Grand Ocean

[Retired2025 aka AlmostRetired]

We are checking in at the Grand Ocean this weekend with a Sunday checkin. We will be with our 25 and 28 year old and one maybe both of there girl friends. They enjoy the pool my wife and I the beach. i didn't get into details on ages but asked the front desk and they said we should stay by the dolphin pool. We exchanged one of our Monarch weeks and was told given the number of GO owners at the resort , we would likely get a low floor.

I have not been to the GO since 2000. Given our priority (according to front desk Marriott HHI owners come after GO owners) ...
if view was important and we can rule out ocean front, what building/ floor would you suggest if view was the most important?
If the combo of pool/beach access and view was important what building/ floor would you suggest.

Normally I would just ask for high floor best view but my wife has a bad knee so the combo of pool/beach access is overriding factor.

Thanks in advance....Suggestions please.

Btw....we also have our fixed Monarch week this week that we are renting out. When they looked up our reservation, they saw that also. I mention this because from The II exchange of my other Monarch week to the GO, they didn't know we were Marriott HHI owners. Knowing this bumped up our priority so they say.

 

[jme]

We are checking in at the Grand Ocean this weekend with a Sunday checkin. We will be with our 25 and 28 year old and one maybe both of there girl friends. They enjoy the pool my wife and I the beach. i didn't get into details on ages but asked the front desk and they said we should stay by the dolphin pool. We exchanged one of our Monarch weeks and was told given the number of GO owners at the resort , we would likely get a low floor.

I have not been to the GO since 2000. Given our priority (according to front desk Marriott HHI owners come after GO owners) ...
if view was important and we can rule out ocean front, what building/ floor would you suggest if view was the most important?
If the combo of pool/beach access and view was important what building/ floor would you suggest.

Normally I would just ask for high floor best view but my wife has a bad knee so the combo of pool/beach access is overriding factor.

Thanks in advance....Suggestions please.

Btw....we also have our fixed Monarch week this week that we are renting out. When they looked up our reservation, they saw that also. I mention this because from The II exchange of my other Monarch week to the GO, they didn't know we were Marriott HHI owners. Knowing this bumped up our priority so they say.

South side (Dolphin pool side) is definitely best for the group as you describe it. I wouldn't push "oceanfront" because first, it's probably not doable, and second, if you get it, it might be in Starfish Bldg first floor which has trees in front and Pool Bar immediately outside balcony---no view! Not the best situation.

I'd rather have the Oceanside section of Starfish Bldg (L-shaped bldg, so OS looks inward to pools). There, the 1st floor (or better yet, 2nd floor) is nice. Busier, noisier slightly, but more fun. I'd ask for "Starfish second floor, oceanside". I think that's about as good as you can expect, but you'll enjoy it.

ALL the buildings have been newly renovated and are great. And the O/S balconies there are shaded from mid-day to evening---very nice. Wonderful Dolphin pool....look for the "bubbles". Or relax at South Pool just adjacent to Dolphin about 100 feet away.

 

[Russ14]

We just stayed at the GO over the 4th of July and had 1st floor Starfish Ocean Side. While 2nd floor would have been preferred, it was nice to have the option to take the 1 flight of stairs and be dropped off right at the Dolphin Pool..and beach access very close. 1st Floor was also nice when my wife and/or I would forget something and we could literally toss it to each other down on the sidewalk without having to go back to the room .

 

[Retired2025 aka AlmostRetired]

South side (Dolphin pool side) is definitely best for the group as you describe it. I wouldn't push "oceanfront" because first, it's probably not doable, and second, if you get it, it might be in Starfish Bldg first floor which has trees in front and Pool Bar immediately outside balcony---no view! Not the best situation.

I'd rather have the Oceanside section of Starfish Bldg (L-shaped bldg, so OS looks inward to pools). There, the 1st floor (or better yet, 2nd floor) is nice. Busier, noisier slightly, but more fun. I'd ask for "Starfish second floor, oceanside". I think that's about as good as you can expect, but you'll enjoy it.

Just looked at a resort map and I like your suggestion of Starfish looking in towards the pool. Thank you. I know based on the pecking order I will have little say in what I get but it can't hurt asking.

 

[jme]

Just looked at a resort map and I like your suggestion of Starfish looking in towards the pool. Thank you. I know based on the pecking order I will have little say in what I get but it can't hurt asking.

