Self-parking for The Jockey Club is inside the parking garage for The Cosmopolitan casino. Valet parking is $5 per day. If you want to self-park, you can still pull into Valet and take advantage of the bellman. You will definitely want to do this if you are staying in the Derby Tower as it is a bit of walk from the lobby, involving two elevators and a short flight of stairs. Getting around this resort is actually rather ridiculous, but I’ll address that a bit further down.

Jockey Club Vegas 1 Bedroom Unit

I’m staying in a 1 bedroom unit in the Derby Tower. The furnishings are comfy and spacious and both TVs are flat screen so my guess is these units have been recently remodeled. Other units are currently being remodeled at the resort so there’s a fair bit of unsightly construction detritus in some of the public areas, but I was never disturbed by any noise. Of course, if you are staying in the other tower, that may not be the case so ask before making a reservation.

This is the kitchenette in the 1-bedroom unit

The kitchen is small (more of a kitchenette, but with full size appliances), but adequately stocked for cooking and there’s a dishwasher, microwave and stove, as well as the full-size refrigerator. There is no ice-making. Instead it has ice trays.

The living room is quite large and features an L-shaped sofa with (I believe) a sofa bed inside it. there’s also a small dining table next to the kitchenette. In the bedroom, there is a walk-in closet, but the bathroom is kinda small, so I think I would have preferred a smaller closet and a bigger bathroom. No jacuzzi tub in this unit.

Unfortunately, there is no washer and dryer in this size unit, but the laundry room is down the hallway and there are laundry rooms on every other floor. You’ll need coins to do the laundry though.

Surprisingly, there’s daily housekeeping. Personally, one of the reasons I stay at timeshares is so I don’t have to deal with housekeeping entering my room every day, but if you miss regular housekeeping you will like staying here. They basically just remove trash, provide new towels and make-up your bed every day, but it is a nice amenity if you prefer it. Another surprise is that check-out is at 11 a.m. on the day you leave, rather than the usual 10 a.m. check-out at other timeshares.

View into the bedroom from living room

The way this resort is constructed, getting around is a bit of a pain. It iss a hell of a walk from the parking garage elevator in The Cosmopolitan to the Derby Tower, involving two separate elevators and stairs. I feel like I’m going on a cross-country trek every time I leave my room to make my way to the Las Vegas Strip. Thankfully, once you finally make it outdoors, the entrance of The Cosmopolitan is a few hundred feet away and the entrance to the Bellagio is a bit further than that. You also can take the elevated walkway from The Cosmo to the Planet Hollywood Casino and Miracle Mile shops or you can talk the walkway to City Center.

If you need to pick up convenience store items, I strongly recommend avoiding the mini-mart that’s inside The Jockey Club. It is outrageously expensive. You are better off shopping before check-in so you can have Bell Services bring your grocery bags to your room, or if you forgot something you can walk to the CVS that is just on the opposite side of City Center. Unfortunately, this CVS is also more expensive than it should be, but it is cheaper than the ripoff mini-mart.

Location Location Location

The other thing I’m finding a big pain while staying here is getting on and off the Las Vegas Strip in my car. Normally, I stay at an off-strip timeshare resort such as the Wyndham Grand Desert or the Grandview up by the South Point Casino. I often like to run to the supermarket in the evening to pick up freshly prepared items from the deli counter, but it is very much a pain to do so here as every trip involves the 10 minute walk just to get to the car and then negotiating both vehicular and pedestrian traffic on the Strip itself. Personally, I won’t stay here again because of this issue, but if you are not traveling by car or plan on just parking it and spending all week on The Strip, then it won’t be a problem. It is a very excellent location for walking around and visiting all the casinos.

Info:
The Jockey Club
3700 South Las Vegas Blvd.
Las Vegas, NV 89109
800.634.6649

Located in Lake Buena Vista, the Sheraton Vistana Resort is part of the Starwood timeshare program which covers the brands Sheraton and Westin. You don’t need to own at the Sheraton Vistana timeshare to book a vacation here as it is also a category 4 Sheraton property so you can book for cash or if you are an SPG member, you can use 10,000 SPG points per night. By booking through a regular SPG or Sheraton portal, you should get daily housekeeping service, but I do believe “no housekeeping” specials are available if you are happy to skip it and save the money. If you are an RCI member and looking to stay an entire week, your most economical option will probably be to exchange into the property or buy your week from Extra Vacations.

