Shearton Vistana Resort- LBV

[StephSalyer]

Since I have gleaned so much wonderful information on this site I thougt I would post on this resort, hoping it will be helpful.

Here's the story:
My Dad is a hopeless sentimental when it comes to getting his family together. So 2 weeks ago he started planning a family reunion for him, my mom, me and my DH, DD(11), DS(17), my 3 siblings with their spouses and a host of grandchildren (9 of them) ranging in age of 1 year old to 17 years old. Since it is being planned at the end of June and Disney prices are at their highest right then, it's offsite we go for our reunion. In his search for a nice place to have our reunion he found the Sheraton Vistana Resort and promptly booked 3 2-bedroom villas for 4 nights at a rate of $125.00 a night per villa for 4 nights.

Here's the part you may find useful.................. My parents and my family (me and my DH, DD(11), DS(17), are part of the blessed folks that get to live in the grand state of Florida (2 hours from Disney). Soooooooooo my parents took a trip to Orlando today to check out the resort to make sure it is not a dump.

GOOD NEWS!!! It looks great!!! When they arrived at the resort this afternoon a gentleman named Joe escorted them around the premises in a golf cart and gave them the grand tour. They looked at the pools, the tennis courts, the Kid's Mall, the Activity Center and a 2-bedroom Villa that had just been readied for a new family to arrive. They said the place looks wonderful. They happened to see a villa on the 3rd floor and it had large skylights, a master bedroom with a jacuzzi tub and a large living room with a dining area for 6. The villa also had a regular sized refrigerator, stove, micro The grouds are immaculately kept and everything looks spotless. There is one pool that has a slide that is currently being renovated and there are playgrounds for small children. Below are some pictures they took while they were there:

May parents said they think this room was in the fountains section and was one of the older rooms. If this is the worst they have, we'll be just fine.
Our reunion is planned for the last week of June so I will post of our experience once we return. Hope this was helpful!!

 

[spiceycat]

there are two Sheraton
one is the Sheraton Vistana Resort - then other is the SHeraton Vistana Village.

the newer one is the Village.

 

[StephSalyer]

This is the Lake Buena Vista Resort - not International Drive. I think the International Drive one is the newer one.............if not please correct me. i don't want to give false info.

 

[spiceycat]

yes the pictures looks like LBV...

I happened to love that resort. It is very, very close to WDW....

kept in mind you might be assigned an older unit - if so the unit is bigger - but might have some things wrong that the new ones don't...

 

[StephSalyer]

My parents said this was one of the older units. The person showing them around said they are in the process of redecorating some of the older units way in the back. Like I said, if this is as bad as it gets, it should still be ok.

 

[spiceycat]

the one I had was older.

http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/spice...=&.done=http://photos.yahoo.com/ph//my_photos

 

[StephSalyer]

Thanks for your photos!!! That still doesn't look too bad. I have read some not-so-great reviews. If we can request when we get there, what would you suggest?

 

[kstinw19]

I would definitely request the Cascades...that's the newest section. We stayed there last October for a family reunion of sorts too, and had a great room. Very new, very clean, great view (bottom floor but overlooking the lake), and near the main office and main pool.

We really liked our stay and it was definitely affordable. My parents own there since 1994 when I worked at Disney. I am kind of an "on Disney property" snob so I don't use the Vistana much, but it is very nice. My only complaint there was the food. I thought it was very expensive for mediocre food.

Have fun!

 

[MiaSRN62]

May parents said they think this room was in the fountains section and was one of the older rooms. If this is the worst they have, we'll be just fine.

This is a Fountains II unit. I own in the Fountains I & II, and it is older than the newer Cascades and Lakes, but it's right under those sections. It's not the "worst" they have though There are several sections older. Courts, Falls, Spas, Palms and Springs are all older than the Fountains I & II. If you're happy with the Fountains II, then I would request that and up (Lakes and Cascades). The Fountains II, Lakes and Cascades are the only ones that have a setup similar---being that the jacuzzi tub is inside the master bedroom. All the older sections have a jacuzzi or whirlpool tub inside the master bathroom. Just wanted you to be aware of this. Also----some Fountains II units do not have a water view. They back up to a small grassy area and a wooden fence. If a water view is important to you, then you do NOT want the following Fountains II units : 1601-1612; 1631-1642; 1655-1672

My only complaint there was the food. I thought it was very expensive for mediocre food.

I own there as well. Agreed the food is nothing spectacular, but some of it is quite good. Vistana has 2 sit down restaurants, as well as an outdoor walkup eatery and a Pizza Hut on site. I think any time you're dining onsite at a resort you're going to pay more. We stay on disney property alot as well too and their food is overpriced imho as well. There are many places outside the Vistana area to get cheaper food.

Steph, I would not wait to request a section when you get there. I'd call them now and add your requests to your reservation. Ask for Fountains II, Lakes or Cascades. Also, go to the Diamond Lane online form and fill that out. Also put your requests there----there's a place to type in specifics. Here's the link : https://www.svosecure.com/starwoodvo/diamond.jsp?resortID=5
When you go to check in, there will be a seperate (usually shorter !) line off to the left of the regular check-in line. You'll get quicker service here.

