Can you convince my wife that Vistana Villages is better than HIFS?

[jasper577]

Happy New Year! Sandy, actually Building #3 makes a lot more sense looking at the photo, and thanks for the clarification. I'll just be happy being there but I think it might be nice to be just across the bridge from the pool area. The bridges look nice in the few photographs I have seen.

I was told they are busy building mini-golf and other amenities there, but the VV person I spoke with said they have not been told when any of the new "stuff" will be open.

Now that the VV thing is settled with my wife, I feel the need to start another fun thread. Hmmmmmmmmmm . . . . . .what should it be?

 

[Lucky'sMom]

Just thought I'd let you all know what an amazing deal I've gotten at VV. Our travel dates are Jan. 22-31, and I booked in early Nov. when the rate for the 2 bedrm villa was only $79.90./night. After reading your posts about the 7th night free deal, I decided to call Hotel Kingdom and ask about it (not really thinking I'd be able to get it, since the rate has gone up to $104 since I booked). Well...they gave it to me! Can you believe I am paying only $79.90 for 6 nights, getting the 7th night FREE, then paying $79.90 again for the 8th and 9th night? Wow, we are so excited as we have 3 children ages 5, 3 and 1 and just can't imagine being in one hotel room with our crew. By the way, on our last trip in Feb, 2000, we stayed at HIFS (with 2 kids) and liked it very much. But, I think comparing HIFS to VV is comparing apples and oranges. HIFS is a nice hotel, but I think VV will be luxurious! I'll be sure and post a review when we return. Thanks to all of you have provided so much MONEY SAVING advice to all of us board "lurkers"! I hope to return the favor upon my return from VV and WDW.

 

[Lorix2]

Sorry for joining in so late, but I just came across this thread the other day....

I want to thank Jasper577 for starting this terrific thread and everyone who replied making it a very easy decision to switch our location from HIFS to the Vistana Villages for our first trip ever to Disney with our kids DD9 and DS4 - this place is ideal. I got the $129.90 p/night w/the 7th night free as well thru hotelkingdom.com. We will be there April 19-28 and we too Jasper577 will be driving down (from NH). Have a wonderful vacation and safe journey, glad you were able to convince DW to go for it!

Lori

 

[jasper577]

Thanks Lorix. Not only was the thread very helpful for me too, but it was so much fun I didn't want it to end, so thanks for reviving it for a day. Maybe we'll see ya' there the night of the 27th when we will both be there. I have a DD10 and a DD5. Can't wait. By the way, I've been researching the area and there is the Premium Outlets just down the road with 110 outlet stores and a food court (they have a web site). Also, there is a brochure available of all the shopping, dining, attractions, and lodging on International Drive and it shows the trolley stops. I think it was called the I-Ride or something like that. We're spending the 28th at Sea World (we went last December too) and it will be so nice to hop in the car after a long drive the day before and be at Sea World literally in 3 minutes. P.S. We'ree buying a TV/VCR for the car trip down. You might want to consider one too if you don't already have one. Friends of ours taped regular tv shows and then used them for the car trip down. Sounds like a good idea.

 

[Lorix2]

Hi Jasper577 - that would be nice!

I keep telling anyone who will listen to me what a great place we'll be staying at!

I can't wait to go to the outlets too!

Yes! The tv/vcr combo is a necessity! Did you buy one already? Best kind? Where to buy?? I was looking at an Audiovox at Circuit City for $279....any deals out there? What have you found?

I've also been looking for the kids favorite movies or books on tape for the ride down to keep them occupied too. So far I bought Toy Story 2 for my youngest and need to get some more.

Thanks for your help!

 

[jasper577]

I have a rain check for Target for a 9" Funai tv/vcr for $159.99 (reg. 189.99) with the car adaptor included. So if 9" is big enough, that' seems like a good price. Except that it's been almost two months and they haven't had it in yet. I know Target has others for less than the one you were looking at and they might even be 13". Try taping tv shows instead of just bringing movies. If your kids are like mine at all, sometimes they just aren't in the mood for a movie they've seen dozens of times before. By the way, since your kids must like Toy Story, they will love the Buzz Lightyear ride at MK, it's fantastic.