This particular resort is a large property built in phases. Each phase has its own name – Cascades, Falls, Lakes, Palms/Spas, and Springs. I’ve stayed in the Lakes and Cascades sections and they were both very nice. The Lakes area is probably my favorite. I just really like the furnishings and the layout of the two bedroom units here.

So far I have stayed at the Sheraton Vistana Resort three times, once on an RCI timeshare exchange and twice through RCI Extra Vacations rentals. I’ve also booked a week for my sister’s family and they loved it as well.

The entire property is well-landscaped and most buildings are just a few stories high so I think it makes the resort a lot more welcoming and attractive as a vacation destination than the massive apartment towers you will find at some other resorts.

Vistana Resort Orlando Amenities

On site, there is plenty to do at the Sheraton Vistana Orlando. There are several pools dotted around the property (I believe there’s one in each major area of the property) including an especially nice “super” pool that is located next to the casual restaurant, Zimmie’s. You can eat indoors at Zimmie’s or sit outside next to the pool deck at their “Sports Bar”. We watched the Superbowl there earlier this year and they had a buffet set out for the Superbowl and a large outdoor screen was erected so you could actually watch the game while sitting in pool or whirlpool. It was a lot of fun until it started raining!

Zimmie’s has five other TV’s as well. When they aren’t showing the Superbowl, you can expect a typical casual menu (burgers, snacks, etc) at Zimmie’s and they usually have specials during the week which you will get notice of in your info packet when you check-in to the resort. There’s also an All-You-Can-Eat BBQ on Wednesdays and Sundays.

In addition to Zimmie’s there’s also the Cascades Bar and Grill and the Coral Reef bar which are both open until sunset, the Oasis poolside bar (open seasonally), and the Fountains Food Court which has a KFC, A&W and Pizza Hut all on site. In fact, you can get the fast food places to deliver to your unit as well.

In addition to the casual dining, there is also a general store which sells groceries that you can prepare in your unit and you can buy prepared sandwiches, etc.

In addition to the pools and dining options, the Vistana resort has 9 tennis courts, basketball courts, a fitness center and a game room. I have never bothered to take advantage of any of these because I prefer the pools and I get most of my exercise just walking around Disney World. Like many timeshare resorts, there are also lots of schedule activities every day, but again I don’t realy participate in most of them because I’d rather be at the Parks. Though, the Superbowl night they hosted was lots of fun.

Vistana vs other Disney area Resorts

Of the resorts I stay at when I visit Orlando, the Sheraton Vistana is one of my top choices and I would usually book here before booking the Bonnet Creek Wyndham because I think the Sheraton Vistana has a bit more to offer in terms of amenities. In fact, in some ways it might even be a bit preferable to the Disney DVC resorts if you want to spread out a bit as the units are large and comfortable.

Resort Details:
Sheraton Vistana Resort Villas, Lake Buena Vista/Orlando
8800 Vistana Centre Drive
Orlando,Florida 32821
Phone: (407) 239-3100
Website

I normally stay in a studio unit at DVC Hilton Head and they are pretty spacious, but missing a few amenities that you will find in the larger units. So if you would like a washer and dryer in your unit and a full kitchen, be sure to book at least a 1 bedroom. The studios are equipped with a kitchenette.

Bedding is exactly like what they have at DVC in Florida so the mattresses and pillows are terrific. I’m not quite sure how to describe the theming — maybe cottage rustic?? Disney’s own website claims it is themed as a hunting and fishing lodge, so I guess that works. Unfortunately, I don’t have pictures because I never thought to take any last time I was there, but this photo from Flickr should give you a good idea of what to expect.

While Disney’s Hilton Head Island Resort is not located on the beach, DVC has their own beach house that is only 10 minutes away. I believe during peak visiting periods they have a shuttle bus that picks up in front of the resort every half hour to bring folks over to the Beach house, but if you have a bicycle you can get there yourself quickly. During the off season, which is when I usually stay, you can just go the the shuttle stop and call for the shuttle and someone will be along shortly to take you over. I found it very convenient and I really like the DVC beach house because you can either enjoy the pool, or take a walk down to the beach for a brisk walk along the Atlantic Ocean.

