Sheraton Vistana Help. Leaving soon.

[kelmac284]

We are staying at the vistana on the 22nd.

I was wondering if someone can tell me which villas are better to stay in.

We have small kids and will have a rental car. We are also staying in a two room unit. I would appreciate any input and will they let you request a certain section?

Also has anyone done the grocery thing? We want to have them pre-stocked and would love input on this.

Thanks in advance for any help!!

 

[Cyndiu]

Oh boy, the answers to which villa at Vistana are many and varied!

Cascades is the newest, but smaller than the Lakes which is the second newest, but farthest from the center of the resort. The next oldest is Fountains II, then Fountains I, then Spas. We have stayed in all of these and honestly found that each had their merits. Even Spas, (the oldest we've stayed in) is preferred by some because the plantings are more established, its centrally located, near the store, etc. Friends of ours have stayed in the Springs, which is older than Spas and they loved it. I think whereever they place you, check out the room before you say "Move Me". The staff has always been very responsive and even if something isn't quite right they will work hard to make you happy.

With regards to groceries. I do not recommend that you ask them to stock for you. I've done it. Although the quality is just fine, the prices are significantly higher than you will pay at the grocery store. If you have a rental car, I would go to the Publix on 192. (Its a right out of the resort onto 535 and a left into the last shopping center on the left. Corner of 192) Publix is a full on grocery store with good prices and lots of selection. (Try the friend chicken from the deli.)

 

[kelmac284]

Thank you SOOO much for the help. Actually we were just going to get some breakfast stuff so that we didn't have to go shop on our first night there. Then we will probably go to the store later in the week. Do you think it is ok just for a few breakfast items?

Thanks again for all the help!!

 

[Cyndiu]

At the General Store they have box cereal and danish and coffee and eggs and really whatever you would have for breakfast. They have coolers with milk and soda and juice too. Truly, they would be capable of stocking you for the week, its just that they are more expensive than a regular grocery store and have fewer varieties of everything. As I said, I've used them to pre-stock before and everything was completely acceptable, just more expensive than the grocery store. (Plus, I like to go through the produce section myself, I just think I pick out better fruit than the typical pre-stocker, you know?)

 

[spiceycat]

I have stayed in the Springs and it is pretty old. but it was great for us.

6 feet from the villa to our car.

loved it!!!

I once got DVC to fill our refrigerator - they are just too expensive.

if you want someone to go to the grocery store for you - then use
www.wegoshop.com

there extra charge is $20 plus a tip (you decide the tip).

they are pretty wonderful to work with and they will do their best for you.

not this extra $5 fee then extra 18.5%, then extra etc - you get the picture...

 

[DeeCeeSW]

kelmac--we'll be there the same time as you! We plan on going to the new Super Walmart right down the road on Apopka-Vineland Road to stock up on food. If Walmart is not your scene, there is also a Winn-Dixie on Apopka-Vineland, which I find more reasonable than Publix.

 

[kelmac284]

Thanks so much everyone you have been SO helpful!! I think after hearing everything we are probably just going to blow off the grocery thing through vistana and go to breakfast the first morning and then go to the publix or Walmart. I agree I am going to be spending enough money as it is so Walmart here I come LOL.

Thanks again everyone and Dee Cee if you see a family with a little red head and a blonde 4 and 5 and a 14 year old brunette with 2 parents and two grandparents thats us!!

 

[MiaSRN62]

Cascades is the newest, but smaller than the Lakes which is the second newest, but farthest from the center of the resort. The next oldest is Fountains II, then Fountains I, then Spas. We have stayed in all of these and honestly found that each had their merits. Even Spas, (the oldest we've stayed in)

The age of the sections, from newest to oldest :
Cascades
Lakes
Fountains II
Fountains
Springs
Palms
Spas
Falls
Courts

Normally I'd say try to avoid the older sections, but Vistana has done a pretty good job with upkeeping/remodeling the older sections. I stayed in the Spas in '99 and was not as happy with those accomodations as I was with the Fountains---particularily Fountains II. But I'm sure they've been remodeled since '99. The Courts, in particular, stands out as being a little dated because it was not built by Vistana. It was an existing condo/townhouse building that Vistana acquired when they bought the land in 1980. So the setup is different in this section. Namely, there is no water view in any of the units. They all have a courtyard view of a grassy open area. There are a few areas in several sections that do not have a water view. But most have either a view of a pool or small lake/waterway from the patio/balcony. Use the online registration form to submit any special requests : https://www.svosecure.com/starwoodvo/diamond.jsp?resortID=5

My personal favorite section is the Lakes. Alot of people like the newest Cascades, but I find them smaller and in a more bustling area of the resort. As Cyndiu pointed out, the trees/vegetation are more lush and mature in the other sections. With small children, you'll probably prefer the zero depth entry pools at the Lakes and Cascades. So much easier for little ones.
The General Store is ok for general breakfast items etc, but they will be a bit more pricey than you would get from the Super Walmart or Publix down the road. You will pay for that convenience. We prefer to hit the bigger grocery stores on arrival day and just stock for the week.

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

Feel free to ask any questions and I'm sure you'll have a great trip !

 

[Taratink]

Miasrn62- I looked at your pictures and they all looked great. The olny one that looked really dated was Courts. The villas all look very clean and that is the most important. How is the mini golf? Would you recomend Zimmies?
Thanks,
Tara

 

[MiaSRN62]

How is the mini golf? Would you recomend Zimmies?

