Vacation Village at Parkway

[ktate82]

We are staying in a two bedroom at Vacation Village at Parkway in three weeks through an RCI trade. We have stayed at Silver Lake several times, but this is our first time here. It will be DH, DD14, DD13, and myself. DH will be working from the condo and was wondering how the internet service through the resort is? Any good room requests? Has the resort been upgraded or is that something to request? I would like a fireworks view, but how probable is that? Any other advice? Thanks!

 

[badinnplaid]

I'm a big fan of Vacation Village at Parkway! I've stayed there twice, once in 2004 and once last year. It has definitely gotten HUGE compared to 2004, but I had an awesome experience staying there last year. Regarding internet, I was also doing some work over the week and the internet worked great. For room requests, I'd say the biggest thing is to request a newer building. They take requests two weeks out, so I called and asked to be in either building 20 or 21. I got a room in building 20 (which is the same building I checked in) on one of the higher floors (11, I think?) facing the pool, which also happens to be facing Disney. From my balcony, I could see Disney Springs, Spaceship Earth, Swan & Dolphin, Tower of Terror...all the tall things! The room was awesome, the building is at the front of the property so I'd be on 192 on my way to the parks in 20 seconds. I was never there at night to see if I could see fireworks, but I'm assuming I could based on my view. Hope this helps!

 

[StarShine3]

We stayed here last 4th of July. I wrote a review of it here: Vacation Villages at Parkway. We found the WiFi was fine and got a great room with a view when we requested it at check-in.

 

[Mrs. Ciz]

Vacation Village at Parkway is also our go to resort. We’ve stayed there twice and would not hesitate to stay there again! Here is my review of our last trip there in April 2017.

https://www.disboards.com/threads/vacation-village-at-the-parkway-info-please.3602347/

We did request a fireworks view 2 weeks before check in. They put us in the appropriate building (#18) on the Disney facing side, but they gave us a room on a floor too low to see over the landscaping! Fireworks fail!

 

[Minnie0424]

We are staying in a two bedroom at Vacation Village at Parkway in three weeks through an RCI trade. We have stayed at Silver Lake several times, but this is our first time here. It will be DH, DD14, DD13, and myself. DH will be working from the condo and was wondering how the internet service through the resort is? Any good room requests? Has the resort been upgraded or is that something to request? I would like a fireworks view, but how probable is that? Any other advice? Thanks!

We stayed at Vacation Village at Parkway two years ago and loved it.
You mentioned you have stayed at Silver Lake several times, we are staying there this year. Is there a building you would recommend? Any idea if they’ve done any recent renovations. Thank you!!

 

[ktate82]

We stayed at Vacation Village at Parkway two years ago and loved it.
You mentioned you have stayed at Silver Lake several times, we are staying there this year. Is there a building you would recommend? Any idea if they’ve done any recent renovations. Thank you!!

We love Silver Lake enough that we actually bought a week to use in July every year. That is the biggest complaint I am hearing from the kids this year is that we aren't going to Silver Lake! They have redone the whole resort, so they are all nice. What kind of unit do you have? They have 2 bedrooms that sleep 6 or 8 and one bedrooms that sleep 4 or 6, and those are located in different buildings. The buildings 900, 1000, 1700, 1800, and 1900 are the newer buildings and have elevators (100-900 do not). However, the rooms in 100-900 are much larger than the newer buildings.

 

[Minnie0424]

We love Silver Lake enough that we actually bought a week to use in July every year. That is the biggest complaint I am hearing from the kids this year is that we aren't going to Silver Lake! They have redone the whole resort, so they are all nice. What kind of unit do you have? They have 2 bedrooms that sleep 6 or 8 and one bedrooms that sleep 4 or 6, and those are located in different buildings. The buildings 900, 1000, 1700, 1800, and 1900 are the newer buildings and have elevators (100-900 do not). However, the rooms in 100-900 are much larger than the newer buildings.

Hi! Thanks for your reply, I’m glad to hear from someone who loves the resort. We are booked in a 2 bedroom. I’m very excited about how close Silver Lake appears to be to the parks

 

[ktate82]

Hi! Thanks for your reply, I’m glad to hear from someone who loves the resort. We are booked in a 2 bedroom. I’m very excited about how close Silver Lake appears to be to the parks

That back gate is just around a corner from being on property and is the gate we use almost all the time. We also stay at Animal Kingdom Lodge Kidani, and find Silver Lake is closer than that. The newer buildings have the two bedrooms that sleep 6 and the older ones sleep 8, so depending on which set up you have, we request 1700 or 1800 for one sleeping 6 to be closer to the main pool (although we had a unit at 900 that was also very nice) and 100 or 700 if you are in the set up that sleeps 8.

 

[Minnie0424]

That back gate is just around a corner from being on property and is the gate we use almost all the time. We also stay at Animal Kingdom Lodge Kidani, and find Silver Lake is closer than that. The newer buildings have the two bedrooms that sleep 6 and the older ones sleep 8, so depending on which set up you have, we request 1700 or 1800 for one sleeping 6 to be closer to the main pool (although we had a unit at 900 that was also very nice) and 100 or 700 if you are in the set up that sleeps 8.

