First off: For the ones that complain about the timeshare meeting-I got in/out within 35 minutes, still got my $75 Disney money award(used later that day at Epcot, received change back for the difference). I've learned that if you know you aren't interested, or can't afford to purchase what they want to sell you(timeshare, upgrade, etc)-let them know this up front that you probably aren't going to spend any $$ but, let them think there's a 1% possibility they can sell you something. That way, they know you are probably coming for the prize and they will move things along. If you aren't good at saying know, or you are a show-off that can't admit you can't afford something-don't go to the meeting(it's not required usually that you attend).
On the hotel/resort-we loved it. We were there 7/14-7/21. We planned to spend 5 days at the Disney Parks but, ended up spending 3 1/2 because the kids enjoyed the hotel stuff so much. My kids(10 and 11 year olds) and I did the salsa lessons there(free of course). That was a lot of fun. My daughter got to do scuba diving lessons in the pool(Scuba Steve) for $25. The instructor was attentive and helpful and very polite. Ping pong was 25cents a ball, if you didn't lose or crush it-you could play all week on that 1 ball. Pool table,internet, and mini golf(18 holes) were free. Only problem with the internet is teens that stay on all day/night...they will let you use it if you see they've been on a long time...none of them were rude about that at all. Or, bring your laptop and hookup to your Voice over IP phone jack located in the kitchen. The swimming pools, slide and lazy river were a blast. My kids asked to just stay at the hotel a few days and go no where. You might want to do every other day at Disney Parks/Universal and the in between at the resort..so you don't overexhaust yourselves.
One complaint was the Pizza/Bar at the pool with the slide wasn't always open. The Friday before we left, it was shut completely down. We ate over by the main checkin, at the little snack shop. They are nice and food is good there but, construction and painting by the tables wasn't too good.
If you decide to not rent a car(as we choose on most vacations)-there are shuttles that take you to the Disney Parks and back almost all day. If you miss a shuttle back to the hotel and have time to get to Magic Kingdom before the last shuttle, just ride Disney Transportation to Magic Kingdom and come back from there. We did that at MGM so we could watch the AMAZING FANTASMIC.
The rooms were excellent, clean, smoke free, everything we needed. If you get a room in the last tower(Torre Del Mar or something like that-we were in the one before it)facing the pool with the slide, you can see fireworks at night. Remember if your room faces the pool, people swim all night and ignorant ones have their noisy kids out at all hours as well. I never called the front on it but, if you are a light sleeper-keep that in mind.
On groceries(since you have a full kitchen in the room), Wal-mart was $15 each way cab. Or, go to the websites for gardengrocer or goodings and they deliver for only $10 on orders of $50 or more. Wal-mart has a lot of Disney souveniers but, I noticed some aren't much cheaper than Disney itself but, others are(esp. High School Musical ones).
Oh, and I've included a photo of the grill(in case you like to grill.I think it's free and looks really nice). It's right by the pool with the slide. And you can charge drinks/food at the bar by that pool to your room as well.
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.