We played the mini golf only 2x in the last 10 years. It's a very basic/no frills course. I can't recall the rate per person because it was in 1998 when we last played. I think it was $2 or $3/person back then. I think it's like $5/person to play now, but if I recall correctly, they had a flat rate of maybe around $10/person to play all day ? I just remember thinking it should be a little cheaper. It's an easier course for little ones though.
Zimmies is very casual, but yes, I'd recommend it. We had dinner there this past August. The chicken ceasar salad was fresh and crisp. I had the loaded baked potato and a side salad. My ds had the wings. We enjoy the casual atmosphere. This past Aug, it was fun to sit there and enjoy our meal while at the same time enjoy the kareoke crowd. We were cracking up.
The Flamingo Cafe is a little more upscale as far as menu options (though still casual dining). We enjoy both of these onsite restaurants. Both will deliver to your villa as well.

 

[ttfn3]

I would make sure you request the type of unit you want - instead of focusing on a section. Do you want top floor? near a pool? One request I would definitely make is to make sure your unit does NOT face I-4 nor 535. Those units can be noisy. We have stayed in the Springs (least fav), the Falls (liked the location and the unit was fine)- and my favorite - the Fountains. We have been lucky to get newly renovated units and they are HUGE. We like to be a near a pool. However, we visit all the pools since we have a car.

For a few quick pickup breakfast items, I would recommend the Walgreen's. There's one near the Vistana and they often have good deals on grocery items (you can check their ad out online before you head down). It's much less expensive than the Vistana general store. There's a back road to the Walgreen's near the entrance to the Fountains section. (Hint - use this road if you ever need to turn left out of VR. It has a traffic light and it's much safer/easier).

For a full blown grocery store, we prefer the newer Publix on Vineland Ave. You take a left out of VR, then a right onto Vineland. It's around the bend from the Premium Outlet Mall, on the left in a shopping center.

We've participated in most of the VR activities. Make sure you pick up an activity guide for buy 1, get 1 free for mini golf & craft activities. If your kids participate in the free games such as pool games and basketball free throw, they usually get a coupon for a free round of mini golf. We like the extreme golf event on Sunday nights. They put goofy things on the course, and you have to do different things on different holes. You earn raffle tickets for a drawing after the event. It's a fun course for kids - nothing fancy tho.

I tend to shy away from the onsite restaurants. I prefer the offsite ones. Much less expensive and better food. We like the Orlando Ale House. It's good for the whole family.

 

[MiaSRN62]

The olny one that looked really dated was Courts.

I wanted to add, that a fellow DIS'er had a recent stay in the Courts (this summer) and posted their pics here :
http://www.wdwinfo.com/photopost/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=84871

 

[kelmac284]

Wow thanks everyone. I really appreciate all the info. I knew you guys would be awesome and very fast. Our biggest concern was not a second story if there is one cuz of strollers and such and also close to the parking lot. I would prefer not close to a loud highway and somewhat close to a pool but not necessarily right on top of one for the noise factor.

You guys have def convinced me to hold off and go to a reg groc store and thanks for the info about the restaurants.

We get in from a LONG flight from CA at about 6 florida time and by the time we get our luggage and rental car I have a feeling we aren't going to want to leave the resort. We will have been up since about 4 am and have just come off a 6 hour flight.

That is why I thought I would do the general store so that we didn't have to go shop that evening but now I think we will just eat breakfast out the next day and then hit the grocery store before we leave for Kennedy.

Again you guys are so helpful and that is what I LOVE about this site is I know I can always get the answers I need.

THANKS!!

 

[Scotfan]

You are right thinking you wont want to do much when you arrive - when we get in we have come off a 90 minute flight, 3 hr wait in London then 10 hr flight - having left at 4.30 am. We have a quick swim then grab pizza from the General Store before crashing! ( by then its about 2am UK time )

Enjoy.

 

[MiaSRN62]

Our biggest concern was not a second story if there is one cuz of strollers and such and also close to the parking lot. I would prefer not close to a loud highway and somewhat close to a pool but not necessarily right on top of one for the noise factor.

Hi Kelly,
I'd fill out the Diamond Lane form and request water view/ground floor. You are right, some of the pool views can be a little noisey. There are certain sections where the buildings back up to a fence with a highway beyond it. Fortunately there are not many of these buildings, but a couple of the Fountains II buildings have this. If you get villa (#1601 thru 1612) or (#1631 thru 1642) or (#1655 thru 1672), then I'd suggest you inquire if there's anything else available. I really like the Fountains II units but not these buildings.

 

[PortieOwner]

Also for groceries I think the SuperTarget is just a little bit past the Publix. The SuperTarget is huge, cheap, and when I was there it was empty of customers.

Portie

 

[Misa]

Thank you for posting your album of Vistana pictures! They were very helpful!

We're leaving this Thurs and have been told we're booked for the Cascade section. Looks like a beautiful place

 

[Taratink]

What request would you make for a Lakes or Cascades unit? I was thinking top floor if they had elevators. I am guessing the higher we go the less noise there will be. My kids will be 5 and 6 and they love to swim. I would like to be in walking distance of a pool.
Tara

 

[MiaSRN62]

Glad you enjoyed the pics Misa.
Tara, the Lakes and Cascades do have elevators. I'd simply request "upper floor" and "near pool" as your requests. I have found higher up is generally less noise (i.e. running across floors, slamming doors etc). But "near pool" could bring some noise of it's own. The Lakes has one pool-front building. For me, though it was only steps to the pool, was a little too much pool commotion for me.

 

[Taratink]

Thanks Maria! What times do the pools close?
Tara