This time of year you'll get what you get, with owners at GO having preference, and there are a lot of them, and they mostly occupy at GO. Having said that, strange things happen. But being realistic, that request of 2nd floor oceanside Starfish might make you happy. It's a delightful spot, and the kids will enjoy it being close to everything THEY want, and in evenings and at night it's lit up around the pools and gorgeous. Here's what the kids want: hot tubs, Pool Bar, 2 huge pools, pool lounge chairs, bocce ball & shuffleboard, fire pits, putting green, grills (including Dolphin Grille), & boardwalk to beach.

They have been known to give 3rd floor or better, but you said lower might be best for you, so 1st/2nd floor was my thought. Southside Starfish is best anyway.

 

[Retired2025 aka AlmostRetired]

when I got home I had a message on my recorder from the Grand Ocean letting me know rhey can honor my request for the Starfish facing the pool. They do not think they wil be able to give me a high floor given the number of owners occupying next week, but a lowwer floor is available. If I have any concerns I should call the front desk.

This is a first for me. I have never received a call ahead of a visit letting me know the status of my preference.

 

[jme]

when I got home I had a message on my recorder from the Grand Ocean letting me know rhey can honor my request for the Starfish facing the pool. They do not think they wil be able to give me a high floor given the number of owners occupying next week, but a lowwer floor is available. If I have any concerns I should call the front desk.

This is a first for me. I have never received a call ahead of a visit letting me know the status of my preference.

I told you.

and you got it because it was a reasonable request, and at the same time a great one for you....in my opinion the best you could have done barring a miracle.
You will enjoy it. An added perk is that the balcony overlooking the Dolphin Pool will be on the shady side, and that will be more enjoyable all day long and in the evenings. Not to mention a shorter walk to the spots the kids will like. And, easy up and easy down for a lunch break, etc. Unit will be steps away from pool. Congrats.

Edit: also, you may not know but there's a parking garage on ground level underneath all the buildings, so if you have first floor, it's still on level 2, etc. Maybe you'll get 2nd floor, even better.

 

[disneymom1]

Do you think the Starfish OS is better than Kingfisher? We are staying there soon. I already placed the request, figuring it was more centrally located. Thanks!! I hope Pool Bar Jim will be back.

 

[jme]

Do you think the Starfish OS is better than Kingfisher? We are staying there soon. I already placed the request, figuring it was more centrally located. Thanks!! I hope Pool Bar Jim will be back.

Absolutely, and here's why:

See photo below.
https://goo.gl/maps/SGxp2XzxXgy

Kingfisher is immediately to the LEFT of the RED locator pin, sort of an inward-looking building but still a "back building".

Starfish is the oceanfront building on bottom LEFT at the Pool Bar,
with OS units facing inward toward pool (it's an "L"-shaped building).
The OS units are immediately across from the "circle" in middle of the Dolphin Pool (it's the dolphin statue/fountain). Those units therefore are closer to ocean than Kingfisher, with superior view of the southside interior, imho, unless......

Only time Kingfisher is better is when:
You have a very high floor in Kingfisher (probably only 5th floor), which allows a partial ocean view (albeit from a greater distance), and only if you prefer that slight ocean view. 4th maybe maybe has a glimpse if you happen to be on the correct side of a tree or two. High floor KF also has ok view of interior, but SF is better.

Otherwise if you're comparing "same level floor" for both buildings, Starfish will be superior every time. (That is, 1st floor Starfish is superior to 1st floor KF, and same for 2nd floors, same for 3rd floors, and 4th and 5th.)

 

[Retired2025 aka AlmostRetired]

I told you.

and you got it because it was a reasonable request, and at the same time a great one for you....in my opinion the best you could have done barring a miracle.
You will enjoy it. An added perk is that the balcony overlooking the Dolphin Pool will be on the shady side, and that will be more enjoyable all day long and in the evenings. Not to mention a shorter walk to the spots the kids will like. And, easy up and easy down for a lunch break, etc. Unit will be steps away from pool. Congrats.

Edit: also, you may not know but there's a parking garage on ground level underneath all the buildings, so if you have first floor, it's still on level 2, etc. Maybe you'll get 2nd floor, even better.

Again thanks for the suggestion. Honoring the request was a pleasant surprise but the most impressive thing of all was the call to my home letting me know .

 

[jme]

Again thanks for the suggestion. Honoring the request was a pleasant surprise but the most impressive thing of all was the call to my home letting me know .

Hmmmmm, I wonder if anyone has praised the Grande Ocean staff recently.

Who could that have been?

 

[disneymom1]

Absolutely, and here's why:

See photo below.
https://goo.gl/maps/SGxp2XzxXgy

Kingfisher is immediately to the LEFT of the RED locator pin, sort of an inward-looking building but still a "back building".

