Disney Hotel Snob staying offsite

[Augustheather97]

I ALWAYS stay on property........always always always....well decided to do a quick 5 night trip with my 11 year old daughter and my best friend and her 11 year old son.......we are booking Sheraton Vistana Villages with a 2 bedroom villa......will we hate it>>>?? will it be ok? is the pool area good, we are only doing sea world and Aquatica...so that is why we aren;t staying in WDW......what do I need to know about the villages...any info will help -- I know don;t answer the phone there or accept the welcome package...Time shre night mares....lol
thanks SO MUCH
we are going May2-may7

 

[spiceycat]

since you are on going to SW - might go with Hilton Grand Vacation Club at Sw - it is direct across from SW.

that say think you might be surprised at Sheraton Vistana Village - it is lovely.

http://www.starwoodvacationownership.com/sheraton_vistana_villages/welcome.jsp

 

[calgarygary]

I think that there is a strong possibility that you won't like VV because as you said, you are a self-proclaimed Disney Hotel snob. If however you can be open to what offsite offers, you will find that the VV pool exceeds hotel pools at WDW, that the furnishings at VV are better than almost all DVC's and that the location is great for visiting SW.

 

[Augustheather97]

No I think I can be open to new things...where we are going with another family it will be a nice change to have room to spread out and when the kids go to each their bedrooms at night her and I can stay up watching tv and chatting....if we shared a room at POR for example we ALL have to basically go to bed when the kids go to bed.....so I won;t miss that.....I checked out the Hilton posted above but no availability for a 2 bedroom that week it does look nice though...I just want something clean and convenient and not too loud.....last june we stayed at pop and hated it...was so loud and small....

 

[kelli08]

We stayed at the sheraton vistana last year and LOVED it. The staff was great, the location was great and it was SOOOO nice to be able to spread out and have some space. We have stayed a WL, PO, and CS at disney and we loved the vistana just as much. The pool was awesome, drinks great and plenty of room. I was not disappointed going in fact I would stay there again over some of the disney properties.

 

[mtmbyck]

I bet you will struggle staying onsite again. The 2 bedroom villas are amaznig, the pool is much nicer than any of the resort pools (with ping pong and billiards around the pool and cabanas), and the accomodations are spectacular! It is very close to SW and Aquatica and it is only about 10 minutes from DTD if you want to go there for an evening.

 

[Chrisinroch]

After years of staying on property, in 2005 we rented a house off site.

Don't get me wrong... I love disney, but they are really good at keeping your vacation dollars flowing from you to them. Staying offsite gave me a feeling of financial freedom that I really liked. Add the space, the private pool, the kitchen, the lack of crowds after a busy day at the parks and for me it was the best. We ended up buying a vacation house in Terra Verde.

The best news is that there are tons of fairly desperate owners (particularly british folks who bought with expectations of full rental rolls and a stronger dollar) so many will discount their homes below their actual cost. You can easily find 4 bedroom houses with private pools in the $100 range, occasionally you can find them in the $75 range.

In any event, its good that you are giving it a try. good luck
-- Chris

 

[vettechick99]

I have always stayed on property myself. Everything from value (hated it!) to a turret honeymoon suite at the GF with concierge (amazing!). Now that we have a child I didn't want to be cramped into one room for a budget trip we are also doing in May. So we're booking a condo at Windsor Hills. I'm excited about it! Hey, life is totally different with a child so I'm open to new things, including stayed off-site.

And really, as long as I'm at The Mouse, I'll be ok!

 

[luvdisney14]

I was becoming a disney snob, but once we stayed at a timeshare, we loved the space. We stayed at the villages a few years ago and loved it. We stayed in the section with the big pool area. Rooms were clean and big. We also started to like having a refrig and oven. We still eat out every evening, but it is nice at lunch time not to have to drive to get food, just walk up to our room.

 

[Augustheather97]

great I can't wait to get down there

 

[littlestar]

My sister is at Vistana Villages right now in a 2 bedroom. She said the resort is lovely. She's stayed at every category of Disney resort, too. She is enjoying her stay at Vistana Villages. She likes the way the sidewalks are set up, nice for people who like to take walks.

 

[Augustheather97]

oh good.....that makes me feel MUCH better.....thanks for the info

 

[davinakb]

I was becoming a disney snob, but once we stayed at a timeshare, we loved the space.

Yeah, once you have all that room it is really hard to give it up for a small, double/double with one bathroom. We've been on trips with 4-6 adults, stayed at timeshares for a few years, and now private rentals. Extra bathrooms, bedrooms (everyone gets their own bed), full kitchen, w/d, free internet, cable TVs, heated resort pool.. for less than $100/night. It's now our only way to go. FWIW.

 

[zoeyh2000]

My family and I love,love,love offsite villas. The room to roam, the privacy, being able to cook, a private pool-Oh, not to mention the savings in CASH. Try it, you'll never go back.

 

[Bella the Ball 360]

I bet you will struggle staying onsite again. The 2 bedroom villas are amaznig, the pool is much nicer than any of the resort pools (with ping pong and billiards around the pool and cabanas), and the accomodations are spectacular! It is very close to SW and Aquatica and it is only about 10 minutes from DTD if you want to go there for an evening.

When you compare what you get for the money and the unbelievably great accomodations I am going to agree. Do you stay in a villa on property? Trust me right now the Vistana villa price on so many sites is like 169 per night on season and much less offseason. I bet you never go back we did it 9 yrs ago and NEVER looked back. I like to think I can do two trips for the price of one and I can.
They do not bug you for a tour if you tell them not to. Last year at the end of our stay at Marriott Cypress Harbour we decided to take a couple of extra days. WE got VV for 107 per night one bd rm. We had stayed there at least 5 times in the past but never ever took the tour we always said no. Well the asked us this time of check in and I said no the girl at the desk said," If I give you 100 cash will you take it?" I said , "No" She said ,"If I give you 200 cash will you take it ?", I said, " NO" "

"If I give you 300 cash will you take it and I throw in a 1/2 off your next visit coupon?" ....well we were staying 3 days and that meant our stay was only 21.00. I took the tour and told them at the outset I was not buying. It was not a big deal. The tour person was wonderful. Most of the time we talked about jewlery! When the 90 min was up I said, "Time's up" and we left.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Wonder if the OP like VV?