Does anyone know if there is a difference besides price in an owner rental and going though Sheraton direct?
For our Christmas 2008 owner rental (at that time just a few sections were remodeled and we wanted to get a remodeled section), I rented from an owner who owed a unit in the Fountains Phase I (a section where remodeling was completely finished). He gave me the section and the unit number right away. I knew way in advance exactly where I was staying and had a guaranteed unit in the section where he owned. If the section you would like to stay in is important to you, you may want to ask the owner where they own and what section they can get before finalizing the transaction. With the retail rental, you can request where you want to stay, but it is not guaranteed or determined till the week before you arrive or they day you arrive. One time when I was doing a retail rental and had family staying in a particular section that I wanted, I called a few days in advance, and bless their heart, they made an advance assignment for me in the section where my exteneded family was staying. I didn't know if I'd get this, though, till a couple of days before. Usually they just assign a unit the day you will arrive. Most people will ask for the renovated units, but there are many that aren't renovated, so they can't accomodate everyone's request. As, the renovations continue to come along and more and more units are renovated, this will be less of a factor.
Do note that this is a beautiful resort with great landscaping and ammenties, that everyone gets, and all units are large and fine, have great pond views, etc. Most people are OK with non renovated units (they are perfectly fine, but don't compete as well with other units at newer timeshare resorts). The renovated units on the other hand are stunning and compete well with the best condo resorts in the Disney/Orlando area.
20 Trips with # 21 coming up // The boards, though, say Im just earning my ears.
March 1971 KOA closest to Disney (camping)
March 1972 Jellystone Park (camping)
March 1974 Outdoor Resorts of America (camping)
Dec. 1974 Outdoor Resorts of American (camping)
March 1975 Outdoor Resorts of America (camping)
Dec. 1975 Fort Wilderness (camping)
Dec. 1976 Fort Wilderness (camping)
Dec. 1977 -- Outdoor Resorts of America (camping)
Dec. 1986 Marriott Royal Palms (condo by Marriott World Center)
May 1993 Disney Contemporary (Garden Wing) (hotel)
Dec. 1994 Polynesian Isles (condo)
May 1999 Disney Contemporary (Main Building with high floor and Magic Kingdom view) (hotel)
Dec. 2001 Cypress Pointe (condo)
March 2003 Sheraton Vistana Cascades section (condo)
March 2004 Sheraton Vistana Cascades section (condo)
Dec. 2004 -- Cypress Pointe (condo)
June 2006 Actually at my cousins condo (permanent residence) in Tampa (do day trips count?? This was a chance to really explore Busch Gardens too.)
June 2007 Cypress Point Grandvillas (condo), Disney -- Port Orleans Riverside (hotel), and Sheraton Vistana Fountains section (condo) stayed three different places on this trip.
Dec. 2008 Sheraton Vistana Resort (remodeled Fountains section) (condo)
Oct. 2009 Hilton Garden Inn Seaworld (hotel)
(Will be going again March 2010 staying at the Hilton Garden Inn Seaworld again)
Yesterday they were $332 for the week!!! Interval has had all of their two bedrooms on special for the month of May - even going up $20 today to $352 for the week, it's still a bargain for 7 nights.
