Plantation Island

We loved it here. The area felt safe and was quiet, with lots of shops and stores only a short walk away. There were three hot tubs, a huge heated pool, another huge pool, and a small pool, though the water was too deep for toddlers and babies. Our room also had a huge whirlpool, and the water got extremely hot. We stayed with the family, and the maintenance guy spent a whole day fixing our AC.

The view was great, but a bunch of little things needed attention. The beach towels were paper thin, and only one socket worked in some of the plugs. The coffee pot made coffee that was barely warm, there was a musty smell that meant I had to ask for the air filter to be changed, and we had to plunge the bathroom sink drain ourselves.

We traded through RCI to stay here, and we plan to return. It’s an older property, but very well maintained. We’d heard the furnishings might need updating, but our unit was nice, if small. The activities director also served simple one-item breakfasts and lunches at reasonable prices. She organized something different every day, from Bingo to painting. The front desk and maintenance staff were very accommodating. There are two nice pools, ocean frontage, and a wide beach like Daytona. A couple of farmers markets ran during the week, and all the stores we needed were a couple of miles away on the island. We even saw a space shuttle launch from a distance on the beach.

The family connection is what makes this decline hurt so much. I bought my grandparents’ timeshare when they became ill, and the resort is one of my last meaningful ties to them. My family has been coming to Plantation Island for generations. My grandparents fell in love with the area and its family-friendly atmosphere, then my parents bought a timeshare. We spent every Easter week here as kids, made lasting friendships and traditions, and a large group of us still returns around Easter to reconnect. I truly hope things turn around, but I’m very disappointed and many loyal families like mine are reconsidering coming back. Over the past few years, the resort has clearly gone downhill. The units are extremely outdated, and the furniture looks like it hasn’t been replaced in 10-15 years. This year our room was dirty, with dead bugs on the windowsill. My 17-month-old grabbed the plunger, and when I went to put it back, I found someone else’s fecal matter still in the bucket. That was disgusting and completely unacceptable. The sofa bed is worn out and uncomfortable, and needs replacing. A broken hairdryer was another small maintenance issue, but the overall lack of upkeep is the biggest problem. The atmosphere has changed for the worse. I understand employees live on the property, but there’s been a noticeable shift in how rules are enforced. Staff often seem abrupt and unprofessional, stating rules without explanation or customer service. Long-standing traditions and behaviors that used to be part of the experience are now treated as problems, which frustrates long-time guests. A maintenance worker, Steve, has repeatedly enforced rules and confronted returning guests, causing tension and raising questions about management oversight. Activities have dropped off significantly. When I was younger, organized events ran every couple of hours and kept the kids engaged. Now there are only a few activities each day. The parking rules also don’t make sense: guests in two-bedroom units get one vehicle in the main lot, and must park a second across the street, while employees seem to be allowed onsite. If parking is limited, that policy should be reconsidered. Maintenance fees go up every year, which I understand, but I haven’t seen reinvestment in the property or guest experience. If prices rise, the quality and upkeep should reflect that. Management doesn’t seem to take long-time guests’ concerns seriously, and that’s going to cost them.