Starfish is the oceanfront building on bottom LEFT at the Pool Bar,
with OS units facing inward toward pool (it's an "L"-shaped building).
The OS units are immediately across from the "circle" in middle of the Dolphin Pool (it's the dolphin statue/fountain). Those units therefore are closer to ocean than Kingfisher, with superior view of the southside interior, imho, unless......

Only time Kingfisher is better is when:
You have a very high floor in Kingfisher (probably only 5th floor), which allows a partial ocean view (albeit from a greater distance), and only if you prefer that slight ocean view. 4th maybe maybe has a glimpse if you happen to be on the correct side of a tree or two. High floor KF also has ok view of interior, but SF is better.

Otherwise if you're comparing "same level floor" for both buildings, Starfish will be superior every time. (That is, 1st floor Starfish is superior to 1st floor KF, and same for 2nd floors, same for 3rd floors, and 4th and 5th.)

Thank you! I called and changed our request. We are looking forward to our 4th summer on HHI, 2nd visit to Grande Ocean. The night before we check in, we are staying/trying out at Harbour Club. It is awesome how the HH Marriott's coordinate to help owners transfer resorts! That's what makes Marriott Vacation Club outstanding - the little things the staff/resorts do to go beyond expectations.

 

[jme]

Thank you! I called and changed our request. We are looking forward to our 4th summer on HHI, 2nd visit to Grande Ocean. The night before we check in, we are staying/trying out at Harbour Club. It is awesome how the HH Marriott's coordinate to help owners transfer resorts! That's what makes Marriott Vacation Club outstanding - the little things the staff/resorts do to go beyond expectations.

They will most likely allow you to stay in your villa at Harbour Club until your Grande Ocean villa is ready, and will call you to let you know it is......an immediate transition! That is a wonderful service to guests.

Not only is it convenient to avoid checking out and storing luggage for several hours, but you'll move into your second villa much earlier because they'll have housekeeping clean there first. Almost like having an extra half-day at Grande Ocean because you can get settled and enjoy the afternoon around the pools. Enjoy.

 

[disneymom1]

Questions

Regarding bike rentals - Should we rent bikes from the resort or bring our own? Husband wants to bring our own bikes (we got new bikes last year) but I think it might be better to leave ours home. He thinks the rental bikes may not be as comfortable, but I worry about the wear and tear from the salt and sand.

Does Grande Ocean still sell the refillable coffee/soda mug? Last year I think it was $25 or $30. Besides the Marketplace is there anywhere else it can be filled?

Any word on Pool Bar Jim?

Thanks!

 

[MOXJO7282]

Questions

Regarding bike rentals - Should we rent bikes from the resort or bring our own? Husband wants to bring our own bikes (we got new bikes last year) but I think it might be better to leave ours home. He thinks the rental bikes may not be as comfortable, but I worry about the wear and tear from the salt and sand.

Does Grande Ocean still sell the refillable coffee/soda mug? Last year I think it was $25 or $30. Besides the Marketplace is there anywhere else it can be filled?

Any word on Pool Bar Jim?

Thanks!

We do bring own own bikes but there is something to be said about the weathering they do receive since it does rain quite a bit in the summer on HHI.

We don't have very expensive bikes and I'm actually looking to upgrade soon so I'm not overly concerned about the wear and tear.

If I had my upgraded bike I think I'd still want to bring because then I'd be enjoying my custom bike but in that case I'd be bringing it to my room in bad weather.

So I guess what I'm trying to say is if you have expensive bikes and don't want to have them rained on or don't want the hassle of bringing to your room I'd probably leave at home and rent locally.

 

[Big Matt]

The ones at GO are gearless beach bikes. They are fine if you want to just do things like bike to Coligny or maybe to Harbor Town, but they really aren't that good. I wouldn't be concerned about one week of salt water air. Sand is sand. If you have a big SUV you could leave them in the back of the vehicle to avoid rain/theft.

 

[Retired2025 aka AlmostRetired]

Checked in yesterday and got a great dolphin pool view second floor of the Starfish. We came back to the unit from dinner to be greeted by three rather large palmetto bugs in our room. My sons GF was bothered a little but I as I explained to her, welcome to HHI. Called the front desk just to let them know. They will send someone up to spray. They said they spray once a month....no big deal but I know have seen posts on various Marriotts in HHI complaining about it....welcome to HHI.

Great room... Spacious ...sleeps the 6 adults real nice. Hot, Humid, Crowded...welcome to HHI summer. Will enjoy every minute of it.