 

[Lorix2]

ooh Target! Never thought of looking there - thank you! Yes, I'm very excited for the Buzz ride for him, he really isn't sure about Disney, he just knows it's a big place to have alot of fun at. Hope you'll get to use your raincheck soon!

Excellent idea about taping shows, I just might do that.....

Now, who else can we convert to the V.V.?

 

[sandyneck]

Hi guys! I feel the same way about this thread, it was really fun! Jasper, if you go to Seaworld try and do it early in your stay because if you pay for one day you get a free day within a 7 day period. You will be so close you may want to pop over for a few hours one day.
We have never driven to Florida from Cape Cod, but we have gone to the midwest and the tv/vcr is a life/sanity saver with the kids. They love it and it keeps them occupied. 64 more days till we leave! Look for my trip report when we get back! BYE

 

[jasper577]

Well, all I want to say is that I hope everyone who decides to stick with HIFS has a great time and I'm sure they will. I'm just more into the idea of a two-bedroom villa and the lake and the landscaping and all that. Let's compare trip reports when we get back too. I'm looking forward to sandyneck's trip report since she will be going back to VV in March and will probably have some hot tips for us. She was a big help on this thread.

 

[jasper577]

Sandyneck, I actually posted my reply before I saw yours!!!!!! Didn't know you were lurking on the boards tonight. I'm hoping to get some good restaurant tips from you. I'm sure I'll be running over to the outlets to get some Auntie Anne's pretzels (and they say Disney's food/drink prices are inflated?).

 

[Lorix2]

I'm sure people will enjoy their stay at HIFS, I have 2 friends and their families that came back and raved about it and would still recommend it.

I've very eager to read sandyneck's trip report as well and agree she's been a tremendous help with this thread. Have a wonderful time sandyneck!

This is so much fun!

 

[sandyneck]

There are so many restaurants along Idrive you'll have a time just deciding where to eat every night. And don't forget FAO Swartz toy store. I don't think we have any of them in New England, it is a kids dream. There is a fun place to eat in the same complex as the toy store. I don't remember the exact name of it but you can't miss it, there is a big smiling crab on the roof. The kids like it and it is very family oriented, ie. someone else's kids will be louder than yours! Have you tried IBidUSA.com? It is an auctions site but it is the actual businesses that are auctioning of their goods. There is a restaurant section and they have a couple restaurants on Idrive. I have bid on a few which I haven't won, but, if you don't win, the restaraunt will usually email you a printable coupon. I have one for 15% off the entire bill and another for a free appetizer. Not too bad. Also, I don't know if you have read about Bahama Breeze on the boards, but everyone seems to love it and it is only a few minutes away from VV. The menu is a little to adventurous for us, but most people are wild about it. Maybe I will be daring and try it out. I will let you know.

 

[Robinrs]

Wow, what an incredible thread this has become!

I have to admit, I didn't jump in at first because I'd only stayed at HIFS but VV has always been on my "gotta try" list. Thanks to this I'm seriously considering it for my May trip. My son wants a vacation home but I'd like the daily housekeeping!

As for the DRIVE, my sister got my son the Audiovox VCP in a Bag for our trip. It is made for travel and it is awesome. He put on his earphones and I swear, I thought I'd left him somewhere for 7 hours! We also travel to visit my parents every two weeks so this item will get LOTS of use.

Also, this player can be used in the hotel room for times when he wanted to watch something I didn't care to watch... which is MOST of the time!

Thanks for all the info, everyone. What a great group of people we have here!

