Opinions on Sheraton Vistana Resort?

[Kevs mom]

I am thinking of staying at the Sheraton Vistana Resort and was wondering if anyone has stayed there in the past? It looks to be a real nice place from the pictures I've seen. If you have stayed there did they allow you to request the section you wanted? I've read that the "Cascades" is the newer section and I hope to get that one. Thanks for any help!

 

[WDWisTheBest]

We stayed there twice recently and enjoyed both stays. You will see many comments about which section is better than another.
In my opinion, there are good and not so good comments that you can make about each section.

What really matters is that you enjoy your stay at whatever section you are in. There could be maintenance issues with the specific unit that you are in no matter what the location within Vistana.

It is well located and you should enjoy your stay no matter where you go. When are you thinking about coming? If the time is near, I would make my reservations soon.

 

[afsi3838]

i'll be there in 2 days!
I'll let you know what i think, any particular questions though?

 

[Kevs mom]

Thanks for your responses! Let me know how it was when you return afsi3838! WDWisTheBest - if you enjoyed your stays there then that is good enough for me, we had an "older" unit at Orange Lake this year and it was fine so I'm sure it will be alright there as well if that is what we get. My husband is curious about the parking there, when we stayed at OLCC last year we had a "condo" with our own parking space in front of it, he would like to know how it works at the Sheraton. Also if anyone knows if you can "request" a certain section before your arrival that would be helpful. Thanks and have a great trip afsi3838!

 

[jdm]

You have parking spaces in front of your unit. You can join their express checkin (diamond lane or something like that:~) which is on their website and request a certain area ahead of time. I think it just depends on how busy they are if they can accomodate you. We were there Prsidents / Daytona week and had requested their Cascades section. They were at capacity and could not give that, but gave us the Fountains section which was older but very nice. Had a great pool whcih was right out our back door. It is in a quieter area of the complex along with the Lakes. Those would be my 3 choices. Cascades, Lakes (also newer) and Fountains. Have fun, you'll like this resort.... especially if you're not picky about older units, which we were not.

Jenn

 

[threeboysmom]

We've owned a week at Vistana for the past 15 years and we LOVE this resort!! We stayed at OLCC last year to get a "comparison" and found we liked Vistana better - the pools were better & it was much easier to get around. Make sure you use their Diamond Lane check-in found on their website and make any requests you have there as well. So far, we've always had our requests honored. Any section should be fine EXCEPT Falls & Courts - I've heard nothing but bad things about them.

 

[spiceycat]

here is the website

www.starwoodvo.com/resorts/welcome.jsp?resortID=5

 

[WDWisTheBest]

We have stayed at Fountains and Courts. Of the two, I liked the fountains better although the Courts was closest to the General Store and to the Falls Clubhouse and recreation center.

here is a web link http://www.starwoodvo.com/resorts/amenities.jsp?resortID=5# where you can get some of the information that others have mentioned.

Tell your husband that there is parking right in front of the unit.
Diamond Lane check in is good.

 

[mog]

For those of you who have been to Vistana...
How far ahead of time did you do the Diamond Lane Check-In at their website?
We are going in 8 months - I just wondered when I should get on there and do it!
Thanks!

 

[Kevs mom]

mog, I went on the website earlier and checked out the Diamond Lane check-in and it said to submit your request at least 72 hours prior to your arrival so I'm guessing you would be ok to wait until a week or so before your arrival.

 

[Princess_Eeyore]

Hi There

We will be staying at the Vistana resort next week for 14 days. I went throught the diamond check-in online last week and requested the Cascades (as I did when I called in about a year ago) - They e mailed me the next day to say that RCI timeshareholders do not have a choice and had placed me in the Courts section. As you can imagine, I was pretty upset - according to tripadvisor this section is very run down. So for the last week, I have called and written to the Sheraton Vistana and finally I have been upgraded to a newer unit ... I am glad that my time complaining was well spent. I have to admit that the manager and staff of this resort has handled my complaints well ... hopefully when we check-in we DO get the newer section. I have printed out the e mail that they sent me that promises us a newer unit ... I will let you know how it goes

Hope the resort is good

 

[mog]

I was afraid of that - the RCI owners getting older sections, but I had posted a question about that before and had several people answer that they own RCI and got the newer sections. I don't know what to think now!

 

[dixielander]

I may be able to answer this, as I am a "Vistana Veteran", and I know a little about how they work.

