Here at Vistana: Impressed!

[erinch]

We checked in yesterday for a 2 week stay at the Vistana Resort. We had stayed several years ago before Sheraton took over, and liked it well enough to book a return stay--

I am completely impressed with how "upgraded" it feels now, compared to several years ago. Terrific things about this stay so far:

We booked 2 weeks through an owner (after placing an ad on the TUG board).

I asked the owner to request Diamond Lane check-in listing our requests. When we arrived yesterday, I breezed past about 10,000 people standing in the check-in line, and immediately was served at the diamond lane counter.

When I discovered that they had us scheduled to move between our 2 weeks, I asked the rep to please try to find us something we could stay in for both weeks. She looked about 10 minutes--long past most "desk clerks" would have given up, and came up with a condo in our preferred section: Springs.

Our request for "O-Zoning" (due to DS asthma) had been fulfilled in the unit we had been assigned but were now abandoning. As it turned out, we don't need it, as there is no detectable odor of smoke anywhere in the unit.

When we checked in, the whole villa is beautifully maintained and not looking worn. We prefer the larger units and the more mature landscaping in the springs section over the Cascades "high-rises". We had no knives, a broken phone line and a sagging cabinet. Service persons arrived within 30 minutes to fix each of these issues.

All of the folks working here are extremely courteous and helpful. The grounds are immaculate.

I would highly recommend this resort to anyone.

 

[harryhornet]

I am so glad - we are staying at Vistana Resort from next Monday for 2 weeks, and I was worried that if we were placed in one of the older sections, we might be disappointed after reading some comments.

 

[Robinrs]

Wow, good for you, erinch!

As you probably know, I LOVED my week at Vistana and look forward to another week there! What a great time we had, one of the best times I ever spent in Orlando... and that's saying ALOT for me!

Looking forward to a full report and pictures!

 

[jenniejones0]

I am thinking about Vistana resort in December. We will visit the parks in the morning but return after lunch because we have a 1yo. I am looking for a place where my 5yo can have some fun with other kids in the afternoon and since it's Dec. I can't count on the poolside. Is this resort good for this situation?

 

[erinch]

My hubby and I go out walking each morning, so have tramped through all the villages. I've peeked in a few units scattered around--my impression is that management is doing everything they can to stay on top of upgrading older sections.

Where we are, in the springs, there is still a funky trash compactor and the hair dryer looks like a vacuum cleaner mounted on the wall, but other than that everything is spotless. The carpet is a brighter green than today's tastes and the wallpaper is that 80s "french country" look, but we are still very impressed.

What is most impressive, as I said before, is the instant response time. So far we've had to call for:
No knives (a full set arrived in 7 minutes)

Sagging kitchen cupboard door: Juan arrived, removed it, took it somewhere and reglued the hinge and had it back in less than 2 hours

Vacuum cleaner: some idiot had tried to replace a bolt the wrong way; Juan arrived, assessed the situation, went someplace and got the right screw/bolt/whatever and was back in 10 minutes.

Second shower: broken handle; Juan arrived and fixed in 15 minutes

Phone not working: Juan arrived; on top of him the "Sheraton telecommunications specialist" arrived, fixed an outside cable, then Juan came back to see if the message light would go out on the phone.

We offered
1) to stay in all their other units and help them critique the little stuff that at least in this unit folks were letting go
2) to take Juan home with us <LOL>

Any issue has been dealt with immediately.
Just as impressive is the grounds are being maintained with as much strakness as a Disney property--we keep saying we feel like we're on Disney grounds because of the attention to detail. Another noticeable thing is that whenever any worker--in particular those in vehicles--spots a guest, they stop, turn off or turn down their implements, and wait for the guest to move past before resuming. It's remarkable.

 

[erinch]

As I stated, our preferred section is one particular group of buildings in the Springs section around a small pond--which comes complete with redbilled ducks and a swimming turtle.

We like this section better than the newer ones because these units are 3 stories--as opposed to 4 or 5 in Cascades or Lakes/Fountains, and it feels more intimate. There is also a luxury of space inside--an extravagant master bathroom-HUGE-- and very large master bedroom, without any skimping in the rest of the unit. The landscaping is much more mature and lush.

We were not originally scheduled to be in this part, but Gina, who checked us in did some work and found it. I would recommend the second floor, which lets you overlook the pond, but isn't too high to really see the wild life.

If you are going to be in an older section, I would try to get the springs, which are the newest "old" part before they started Lakes and Fountains. Courts and Palms are much less shady; Spas have nice landscaping and Falls are close to a main pool/playground activities complex.