If you don’t prefer the beach, the Hilton Head resort has plenty of activities to keep you busy. You can go kayaking or fishing, go on a Dolphin excursion or the kids can spend some time doing crafts and enjoying storytelling. There is also a nice pool located at the resort itself, so you don’t need to travel to the beach house to go swimming.

For meals, the Disney resort at Hilton Head has a quick service snack bar at the resort and a snack bar at the Beach house, but I highly recommend you explore your food options on Hilton Head Island. You can easily walk to several restaurants from the Resort since it is right next to the Marina, and there are lots of restaurants a short drive away too. If you like to grill, there are also barbecue grilles located at the resort.

If you are looking to stay at the Disney Hilton Head Island resort and you own DVC, you will find that the points are pretty good value. I often stay here in January or February and can really stretch my points out, especially for a January visit. If you don’t own DVC and would like to stay here, it is easy enough to book directly through Disney, but Disney timeshare rentals by owner are usually a better deal and not significantly more work than booking directly with the Mouse!

Wyndham Grand Desert, Las Vegas
I stayed in two-bedroom unit at the Wyndham Grand Desert. Furnishings are comtemporary and comfortable. The resort has two pools and one of them is 18+ only, which is wonderful for adults. This resort is located off the strip and far enough away that you will probably not want to walk to the Casinos, with the exception of the Hard Rock Casino which is also off strip and maybe a 10 minute walk. I had my car with me for the last trip so I had no problems getting around and I believe the resort also has a shuttle bus that takes you to the Flamingo. From there you can make your way to other nearby casinos. There are not a lot of timeshares directly on the Strip so I think the Grand Desert makes a good alternative. It also provides a nice break from some of the noise and crowds so common in Las Vegas.

Wyndham Bonnet Creek, Lake Buena Vista, FL
I’ve already written my thorough review of Wyndham’s Bonnet Creek Resort, so you can check that for further details, but if you are looking for a timeshare right near Disney property that is less expensive than staying at a DVC resort, and also has much larger units, then Bonnet Creek is a great choice. The units are spacious and well decorated. I usually stay in a two bedroom here, but you can also get three and four bedroom units if you have a big crowd.

The resort is also very close to Downtown Disney (thought not really walking distance) and it is close to Epcot and Disney Studios as well. This is a huge resort and so they usually have good availability if you are booking directly with Wyndham, but I’m not so sure how good their availability is for exchanges. I usually even have good luck waiting until the 45 day discount window to book here, but it really depends on how flexible your travel plans are.

Wyndham Cypress Palms, Kissimmee, FL
The Cypress Palms Resort in Kissimmee is actually my first pick when I’m in Florida during the winter and I usually stay here at least three weeks, sometimes more. The resort usually has good availability in Last Call or Extra Vacations Getaways for most months, in case you want to save your exchange week or Wyndham points. It can be difficult to get a rental here in February.

Wyndham Cypress Palms is an older resort, but the interiors were recently refurbished and it is very conveniently located on US Hwy 192, about 10-12 minutes from most of the parks. They only have one pool and a small activity center, but you can walk to a half a dozen chain restaurants and an all night CVS, which makes up for the lack of some activities in my opinion. There is also a pond out in front of the resort which makes for a nice stroll.

Wyndham Smoky Mountains in Seiverville, TN
Wyndham’s Smoky Mountains resort is located right next to Pigeon Forge and about a 20 minute drive or so to Gatlinburg. On an hour drive if you are visiting the area during peak times. The traffic here is horrible. The resort’s unit layouts are very similar to the Bonnet Creek resort, with more rustic furnishings to suit the location. This is a big resort split across a road. My only complaint is that depending on where your unit is, you might find it more convenient to drive to the swimming pool and activities complex.

Star Island Resort, Kissimee, FL
Of all the Wyndham resorts I have stayed at, Star Island resort is my least favorite. This is probably because I stayed in the smaller 1 bedroom lock-off unit and it was much too small and I found the furnishings uncomfortable. It also had two double beds in bedroom rather than a king. I wouldn’t stay here again. Also, only part of the resort is controlled by Wyndham (you’ll note it is the only resort listed here that doesn’t have Wyndham in its title), which makes getting support and customer service rather a pain.

