OK I am putting on my flame suit for this reply:
Vistana, YUCK!
I'll try to give the Reader Digest version....
Prior to becoming a
DVC member, we made ressies at the new Vistana as a referral from a friend who owned at the old one on International Drive. Three days before our trip, the Vistana called our house and said they over booked and didn't have a room for us... Needless to say we were less than pleased yet figured something would work out. We had airfare and no place to stay for July 4th week. A day or so later they came through with "special" arrangements to get us in at the old one. Great, we are tickled pink again! We arrive at the resort, we are greeted by a huge light up sign "VACANCY PLENTY OF ROOMS". The lobby is nice and we are happy with our first experience, then the high pressure pre-sales pressure start. We make the tour appointment and head to our room. When we get our room (still tickled pink, we're on vacation!) we open the door and almost DIE!!! The dining table has three legs, there is a black burn on the center of the living room carpet the size of basketball, cigarette burns on the counter, and the edges of all surface appear as though they were used to open beer bottles. It looked like a frat house. I figured it had to be a huge mistake or a Candid Camera joke. I pleasantly called the front desk and asked them if there was a mistake because it looked NOTHING like the web site pictures. After about ten minutes of hold time, they came back and said there was no mistake but if we found that much of a problem, they will put us in one of their newest best rooms. GREAT, we're tickled pink again. We go to the lobby to get the new room cards and ask to see the manager. She won't come out and said "there was no need to see me face to face because she was busy". I only wanted to thank her for her help. The member services rep, the same friendly guy as the initial check-in waits on me again. When he gives me the room cards, he flips them at me from across the desk. They literally hit me in the chest. Honestly! Now my jaw is hanging open is utter disbelieve. Stunned and repeating to myself "I am on vacation and dont' want to spend the time in jail", I take my cards and go to our new room. As we approach the room, the window screens were cut and ripped/bent off the windows and the door looked as though it had been kicked open based on the shoe prints on the door and broken door frame. The room was certainly nicer, but NOT DVC by any stretch (IMHO). I looked at my wife and she softly said to me after looking at the door and window "find another place to say or get us on the next plane home"...
I called Disney, got a room at Coronado Springs and checked out. Oh yeah... They refused to credit us back our full weeks stay. We were there for about an hour and a half total. Our friends that owned there and letters to the proper authorities finally helped it getting our fund back after about a month.
Through the entire process, we maintained a "happy go lucky" mindset, were very respectful to everyone at the resort, understood issues happen, etc, etc...
To date, our friends have not stayed there again and they cannot trade a week or any time after several years of repeated attempts. They have a February vacation week in a 2 bedroom too.
For us the rest is history. As we were driving onto Disney property we were saying "too bad Disney doesn't offer a product like that..."
I have heard a lot of very nice things about Vistana. So please don't think the place is horrid based only on what I say. I am sure people can have the same experience anywhere. Well... Anyway, this could have been a freak occurrence but I thought it was worth mentioning.
Best of luck and as always, have fun!!!
