Marriott Sabal Palms vs. Sheraton Vistana Resort

[sweetnjmom]

We are going to stay off site for our next trip (last trip was Nov. 2013 at Wilderness Lodge) because my uncle is trading a timeshare week for us and we can stay for 7 days in a 2 bedroom unit vs. 1 room.

I have a choice between the Marriott Sabal Palms (or Imperial Palms) or the Sheraton Vistana Resort. Has anyone on the board stayed at either? I'm on another Disney group and a lot of people seem to recommend the Sheraton but the Marriott seems slightly closer.

As much as we love to stay on property, my 5 year old son will not make it for evening EMH and we didn't really accomplish much during AM EMH on our last trip. We realize we can only do FP+ 30 days out but are hopeful that we will be able to see what we want. Plus we're going during a "quieter" week--the first week of May.

Thanks for any replies!

EDITED TO ADD: Looks like I posted before seeing the resort forum... moderator please feel free to move/close if you need to. I apologize for not checking first.

 

[chalee94]

i have stayed at the sheraton vistana resort. lots of us have had some really great stays there recently:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3148502

it's a giant resort but it has all been refurbished in the last few years and looks great. it's a hair farther from disney but probably only about 90 seconds farther away than the marriott palms resorts.

i haven't stayed there but sabal palms is recommended by timeshare people i trust for couples stays, since it's an easy walk from the marriott world center with its restaurants and all. i've stayed at a number of marriotts and they are very well run.

i would lean toward the sheraton just because it's what i know. both are right around the corner from disney property on the DTD side and i don't think either would be a disappointment.

 

[sweetnjmom]

Thanks for your reply!

Since our son (5) will be with us, this isn't a couples stay. I'm thinking the Sheraton has more amenities--pools, etc.--though I'm a tad anxious about noise (some reviews say rooms closer to road are noisy).

We probably will hit the supermarket for breakfast food, have lunches in the park (hoping for H&V character lunch) and most dinners in chain type restaurants to save, with one or two dinners at Disney.

 

[bankr63]

Thanks for your reply!

Since our son (5) will be with us, this isn't a couples stay. I'm thinking the Sheraton has more amenities--pools, etc.--though I'm a tad anxious about noise (some reviews say rooms closer to road are noisy).

We probably will hit the supermarket for breakfast food, have lunches in the park (hoping for H&V character lunch) and most dinners in chain type restaurants to save, with one or two dinners at Disney.

Both Marriott and Sheraton run great resorts, and the properties abut, so the distance is pretty much a wash. Imperial Palms has units just as close to 535 as Vistana Resort, and some Sabal Palms are almost as close to I-4 as many of the Vistana units as well (just take a quick look on Google Maps satellite view). The trick with either resort would be to request a unit away from the major roadways.

I know that Vistana Resort has great amenities for kids; I have never stayed at the Marriott properties in Orlando, but hear they do too.

I don't think you can do wrong with either one really. Both will provide a relaxing luxurious vacation for your entire family.

 

[sweetnjmom]

@bankr63 thanks for your reply as well!

I just told my uncle to book the Sheraton Vistana Resort and if the unit is no longer available, then the Marriott is our 2nd choice.

I didn't think we could go wrong with either, too, but figured any reviews would help. More of the people I've asked has stayed at the Sheraton.

 

[Detailor]

Both Marriott and Sheraton run great resorts, and the properties abut, so the distance is pretty much a wash. Imperial Palms has units just as close to 535 as Vistana Resort, and some Sabal Palms are almost as close to I-4 as many of the Vistana units as well (just take a quick look on Google Maps satellite view). The trick with either resort would be to request a unit away from the major roadways.

I know that Vistana Resort has great amenities for kids; I have never stayed at the Marriott properties in Orlando, but hear they do too.

I don't think you can do wrong with either one really. Both will provide a relaxing luxurious vacation for your entire family.

It's actually the third Marriott timeshare resort at the World Center, Royal Palms Resort, that is close to Route 535, not the Imperial Palm Villas.

I'd say that Vistana has a more concerted resort feel to it than the tri-Marriotts do. Even with that, I prefer the Marriotts because of their size - Sabal Palms units are all two-bedroom units, none is higher than the second floor so that there aren't elevators isn't much a problem there, and they're listed at about 1,360 square feet, the small resort is located behind, and closest to, the hotel; Imperial Palm Villas units are all three bedroom villas (1631 square feet) situated next to Royal Palms away from the hotel, villas are located in two four-story buildings. Road noise is not an issue at Sabal Palms as it's nearly a quarter mile from the closest villas to the highway (Vistana buildings in the Fountains and Lakes sections, I think those are the closest sections, are a lot closer but we didn't experience any significant road noise from back there either). The three Marriott timeshare resorts have their own pools, hot tubs, playgrounds, and grills; the small resort store is located at Royal Palms; Royal Palms and Imperial Palm Villas share basketball and tennis courts, registration desks, and (I think) fitness rooms and arcades; Sabal has its own registration area, fitness room and arcade; the three resorts share activities programs so some are held at each of the three. All guests of the timeshare resorts are invited to use the amenities at the Marriott World Center hotel, including the pools, the food court, the stores and restaurants, and the spa (which is located right next to Sabal Palms).

Vistana Resorts villas are also fairly large - the newest sections have the smallest 2 bedroom units (Cascades 1025 sq. ft., though the 2BR lock offs are 1326, and Lakes 1174 sq, ft. with 1400 lock offs) while the other sections generally run from 1200 to 1260 sq. ft. (some of the units in Courts, which I think is the oldest part of the resort go up to an impressive 1500 sq. ft.). The resort has lots to offer in the way of amenities.

Depending on where you stay within either resort, it's probably no more than two or three minutes drive time from Vistana to various Disney locations than from the two Marriott resorts. From Vistana, you first go onto SR 535 and then turn right onto World Center Drive right to Disney property. From the Marriotts you avoid SR 535 and the turn as you exit right onto World Center Drive.

Both of these resort areas are great choices, we've enjoyed our stays at both of them.

Dick Taylor

 

[sweetnjmom]

Everyone-- thanks for your feedback.

We ended up booking the Sheraton Vistana Resort last night because we thought it had a bit more child-geared amenities and we liked the look of the pools/playgrounds. If it were just my husband and I, we'd probably have chosen the Marriott.

We're really looking forward to going back. I just hope I'll have some FP+ luck at the 30 day mark.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Everyone-- thanks for your feedback.

We ended up booking the Sheraton Vistana Resort last night because we thought it had a bit more child-geared amenities and we liked the look of the pools/playgrounds. If it were just my husband and I, we'd probably have chosen the Marriott.

We're really looking forward to going back. I just hope I'll have some FP+ luck at the 30 day mark.

Great choice! SVR is a fantastic resort, and I'm sure your whole family will love it .

 

[Letterhead]

I've stayed at Sheraton on two separate occasions and I loved it. It's less than 5 minutes from Sheraton to the front gate of WDW so a slightly further distance to travel really makes a negligible difference.

Even though it's quite large, you should be more than ten minutes walk from both the store and food court. Plus the food court delivers to your villa. There was also a good choice of pools.

If I ever stay off-site again I will be doing Sheraton Vistana.