Marriott Rewards - Orlando hotels/resort close to theme park(Disney)

I am planning a trip to Orlando in November for my family (8 of us, which includes a 9 and 7 year kid) and wondering which resort or hotel would be best suited for us. I am mostly concerned about the shuttle service to Disney if all of them provide them. Do they all have a decent pool (another requirement for two kids)? One of the other post on here mentioned that the vacation club - cypress, grande vista or horizon might be a good choice - any opinions? Any other tips on planning this trip would greatly be appreciated.

The only hotel with decent bus service (on a par with Disney) is the Courtyard WDW at 1805 Hotel Plaza Blvd. As the only Mariott hotel on Disney property they also get benefits such as e-nights (and used to get early mornings when they still did those)

For your party size the GVC would probably be more convenient but you would then need a van to travel in?

If you can get a deal at the Grande Vista it is well worth it. I stayed there last month for $96 per night using the M11 code and was absolutely thrilled with the deal,the suite, and the property. If there are any golfers in the group they will appreciate the property. Very close to Seaworld not far from Disney but you will need a vehicle.

You didn't say what budget you are looking for.
If you are looking for the cheapest alternative, then I would suggest the Courtyard Lake Buena Vista @ Vista Centre 8501 Palm Parkway, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32836.
Phone: 1-407-239-6900 Fax: 1-407-239-1287

We stayed there in February, it is very close to Disney. There is no shuttle as far as I remember, but I didn't really look. It is by no means the best Marriott we have stayed in, but it served its purpose as a place to rest our heads. It has outdoor pools and a huge selection of nearby restaurants.

The attraction was that we used a coupon from roomsaver.com in one of the freebie coupon books that you pick up in Orlando. The walk in rate was $49 per room for as many nights as we wanted. At the same time the cheapest rate showing on the Marriott web site was $99.

The hotel is fairly new and is a typical Courtyard, no frills but if you are spending all day / evening in the theme parks, that doesn't matter.

Nick



[This message has been edited by Nottingham Nick (edited 07-19-2002).]

Just to note that the Courtyard WDW at 1805 Hotel Plaza Blvd has high speed Internet from www.wayport.com (http://www.wayport.com) for $10/day.

Both the website and Courtyard central reservations showed no availability for no smoking rooms. Calling the hotel directly got one, however.

I stayed at the Marriott World Center while on business a couple of times last year and I prefer the Courtyard since it's smaller and more conveniently located. As you'd expect, the pool and fitness facilities at the Courtyard aren't comparable.
Rich

No question in my mind about my choice. I would get a 3-BR villa (sleeps 10) at Grande Vista. Currently available for about $300 per night. Or squeeze into a 2-BR unit (sleeps 8 - including a sofa bed in the living room) for about $225 per night. A magnificent property and the entire family can be together. Cook and dine, if you choose, inside the unit's full-service kitchen and dining room. Great pool facilities. Rent a van or two cars for transportation.

If cost is a determining factor, get two rooms at the Courtyard Marriott Village for $67 per night each and use the complimentary shuttle to Disney. It has two pools (one indoors), but doesn't begin to compare to the Grande Vista amenities. Much more crowded living space. Shuttle is convenient, but I don't like waiting, particularly at the end of the day when everyone is tired. Not my idea of a relaxing vacation.

For a better description of Grande Vista than you will see on the Marriott reservations site, look here:
http://www.vacationclub.com/en-us/vc/resorts/GV/aboutresort.aspfor a successful claim.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Dave M:
No question in my mind about my choice. I would get a 3-BR villa (sleeps 10) at Grande Vista. Currently available for about $300 per night. Or squeeze into a 2-BR unit (sleeps 8 - including a sofa bed in the living room) for about $225 per night. A magnificent property and the entire family can be together. Cook and dine, if you choose, inside the unit's full-service kitchen and dining room. Great pool facilities. Rent a van or two cars for transportation.

If cost is a determining factor, get two rooms at the Courtyard Marriott Village for $67 per night each and use the complimentary shuttle to Disney. It has two pools (one indoors), but doesn't begin to compare to the Grande Vista amenities. Much more crowded living space. Shuttle is convenient, but I don't like waiting, particularly at the end of the day when everyone is tired. Not my idea of a relaxing vacation.

For a better description of Grande Vista than you will see on the Marriott reservations site, look here:
http://www.vacationclub.com/en-us/vc/resorts/GV/aboutresort.aspfor a successful claim.</font>

Or even better yet---Try the M11 or I24 codes for the Orlando properties. You should be able to MVCI Grande Vista 3br Villa for $139 or the wonderful Seaworld Renaissance up the street for $98.

Avoid the Courtyard Lake Buena Vista. We were there in April and it was *really* not up to Marriott standards AT ALL! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif

Funny -- I usually get a survey after staying at a CY. I never got one for this stay...

The Orlando World Center is just outside the disney gates. If you stay at the Imperial Palms villas (on the World Center grounds)(part of the Vacation Club timeshare group) you get a large 3BR unit with full kitchen, dining room, etc. The Imperial Palms has its own small pool, you can also use the other villa pools on site or the World Center's gigantic pool. Of course all the World Center amentities are also open to you. No shuttle that I am aware of though; but rent a car (or van) its cheap in Orlando, and you won't spend half your trip waiting for a bus. Plus, you can go to the supermarket and stock your kitchen.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by xyzzy:
Avoid the Courtyard Lake Buena Vista. We were there in April and it was *really* not up to Marriott standards AT ALL! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif

Funny -- I usually get a survey after staying at a CY. I never got one for this stay...</font>

Which location? There are three Courtyards in LBV. The Courtyard LBV at Little Lake Bryan is very nice.

I'd recommend the Courtyard at Marriott Village in Lake Bryan. You can room there for around $80-90/night. Great indoor/outdoor pool. The outdoor pool has fountains and a sloping "beach" into the pool. They also have a shuttle although I don't think it runs that often. They also have a decent restaurant and a deli and a kids club.

A co-worker is staying at the Disney All-Star-music-whatever-they-call-it resort. He wrangled two rooms for a very good rate since they needed the biz. He made his rez through the Disney 800 #.

I recently stayed at the Summerfield Suites by Wyndham down rt. 535 towards Disney. They have FREE internet access and long distance for their rewards members, although I think there was some time period you had to sign up for the freebies. Decent room, like a Residence Inn. Got a 1 bedroom suite for $60/night through Expedia (pre-paid).

The Marriott World Center complex is very luxe but also pricey. You might get some good deals this fall as they really appear to be hurting for biz.

[This message has been edited by GeorgeBurdell (edited 10-01-2002).]

Do you have any friends or family that own a Marriott time share?
If so ask them to book a getaway for you. I can usually get into the Marriott's in orland for $199 a week for a Villa. Getaways don't require you to trade you T/S, you just have to own one somewhere to be able to book them. This is one of the reasons I got a Marriott T/S (and also because I can always get a cheap getaway in to Orlando, one of the reason to never buy a FL time-share).
Just a thought.