[floydpink]

That's the tradeoff with Disney properties. You get prime location with very little need to worry about driving and getting lost and dodging bad drivers.

You can watch fireworks from the pool and enjoy legendary Disney hospitality.

With small children, it really takes the guesswork out of a memorable vacation.

On the other end of the spectrum is places like Westgate, who will hound you nonstop to take a high pressure timeshare tour and keep you hostage until they get your credit card. The villas are large but not well maintained in many cases.

For locals and people in the hospitality industry, Westgate is the bottom of the barrel and cause for a lot of ruined vacations, which we all hate to hear about in a fragile economy with no shortage of rooms.

Marriott is also known for world class service and the properties are known to cater to families.

There is 3 in the Seaworld area ranging from Harbor Lakes with a Pirate ship water park, to Grande Vista, which is the largest piece of property in International Drive with world class golf and close proximity to great dining.

Then, there is the not yet well known and newest Lakeshore Reserve, which shares the property with the JW Marriott and Ritz Carlton, with a water park and accomondations include 2 story townhouses that sleep 12 comfortably.

I guess it comes down to what you plan on doing with the majority of your time.

If it's Disney, stay on Disney property.

If it's the other attractions or golf, I would stay off Disney property and the challenges sometimes faced as far as getting a dining reservation and fighting crowds.

PS. I love Disney and realize that without them, Orlando would still be orange groves.