New Offsite Territory and Need Advice

[Goofy4WDW1964]

We will be going down in early August. We are taking our son down to check in for the Disney College Program and we are staying around for a couple of days. We don't think we are going to the Disney parks because we will probalby go back down while he is there and will do the Disney parks at that time. We are contemplating doing a couple of days at Universal to check out the Harry Potter stuff. Other than that, we plan on spending a lot of time relaxing by the pool. We would like a two bedroom unit in a resort with a really nice pool(s). We want to keep it close to Disney because we will be helping him move in to his apartment and am sure there will be at least one wal-mart/grocery run. We are considering places like Bonnet Creek, Sheraton Vistana villages, etc.

Any recomendations, suggestions? I am open to all comments as this is all new to us. We usually stay at a moderate, but, we are bringing his aunt with us and having two bedrooms this time would be really nice.

 

[Sunshine25]

Regal Palms has great amenities- slide, lazy river, Tiki bar, pool side movies and its only 8 miles from Disney. There are restaurants nearby, grocery store & Walmart. Also easy access to the 192.

My only recommendation is not to book through the resort, but an owner. If you book through the resort your unit gets assigned to you on arrival and you never know what your going whereas booking direct through an owner you know precisely which unit you will be staying in. Although cheap, stay away from the standard units (very basic), they tend to be outdated & neglected.
I would personally shell out the extra few $$ for an Elite unit

 

[disneyfan55]

We will be going down in early August. We are taking our son down to check in for the Disney College Program and we are staying around for a couple of days. We don't think we are going to the Disney parks because we will probalby go back down while he is there and will do the Disney parks at that time. We are contemplating doing a couple of days at Universal to check out the Harry Potter stuff. Other than that, we plan on spending a lot of time relaxing by the pool. We would like a two bedroom unit in a resort with a really nice pool(s). We want to keep it close to Disney because we will be helping him move in to his apartment and am sure there will be at least one wal-mart/grocery run. We are considering places like Bonnet Creek, Sheraton Vistana villages, etc.

Any recomendations, suggestions? I am open to all comments as this is all new to us. We usually stay at a moderate, but, we are bringing his aunt with us and having two bedrooms this time would be really nice.

Caribe Royale is very nice. Two bedrooms, 2 full baths including hugh master bedroom bath. Washer/dryer/full kitchen/living room/dining area/enclosed balcony. These are included in the villas. It is just a short drive from Downtown Disney. We had a nice experience here last fall. There isn't much on these boards about it. We found out and read up on this resort on Mousesavers.com. The hotel offers specials as well.

 

[2girlsmom]

Agree with Caribe, this also has the benefit of daily housekeeping, and is quite a bit closer than Regal Palms. We stayed there in a 3 bedroom townhouse a couple years ago, and while it was a nice place, the complex is very large, no housekeeping, no toiletries, etc, and the pool ran out of pool towels twice in the 4 days we were there, telling us that it would be at least 2 hours before they would have any more clean (1st time we didn't swim, second time we went to the gift shop and bought a couple pool towels of our own).

 

[disneyfan55]

Agree with Caribe, this also has the benefit of daily housekeeping, and is quite a bit closer than Regal Palms. We stayed there in a 3 bedroom townhouse a couple years ago, and while it was a nice place, the complex is very large, no housekeeping, no toiletries, etc, and the pool ran out of pool towels twice in the 4 days we were there, telling us that it would be at least 2 hours before they would have any more clean (1st time we didn't swim, second time we went to the gift shop and bought a couple pool towels of our own).

Yes, I forgot to mention the daily housekeeping/toiletries! I didn't think of it as something special until realizing some condo etc do not include it.

 

[disneyfan55]

Also, Caribe has free parking and NO resort fees.

 

[Detailor]

We are considering places like Bonnet Creek, Sheraton Vistana villages, etc.

Any recomendations, suggestions? I am open to all comments as this is all new to us. We usually stay at a moderate, but, we are bringing his aunt with us and having two bedrooms this time would be really nice.

Sheraton Vistana Villages is very nice. If you go there, I'd suggest either the Key West or the St. Augustine sections. This is the sort of resort that will turn you away from ever wanting to stay at a regular hotel again.

