Thanks for the reply. The last time we stayed at SVR was 2008. I believe we stayed in the Lakes. Any options would be greatly appreciated. Why did RCI take away the Gold Crown status?
It is hard to say for certain why the grade dropped. The move happened just before the Marriott purchase when Vistana was (even more) heavily aligned with (i.e. owned by) the same group that owns II. It could be simply corporate positioning. Asking RCI to say a Sheraton is top status is like asking Apple to say that Dell makes great laptops. I would note that SVR maintains its Premier Resort status in II. That's theory number one.
RCI maintains that the ratings are based on resort feedback received after guest exchanges and on site inspections. Considering that SVR was Gold status before the refurbishment makes it hard to believe it has fallen so far since the refurbishment. It is not because of a lack of amenities, as no amenities have closed, and indeed some new features have been added (more dining, escape room, weekly shows). I can't see how any resort inspections have failed to meet standard, and i have not seen a general decrease in quality of TripAdvisor reviews (RCI no longer maintains subscriber reviews). So theory 2 about reduced quality, I just don't see it.
Personally, we try to always exchange into Gold Crown properties with RCI, and I will say that most (all?) of those we have stayed at have still failed to hold a candle to SVR. Our other ownership in Orlando (Silver Lake) has recently regained RCI Gold Crown status, but it is no SVR. Our fall stay at Silver Crown rated Lake Placid Club Lodges was fun, but it is a tired old resort and is in no way a peer to SVR that shares this level.
It could also be because service is (IMO) suffering a bit since the Marriott takeover and that is being reflected in comment cards. Just check out TUG to see how upset owners are about Marriott's response to COVID-19 compared to Sheraton's response to prior disasters requiring resort closures. I do think that perhaps Marriott is trying to put the Sheraton line down a notch to elevate the Marriott branded properties. This is (again IMO) a mistake as they could just accentuate the different cultures. Back when I traveled for business, I chose Sheraton over Marriott because I didn't like the stiff shirt collar, raised tea pinkie mentality of Marriott; Sheraton was a much homier atmosphere. Theory 3 is reduced service, and yes, I can see that with Marriott.
So at the end of the day, I guess I would say that I really have no idea why, but I am highly suspicious of the move.
If you stayed in Lakes, then you were in one of the two newer sections of the resort (the other being Cascades). The pluses of these larger buildings are that they have elevators to the rooms, and they offer 1BR units (only these 2 sections have the 1BR). The negative is that the density of guests is much higher, and parking is in a larger surface lot. You may have a bit of a walk to your villa, especially if returning late from the parks. That does seem to be what most people like however as these seem to be the busier sections (or maybe they seem to be busier because of the people density?)
Contrast that to our villa in Courts. We park at the door. It is one flight up to our unit (we are an upper) where we have what is essentially a 2 story, 2BR townhome with an additional sleeping loft. I know
@Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina loves her upper units in Fountains with the great skylights into the living area, and doesn't mind climbing the 2 flights up to her unit to get that. It all really comes down to what you want, and what you feel says "luxury villa" to you. If you, like so many of us now, have some time on your hands, I would go back to the beginning and, skipping over the daily back and forth, look for some of the longer posts with reviews and discussions about the styles of the various sections. See what rings true to you.
One last thought. One of our favorite trips with the kids when they were of the age of yours we stayed in Spas section, and were only a couple of buildings away from the Super Pool. I think that was one of their favorite trips as they were allowed to come and go as they pleased, and it was a quick walk to the pool to hang out. I even let them have signing privilege to the room so they cold get pops and snacks if they wanted. I think they really liked the freedom that gave them on our resort days. I think that was also the last time that both kids were able to join us for a vacation, so perhaps I am looking at it more fondly than they do?