Sheraton Vistana or Orange Lake Resort?

[LaurenMic]

We just stayed at Orange Lake about a month ago, and were pretty disappointed. We are RCI members who have always stayed at Vistana, but this was a last minute trip and Vistana was booked our week so we went with OL. We all agreed that we would never go back because we like Vistana much better.

We were in the West Village, the monopoly houses, and while they were very bright and clean, it was way too far from everything. You had to drive to the pool, the restaurants, everything. I hate not being able to just walk to the pool on vacation. While Vistana is large, we were always within walking distance of a pool no matter what building we were in. On the plus side, the drive to Disney was very short and easy, we hit no traffic the whole week.

But the worst part was the customer service. Every person we encountered at OL was less than helpful to put it nicely. Every time we asked for directions around the property, they were unclear and kept giving us different answers. Every time we called down to the front desk with a question or for housekeeping, it took forever to get through if they even answered at all. We asked for a few extra towels, and they never came. A fuse blew in the bathroom one day, and it took three phone calls to maintenance and TEN hours for them to come fix it.

The list goes on, I know some people love OL, but we never had problems like this at Vistana. Maybe it was just a fluke that we had such back luck with service, but I don't think we'll be trying it again!

 

[gjw007]

I believe that you will probably be happy at either Orange Lake or Vistana Resort but it does depend on what you enjoy. I owned and have stayed at Orange Lake numerous times in all of the sections and I have never had a problem. I do like the older Golf Villas as they have a charm of their own. Where else can you park directly in front of your unit on a ground level unit but on older units rather than the newer multi-story units that have two- or three-hundred units.

I have stayed in multi-story units as well and while I have never had any problems, they are stale and lacking character. At Orange Lake, my preferences are River Island (I think they have the best layout of units at OLCC) and the Golf Villas at the West Village followed by the Tennis Villas in the West Village, the North Village, Magnolia Court in the West Village, and the East Village last. The Tennis Villas in the West Village, the 2- and 3-bedroom units the North Village, and the East Village are the same type. These are the units that are pictured at the OLCC webpage.

Vistana gets negative comments as well as Orange Lake. My stay at Vistana Resort was enjoyable and I have no problem recommending it as well as Orange Lake but I also understand that it also depends on the wants of the individual. I don't like tightly cramped resorts on 2 arces of property with 3000 units but I understand that some people like these types of resorts because everything is close together. Choosing this type of resort will leave you unhappy if you like wide-open, free-to-move about environments and vice-versa.

If you are not going to be spending much time at the resort, you might wish to try Bonnet Creek as there are a lot of units in a smaller area but I understand the resort is nice although I have never stayed there. Vistana, like OLCC, may make you drive from one section to another. For example, I stayed in the Fountains II area which is an annex from the main section. I don't remember any dining facilities in the area but there were some in the main section. There were bars around the pool I believe if I remember correctly. Vistana also had various activities and the pool within walking distance of the unit. Depending where you are at at OLCC, you may wish to drive or take the shuttle. At Bonnett Creek you wouldn't have any driving.

OLCC is closer to WDW (it borders the Animal Kingdom) whereas Vistana is, maybe, a couple miles off 535 (I think). OLCC will get you quicker to the Animal Kingdom and on property, in general if you use the toll road, 429, to the Western Way Disney road whereas Vistana will get you quicker to Downtown Disney. The difference between the two resorts in getting to the other parks is probably less than a minute or so with the edge toward OLCC. In reality, it is a vacation, so relaxation should be the most important aspect rather than worry over a minute or two extra drive.

 

[kstgelais4]

We stayed at Vistana in 2006, and had a really great experience. I believe we were in the fountains section, and everything was clean and modern. The staff was very polite and helpful. We had a pool and hot tub within a 3 min. walking distance. We didn't utilize the rest of the resort so much because we were in the parks a lot, so the only thing that really mattered was our room, which was fine! The only thing that I didn't like was that our unit was on the 3rd floor and we had 4 small children that needed to be carried back to our rooms most nights. There was no elevator in our buiding, only stairs.
We are staying at Orange Lakes North village when we go in Oct. I am hoping that the building we stay in has and elevator! Does anyone know?

 

[Wishing on a star]

That is a good question about the elevators! I was also wondering.
In most states, buildings 3 stories or less are not required to have elevators... and many of them do not. I usually like being up off the ground floor, as this affords more privacy... no cars pulling in the parking lot shining headlights in your window.. no people walking to and fro inches from your ground floor patio, etc...

KELLY, I AM SURE THAT IF YOU CONTACT THE RESORT A WEEK OR TWO BEFORE YOU TRAVEL TO REQUEST GROUND FLOOR... (AND THEN POSSIBLY CALL TO REMIND THEM...) THEY WOULD UNDERSTAND YOUR SITUATION WITH YOUNG CHILDREN... PERSONS WITH MOBILITY ISSUES OFTEN REQUIRE GROUND FLOOR, AND THIS SHOULD BE A REQUEST THAT THEY WILL GIVE STRONG CONSIDERATION.

We will staying at North in Orange Lake this spring.
I will be very happy to pay back for any information that I gain here by posting as many details as possible.

