Which Orlando resort should we choose? Need Pros and Cons

[maryk]

We are wanting to go to Orlando in late April (not to do parks) Just 2 adults.

We are looking at a 1 Bdrm for April and we are trying to decide between

• Sheraton Vistana Villages
• Sheraton Vistana Resort
• Harbour Lake
• Grand Vista (FYI- we will be staying here over Memorial day weekend)

Can you all give me all your expert pros and cons of why I should or shouldn't reserve which ?

Thanks in advance for the input.

Maryk

 

[jwalk03]

I’ve never stayed at the Sheratons, but I would rank the Orlando MVCs this way:

1- Lakeshore Reserve
2- Grande Vista
3- Harbor Lake
4- Cypress
5- The Palms Resorts

 

[CPNY]

We are wanting to go to Orlando in late April (not to do parks) Just 2 adults.

We are looking at a 1 Bdrm for April and we are trying to decide between

• Sheraton Vistana Villages
• Sheraton Vistana Resort
• Harbour Lake
• Grand Vista (FYI- we will be staying here over Memorial day weekend)

Can you all give me all your expert pros and cons of why I should or shouldn't reserve which ?

Thanks in advance for the input.

Maryk

Out of your list, I like Vistana Villages because they have a “quiet pool” it’s right above the main pool, it’s small, but there are generally no screaming kids and splashing going on.

Grand vista is nice and it is a large resort. You can’t go wrong with grand vista.

Harbor lake was ok for me, I’d probably not go back there if I had a choice.

Vistana resort is great when I’m doing the Disney parks or enjoying time in the room since I prefer the top floor in the fountains section. Having that sky light in the living room makes the whole place bright. I’m not a fan of the pools at vistana resort. I tend to go to the resort during the winter months or a park focused trip.

Top pick for a pool side vacation would be lakeshore reserve with vistana villages coming in second. For the Disney parks, I’d go SVR or any of the world center marriotts. If I’m doing universal then I’d prefer lakeshore, SVV or GV

 

[Pamplemousse]

We are wanting to go to Orlando in late April (not to do parks) Just 2 adults.

We are looking at a 1 Bdrm for April and we are trying to decide between

• Sheraton Vistana Villages
• Sheraton Vistana Resort
• Harbour Lake
• Grand Vista (FYI- we will be staying here over Memorial day weekend)

Can you all give me all your expert pros and cons of why I should or shouldn't reserve which ?

Thanks in advance for the input.

Maryk

Have a look at the ‘destination timeshare’ videos on YouTube and you can see the resorts for your self.

I haven’t stayed at Sheraton villages but I own Harbour Lake and that is ideal for families with young children.
We don’t stay there when it’s just adults.

Sheraton Resort is large & busy and Grande Vista fairly big too.
Grande Vista is my favorite in Orlando, but I haven’t stayed at Lakeshore.

 

[dioxide45]

Have a look at the ‘destination timeshare’ videos on YouTube and you can see the resorts for your self.

Thanks for the plug

I have a video that compares all the Orlando Marriott Vacation Club properties

And another video comparing Sheraton Vistana Villages and Sheraton Vistana Resort.

 

[jmhpsu93]

Thanks for the plug

I have a video that compares all the Orlando Marriott Vacation Club properties

And another video comparing Sheraton Vistana Villages and Sheraton Vistana Resort.

I think if you review these, all questions will be answered.

 

[jwalk03]

Thanks for the plug

I have a video that compares all the Orlando Marriott Vacation Club properties

And another video comparing Sheraton Vistana Villages and Sheraton Vistana Resort.

I found a video of yours touring the 3BR townhouse at Lakeshore the other day. First time I have ever seen one of your videos. Very well done and informative!!

 

[Dean]

We are wanting to go to Orlando in late April (not to do parks) Just 2 adults.

We are looking at a 1 Bdrm for April and we are trying to decide between

• Sheraton Vistana Villages
• Sheraton Vistana Resort
• Harbour Lake
• Grand Vista (FYI- we will be staying here over Memorial day weekend)

Can you all give me all your expert pros and cons of why I should or shouldn't reserve which ?

Thanks in advance for the input.

Maryk

I would rank them GV, Vistana Willages, HL then Vistana. If you can get LR, that'd be even better for the situation you describe.

 

[maryk]

Lakeshore is available but a LOT more points than the other's I listed. Don't plan on spending a ton of time on resort itself so it seems a waste to go to Lakeshore with the points if we are not going to hang on the resort.

 

[maryk]

I think if you review these, all questions will be answered.

thanks I will check out the videos.

 

[Dean]

Lakeshore is available but a LOT more points than the other's I listed. Don't plan on spending a ton of time on resort itself so it seems a waste to go to Lakeshore with the points if we are not going to hang on the resort.

If you're not going to be there much and not use the pool, I'd chose the one that's most convenient to what you plan on doing.

 

[hangloose]

Can’t speak to the Sheraton properties.

Hard to go wrong with Grande Vista. Harbor Lake is best for kids, not best for adults. Lakeshore is best for adults who want a little more quiet and upscale, albeit at a slightly increased price.