Wyndham Ocean Walk, Daytona Beach
The Daytona Beach Ocean Walk Resort is a large resort located directly off the beach. Location-wise, it’s pretty excellent if you like Daytona Beach. There’s the Ocean Walk shopping center attached to the Wyndham resort, which is convenient for dinners out if you don’t feel like getting in the car (not that any of the restaurants here are particularly good, but at least you have the option). I would consider the unit carefully however before decided to stay here. I stayed in 1 bedroom unit with no outside windows. It felt a lot like living in a box for a week. Also, the wireless internet here costs money and the connection is LOUSY. You’ll need to go the lobby for the free wireless and a much better signal. Personally, I don’t think I would stay here again.

Wyndham Ocean Boulevard, N. Myrtle Beach
On the outside, I think Wyndham’s Ocean Boulevard Resort at North Myrtle Beach looks a lot like their Daytona resort. But the similarity ends there. With the exception of Tower 4 which is across the street, the Towers are configured in such a way that ALL units have an ocean view. So if you can book into Towers 1, 2 or 3, you will have a great view of the ocean. The furnishings are not as high end as what you might find at Bonnet Creek, but they are bright and cheerful and I found the 2 bedroom unit quite comfortable, though not as large as Bonnet Creek or Wyndham Smoky Mountains. I believe internet was free here as well.

Wyndham Sea Gardens, Pompano Beach FL
This is another older resort and most of the property is quaint and rather pretty. I stayed in a well-furnished studio unit a few years ago and found it perfectly adequate to my needs. It also felt spacious due to the open layout. There’s a pool located in the center of the complex and as a guest you also have beach access, but unfortunately the beach is on the opposite side of a very busy street and if I’m remember correctly, there was no traffic light. If the beach is important to you, I would stay elsewhere or try and get one of the units on the ocean side of the street (a limited number of units).

I have stayed at the Bonnet Creek resort a few different times now. I usually stay in a two-bedroom unit when I stay here as most of the time I book Bonnet Creek when my Dad joins me during my winter stay in Florida. The resort is huge, encompassing several different tower buildings and they are still building, so it is worth noting that construction projects are on-going at this property. Personally, I have never been bothered by it, except for the occasional poor view from the unit. Construction equipment doesn’t make for great scenery.

Location
As far as location goes, you are smack dab in the middle of Disney. It is less than a five minute drive from the resort to Downtown Disney and only a few minutes more to either Epcot and Disney Studios. Of course, the Magic Kingdom is still annoying to get to as you have to transfer to either the boat or the monorail at the Ticket and Transportation Authority.

That said, you cannot exactly walk to Downtown Disney as there are no sidewalks, so the advantage of being so close is not that big a deal as far as I’m concerned. You will have to get in your car and drive anyplace that you want to go, or rely on the resort’s shuttle to the Disney locales. Since there is little in the way of food at this resort, when I’m in Orlando by myself and not staying at a DVC resort, I almost always choose to stay at Wyndham Cypress Palms rather than the Bonnet Creek Wyndham because there are many restaurants within walking distance of the resort, as well as a 24 hour CVS. I only stay at Bonnet Creek because my Dad likes it, but lately I’ve been booking Sheraton Vistana Village and he likes that just as well and they have tons of amenities (i.e. FOOD) on-site so if we don’t feel like going out to eat, we don’t have to.

Availability
Since the resort is so large, it is generally easy to book the Wyndham at Bonnet Creek if you own Wyndham points. There is almost always availability here through Wyndham. In fact, I sometimes will wait until the 90-day express reservation window to book so I can get the unit for discounted points, but if you don’t have date flexibility for your travel arrangements, or want to book a holiday week or at peak travel times, then you should probably make your reservation as far in advance as possible.

For those who don’t own Wyndham I have occasionally seen the Bonnet Creek timeshare in the listings on RCItravel, but since it is such a popular resort, you will probably want to conduct an “on-going search” if you are looking to snag specific dates. It is rarely available as an RCI Last Call or Extra Vacation though, so plan on doing a timeshare exchange if you really want to stay here and don’t already own Wyndham.