As far as comparing OL and Vistana... I have stayed at Vistana, and here is my take... The other poster is right... Some areas of Vistana will be more 'crowded' in than OL... The reason that I chose the North Village of OL is that there is peace and quiet and breathing room. I figure there is enough excitement and sensory overload at the Parks and the Pools, etc... I don't need that to be going on outside my unit from 6:00a.m. till Midnight every night. So, count me in with the 'breathing room' crowd.

Also, regarding OL-vs-Vistana. We were VERY lucky when were at Vistana, as we were placed in what I called the Penthouse unit on the top floor of one of the Cascades buildings (the newest section) overlooking that nice pool that you see in all the PR. But, I can say that, without a doubt, the pools and public areas at OL, from the River Island section, to the new main venue pool and Lakefront in the west section, and the Splash Lagoon pool in the North section, etc. would far surpass what I saw at Vistana... Yes the Cascades pool was WONDERFUL... but that alone simply can not compare to what OL has available to offer... Add Golf to the mix... It was a hands down decision for us, we made our exchange for Orange Lake.

I am trying to figure out how to word this... But aside from the Cascades section at Vistana, which is typical concrete, pool, contemporary resort, Vistana has a completely different 'feel'. In the older sections, there are mature trees and vegation, which make for a natural and 'shady' park-like feel... Where OL is a more bright and open feel. While both have their appeal, depending on ones tastes... I go to a resort in Florida for the sunny bright open feel.

Just my thoughts! (ymmv)

 

[MiaSRN62]

Where OL is a more bright and open feel. While both have their appeal, depending on ones tastes... I go to a resort in Florida for the sunny bright open feel.

I honestly don't know what the sunny , bright open feel is.......maybe if someone could post some photos, I'd have a better idea of what OL is like ?

I find Vistana very lush with vegetation and tropical bushes and trees......so it feels very "Florida" to me ?


Here are my photos of Vistana....taken over a variety of different sections at the resort :

 

[gjw007]

We are staying at Orange Lakes North village when we go in Oct. I am hoping that the building we stay in has and elevator! Does anyone know?

The 1-bedroom units are in a multi-story building near Splash Lagoon. I stayed there many years ago and I remember there being an elevator. The 2- and 3-bedroom units don't have an elevator. The buildings consist of 5 units. There are two 3-bedroom unit sand-witching a 2-bedroom unit on the ground level and then there are two 2-bedroom units above these.

 

[kstgelais4]

The 1-bedroom units are in a multi-story building near Splash Lagoon. I stayed there many years ago and I remember there being an elevator. The 2- and 3-bedroom units don't have an elevator. The buildings consist of 5 units. There are two 3-bedroom unit sand-witching a 2-bedroom unit on the ground level and then there are two 2-bedroom units above these.

Thanks for the info! We are staying in a 2 BR. Hopefully they will honor a request if I call. There is nothing worse than trying to get all the junk from the parks and carrying sleeping children up a bunch of flights of stairs. Well, I guess there are worse things, but it sucks

 

[Nascia]

We stayed at OL during our trip in Dec. We had a two bedroom unit in the River Island section. We found the room to be very spacious and clean. They were also very quiet; we never heard any of our neighbors, including the family with 5 small kids. It was convenient (no more than a 2-3 min walk) to the pool/ lazy river and on site restaurants. The staff was ok, not overly helpful, but we've encountered far worse. The kids loved the pool, so much so they wanted to skip a day at the parks and hang out there. There is also a Publix store and small shopping center right before the property entrance which was very nice.

 

[El&kris'mom]

Hello! We have a week that we traded into RCI and both of these resorts have 2 bdr units available for the week we plan to come (Nov. 29-Dec. 6).
I have been looking at the web sites for these resorts and at tripadvisor and have conflicting feelings.

We are used to staying at nice resorts and I do not want this trip to be ruined because we are stuck with a dirty or old or dark and dingy room!
I see there is a lot of renovation being done and since it will be almost a year before we go, and we will be there at a fairly quiet time, I'm hopeful that we will be given a decent room, but I'm still nervous...

I see RCI also has Disney Villas available, but of course at the moment there are none available. I thought about doing an ongoing search to try my luck at getting one of those.
I am new to the whole RCI thing so I don't know how probable that would be.

Any advice would be appreciated!

Is the Sheraton the Villages or the Resort? We stay last January at Sheraton Visitana Villages with our bonus time and loved it. We had a 2 bedroom lockoff. The pools were great, the restaurant was great for the days after the park when we didnt want to cook. We brought friends with us and they were very impressed.

 

[gjw007]

Thanks for the info! We are staying in a 2 BR. Hopefully they will honor a request if I call. There is nothing worse than trying to get all the junk from the parks and carrying sleeping children up a bunch of flights of stairs. Well, I guess there are worse things, but it sucks

I should have added for clarity that the 2- and 3-bedroom units are in buildings with 2 stories.

 

[loveysbydesign]

What's the best way to reserve a stay at Vistana...we only need 3 nights..thanks!

 

[Wishing on a star]

I am not sure of the 'best' way...
I would try these three options that come to mind right away, and compare the pricing, etc...

1. You can rent directly from Vistana
2. RCI may offer nightly rentals, due to the large number of available units
3. The travel agency that sponsers the DIS arranges stays at Vistana... there is often a banner at the top of the screen when you pull up the dis...

And there are always online sites like tripadvisor, which can sometimes compare rates thru different online travel companies.