OLCC River Island

[JLB]

She is a little lady, so high heels it may be!

jlb

just get her some higher heeled "water shoes"

smilawgs

 

[Vodo]

We're just back from OLCC today. Other than the tube rentals being too high, my single greatest complaint was that they're one-size-fits-all. After paying $4 to rent one for my 5-1/2 year old, it was useless to us because it was WAY too big for her. There are no child-sized tubes, and the only user-provided tubes they'll allow are infant ones with a crotch seat (usually not used beyond a few months of age). My daughter ended up in tears because she couldn't stay in the oversized tube. She kept slipping out and panicking because she felt like she was stranded under it. In the end, we tossed it aside and just "swam" the river.

Also, compared to other lazy rivers we've experienced, the current at River Island is a little anaemic. It needs a little more "oomph" to it.

Cindy

 

[timetraveler]

thanks for the "low current" heads up, Cindy. As thrill ride enthusiasts.....we'll downgrade our expectations a bit. All though....we do love Typhoon Lagoon's lazy river ride.....and it's about as tame as they come. After dropping several times off Kowabunga.....at TL....everything seems like kiddie land. :hysterical:

 

[riu girl]

Has anyone who has visited OLCC seen an adult in a tube with their young child sort of sitting/laying on them. We have only been to lazy river once, and this is what I did with my son. He will be 6 by the time we are at OLCC but is small for his age (45 inches and about 40 pounds).

I wonder if the lazy river staff wil let me ride in the tube and share it with my son? I am only about 115 pounds and as I mentioned previously, this worked out the only time we were at a lazy river.

I think he would fall out otherwise.

 

[Vodo]

They have no issues with float sharing. My daughter took a cruise on her dad's stomach until she got bored (didn't take long).

Cindy

 

[timetraveler]

I just received my owner's newsletter. Nice article about the Cabana's. It listed the inventory alittle different than what Gary, and Boca experienced. I'm wondering if they were just not totally outfitted yet.

Inventory say's a table with 4 chairs, 2 chaise lounges, 4 tubes, ceiling fan, tv, stocked frig, fruit stuffs, telephone and wireless internet. Owner's can reserve 30 days ahead of time. Guests 14 days ahead of time.

I'll find out shortly myself.

 

[riu girl]

They have no issues with float sharing. My daughter took a cruise on her dad's stomach until she got bored (didn't take long).

Cindy

Thanks for the info. I'm glad that my son will be able to float with me. He is a pretty reserved kid and would probably prefer to do this anyway.

Sorry to hear that the lazy river didn't work out very well for your daughter. It is a shame that OLCC does not offer child size floatation devices for younger children.

It would be great if RI offered a weekly price as well by the time we visit. Weather pending, I'm sure we will be there most days.

 

[Vodo]

I just received my owner's newsletter. Nice article about the Cabana's. It listed the inventory alittle different than what Gary, and Boca experienced. I'm wondering if they were just not totally outfitted yet.

Inventory say's a table with 4 chairs, 2 chaise lounges, 4 tubes, ceiling fan, tv, stocked frig, fruit stuffs, telephone and wireless internet. Owner's can reserve 30 days ahead of time. Guests 14 days ahead of time.

I'll find out shortly myself.

Our documentation from the resort pretty much reflects Gary's inventory. The cabanas were fairly heavily rented, which sort of surprised me (I think they're a little pricey). I noticed a lot of families with infants using them, which would certainly make sense since babies would benefit from the sun protection and certain of the other cabana benefits (refrigerator for formula or privacy for breastfeeding).

On the day we arrived (Sunday, 5/28), I don't believe the second swimming pool area was open, but by the time we wandered back there on Thursday, it was. It's on the end near the Windward bar, and it was quite a bit less crowded than the other one which is closer to the main entrance and thus more utilized. It also seemed a little more spacious to us. I didn't analyze them closely, but I think it was missing a center island or something that took up too much room on the other one.

I found it interesting too that they closed the pool bars at 6:00 - at least on that first Sunday we were there. I didn't pay any attention any other time. I only know about that day because my nephew isn't much of a pool buff, so while the rest of us were checking out the lazy river, he had a cocktail. We didn't get to the pool area until almost 5:30, and at 6:00, down went the shutters on the Leeward bar, despite the line of people waiting to buy drinks. My nephew thought there was probably $500 worth of business in that line that they just threw away. I contemplated an Icee on Thursday, but they were $3.83 or $4.83, depending on the size you wanted. My common sense gene won't let me spend that much on a non-alcoholic frozen beverage, so I passed. An interesting aside, my nephew watched the three bartenders split their tips at closing and heard one mention that they'd made over $750 among them. Not too shabby, huh?