Dick Taylor

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

We love the Sheraton Vistana Resort. The villas are large and all redone, the resort amenities aer excellent, and the property itself is so beautiful. Location is prime....just around the corner from DTD, and an easy drive to both the Universal and SeaWorld family of parks.

There are seven different pools, each a little different from the other. Two have waterfalls, one has a slide, one shows poolside movies, one is zero-entry, one has splash fountains, two have in-water volleyball nets, a couple are "quiet" pools, etc. Our villa in Spas was within a couple of minutes walk to at least 4 of those pools, so its easy to try out more than one.

If you book via the Sheraton website, you will receive daily housekeeping as part of your rate.














Each 2 bedroom unit (and some of the one bedroom units) have a screened in balcony, so you can sit out and enjoy your morning coffee with a view like this:

 

[Goofy4WDW1964]

Also, thanks for the pictures. I know that Sheraton Vistana Resort and Sheraton Vistana Villages are similar but different resorts. Does one have an advantage over the other. The location of either will work for us.

Caribe Royale didn't have rooms available. Beautiful resort and would have worked for our needs as well.

Regal Palms was an interesting option I hadn't heard of. May be a little farther than what I was wanting, but the cost may make up for that.

I do have a question and I hope this doesn't start anything. I am traveling with two smokers, and, I do know that they will not be able to smoke in the room. That is not an issue. Are there smoking areas throughout these resorts?

Also, do they take requests regarding needing a ground floor room?

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Also, thanks for the pictures. I know that Sheraton Vistana Resort and Sheraton Vistana Villages are similar but different resorts. Does one have an advantage over the other. The location of either will work for us.

Caribe Royale didn't have rooms available. Beautiful resort and would have worked for our needs as well.

Regal Palms was an interesting option I hadn't heard of. May be a little farther than what I was wanting, but the cost may make up for that.

I do have a question and I hope this doesn't start anything. I am traveling with two smokers, and, I do know that they will not be able to smoke in the room. That is not an issue. Are there smoking areas throughout these resorts?

Also, do they take requests regarding needing a ground floor room?

The Vistana Resort is larger and more spread out than the Villages. The Resort has many 2 and 3 storey buildings which don't have elevators (the only "tall" buildings are in Lakes and Cascades, and they only go to 4 or 5 stories high). Its an older property, but the interior of all units were redone right down to the studs over the past several years, so they're all refreshed and really lovely inside. The amenities will differ somewhat....for example, I don't think that the Villages have tennis courts.

The smoking areas at the Vistana Resort are surprisingly lovely. So nice, in fact, that I took a photo of oneto show my smoker friend who was in the process of planning her first trip there:



While smoking on your balcony is strictly prohibited, they certainly make smokers very comfy in some very nice spots reserved just for them.

You can make requests (not guaranteed, but SVR seems pretty accomodating most times) for a ground floor unit by sending in your request via their Diamond Lane Check In about two weeks before your arrival. Diamond Lane is accessed online here:

https://www.mystarcentral.com/services/diamond.jsp?propertyId=01

 

[Detailor]

The amenities will differ somewhat....for example, I don't think that the Villages have tennis courts.

Vistana Villages also has tennis courts, though not nearly as many as at SVR. There are two courts at SVV are located toward the back of the resort near the Key West village.

The two resorts offer quite similar amenities though Villages is considerably smaller and seems a bit more laid back in resort attitude than the Resorts. Though the two resorts are only about 3 miles apart, SVR has a location advantage being just around the corner from World Center Drive which leads directly onto Disney property - saving probably 5 minutes of drive time.

Sheraton has done a nice job with the Vistana Resort since they took over the resort. I believe that they built the Cascades section, and possibly Palms (can't remember for sure other than to recall that Cascades definitely wasn't there in the pre-Sheraton days when we first visited in 1997) and have refurbished and upgraded other phases of the resort over time. The sister resort, Vistana Villages, was built under Sheraton ownership, beginning around 2000. The most recent phase at SVV (St. Augustine section) was built during 2010-2011.

We've enjoyed our stays at both of these resorts.

