My reply from Vistana Food and Bev manager

[MiaSRN62]

Back in May....I sent a letter to the food & beverage manager at the main Vistana resort about our disappointment with them in closing the Flamingo Cafe restaurant with a Pizza Hut. Not sure if any of you were familiar with this sit down restaurant near the Fountains and Lakes section. It had a such a good menu ---really felt like you were partaking of some Floridian cuisine. It was a little fancier than Zimmies which is still on property (I hope ! At least last Aug it was !). I'll send you a portion of my letter so you can sort of see what I was trying to convey to the manager :

Personally, from an owner's perspective, I feel replacing the Flamingo Cafe with the Pizza Hut is not a way to enhance the value of our timeshare or the feel of our resort. We loved the Floridian cuisine at the Flamingo Cafe. It was unique. Pizza Hut is everywhere. I foresee this making us go elsewhere to dine while at the resort. I guess we will be researching more restaurants offsite in the general area, because Pizza Hut is not my idea of a good replacement for the Flamingo Café. Not even close.

It is nice the General Store has improved, but the Flamingo Cafe had such unique meals with a Floridian/Caribbean flare. It will be greatly missed by us. I just don’t see how a Pizza Hut, replacing a unique sit down restaurant, will enhance our vacation experience? I know there is still Zimmies, but that restaurant is more casual and can loud during the dinner hours due to the poolside karaoke and other activities that take place in that area of the resort. I also foresee it being more crowded now that the Flamingo Café is taken away as a sit down option at Vistana. Just want to let you know, though I’m sure it will make no difference and nothing will change, that losing the Flamingo Café is a loss to the resort on whole. Even when we didn’t actually dine inside this restaurant, we frequently ordered room service from them. The grouper and fried plantaines was a favorite of ours. It was a menu item we looked forward to among others. And now we are left with just a Pizza Hut ? I can get Pizza Hut pizza any day of the week here at home. (and then I went on a bit more.....)

So anyway....that's most of it. I get my reply today. It's pretty much a form letter. Mr Howard told me, not only will there be the Pizza Hut, but now they are adding a KFC and an A&W Express. Now this was supposed to make me feel better about losing the Flamingo Cafe ? I don't think so......I can get fast food anywhere.

Just wanted to share this info as it had been talked about a little in a few threads.

 

[isla bonita]

Maria

You gotta love that response.

Sorry to hear it is closing have been and it was enjoyable for every one.

It must be so much cheaper to go with the fast food franchises I guess.

We will be down in Aug how about you? I thought you owed ma a drink some time ago? LOL

 

[MiaSRN62]

It must be so much cheaper to go with the fast food franchises I guess.

We will be down in Aug how about you? I thought you owed ma a drink some time ago? LOL

Hi Deb.....yeah....their response was priceless. You can just tell they heard everything I was saying

A direct quote from their reply letter :

All Vistana Association Boards, as well as Starwood Hotels, are investing MILLIONS of dollars renovating and upgrading the vacation units themselves, as well as the Food and Beverage facilities in order to appeal to a wide range of guest demands.

The KFC/Pizza Hut/A&W Express were a direct result of a wide range demand ?????


My husband read the letter and said, "why don't they just throw in a Yum Yum Donuts and a McDonald's too, then fast food heaven will be complete at Vistana". I can assure you....we will NOT be eating Pizza Hut and KFC while staying there. I'd love to know who suggested these places ? As an owner, I never got a survey or questionaire or anything ?

We arrive Aug 3-9. Would love to buy ya a drink if you're there the same time Deb !

 

[isla bonita]

Hi Deb.....yeah....their response was priceless.

We arrive Aug 3-9. Would love to buy ya a drink if you're there the same time Deb !

You have to come by we will be there from aug 2 to ? 17-23? totally unsure right now.

You know where I live pop over one night with crew and hang out by the pool.

would love to have you

 

[In Luv with Disney]

Maria, what a reply!!!!!!! I can't believe they are adding in all of these Fast Food options to the resort. I thought Pizza Hut Express was enough when it was part of the General Store! For me, it brings down the class of resort I THOUGHT it was. You are so right...there's fast food EVERYWHERE. Why do I want to stay in the resort to eat KFC????? Makes NO SENSE!!!!!!!

Thank you for voicing your concerns....I think I will do the same.

 

[MiaSRN62]

You have to come by we will be there from aug 2 to ? 17-23? totally unsure right now.

You know where I live pop over one night with crew and hang out by the pool.

would love to have you

Planning on it Deb !!!!

In Luv with Disney : For me, it brings down the class of resort I THOUGHT it was. You are so right...there's fast food EVERYWHERE. Why do I want to stay in the resort to eat KFC????? Makes NO SENSE!!!!!!!

Thank you for voicing your concerns....I think I will do the same.

Thanks. I feel it does bring down the caliber of the resort. Please do write.....maybe the more of us owners they hear from, they'll see they made the wrong choice. I'd love to know who they're really asking ?
Here's the name/address of who to write to :

Sheraton Vistana Resort
C/O Food and Beverage Director John Howard
8800 Vistana Drive
Orlando, FL 32821-6353

 

[dioxide45]

They are probably thinking that many families would prefer the simple fast food that they are adding. All of these chains are owned and franchised out by Yum Brands. Unfortunately when most people go on vacation, they look for the same things they can get back home. Some people are not as adventurous as others. These new restaurants will probably always be busy. They are doing probably what is best for most of their guests. I am sure sales at the old Flamingos were slow which helped in their decision.

 

[MiaSRN62]

Unfortunately when post people go on vacation, they look for the same things they can get back home. Some people are not as adventurous as others. These new restaurants will probably always be busy. They are doing probably what is best for most of their guests. I am sure sales at the old Flamingos were slow which helped in their decision.

It is unfortunate......we really look forward to eating differently when we are on vacation. The dining, for us, is part of the vacation experience. And munching on a KFC chicken leg doesn't do anything for me.

I hope they don't get rid of Zimmies. I'm already on the fence about selling our Vistana timeshare and this explosion of greasy fast food chains at the resort is just pushing me in that direction further. I still have to wonder who's input they got on this decision. They're trying to bring this resort back up to Gold Crown status (flat screen TV's, granite countertops , total makeovers..........then fast food chains ?). Just doesn't jive in my book. But I understand what you're saying. I guess most people aren't adventurous and just prefer the same old stuff on vacation

 

[isla bonita]

They're trying to bring this resort back up to Gold Crown status (flat screen TV's, granite countertops , total makeovers..........then fast food chains ?). Just doesn't jive in my book. But I understand what you're saying. I guess most people aren't adventurous and just prefer the same old stuff on vacation

It was nice having an option besides the same old same old.

I think a resort like the Vistana needs options to set it off. It sounds like the nick hotel now.