' if you start putting up walls.

@pedro47 I do have a Costco membership, but I haven't seen them selling discount tix to Disney, just vacation packages which doesn't really make sense since I'm planning on using a timeshare. I have found a few other sites that can get discount tickets to Disney, so I'm not super worried about that.

Sadly I'm not a military or DOD employee. :(

I will check into the mousesavers newsletter though, thanks @hudshut !
 

chalee94

TUG Member
Joined
Jan 3, 2009
Messages
1,047
Reaction score
149
Points
423
Location
NC
I agree that Marriott's Harbour Lake, Cypress Harbor or Grande Vista would probably be the best bets, but honestly, any of the Marriotts or Vistana resorts would be great.

I think it's smart to avoid a shuttle and would recommend renting a car.

In terms of location near Disney, Marriott Royal Palms and Sheraton Vistana Resort seem like the closest to me if you are spending most of your time at the parks, but MRP might not have as much to do at the resort as some of the other options listed IMO.
 
Top