Dick Taylor

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Vistana Villages also has tennis courts, though not nearly as many as at SVR. There are two courts at SVV are located toward the back of the resort near the Key West village.

Thanks for the correction, Dick . That is good to know!

 

[Goofy4WDW1964]

... do to their amenities, cost, and, location. From what I see, Vistana Resorts 2 bedroom has one king in the master and two twins in the second bedroom. But, Vistana Villages has one king in the master, two doubles in the second, and, a queen sofa sleeper in living room. Is that accurate?

Also, has anyone stayed at the Fountains? I believe this resort is right across the street from Vistana Villages. They had an amazing offer for the dates that we are going to be there. The offer is so good, I am thinking that the offer has to be contingent on sitting through a time share sales pitch. Is that resort a time share property?

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

... do to their amenities, cost, and, location. From what I see, Vistana Resorts 2 bedroom has one king in the master and two twins in the second bedroom. But, Vistana Villages has one king in the master, two doubles in the second, and, a queen sofa sleeper in living room. Is that accurate?

Only the Falls and Courts sections of the Vistana Resort have twins in the second bedroom.

The remaining sections (Cascades, Lakes, Fountains I & II, Spas, Palms and Springs) all have double beds in the second bedrooom.

 

[Goofy4WDW1964]

Only the Falls and Courts sections of the Vistana Resort have twins in the second bedroom.

The remaining sections (Cascades, Lakes, Fountains I & II, Spas, Palms and Springs) all have double beds in the second bedrooom.

I know request can not be guaranteed, but I would need the double beds in the second bedroom instead of the twins. Would they guarantee me double beds instead of twins, or, is that a type of request that can not be guranteed?

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

I know request can not be guaranteed, but I would need the double beds in the second bedroom instead of the twins. Would they guarantee me double beds instead of twins, or, is that a type of request that can not be guranteed?

How were you planning on reserving your stay? Through Sheraton directly?

If that's the case, I would try calling to see if they would book your reservation by phone and note that you need the "sleeps 8" configuration vs. the "sleeps 6".

 

[Goofy4WDW1964]

How were you planning on reserving your stay? Through Sheraton directly?

If that's the case, I would try calling to see if they would book your reservation by phone and note that you need the "sleeps 8" configuration vs. the "sleeps 6".

So far, I have only seen the option to book through Sheraton directly. Are there other options?

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

So far, I have only seen the option to book through Sheraton directly. Are there other options?

There are LOTS of options.

Some other sources to consider...

Dreams Unlimited (sponsors of this board) have a special rate for SVR.
http://www.dreamsunlimitedtravel.com/sheraton/vistana/svr-res.cfm

Expedia.

Booking.com.

Through a package with airfare (Jetblue Getaways, Southwest Vacations, etc.).

Or....directly from an owner (via Ebay, Redweek, Timeshare Users Group, My Resort Network, etc.).

 

[Goofy4WDW1964]

There are LOTS of options.

Some other sources to consider...

Dreams Unlimited (sponsors of this board) have a special rate for SVR.
http://www.dreamsunlimitedtravel.com/sheraton/vistana/svr-res.cfm

Expedia.

Booking.com.

Through a package with airfare (Jetblue Getaways, Southwest Vacations, etc.).

Or....directly from an owner (via Ebay, Redweek, Timeshare Users Group, My Resort Network, etc.).

I think I was getting a quote through a sight such as Booking.com and not directly through Sheraton.

 

[Detailor]

Gina has given you very good advice.

I'd recommend trying these to determine if the week that you want is available that way and to help establish a reasonable rental rate. Redweek is just redweek.com and Timeshare Users Group is http://tug2.com/timesharemarketplace/ look for the For Rent ads.

Price will tend to depend on when you're going and whether you're looking for a one-bedroom or two-bedroom villa but these more or less direct from owner sources tend to deliver lower pricing than from the more retail oriented websites.

Or....directly from an owner (via Ebay, Redweek, Timeshare Users Group, My Resort Network, etc.).

If none of those sources work out for you, do try this.

Dreams Unlimited (sponsors of this board) have a special rate for SVR.
http://www.dreamsunlimitedtravel.com/sheraton/vistana/svr-res.cfm

Dick Taylor