UNIT SIZE and FURNISHINGS

View into the Living Area and Kitchen Bar at Bonnet Creek Wyndham Resort. If you want to use the internet, you

Wyndham Bonnet Creek floor plans are pretty generous. I usually stay in a two bedroom deluxe unit which is around 1200 square feet. The master bedroom has a king-size bed and I think the other bedroom has two doubles in it. There is also a jacuzzi in the Master Suite and both bedrooms have their own bathroom attached. The living area is quite sizable with a full-length dining table and there’s plenty of room in the kitchen to move around. The furnishings are comfortable and the beds more than adequate. They are not as good as Sheraton’s beds or Disney’s, in my opinion, but they are good enough.

Living Room at the Bonnet Creek Resort. The couch folds out into another guest bed.

Even a 1-bedroom deluxe at the Bonnet Creek Resort is between 800-900 feet, so I doubt you will be feeling cramped here. The three bedroom units are 1500 Sq. ft. and up and the brand new four bedroom presidential units are over 2200 square feet, so you can bring the whole family. All units, regardless of size, have a balcony (very nice), washer, dryer and jacuzzi. Whether you have a flat screen tv in the unit, or an old fashioned tv, depends on how recently the unit has been refurbished, but the last few times I stayed here, it was a flat screen TV so maybe all the older televisions are gone now.

Master Bedroom at Wyndham Bonnet Creek

My only complaint about the units here — and actually is is a pretty big complaint for me since I work when I travel — is that if you want to use the ethernet port to get online, you will be stuck sitting at one of the bar stools at the kitchen area counter, since the ethernet port is just behind the the phone on the kitchen counter. It is massively inconvenient, and there is no wifi in the units, so if you need to be online a lot, I highly recommend bringing a long ethernet cable of your own. Theirs is rather short. If you are going to be using more than one computer, you may even want to bring your own router.

Jacuzzi in Master Suite at Bonnet Creek Resort

Amenities
Now we get into the nitty gritty. For such a large timeshare resort, I find the Bonnet Creek resort to be oddly lacking. Other resorts of this size usually have at least an eatery or two and usually a small grocery. There is a small store in the lobby, but it is mostly touristy knick-knack crap. I think they offer pizza delivery and the pool bar (Escudo’s) has burgers and such, but they aren’t that great and I would never eat there again. So you really have to leave the resort or go grocery shopping and cook in your unit if you want some decent grub, or even just a snack to tide you over.

Bonnet Creek does have a lot of pools and a nice lazy river (or two),and a lot of their scheduled activities revolve around these great pools, but that big lake in the middle of their property is just for walking around. There’s no water sports there. Oh well.

Also, while you have to drive onto Disney property to get to the Bonnet Creek resort, this resort is NOT on Disney property, so you get none of the Disney amenities such as early entry to the parks, Evening hours, the park shuttle service, or shop deliveries from the theme parks to the resort. You can be just as close to Downtown Disney staying at Saratoga Springs and then you will be able to walk to Downtown Disney as well as take advantage of all the amenities that Disney offers. For my money (and points), I would sooner stay at Wyndham Cypress Palms Resort or the Sheraton Vistana Resort which is nearly as close to all the Disney action as Bonnet Creek is.

And finally, the sales staff at the Wyndham Bonnet Creek Resort are very aggressive. You’ll get your first pitch when you go to get your parking pass and if you don’t sign up for an “owner’s update” or “breakfast” then you can expect many phone calls. So if you do stay here, I highly recommend unplugging your phone as soon as you get in the room, unless you really enjoy timeshare presentations. I usually go to them myself to get the freebies, but I usually skip it here because I find them much more aggressive than other Wyndham sales teams.

I should note that most of the time I travel by myself, so except for a stay in a 1-bedroom at Boardwalk, I nearly always stay in a studio. So while I can easily give you an idea of quality of furnishings, resort conveniences, and other things like that, there isn’t a lot I can tell you about room lay-outs and sizes for the larger units. What I can tell you thought is that DVC units, compared to other timeshares in Orlando, tend to run smaller, so when I need more space to accommodate family, I usually find it less expensive and more suitable to stay off-site at either one of the Wyndham timeshares (Bonnet Creek is a favorite) or a Starwood vacation resort such as Sheraton Vistana Villages.

