Live from the Vistana Resort

[ttfn3]

We checked into the Vistana Resort on Saturday 3/25, and I am reporting in live from the patio of our wonderful 2 bedroom top floor unit in the Fountains area. We are renting a week from an owner we found on redweek.com, and have stayed at the VR several times before. I submitted our requests via the Diamond Lane on the Sheraton website, and checked in around 4 pm Saturday. I highly recommend Diamond Lane checkin. We only had to wait for one person to finish, while the regular checkin lines were quite busy. All of our room requests were met. We have stayed at the VR previously, so we had an idea of what location we wanted. Our last two trips to Orlando we stayed at the Wyndham Bonnet Creek Resort. I must say the renovations to the units at the VR are FABULOUS. Very nice. I'm loving the patio at the VR - one of my favorite places in our room!

We spent a full day Sunday at the Disney Studios and Epcot - and are looking forward to hanging out at the resort today and maybe a wander to Downtown Disney. The weather is gorgeous - and the pool does look inviting.

Let me know if you would like me to check out anything while I'm here. Oh - we also have a view of the hot air ballon from Downtown Disney from the window in our kitchen. Cool to see it!

 

[Jim1]

Hi there,

First time visitor to Sheraton Vistana in September 2012. I have visited Orlando/LBV before hand with family but this is a first time visit with my girlfriend.

We have booked a 1 bedroom villa and we are just wondering what to expect? Having read about the recent renovations and upgrades, is there any specific location you would suggest us where to try get our villa? I have read that the fountains area is pretty nice, I would prefer to be away from the I4 for noise and be near but not exactly overlooking a pool area.

Both of us are 25 and travelling from Scotland, we are there for 2 weeks and plan on visiting everywhere possible as its a first time visit to the US for my girlfriend so I plan on making it as special as possible!

Also one last request please, would it be possible if you could take a few photos of the pool/snack bar areas and the grounds around Vistana to post on here? as closer to the time I'd like to show my girlfriend more photos to get her excited (not that shes not excited enough... I sent her a text with a photo of the WDW entrance and I couldn't get her to shut up )

All we can really see is some images from trip advisor and searching forums, but it's not showing too much.

Thanks for the help and hope you enjoy the remainder of your holiday

Jim

Cheers for any help and tips given

 

[BrerMama]

Oh this makes me so excited to get to Vistana. DH just said it's 11 weeks from today!

Jim, if you haven't yet, take time to read this very long thread: Sheraton Vistana Questions Lots of photos in there!

 

[Detailor]

Hi there,

First time visitor to Sheraton Vistana in September 2012. I have visited Orlando/LBV before hand with family but this is a first time visit with my girlfriend.

We have booked a 1 bedroom villa and we are just wondering what to expect? Having read about the recent renovations and upgrades, is there any specific location you would suggest us where to try get our villa? I have read that the fountains area is pretty nice, I would prefer to be away from the I4 for noise and be near but not exactly overlooking a pool area.

Both of us are 25 and travelling from Scotland, we are there for 2 weeks and plan on visiting everywhere possible as its a first time visit to the US for my girlfriend so I plan on making it as special as possible!

Also one last request please, would it be possible if you could take a few photos of the pool/snack bar areas and the grounds around Vistana to post on here? as closer to the time I'd like to show my girlfriend more photos to get her excited (not that shes not excited enough... I sent her a text with a photo of the WDW entrance and I couldn't get her to shut up )

All we can really see is some images from trip advisor and searching forums, but it's not showing too much.

Thanks for the help and hope you enjoy the remainder of your holiday

Jim

Cheers for any help and tips given

I think that the one-bedroom lock-off villas are in Cascades and Lakes. And that the Lakes villas are a little larger than those in Cascades. Lakes is located toward the back of the resort, next to Fountains, while Cascades sprawls from the center of resort toward the front. Cascades buildings 1, 2 and 3 are located very centrally so one of those would be my target. See the resort layout map here. Note that there are two one-bedroom villas at Vistana Resort, the larger villa, which has a full kitchen, has about twice the space of the smaller villa, which has a kitchenette aka as a limited kitchen.