 

[erinch]

There are a ton of kids here now. I don't know what it's like in December, but there are some nice playgrounds as well as pools, so I would guess that playmates would be possible.

 

[jenniejones0]

Thank you so much. I can't wait to go!

 

[2disneywego]

Thanks for posting!
I've been triple-guessing myself since I made my reservations. Hopefully, I'll settle down now and stop driving my DH crazy.

 

[Mjasp]

Will be there in 9 days. We'll be in the Palms section. If I e mail you the room number will you check it out for us. I own it, but have never seen it. Have stayed in the Courts section before and was very happy with the location, our friend owned a unit in the Courts and Palms section and a year after he let us use his Courts unit, we bought the Palms unit from him. He wanted to keep the Courts one. Although he never goes to Vistana or Florida anymore.

Thanks
Joanna

 

[Daftman]

Hi,

Can you tell me if its worth doing the diamond lane check in and can you advise on how accomodating they are with any requests you make before arrival.
Will be travelling from uk so would like some answers too requests before arrival.

Many thanks

Sean.

 

[obnurse2003]

Thank you for posting!!!!

We are staying there on the 21st of September and wondered about it. You will have to let us know how close you are to Disney and the time it takes to get there from the resort!

We don't know which villa we will be in until check in. If you have any other tips, please pass them along!!!

 

[erinch]

Joanna--I sent you an email. will be glad to take a picture and send to you.

Originally posted by Mjasp
Will be there in 9 days. We'll be in the Palms section. If I e mail you the room number will you check it out for us. I own it, but have never seen it. Thanks
Joanna

 

[erinch]

Originally posted by 2disneywego
Thanks for posting!
I've been triple-guessing myself since I made my reservations. Hopefully, I'll settle down now and stop driving my DH crazy.

Relax--you'll love it. We are moving from here to the AKL, and my very picky 15 yo DS was saying he's going to miss the space

 

[erinch]

I highly recommend Diamond Lane as the best tip I know.
We arrived at 6:30 pm on a Saturday and I breezed past at least 200 people standing in line to the lonely person standing at the diamond lane check in. I had received a "we got your diamond lane' request email, noting there was no guarantee. But the main thing we had requested was "O-Zoning" to remove any possible traces of smoke. It turned out that they had us scheduled to move after the first week, and we absolutely did not want to have to schlep all our stuff to another unit.

Gina at the diamond lane desk spent about 15 minutes looking for a unit we could keep both weeks, in the area we wanted. She was very concerned that this meant we might have to wait for the O-Zoning. I was just impressed that they had actually done it in the unit they had us first assigned into.

I would send a request and try to be as specific as possible. I mine I dealt with the asthma/cigarette thing, requested the springs, gave the areas I did not want, requested a waterview, but not a poolview, asked to be on the second floor, and asked not to be right of of 535 (the main drag). All of these were accommodated.

Originally posted by Daftman
Hi,

Can you tell me if its worth doing the diamond lane check in and can you advise on how accomodating they are with any requests you make before arrival.
Will be travelling from uk so would like some answers too requests before arrival.

Many thanks

Sean.

 

[erinch]

It took us 5 minutes to get to MGM today. It's literally right next to Downtown Disney and Goodings plaza.

Originally posted by obnurse2003
Thank you for posting!!!!

We are staying there on the 21st of September and wondered about it. You will have to let us know how close you are to Disney and the time it takes to get there from the resort!

 

[Mjasp]

enrich...I e mailed you back.

Thanks
Joanna

 

[Daftman]

Thanks for your reply on diamond lane,a great help.
Could you possibly advise which in your opinion would be the best section too request for 4 adults and a lively 3 yr old boy, wanting a 2 bed unit.

Any help would be appreciated

Sean.

 

[erinch]

"Could you possibly advise which in your opinion would be the best section too request for 4 adults and a lively 3 yr old boy, wanting a 2 bed unit."

As I said above, we really like the springs; the pool is manageable but it's close to the Cascades pool, which has spouting fountains beloved of the preschool set. The Cascades would also be terrific because close to the same pool, and the spas or fountains are also centrally located.

One really fun thing to do is to pick up a loaf of cheap bread, and feed the ducks. The ones in the Springs pond outside our door have red "combs" like a rooster got in to consort with the ducks.

 

[obnurse2003]

I have another transportation question from the resort!

We will have our own car and was wondering if there are any "traffice problems" between Disney and the resort? Any "hang-up" times?

Also, have you driven to Universal/IOA?

Plus, we are going to Fort Wilderness for the Hoop Dee Doo~ is that pretty close???

Thanks for answering these questions! It takes a lot of "worry" off my mind.