A few Vistana Village questions?

[Davefrompgh]

Hi all

We are leaving in about 3 weeks. How far out do they assign rooms or is it like Disney, when you arrive, you are assigned? Do they accept requests? We have DS13 and DD 12 and would love to be closest to the main pool. What building/section should I request? We typically prefer 1st floor because of closeness after a long day at the parks. Is there pros or cons to being up higher? We have a 1 BR reserved but I am wondering when we get there if I should request if available a 2BR?? Thanks for any and all info. Does anyone have any pictures you could post or send me? Thanks again

 

[Loriannf]

If you're going the week of Aug 4 -11 I don't think they'll have any 2 bedrooms left. We're SVO Elite (not to be confused with Starwood Preferred Guest) and we had a heck of a time getting a 2 bedroom for that week. I tried for a long time and finally they overrode something because I was willing to give up my 3 bedroom Westin St John with its own private pool and they (Starwood) wanted that week. I was told they were sold out of the two bedroom lock outs. I think they might have had a two bedroom non lock out, but we are traveling with 8 people and the two bedroom non lock out only sleeps six.

I hope you like the resort. We're going for the first time this year, ourselves. There are quite a few photos on tripadvisor.com under Vistana Villages. Make sure you put in "villages" because the Vistana Resort is a different place.


Lori

 

[mcqueengroupie]

Hi Davefrompgh, I finally posted pics on the other forum, but I was looking at the resrot map we got, and it looks like buildings1, 2, and three are the closest to the main pool, and building 13, 14, 15, and 16 (which we were in) are closest to the Keys Pool. I usually like to be on the top floor so we don't hear the people above us, but this time we were on the second and I can't complain about any noise. The resort seemed quite full when we were there, but it is not loud at all. We had a two bedroom lockoff that was just huge. We actiuall had 2.5 bathrooms between the two rooms, they are decorated beautifully and more importantly they were clean. Any more q's just let me know.

 

[Davefrompgh]

Thanks Mcqueengroupie

I posted a thank you on the other forum as your pictures were great. Did you get that map when you checked in or did they send it to you? I would love to see a map of the lay out but have not been able to find one. The other poster suggested (I think trip advisor), I am going to look over there. Is the Keys pool the larger or smaller? Thanks again

 

[mcqueengroupie]

We got the map, a not so great photo copy when we checked in. I checked their website through Starwood and our Timeshare site and wasn't able to find one. As for their "sell" of Timeshares we didn't do one. We are owners with Starwood, we own at Harborside, so when they left a welcome message, we just didn't call back. They did call again, I told them we weren't coming to a welcome meeting or any other type of meeting and that was it. I don't know what kind of freebies they were offering because we just weren't going to listen to the deal. As for the Keys pool, it is smaller than the main pool, there are waterfalls either, just really a typical pool. The Rec Center is located next to this pool though. Outside it had a huge chess/checkers board, and inside lots of pool tables. I'll look and see if I have any other pool pics!

 

[mcqueengroupie]

Here are some pics from the Keys Pool:

And here are more pics from the main pool:

 

[madge]

I have a couple of questions

~ on the picture on the bottom - is that an fountain/water jet feature in the pool, for small children? There are no slides, right?

~ do you have a copy of the activities schedule? Does anyone know if that stays pretty much the same all year or will it be different in October than it is now?

~ grills on site - charcoal or gas?

thanks!

 

[luvdisney14]

We stayed at vistana last year. I cannot remember the number of the building but it was close to the main pool. It was one of the newer buildings built in that area. It was next to the basketbasket courts and gym. You would walk past them, go by the outside bar area and there was the pool. The building was right next to the main parking lot. The rooms were new and the walk to the main pool was short.

 

[mcqueengroupie]

Yes the bottom two pictures of the main pool are of a kiddie section. There is a rope dividing that area and it is very shallow. My boys had a blast playing in the water feature. But there is no slide in either pool.
I do have a copy of the weeks activities, but I have no idea what changes there are week to week. When we were there they had things like Scuba lessons, painting ping pong, and we listened to a guy sing. He was pretty good, he sang a lot of Buffet tunes. And yes there are grills on site, I think they were charcoal.

 

[Davefrompgh]

OMG...Buffet tunes.....I "love" Jimmy Buffet. Do you remember what his name was? Where did he play and do you know the times? I would LOVE to see him. I am hoping it is near the pool bar.

OK...sorry..so the best building choice (to be close by the main pool) would be 1, 2 or 3. Is one better than the other? Sorry about this.....our kids are DS13 and DD12 and would love to be near the pool, but the rec center sounds great too near the Keys pool. Would you make a recommendation?