 

[Lorix2]

Sandyneck - How much better can this thread possible get I ask you? There's an FAO Schwartz nearby????? Woo-HOO! If I could do a backflip without looking ridiculous and hurting myself, I would insert it right here! I've always wanted to go to NY's location. I believe Boston has one?? My kids will be psyched! and we'll be broke! Thanks again for all your input and keep the great info coming!

Robinrs - awww..group hug everyone! That's the unit I was looking at,, glad to hear it worked well for you, I had to laugh a little about wondering if you had left your son somewhere..don't you just love when they are happy and quiet? then everyone is happy! I always enjoyed reading your replies/posts about the HIFS, honest and encouraging.

 

[jasper577]

Sandyneck, that's good advice and last December we did take advantage of the free return trip within 7 days to Sea World (as you know you do have to pay for parking both visits). I still have the cool photo passes for the free day that they gave back to us in my wallet. Each of ours has a different Sea World picture on it. This time around, we're getting the Sea World/Busch Gardens Tampa combo ticket. BGT seems like it will be a lot of fun, except for the hour and change drive, but no big deal. The other days we'll tour WDW with a four-day hopper, and we plan on some peaceful relaxation at the VV pool. I considered a day at Universal's IOA just to do something else different, but my DW and DD's are not thrill ride seekers and we would probably get more out of a day at the pool or more time back at WDW than we would at IOA ("Can someone convince my wife to go on rides at IOA?" (just kidding). I haven't ruled out a WDW water park and mini golf either, they both sound like fun. By the way, has anyone heard of or been to "Amazing Exotics?" (amazingexotics.com) Their web site doen't reveal much but apparently you can have up close and personal encounters with monkeys, big cats, and more. SOme sort of wildlife refuge and educational center. Please let me know if you have tried it. One last thing sandyneck . . . . . . . Don't let anyone catch you carving out those Hidden Mickey's at VV for me and Lorix to find.

 

[msr709]

Could someone post a link to Vistana Village PLEASE! ???

 

[msr709]

Could someone please post a link to Vistana Village????

 

[Robinrs]

Try this: http://ww2.starwoodvo.com/overview.jsp?resortID=1

 

[Belle5]

When we were at V V in September they only had down pillows on our beds. DH is very allergic and had to sleep on rolled up blankets as they offered no alternative. This will only bother a few of you, but I thought you might want to go prepared with your own pillows.

 

[bigs1923t]

We have ressies at VV for in March. So far they have been very nise to deal with. I bought a VCR TV combo for the little ones to put in our van. Got it at Best Buy, think it is about an 11" screen. It was the biggest I could find anywhere that was AC/DC It works great. I have a woodshop the likes of Tim the toolman taylor so I built an oak cabinet that holds the Tv & Nintendo (you have to use Super Nintendo its the only one that works on DC power and I had to get an adapter/voltage dropper at Radio Shack). The cabinet also has space for all the games & videos. I also bought an antenna that mounts on the outside whick works well near cities. Another neat thing I did was built a console type box that fits between the front seats that a cooler fits in. I built it with 2" extra room on all sides of the cooler and lined it with the rigid styrofoam insulation sheets you can buy at Home Depot. It will keep ice in a cooler for 2 days in Fla temps.
We stayed at HIFS for a couple days last xmas. We had been at FW in a wilderness cabin from 12/15 to 12/27 and wanted to stay a couple extra days. Disney had the cabin available but because we were in peak season now they wanted $399 a night & I couldnt see paying that. HIFS was nice but it was also relatively new. I could see things that were not being kept up to standard & told DW I didnt think the place was going to "look this good" in a couple years. The breakfast buffet was ok but not great. Also the parking when returning at night was usually pretty full and it was quite a walk to our room.
This time I decided to stay off site which will be an adjustment after years of FW but the rate is so much better than WDW resorts and with the money I saved it will only cost a little more to buy annual passes to WDW instead of getting beat up with the length of stay passes that always seem to beat you out of your first day there and you day of departure because you are just too busy to get to the parks.
Oh well your ear must hurt by now but Disney talk will do that to ya !
see ya'll later