That said, I really love the Disney resorts, the theming and being right in the middle of all the Disney magic. To my mind, if DVC isn’t the absolute best timeshare company, it is certainly in the running for one of the best and it is definitely my personal favorite, and in the long run that is all that counts. Finding the best timeshare programs to suit your actual vacation needs. So with that out of the way, let’s get right into my brief Disney Vacation Club reviews.

Boardwalk Resort Disney World

This is the first reservation I made upon becoming an owner and I took my Dad, my brother and his daughter on this trip with me. We stayed in a one-bedroom. My dad can never stop talking about Boardwalk Villas and he gets his nose out of joint whenever we stay somewhere else now. So obviously he loved it! I like it a lot too and as far as locations go, it is the best in the parks if you love Epcot, since Epcot is within walking distance. Also, it is always lively here in the evenings with entertainment on the boardwalk and of course there are several restaurants as well. A fun place to stay.

Saratoga Springs Disney Resort

This is the DVC resort where my membership is held. I usually stay at Saratoga Springs for at least a couple of days on most trips, always requesting Congress Park. I like Congress Park because it is a quick walk over to Downtown Disney. My two favorite aspects of Saratoga Springs include the fact that it is quieter than many of the other Disney Resorts because the units are spread throughout the grounds rather than all in one building like a hotel; and for that same reason, the distance from your car to the unit is a lot shorter. Each building has its own parking area which makes loading and unloading your car much easier and getting in and out of the resort a lot faster.

Animal Kingdom Lodge Jambo House

Just one of the main attractions of Animal Kingdom Lodge - spying on giraffes from your balcony

This is my preferred DVC resort at Disney World. It requires fewer points than the other resorts and I love the location and the atmosphere here and the way the resort is decorated. Also, the restaurants and the cafeteria are great too. The animals are awesome and I will occasionally book the Savannah view. I stay here during every trip and on my last trip I actually stayed here twice (note: I stay in Florida for two months each winter). While the Animal Kingdom Lodge villas are the most “remote” in the Parks, it is very easy to get to Rte 192 from here so I find the location extremely convenient for going off-site.

The main attraction at Animal Kingdom Lodge is, of course, the animals. If you have the points or cash available, I strongly recommend booking a Savannah view unit (available at both Kidani and Jambo House), so you can see all the animals right from your balcony.

Animal Kingdom Lodge Kidani Village

I stayed at Kidani Village shortly after it opened and now that I have, I will continue to book Jambo House. Kidani Village is perfectly nice, but it does not have a cafeteria-style restaurant or much of a shop so I find the location unbelievably inconvenient if I just want a quick snack or something inexpensive to eat without leaving the resort. You can walk to Jambo House from here, but who wants to do that after you’ve been walking around the theme parks all day? No thanks!

Disney Vacation Club Hilton Head

I usually visit Hilton Head for a week after leaving Florida each winter. It helps me avoid New England winters for another week. I stayed at the DVC resort on Hilton Head during my first visit here and it is a really cute resort. It is also quiet and peaceful. Disney has their own “beach clubhouse”, but you have to take a shuttle bus from the resort to get there. This is less annoying that it sounds since you can call the shuttle bus to come get you as there is no set schedule.

Grand Californian Villas at Disneyland

I lived in California while the Grand Californian Hotel was under construction and I have always been impressed with the results and have long wanted to stay in this beautiful hotel. So I was very happy when Disney decided to add some Disney Vacation Club villas to the resort.

I have stayed here twice so far and love this resort. I love having a view of the California Adventure park at night after all the people have left. I will be buying here eventually so I can have the 11 month booking window, but so far I have been pretty lucky booking at the 7 month window as I usually have a flexible schedule.