Hi, thanks for all the information. We are currently assigned building 600 but can request a different building. I was told that 600 doesn’t have balconies which is not a big deal, do you know anything about that building? Did it get renovated with the rest of the resort? There seem to be a few less than stellar reviews and I wonder if it’s due to staying in different buildings. Thank you! You’ve been very kind to offer your insight!!

 

[ktate82]

Hi, thanks for all the information. We are currently assigned building 600 but can request a different building. I was told that 600 doesn’t have balconies which is not a big deal, do you know anything about that building? Did it get renovated with the rest of the resort? There seem to be a few less than stellar reviews and I wonder if it’s due to staying in different buildings. Thank you! You’ve been very kind to offer your insight!!

We have never stayed in 600, but we have stayed in 100 and 400 (our unit is actually in 100 and we love it). The 600 building has a play area in front of it across the parking area and across that would be the main pool. The second pool is right there too, so I would stay in that building. It doesn't have an elevator so if you need that, you may want to call to see if you can be moved to a ground unit or to a building with an elevator. I have read a lot of negative reviews of the place, but I don't understand them. The staff is always super helpful, pool is basic, but big with lots of seating, and the rooms are all nice. We usually request extra blankets as the kids think anything under 85 degrees is sub zero, and they have always been prompt. When you check in, they will have you get your "parking pass" where they will also talk to you about signing up for a "free breakfast". It's a timeshare promotion, and we have never went (we bought resale). They have never been pushy with us and taken a no without any problem.

I think what made this resort one of our favorites was during Hurricane Matthew. We had stayed there several times before but that year, we didn't. We had a week at Bonnett Creek before going on a Disney Cruise. The Thursday before Matthew, Bonnett Creek slipped notes under all the doors saying we had to find other accommodations as they wanted to empty their resort before the hurricane. We were due to check out on Friday, and I asked if we could stay. They told me that while they couldn't "force" us to leave Thursday, they wanted everyone to leave, and if we didn't, we had to leave by 10:00 the next morning (when Matthew was due in Orlando). We called everywhere looking for a place and I called Silver Lake as a last resort (everywhere was full). Told them what happened and Bonnett Creek wanted us to leave, and they were so kind. She told me they were booking fast, but we could come there and they would find us something. I told her I didn't care to camp in the lobby as long as we weren't out in the hurricane. They put us in a one bedroom, checked on us often, and went room to room making sure everyone filled their tubs for water, had bottled water, and such. They were so kind and awesome!

 

[TamaraQT]

I am reviving this thread. I just booked a week at Vacation Village at Parkway. We will be there from 4/24 - 5/1. For those that have stayed there, please help with some advice and suggestions. I do want a good poolview from my balcony. I want to be on a higher floor. I stayed here 14 years ago but can't remember which building. It was a newer section at that time overlooking the pool. I want to stay in one of the newer ones again with a good pool view. I am thinking I should request building 20/21 and request to be at 8th floor or above. I don't want any tree tops blocking my view. Any advice or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. TIA!!!!

 

[ktate82]

I am reviving this thread. I just booked a week at Vacation Village at Parkway. We will be there from 4/24 - 5/1. For those that have stayed there, please help with some advice and suggestions. I do want a good poolview from my balcony. I want to be on a higher floor. I stayed here 14 years ago but can't remember which building. It was a newer section at that time overlooking the pool. I want to stay in one of the newer ones again with a good pool view. I am thinking I should request building 20/21 and request to be at 8th floor or above. I don't want any tree tops blocking my view. Any advice or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. TIA!!!!

We have stayed in 20 and 21. Building 21 had the better poolside view as it was closer to the pool. Those are the newest buildings and are very nice. I would just call and put your requests in to the resort and ask again at check in. We stayed again last June and had no problems getting our requests (building 20 or 21 and closer to the elevator).

 

[TamaraQT]

We have stayed in 20 and 21. Building 21 had the better poolside view as it was closer to the pool. Those are the newest buildings and are very nice. I would just call and put your requests in to the resort and ask again at check in. We stayed again last June and had no problems getting our requests (building 20 or 21 and closer to the elevator).

Thanks so much for the quick response. I will definitely request building 21, full pool view and close to elevator as possible. I am an owner at another Vacation Village Resort. Therefore I will anticipate a bit more effort in honoring my requests. My DD14 is so excited that she will have her own mini 1bedroom unit. She has already started her grocery list of things to have in "her own fridge". She is still remote learning and can't wait to "show off her balcony view" during online class.

 

[ktate82]

Thanks so much for the quick response. I will definitely request building 21, full pool view and close to elevator as possible. I am an owner at another Vacation Village Resort. Therefore I will anticipate a bit more effort in honoring my requests. My DD14 is so excited that she will have her own mini 1bedroom unit. She has already started her grocery list of things to have in "her own fridge". She is still remote learning and can't wait to "show off her balcony view" during online class.

We enjoyed having the extra 1 bedroom as DH was working when we were there. He could shut himself off to work, and we could still watch TV and such in the other unit.