 

[mcqueengroupie]

Davefrompgh,
Wow, I getting so excited for you!! I hope you have an awesome trip. Here's the info I've dug up.....The Buffet singer was at the main pool on Thursday. I don't remember his name, but on the Activity Sheet it says 1-4pm Beach Bash. So he started at 1pm. Yes there is a pool bar, more like stand where you can go get a "frozen concaction" sp? Or there is poolside service, waiters walking around the pool taking food and drink orders 11am-6pm.
As for the buildings, like I said we were in the Keys 16, and when we were told I was devestated. It seemed so far from the main pool, but like I said, when I saw how beautiful the villa was, I wasn't sad anymore. But, if you love being by the pool, then building #1 is the one for you. Those villas have there balcony's overlooking the main pool. I really think it is only one that does. If you want, you could pm and I will xerox the resort map and activity sheet and mail it to you. I'm not a crazy person, just a Disney nut!!!

 

[madge]

I thought of one more question (for now )

What is the quickest/most direct route to the MK from Vistana Villages? I'm pretty familiar with that stretch of I-drive in as much as we got to the outlets and Publix at least once every trip, and we've stayed up the road a little farther at the HGVC at Sea World.

 

[mcqueengroupie]

Madge,
We found the quickest way to MK was to make a left out of the lot onto I-Drive, and con't straight until you bare right onto World Drive. Stay on World Dr. pass over I-4 and con't to the Happiest Place on Earth. When we would go to DTD, we would make the left onto I-Drive, then make a right onto what I think was called Apopka-Vineland RD. This is the road the other Vistana (Resort) is on. We would stay on this road, go under I-4, and then make the left onto Hotel Plaza Blvd. and go to DTD. We were there in June so there was alot of traffic, but when we were there at less conjested times we would cut through Vineland Ave. (the road that Dixie Stampede and the outlets are on.) That leads you to the Publix (which I always shop at no matter where we stay, I love it) which is a stone's throw from the Villages!!! Hope this helps.

 

[madge]

Madge,
We found the quickest way to MK was to make a left out of the lot onto I-Drive, and con't straight until you bare right onto World Drive. Stay on World Dr. pass over I-4 and con't to the Happiest Place on Earth. When we would go to DTD, we would make the left onto I-Drive, then make a right onto what I think was called Apopka-Vineland RD. This is the road the other Vistana (Resort) is on. We would stay on this road, go under I-4, and then make the left onto Hotel Plaza Blvd. and go to DTD. We were there in June so there was alot of traffic, but when we were there at less conjested times we would cut through Vineland Ave. (the road that Dixie Stampede and the outlets are on.) That leads you to the Publix (which I always shop at no matter where we stay, I love it) which is a stone's throw from the Villages!!! Hope this helps.

it will help - as soon as I have a map in front of me, LOL! Thanks We usually stay at the Dolphin, so getting from there to Publix/Outlet Mall is very familiar to us.

I didn't know if it was quicker (or possible) to pick up I-4 and go to the MK that way.

 

[mcqueengroupie]

No matter which of the three ways you go, none of them require you to get onto I-4 at all, which is great due to the high traffic on I-4 in that area!

 

[madge]

I just keep thinking of things.... LOL

Who delivers pizza to Vistana Villages? Giodarno's? Flipper's? Both?

thanks!

 

[mcqueengroupie]

This one, I'm afraid I can't help you with!!! We love going to the Boardwalk (hopefully one day we will stay there!!) and getting pizza at the Spoodles Pizza Take out window. The pizza is surprisingly good and the atmosphere is awesome, and the sangria isn't half bad either!!HAHAHA! I did see pizza being delivered but I don't know where it was coming from.

 

[madge]

This one, I'm afraid I can't help you with!!! We love going to the Boardwalk (hopefully one day we will stay there!!) and getting pizza at the Spoodles Pizza Take out window. The pizza is surprisingly good and the atmosphere is awesome, and the sangria isn't half bad either!!HAHAHA! I did see pizza being delivered but I don't know where it was coming from.

we love the Boardwalk, too We stay at least one night at the Dolphin, mainly to enjoy the atmosphere of the Boardwalk. The food, the entertainment, all of it... we love it!

I'll ask at check-in about the pizza. I always like to get the advice of locals on that one, that's how we found out about Flipper's when we stayed at the HGVC Sea World, the lobby staff RAVED about it!


Thanks again for all your answers - I really appreciate it!

 

[madge]

I swear, just when I think I've gotten the answers I need... I think of one more.

Has anyone picked up a package at Vistana Villages? I haven't check the website or anything, to know if it's something they charge for or anything like that. I just thought I'd check here first.

 

[mcqueengroupie]

Sorry, can't help ya on this one!!!