We stayed at Orange Lake Country Club from Saturday July 21 to Sunday July 29.
We enjoyed our stay very much, even though it rained for most of the time.
We have been time share owners at Orange Lake CC since 1994 and this was our 4th stay here. We have exchanged our unit the other years and have been to many other places. Such as Hawaii, California and Tennessee.
Check in was okay a little slow, but not bad. We stayed in building 5700 (West Village) in a 2bd/2bth unit that had a sleeping capacity for 8. No real
complaints about the building or other people staying at the same building. The buidling was right next to the West Village's main building and the lake was behind it.
We visited the Splash Lagoon pool complex and the River Island pool complex. We rented a Cabana for one of the days at River Island and it was really enjoyable.
They go for about $100 for the full day and you get a TV with cable channels and DVD connections, ceiling fan, small refrigerator stocked with soft drinks and bottled water, as well as a tray of cookies and soda crackers and fruits. The Cabana comes with a round table with four chairs, two lounge chairs, four large beach towels.
Plus, you get two floats for the Lazy River as well as two tickets for the Hippo giant slide, located behind River Island. It is great because it is your own private area.
As expected during the Summer months Orange Lake was very crowded. We were concerned with the large number of children, younger than teens, who were running around the arcades and pools without any adult supervision.
We had dinner one night at the River Island Grill. The food was very good, but a bit on the expensive side. Plan to spend $20 to $30 dollars for several of their main course dishes.
We had lunch a couple of times at the fast food place at River Island and the
chicken fingers meal was much better than their burgers. We did not try any other foods.
We skipped the annoying time share sales people, but their new gimmick is trying to convince fixed week owners to switch to their internal points system at a cost of over $2,000. Are you kidding me? Why would anyone want to do that?
We spent the rest of our time going to Sea World (second day was free) and
shopphing to the outlet malls. Great deals at the Lake buena Vista Outlets. We tried going to Blizzard beach but got there aroung 11:00 at the park was already full to capacity.
Check out was smooth, it only took a few minutes.
We plan to come back next year since our children (9 and 7 years old) really
enjoyed themselves. Hopefully we will make it to Blizzard Beach (as soon as
they open) and the new Seaworld waterpark (Aquatica) which will open Spring 2008.