Take a look at the photos at the Vistana Resort website here, information on the villas at the various sections are here, and here's the resort's home page.

Dick Taylor

 

[Brian Noble]

I must say the renovations to the units at the VR are FABULOUS.

Agreed. I had a Fountains unit back in 2010, and it was lovely.

 

[Jim1]

That's fantastic! thank you very much for that info!

Is it easy enough to ask Sheraton for an upgrade? Looking at the one bedroom villa in the Cascades, it looks alright but think the premium villas look much more spacious and the whirl pool tub is something we'd like to have in our room.

Or would anyone know of any cost of an upgrade to a premium villa? really looking to make this a special trip for my girlfriend as it's her visit to the states

 

[erineab]

Our last two trips to Orlando we stayed at the Wyndham Bonnet Creek Resort. I must say the renovations to the units at the VR are FABULOUS.

I am interested to hear which you prefer between WBC and VR. Which do you feel has better pool/waterplay features?

 

[Brian Noble]

I've stayed at both Bonnet and a renovated unit at Vistana. The pools and other common amenities at Bonnet are nicer, and the compactness of the resort makes it easier to get to all of them. The units at Vistana are a little more plush. Bonnet's location is superior for a Disney-centric vacation.

All things being equal, I would pick Bonnet over Vistana for a "Disney trip". I would pick Vistana (or perhaps another more centrally-located resort) for an "Orlando trip". But, both are nice, and it would be hard to go wrong either way.

 

[erineab]

How do the two resorts generally compare price-wise?

 

[Ninja Mom]

I'm sorry if I'm being dense but are you at the Vistana Villages or the other one?
We are considering the Vistana Villages for another stay but I'd be curious to read about the plain old Vistana location.

Thanks for your help!

 

[swilshire]

I'm sorry if I'm being dense but are you at the Vistana Villages or the other one?
We are considering the Vistana Villages for another stay but I'd be curious to read about the plain old Vistana location.

Thanks for your help!

Sheraton Vistana is in a bit more convenient location. It's just off I-4 on 535. Easy off from the Interstate and easy on by making two right turns out of the resort. Just on the other side of the Interstate from Disney Marketplace.

It's the older of the two resorts but went through extensive renovations which make it just as nice if not nicer. I've never been to the Villages, but from what I understand the original resort has more to do for the whole family.

Sheila

 

[Braydon]

Sheraton Vistana Resort is best resort in Orlando according to my experience. 3 Years back, me and my family have stayed 4 days in that resort. Nice dinnig, comfortable rooms, very serene. I have spent really an awesome time there.

 

[Ninja Mom]

Thanks Sheila, I have Google Earth up and I can see that they are two different resorts. Who Knew!!

Of course now I am checking them both out. Ya gotta love Orlando with all the choices available in room accommodations!

 

[ttfn3]

Hello all - I posted a review of our stay on the Vistana Resort section on the reviews thread.

We have actually also stayed at the Vistana Villlages once - though it's been about 11 years ago. At that time, the Vistana Villages accomodations were quite lovely. However, we overall like the Vistana Resorts better because it has more things to do while at the resort & the balcony area on the top floor feels more private. As a side note, the staff at the Vistana Resort is top notch and we saw people constantly working on taking care of the resort. We had a minor maintenance issue (with the safe). After a call to the front desk someone was at our room within 10 minutes. And if it's important - It's also closer to the Disney property. With the VR renovations, the rooms are really, really nice.

Gosh - we have stayed at quite a few Orlando timeshares over the years - Vistana Resort, Vistana Villages, Marriott Grande Vista, Marriott Horizons, Wyndham Bonnet Creek, Disney's Saratoga Springs & Boardwalk Villas - and several hotels (Downtown Hilton, Hotel Royal Plaza, Best Western, etc). We have enjoyed each place in their own separate way. I don't think you can go wrong with any of the nicer timeshares, especially if you get a renovated room away from traffic.

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