I think the Walt Disney World Boardwalk is one of the best locations in the WDW complex. You are within walking distance of Epcot and a short ferry ride to Disney Hollywood Studios. In addition, there are also plenty of Disney Boardwalk restaurants to choose from and there is entertainment on the Boardwalk in the evenings. All in all, this is a very fun spot and my family really enjoyed the trip. My dad would prefer to stay at the Boardwalk Villas for every trip, but since I don’t own there the 7 month booking window doesn’t always provide me with an opportunity to get it. This is a very popular resort and I strongly recommend that you Buy Boardwalk if you want to stay here on a regular basis. Otherwise you will be taking your chances with the 7 month booking window.

As for the my review of the unit, firstly I apologize for not having my own photos of our villa. At the time, I didn’t have this website yet and it never even occurred to me to take pics of the room for Disney Vacation Club reviews! This photo here is of the “model unit” that you can see at the DVC Open House at Boardwalk though and it provides a very good approximation of what you can expect.

The accommodation is quite nice, but not fancy. There is a jacuzzi tub in the large bathroom and you can shut the door and shutters between the bathroom and the bedroom, so the tub can be enjoyed in privacy without removing access to the bedroom for anyone else who needs to get in there. There are two doors providing access to the bathroom, one in the living area and one in the bedroom. At time I stayed there was no flat screen tv in the room, but it looks like they are updating units with them now. I don’t know, however, if all units have been updated yet, so it is probably the luck of the draw.

1, 2 and 3-bedroom units also have a washer and dryer in the unit which is extremely convenient and the kitchen has everything you need to cook. All you need to do is get the food.

My only complain about Boardwalk Villas, and this is something that applies to most of the DVC resorts, is that you can expect some very long walks from the lobby to your room or from your villa to the elevators unless you specifically request something close by. The resort is quite large and you may find yourself at the end of a very long hall!

If you are looking to buy timeshare points at Boardwalk Villas, you should note that they have been SOLD OUT for a long time. However,  I believe DVC does have a waitlist for it. Since they exercise ROFR fairly frequently to keep the resales prices and value fairly high, but if you do waitlist keep in mind that Disney will be happy to sell you Boardwalk at their current prices today for it. If you want to save money, you should look for a Disney Vacation Club resale. They only exercise Right of First Refusal to maintain a certain floor price so as long as the resale price for the Boardwalk points is reasonable, you should have no problem buying it for about a 25% discount on what you would pay directly to Disney for the privilege.

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Because of its southern desert location, Indio is generally warm year road (very hot and dry in summer!), and the temperatures range from 70 degrees in the cooler winter months, all the way up to 100 degrees in the summer. In the winter it makes a nice getaway from the cold and snow. Summers can be a little hot if you aren’t used to this kind of heat, so be sure to keep hydrated and take a cool break at midday.

The rooms at the Worldmark Indio resort are very well outfitted. They come with everything you need to cook for a week or several days, like an oven and dishwasher and all of your pots, pans and dishes. You don’t really have to leave the Resort if you don’t want to, because along with being able to cook for yourself, you can choose to eat from any of the people selling on the property. It can be pricey to do it, so you may want to save a few bucks and bring some food along to cook inside of your room.

The layout of this Worldmark resort is very large. If you’re looking for a place to go and relax, then you’ll like Indio. It has a very large spa with everything from massages to scrubs and facials. The downside of this is that the spa can run on the pricier end. But if you want something free or cheap, the hotel has several hot tubs, an enormous pool, and a beautiful lazy river.

The surrounding area offers golf, several museums, and even casinos. However, getting in and out of the resort is a bit of a hassle. The security is very tight to keep you safe, but at times may be a bit too strict. Some travelers who stayed at the resort while attending Coachella posted on TripAdvisor complained of having to answer too many questions and checks before being allowed to go up to their after arriving late at night, and some rules like being out on balconies at night are often enforced too strictly.

But, the place is very safe and secure because of it. It is a drawback, because you may spend a lot of time talking with security and the guards after coming in late, but it does keep you safer. But I think as long as you have your driver’s license and resort key on you, there shouldn’t be much of an issue.

You don’t ever have to leave, however, to have a lot of fun. The Indio resort offers tons of games and things to do inside. If you choose not to leave, you won’t feel like you’re missing out on a lot, because there is so much to do inside. One note to remember when booking is the resort can be very strict about how many people are allowed in each room. As with any timeshare, they want to limit the number of people to abide by the law, and this can often mean that even visitors are not allowed into the rooms.