One other thing - lifeguard staff are pretty much there to make sure you don't use a flotation device you didn't rent from the resort and to monitor the slides. If you have small children, don't look to them to be on the alert for drowning risks. I had to track down a supervisor on Thursday because the pool had been emptied due to inclement weather. As soon as it was announced, the lifeguard staff went on a break and did not return until they announced everyone could swim again - more than 45 minutes later. Of course, in the interim, all the folks who think rules don't apply to them had gotten back in the pool. I asked the supervisor if they could either issue an "all clear" and let everyone back in or have the lifeguard staff enforce the closure. My little girl didn't understand why she couldn't swim when about 100 other people were back in the pool already. Anyhow, the supervisor said that the lifeguard staff are pretty much there just to monitor the slides. She didn't mention the "tube patrol," but there was definitely a body staked out for the purpose.

Oh my, how I do ramble on! Sorry about that . . .

Cindy

 

[Carl D]

An interesting aside, my nephew watched the three bartenders split their tips at closing and heard one mention that they'd made over $750 among them. Not too shabby, huh?

Yea, not too bad. That's $65K/year in tips alone. Add $20K salary, and the're pulling down 85 large. Not bad for a pool bar.

 

[timetraveler]

but oh how yummy those frozen beverages are.

And as far as policeing uhmmmm......caution challenged people.....LOL.....well I guess if they want to risk inclement weather near water......I'll bring the s'mores to toast marshmellows over their toasty bodies. I don't think it's OL's responsibility to force someone to do the obvious.

I'm sure you were able to make your little one understand....as a responsible parent that water and lightning don't mix. But like you observed....some people think rules don't apply to them.

I'm not surprised at the Cabana's being rented. As far as Cabana's go....these prices are a steal compared to most we have been too. I thought I remembered either Gary or Boca saying there was no ceiling fan....but the June owner's newsletter lists them as one of the amenities. Along with 4 tubes instead of 2 and 2 chaise lounges besides the 4 chairs and table. As I said....maybe all the stuff hasn't come in yet. This was a soft opening after all.

I'm packed and ready to head to the airport!

 

[BocaBum99]

Vickie,

I like the list that you have better than what was actually in my cabana. Obviously, it's just beginning and they did say that a lot of things weren't available yet.

From you list, here is what was NOT in my cabana. No ceiling fan, but it's a must have. Only 2 tubes, not 4. No chaise lounge, but you could pull up some. No internet access yet.

I think the cabanas will be sold out for much of the summer as soon as people figure out they are there. That's because there are 2500+ villas at Orange Lake and only about 10 cabanas. Heck, they can find more than 10 people a day who will by a 3 bedroom unit in River Lake for $30k. Why not 10 cabanas for $75?

 

[BocaBum99]

I found it interesting too that they closed the pool bars at 6:00 - at least on that first Sunday we were there. I didn't pay any attention any other time. I only know about that day because my nephew isn't much of a pool buff, so while the rest of us were checking out the lazy river, he had a cocktail. We didn't get to the pool area until almost 5:30, and at 6:00, down went the shutters on the Leeward bar, despite the line of people waiting to buy drinks. My nephew thought there was probably $500 worth of business in that line that they just threw away. I contemplated an Icee on Thursday, but they were $3.83 or $4.83, depending on the size you wanted. My common sense gene won't let me spend that much on a non-alcoholic frozen beverage, so I passed. An interesting aside, my nephew watched the three bartenders split their tips at closing and heard one mention that they'd made over $750 among them. Not too shabby, huh?
Cindy

This always bothered me about OLCC. Most of the bars close at 6 pm. It's not just River Island. And, the stores close early as well. I'm not sure why. It seems like leaving money on the table.

And, for such a large resort, the restaurants are not very heavily used and there aren't many of them. I think it should be possible to do a lot more in this area by bringing in some really good restaurants.

 

[ajsmithtx]

We left OLCC yesterday. I walked over to RI everyday. On Tuesday or Wed, there were a couple of cabanas that were not rented and there were plenty of floats available. During the holiday weekend everything was rented out by noontime.

The ceiling fans are not in yet, although the staff stated they were working on getting them in.

There are chaise lounges in the immediate cabana area, you can pull a couple into your cabana after you move a couple of the regular chairs aside.

For all the amenities, $75.00 is a great price for a one day rental, as is $4.00/day for a float.

Yes, there you can have your child in your float with you. Heck there were adults with other adults in one float.:whoopie:

 

[timetraveler]

little child size tubes mixed in with large ones paints a disaster waiting to happen in my mind. I could see a pile up with big tubes bumping into little ones and fliping them.