Any are good though. Pick and enjoy. Hit a different one next time .

 

[jmhpsu93]

If you're not going to be there much and not use the pool, I'd chose the one that's most convenient to what you plan on doing.

I don't know if there's such a thing as convenient in Orlando, unless maybe you're at Harbour Lake, Cypress Harbour, or HGV Sea World and walking to Sea World. Everything is a PITA drive in Orlando.

 

[jme]

I like the "best possible resorts" for Orlando in this order (all happen to be Marriotts):
1. Lakeshore Reserve
2. Grande Vista
3. Cypress Harbour
4. Sabal Palms

I think the Marriotts are superior to the Vistana resorts.
If Lakeshore Reserve's DC Points requirement is too expensive, go with GV, then Cypress Harbour, and finally Sabal Palms.

Harbour Lake is not a place I would stay as an adult....it caters to kids and it's underwhelming for adults.
Also, "convenience" is a non-issue....just get the best resort you can..... so what if you drive 3-5 extra minutes?
Comfort, beauty, and amenities far outrank any convenience consideration, imho. Can't say that enough.......

 

[hajjah]

I’ve never stayed at the Sheratons, but I would rank the Orlando MVCs this way:

1- Lakeshore Reserve
2- Grande Vista
3- Harbor Lake
4- Cypress
5- The Palms Resorts

We are wanting to go to Orlando in late April (not to do parks) Just 2 adults.

We are looking at a 1 Bdrm for April and we are trying to decide between

• Sheraton Vistana Villages
• Sheraton Vistana Resort
• Harbour Lake
• Grand Vista (FYI- we will be staying here over Memorial day weekend)

Can you all give me all your expert pros and cons of why I should or shouldn't reserve which ?

Thanks in advance for the input.

Maryk

We stayed at Lakeshore last November in a refurbished unit, but was not impressed with the upgrade. The resort itself is still number one for us with the lazy river. But, we also stayed at Cypress, Vistana Resort and Grand Vista last year. Grand Vista's refurbished unit was the best of them all.

 

[maryk]

Being we are going in April I don' t think we will be doing any pool time

 

[jwalk03]

Being we are going in April I don' t think we will be doing any pool time

April in Florida is plenty warm enough for pool time!

Also the Lakeshore pool is fabulously heated! We stayed there last January and the air temp was only in the 50s but that water was so warm you could still swim!

 

[Pamplemousse]

Being we are going in April I don' t think we will be doing any pool time

Average high temp in Orlando in April in 84.
Just looked up some locations planning my own trip.

 

[Big Matt]

For a 1BR, I would just grab GV. The units are nice, lots of pools to pick from, but what I like most is that there are a lot of on site food options including a full service restaurant at the golf course, ice cream shop, etc. It's a very convenient resort in terms of having everything you need, and if you aren't sitting around the pool all day the luster of Lakeshore sort of wears off.

 

[dioxide45]

We too are a couple, though we do go to the parks when in Orlando, but we aren't hard core Our list in order of preference for a non park trip would be;

1. Lakeshore Reserve - Not on your list, but our favorite.
2. Sheraton Vistana Villages
3. Cypress Harbour
4. Grande Vista
5. Sabal Palms
6. Royal Palms
7. Harbour Lake

 

[dioxide45]

We stayed at Lakeshore last November in a refurbished unit, but was not impressed with the upgrade.

We went in December and I was editing a before and after video that I am going to be publishing to my channel and I kind of agree. The renovation seems kind of sterile. The villas decor before was rather unique, something that is completely lost in the new design. While modern, the rooms really aren't much different than many other properties. The hallways are also very gray. Kind of like walking through a corridor of a prison (not that I have ever walked through a prison). It just has such a drab look to it.

 

[jme]

We went in December and I was editing a before and after video that I am going to be publishing to my channel and I kind of agree. The renovation seems kind of sterile. The villas decor before was rather unique, something that is completely lost in the new design. While modern, the rooms really aren't much different than many other properties. The hallways are also very gray.
Kind of like walking through a corridor of a prison (not that I have ever walked through a prison). It just has such a drab look to it.

Now wait a minute.....I've seen you wearing that orange jump suit around the pool before...........

 

[rickandcindy23]

If you are asking what to buy, I cannot help with that because Orlando is very easy to get via exchange through II.

My favorites for exchanging into are 1) Lakeshore Reserve, 2) Marriott's Cypress Harbour, 3) Grande Vista, 4) Vistana Villages (St. Augustine is our favorite). Harbour Lake doesn't make the cut at all.

 

[Pamplemousse]

We went in December and I was editing a before and after video that I am going to be publishing to my channel and I kind of agree. The renovation seems kind of sterile. The villas decor before was rather unique, something that is completely lost in the new design. While modern, the rooms really aren't much different than many other properties. The hallways are also very gray. Kind of like walking through a corridor of a prison (not that I have ever walked through a prison). It just has such a drab look to it.

Sent you a dm

 

[maryk]

We went with Grand Vista. Just could not justify the point difference at Lakeshore. Maybe another time.

Thanks for all the help