Have a nice trip with your family

 

[MommyHolly]

Hi,

I am at Vistana right now, in the Cascades section. If you have any specificic questions, I would be happy to answer them. One thing that I would like to add is that after requesting Cascades section, many people get an e-mail that it is not available. Ask again when you get there. We got the e-mail, and at check in she said that they were putting me by a pool as I requested. I said that I had requested to be by the cascades pool and she went back to her computer, and found us a perfect unit just steps away from the cascades pool. Persistance Pays!!

 

[StephSalyer]

Hi,

Persistance Pays!!

This is my life motto. That and "There is more than one way to skin a ......" Nevermind, I am sure there are many animal lovers that would not appreciate that one. Never really understood it anyway. Why on earth would anyone need to skin a ..................... Nevermind......

We will have 3 2 bedroom villas for our group of 19 - any suggestions on how to get them together??? And, do you know which section has the pool with the slide? We have several little ones that would love that feature. Thanks for the tip for the cascades.

I love this board!!! I started this post to be helpful, and again you have been more helpful to me.

 

[MiaSRN62]

We will have 3 2 bedroom villas for our group of 19 - any suggestions on how to get them together??? And, do you know which section has the pool with the slide?

Steph,
Not sure if you missed my post above ? But there is a link to the Diamond Lane reservation form. Fill that out and request the rooms to be together. Also, call the reservation number and request it with them as well.
The Falls section has the pool with the slide. It is a much older section and the second bedroom only has 2 twin beds not 2 double beds. You can visit that pool, but with the family of your size traveling, I'd go for a newer section (or even an older section) that has 2 double beds in the second bedroom.
Here is a pic of the pool side in the Falls section :

You can check out alot of my Vistana pics here : http://www.imagestation.com/album/?id=4287948459

 

[StephSalyer]

Thanks Maria. I did see your post above but wanted to clarify that was the best way to request the rooms together. We actually reserved them all under one reservation in hopes that will help. I am not sure if we could get the Cascades. From what I have read that area is usually given to the timeshare owners and us "outsiders" are usually given the older sections. But I guess you have not if you ask not.

We also have booked with no housekeeping. Does anyone know if you can obtain towles, sheets, etc from somewhere if you need them? With so many little ones traveling with us there is sure to be an accident or 2..........Thanks again everyone, you have already helped tremendously to make this a magical reunion.

 

[MiaSRN62]

not sure if we could get the Cascades. From what I have read that area is usually given to the timeshare owners and us "outsiders" are usually given the older sections. But I guess you have not if you ask not.

Hi Steph !
Don't feel like an outsider. Are you renting or exchanging via RCI/II ? If you are renting you have a much better chance of getting the Cascades. But if this is the case, you should be getting daily housekeeping. However, if you are exchangers, then you will only get a midweek touchup. So I'm not sure how you're getting no housekeeping. Midweek housekeeping should replenish your soaps/towels, empty trash cans and vacuum villa. If you need more towels/sheets just push the housekeeping button on your phone. Don't forget you have a washer/dryer in your villas so you can wash anything in between.
On a side note.....when you check in they will offer you a "welcome packet with discounts etc" at the other desk behind you. Do not go there unless you want to be talked into a timeshare presentation at the resort. Vistana can be hard-sell and pushy about this. We actually plan to unplug our villa phones when we check-in this August. Last year we got about 4 "persistant and pestering" calls from sale staff wanting us to attend a breakfast buffet----which is really a timeshare pitch. Just a head's up

 

[StephSalyer]

So I'm not sure how you're getting no housekeeping.

That's how my dad booked it. It states on the reservation "No Housekeeping" , that's why I was curious about the extra sheets and towels.


Maria,
I certainlly appreciate all of your input with this. It has made my whole family feel much more at ease about this trip. We are usually "on-site" snobs and were all a little reluctant to stay off site. The last time we got together like this was 10 years and 5 grandkids ago at the All-Stars, so it is sure to be a special time no matter what. It has actually been 6 years since we have all been together. I get weepy just thinking about seeing everyone in one place at one time. Before we moved out of state (Michigan) to Florida we all spent every holiday, birthday, anniversary, etc together. So again thank you, everyone's input has put our minds at ease so we can think about the important things............being together.

 

[MiaSRN62]

I certainlly appreciate all of your input with this. It has made my whole family feel much more at ease about this trip.

You're welcome....glad to help. I'm sure you'll get alot of good advice from people who have stayed at Vistana on these boards. I think it's one of the more popular offsite places to stay close to WDW. Your extended family trip sounds like it's going to be a very special one for everyone. We tried to do this several years ago before my mil passed away in 2004 and just couldn't pull it off. Someone's schedule always seemed to conflict. It would have been nice to get everyone together.

 

[StephSalyer]

We tried to do this several years ago before my mil passed away in 2004 and just couldn't pull it off. Someone's schedule always seemed to conflict. It would have been nice to get everyone together.

Actually we lost my brother-in-laws mother in January. She was ok at Christmas and died 3 weeks later from cancer. She was a very cherishedfamily friend (my bil and brother are childhood friends-that's how he met my sister ) and we miss her very dearly. It was through her death that we realized that none of us are guaranteed tomorrow. I think that is why this trip is so important to all of us. That's also why i am so grateful for all of the input on this thread.

 

[MiaSRN62]

I'm very sorry for your family's recent loss Steph. Cancer is a terrible thing....that's how we lost my mil in '04. We went on almost every wdw trip with her over the years and we'll always cherish those memories.