Resort Details for Worldmark Indio CA:

• 42-151 WorldMark Way
• Indio, CA 92203
• Phone – (760) 342-1040
• Website

The Star Island Resort is one of the popular Wyndham timeshares and it has a lot of different amenities to fit for people staying for a few days or a week. The timeshares offer full kitchens and mini kitchens as well, so you never have to really leave the resort. Star Island is designed so that you never have to leave to go to other places, but with so much available nearby, you will no doubt be heading out .Still, it is nice to know that if you wanted to you can just stay put and relax. There’s even a mini-mart on site, so if you run out of milk, soda or breakfast food, you can just talk a walk to pick it up.

Star Island Resort Kissimmee

One of the biggest attractions of the area is Disney World. Aside from the sun and beaches, it’s a very large tourist attraction for the state, and millions of people go every year. Though Star Island Resort is designed with the thought that you may not want to leave, Disney World is nearby if that’s what you came to see.

Because Star Island is designed with the thought that you won’t have to leave to go elsewhere, traveling between any of the other attractions of Orland and Kissimmee can be a headache. If you’re there to relax in the sun, the resort has kitchens and all the amenities you’d like if you were staying for a few days or a week. But make sure to plan ahead and be ready to deal with tolls and other travel expenses.

If you like golf, then you’ll find plenty to do. Star Island Resort has a driving range on site, and is not too far from a variety of golf courses. The courses are surprisingly well kept for public courses, and the driving range is a great place to warm up. Green fees aren’t too bad, but if you want to save some money, you can skip the golf and hang out around the pool and hot tubs.

Since resorts such as these cater to families a lot, they usually have good security. Some complaints about the Star Island Resort is the level of security for people arriving after being out at night. It was discouraging to have to go through such intensive security just to get back to the room after being out on the town late into the night, which may feel like they’re trying to dissuade you from going out, and using their bar instead.

If you’re staying in, the hotel bar is nice, and has different themed nights. The hotel is towards the middle of the price scale, and you get a bit more than you would pay for. If you’re expecting 5-star service, you will be a little out of luck. They do offer great service, but you might be asking for a bit much if you’re trying to get service worth hundred dollars for less than even a hundred.

Resort Details:

• 5000 Avenue of the Stars
• Kissimmee, Florida 34746
• Phone 407 997 8000
• Official Website

One of the biggest draws at the Orange Lake Resort & Country Club is the River Island. This is a 12 acre park located within the resort that features a 1200 lazy river pool that winds through River Island and its lush tropical landscaping. In addition to the Lazy River, there are two other wade-in pools and jacuzzis as well, of course. Besides River Island, there is also a lakefront beach with plenty of room for water sports, including Jet Skiing.

In addition to River Island, Orange Lake Resort also has four golf courses, including 2 18-hole courses, a 9-hole course, and a “Walking” course. There’s also a Pro Shop and a golf school on site. Also, as it is a full-scale resort, Orange Lake also has lots of weekly activities scheduled, including live music

Accommodation includes studios all the way to 3-bedroom villas. When you do check in though, prepared for an aggressive sales pitch to attend a timeshare presentation.

As for the other resorts that Orange Lake Resorts own, you’ll find them in some other popular resort towns, i.e. Panama City, FL; Myrtle Beach, SC; Gatlinburg, TN; Lake Geneva, WI; and Ascutney, VT.

If you are an Orange Lake Resorts weeks owner, you can pay for conversion to the points or club program — Holiday Inn Club Vacations (formerly known as Global Access). This membership program allows trade to the other resorts in this resort group and this also opens up access to various brands of hotels owned by the Intercontinental Group (which, incidentally, owns Holiday Inn). Access also includes RCI’s network (but if you are a weeks owner you should already have access to RCI for exchange purposes). This is an expensive upgrade however so you may want to seriously consider the pros and cons of converting your OLCC week.

If you are considering buying Orange Lake Resort & Country Club as a resale, keep in mind that even if the previous owner converted to the points program, you will still have to buy into the points program yourself as a new owner – which makes Orange Lake Resort much less of a bargain. If you really want to buy into a points program, you may want to consider a resort that is in RCI points instead as once those resorts are converted to points, they maintain that status for resales.