 

[riu girl]

little child size tubes mixed in with large ones paints a disaster waiting to happen in my mind. I could see a pile up with big tubes bumping into little ones and fliping them.

Vickie, Sorry, I never thought of it that way. You are so right.

I am just happy that RI staff allow smaller children to ride on the tube with their parents.

 

[ajsmithtx]

...and you will see rafts bunched up at RI...

 

[Vodo]

little child size tubes mixed in with large ones paints a disaster waiting to happen in my mind. I could see a pile up with big tubes bumping into little ones and fliping them.

Honestly, after having experienced it, the large tubes are not all that heavy duty (they were much more substantial at the Fairfield properties we visited that had lazy river amenities). A smaller float would not be an issue, especially with the less-than-vigorous current of the river. Because there were no child-sized floats and none allowed, my little girl walked-swam the river with no flotation device at all, which was much more of a concern to me than a smaller float would have been. We had to stay really glued to her. It wasn't particularly congested on the day that we were there (tons of unrented floats piled up behind the rental station), so we managed okay trailing her at her elbow. It would have, however, definitely been easier had there been a float appropriate for a non-adult.

Cindy

 

[Carl D]

little child size tubes mixed in with large ones paints a disaster waiting to happen in my mind. I could see a pile up with big tubes bumping into little ones and fliping them.

Okay, this seems a bit far streeeeeeched to me.
I will always give a quality resort such as OLCC the bnefit of the doubt, but at times we must call a spade a spade.
No resort does everything "perfect"... Not even my beloved DVC. Heck, not sure but even BCV (Beach Club Villas) may not have child tubes at SAB (Stormalong Bay).

That said, I can't see how larger tubes are going to create a huge piracy on the smaller tubes.

 

[timetraveler]

I'll see for myself today. I'm just judging from experience at TL. People's tubes bumping into each other....log jams at the exit stations, etc. Of course for an adult....the jostling at the stations makes for much of the fun....sorta like water bumper cars.

 

[JLB]

Now that tube-sharing has been brought up, that puts a new twist on the lazy river, and a reason for it to be open after dark, with no lights, and for adults only.

Maybe put the kids to bed and open the bar and lazy river back up at 11:00 PM. :whoopie: :whoopie: :whoopie: :whoopie:
~~~~~~~~~~

Also, Arctic Lemon, a gourmet soft frozen lemonade sold in lemonade and strawberry flavor at Silver Dollar City and Celebration City is $3.50 for 16 ounces. You can buy a refillable 16-ounce mug for $7 and then the refills are $2.25. On a nice day they will sell around 8000 just at Silver Dollar City. It is an exceptionally good product with all natural ingredients.

At a show we used to do in Independence Missouri, a church sold the same product $2 for a medium and $3 for a large. They did around $40000 in four days.

We know the couple that runs Arctic Lemon and we have been taking their product to remote shows and events. We've been getting $2.50 for 12 ounces with no problem and will be going to $3, or 2 for $5.

At the Naples (FL) Art Show a similar product was being sold for $3.

 

[JLB]

http://www.orangelake.com/E_News/06_2006/Owners_02.html


http://www.orangelake.com/E_News/06_2006/Owners_03.html


http://www.orangelake.com/E_News/06_2006/Owners_05.html


http://www.orangelake.com/E_News/06_2006/Owners_21.html


http://www.orangelake.com/E_News/06_2006/Owners_04.html


http://www.orangelake.com/E_News/06_2006/Owners_08.html

 

[timetraveler]

Adding to Gary's description of the new style golf villa, all counter tops in the new golf villa re-do are granite.

As Gary said, the stove's will now have glass surfaces like alot of we gals have at home. Very high end. Plumbing fixtures are gorgeous. I took several pics of the new golf villa re-do, and I'll post them with a link within the next few days.

 

[suekap]

timetravelor,

did you post your golf villa pictures somewhere else? I just looked at the river island pictures again, just great, we will be leaving in 2 weeks. I was wondering if once we check out we can still use the pools that same day? I figure if we check out at olcc and then check-in a vistana villages, then go back to olcc to use the pools for the day. I hope they let our car back in.

 

[timetraveler]

Hi Sue. Sorry, I haven't gotten around to posting the new golf villa design.

Once you have checked out of OL...and check into Vistana....I'm alittle confused while you would want to drive all the way back to OL? I've personally never been to Vistana, but there are plenty of tuggers that have and post very positive comments about it's pools.

As an OL owner, you can use OL's resort amenities anytime you are in Orlando, whether you are staying onsite or not.

 

[suekap]

Vickie,

I think the amenities at olcc will be better then vistana villages. We are not owners, we are renting as an owner referral.

Sue