The reason RCI trades are usually put in the older sections, is that if the trade includes a room that sleeps 6, that is all that Vistana is required to give. The units that only sleep 6, (vs. the ones that sleep 8) , ARE the older units.

If your RCI trade is for a 2 bedroom, "sleeps 8", you will be put in a newer section.

Vistana is not required to upgrade RCI trades.

If a newer unit is available and the resort is not full, they may upgrade, but they are not required to.

I booked my May 2004 Vistana trip through Expedia, and it specifically states, "2 bedroom, sleeps 8", so I hope I do OK. I love Cascades!! It's the best.

 

[AZKathy]

Originally posted by dixielander
I may be able to answer this, as I am a "Vistana Veteran", and I know a little about how they work.

The reason RCI trades are usually put in the older sections, is that if the trade includes a room that sleeps 6, that is all that Vistana is required to give. The units that only sleep 6, (vs. the ones that sleep 8) , ARE the older units.

If your RCI trade is for a 2 bedroom, "sleeps 8", you will be put in a newer section.

Vistana is not required to upgrade RCI trades.

If a newer unit is available and the resort is not full, they may upgrade, but they are not required to.

I booked my May 2004 Vistana trip through Expedia, and it specifically states, "2 bedroom, sleeps 8", so I hope I do OK. I love Cascades!! It's the best.

We were three families that stayed at Vistana on one of the family's trade with RCI for two- two bedrooms. Yes, we were put in the Falls section with the twin beds in the second room.

Unfortunately, there was no communication and lack of doing "homework" on our part first before trading because we were expecting the double beds in the second bedroom and it made it very difficult with the sleeping arrangements we had made with the three families and genders/ages of kids.

We also had problems with the rooms REAKING of old cigarette smell that smelled like someone had chained smoked in there for years. The odors were terrible and they did not go away with any air freshener or open back door or anything.

We also had problems with ants in the units. These units looked like they were made in the 60's/70's and there was attempts to update as well as could be done. The master bathroom did not have the garden tub jacuzzi that has been pictured in the Cascades section, but rather a deep regular size bath tub which was very difficult to get in and out of.

Honestly, we regret not studying up better on this resort to make sure that we would get the second bedroom with the double beds (thank goodness we brought an aerobed just in case) and RCI trades getting the older units. We were very disappointed in our units and regretably will not trade there again.

One nice thing I can say is that the grounds are lovely and the kids had a great time with this momma duck and her 12 ducklings. DS took great shots of them while there. The resort is very close to WDW and it was EASY to get anywhere during our stay.

Sorry to be a downer, here, but we just did not like the units we were in at all. RCI traders, watch out for the older sections!

 

[mog]

Dixielander,
Thanks for the insight - I never even thought about the number of bedrooms/max people angle! Our trade-in confirmation reads 2 bedroom
Maximum 8
Private 6
I'm assuming that means we may have a chance of getting one of the newer ones since it is for maximum 8 people! I'll request it and see what happens!
thanks again

 

[WDWisTheBest]

Mog, what you might want to do is to call in advance and let them know that you are probably going to have 8. That might help to seal the deal.
But, as I posted earlier, we enjoyed different sections, including those that are not supposed to be as good. If you go with the expection that you will be happy no matter which section you are in, that might help you to start off on the right foot.

I have seen posts by others that they were so disappointed on check-in that they did not get a specific section that they let it cast a negative pall over the trip before they started. Please don't fall into that trap of missed expectations.

Good luck.

 

[mog]

Don't worry - I've learned from experience that I usually manage to have a good time even when other "reviews" have been not so good so I won't fall into that trap! (we will be in Orlando after all - that in itself will make for an awesome time). Unfortunately, I have also learned from my own experience with many RCI trade-ins over the years that if we end up in an older resort or section they can be pretty bad at times! We are having a sort of "family reunion" with this trip (my parents have traded into Vistana, too) and I just want it to nice for all the family members who haven't stayed at timeshares before. So I'll just request the newer and go with the idea that whatever we get will be just fine!
Thanks!

 

[Princess_Eeyore]

Yes, RCI traders do get the older sections BUT I guarantee you if you call, write, e mail several times ... the resort will try to accommodate your request. A previous writer said that you must have an 8 sleeper to get the newer sections and that is absolutely correct - even if you have 6 people, you should upgrade with RCI to a 8 sleeper if you would like the newer sections. I have recieved a confirmation e mail from the resort now that we will be in a new unit, so I am happy. No matter what happens, I am going to WDW and this is a HAPPY trip

Good Luck