Kingston Plantation Splash Waterpark - Recent Visitors

I%26#39;m hoping that someone can share their recent experience with admission to the Splash Waterpark at Kingston Plantation. If you booked thru an individual owner (VRBO) or rental company, were you able to gain admission to the waterpark? Did you have to pay an admission fee and if so, what fee?

We have booked a 3 bedroom Margate condo in KP thru VRBO the past 2 years. We%26#39;ve loved the building and the plantation property. Our kids have been able to use the Splash park as part of our rental fees. Unfortunately, I%26#39;ve been told by a VRBO Margate owner and Kingston Plantation leasing reps that guests renting from individual owners or rental companies will NOT be able to use the waterpark this year. I%26#39;ve been told we cannot even pay an additional fee to use the park as only guests booking thru Kingston Plantation are admitted. I%26#39;ve heard various reasons for the policy change from ';overcrowding'; to liability insurance issues for property owners.

I saw some discussion on this topic in MB forums from earlier this spring, but was hoping for any updated information / experiences. Thank you.

Kingston Plantation Splash Waterpark - Recent Visitors

In 2003, we rented a 4 br townhome from a VBRO. We were required to pay a fee to use the Splash Pool. I don%26#39;t remember the cost, but it was always crowded (week of July 4th). What bothered me the most was our family was treated like 2nd class citizens because we didn%26#39;t rent direct.

I am planning our 2009 family vacation and have already found two nice 4 br townhomes for approx $2600/week plus tax. I call Kingston Plantation direct and requested a rate and was quoted $3600/week plus tax. I asked what that included and was told use of all the facilities including restaurants, pools, water park and spalsh pool, plus daily maid service. However, no guarantee could be made as to a specific townhouse.

While we enjoy Kingston Plantation, I am thinking very seriously about a 4 br unit at Dunes Village or Island Vista.

Comments. John

Kingston Plantation Splash Waterpark - Recent Visitors

Let%26#39;s say you have 4 kids and the waterpark extra fee for not renting direct through Kingston is $20 (which it is) and you use the park for 7 days (which you probably wouldn%26#39;t but just for the sake of argument) that would be $560. Renting direct will still save you considerably and you%26#39;ll be able to see the unit. When you say use of all the restaurants anyone can eat at the onsite restaurants. And if you are staying in a townhouse or condo you don%26#39;t get the free breakfast or the evening appetizers, only guests staying in Embassy Suites get that. You don%26#39;t get daily maid service generally but you will usually get a much nicer unit and much cleaner unit.

Our guests have not had to pay extra for the waterpark. They have to pay for the Health Club because it is computerized and they know exactly who is renting each day. No one has questioned where they are staying and they have not been told they cannot use the water park.

As for their excuses it%26#39;s only because Kingston has lost considerable units to owners who now choose to rent direct.

Owners were finally fed up with the fees they were charged as well as the poor housekeeping services. All property owners are required to carry adequate insurance and it has nothing to do with insurance excuses.

In the end it%26#39;s a decision on not only the fees but which resort you%26#39;d rather be at. I prefer to know exactly what I%26#39;m renting and that may also be possible at the other resort mentioned.

I share your comments. We are spending the Labor Day weekend at Kingston Plantation. We have rented a 2br condo at Brighton from VRBO. As u stated, we know what we are renting.

I have family that just returned from Island Vista so I can get good info from them. We will visit both Dunes Village and Island Vista during our upcoming stay. Will pass along info as I it becomes available. John

Does anyone know if the $20 fee is regardless of what time you go?

We have 4 small children and generally do not make it over there until 2:00 in the afternoon and stay only a couple of hours.

Spending $80 for 2 hours of play time probably won%26#39;t be happening for us.

A few years ago, they gave u a braclet which was good for the entire day. Don%26#39;t know if this has changed.

Well....the bad news is that those renting from an owner cannot use the Splash waterpark PERIOD. They just recently implemented this about the 2nd week in June. They now have a desk that you go to and tell them your room # etc. If you aren%26#39;t on the list....you don%26#39;t get in. They won%26#39;t even allow payment to the park. To me and everyone else it absolutely CRAZY!!! They are missing out on a lot of revenue!

Kingston Plantation is SUPER MAD because they had a lot of owners drop from their rental program and guess what, they are penalizing us owners. Who wants to put up with their housekeeping issues and taking more than 50% of the rental rate from us???

lillious....we need to talk. I thought I sent you an email but I put it in my drafts.

Try re-sending it!

Thanks for responding everyone!

m2mboys - thanks for confirming what I had been hearing. Very frustrating situation as I would gladly pay an extra fee (even $20 per day) so that my kids could use the Splash park. It will be difficult to explain to my 6 year old daughter why she can%26#39;t go to the waterpark that she%26#39;s enjoyed the past couple years.

I%26#39;m trying to decide whether or not to just ';bite the bullet'; and rent thru Kingston Plantation. We%26#39;ve enjoyed our vacations the past couple years where we%26#39;ve rented directly thru an owner. We like knowing what floor, what type beds, furnishings, etc. in addition to the savings.

What an awful situation it must be for the folks who rented from an individual owner or rental company and are showing up this week to this CRAZY new policy!

Do you think there will be any compromise or change in policy by mid August?

Thanks.

My family is affected as we rented from owner through VRBO. Within the last week or so we received a letter from our owner stating that Kingston had changed their policy with regards to the splash park. Our owner was very sincere in their disappointment in Kingston and offered to allow us to cancel or to take an offered discount on the rental rate. I thought this was very nice. We didn%26#39;t cancel as we%26#39;ll just utilize the pool and ocean. Of course, if I had little children (we have teenager) I might think differently. If I were an owner, I%26#39;d be pretty mad at Kingston.

Seems like alot of people here have been to the splash park, so I%26#39;ll ask my quesiton here:) We going next week and staying at the Hilton, so I guess we get access to the Splash park -- Wondering this -- We%26#39;re bringing our 13m old -- Do you think the waterpark would interest her, or is it all geared towards older kids?