Sheraton Vistana Resort - nontimeshare owner guests

[2disneyboys]

Hi There... My Sister and I are meeting up for a WDW Trip in early early April 2011. We are talking about staying offsite and one of the options we are looking at is Sheraton Vistana Resort.

We are driving, so are not concerned with the shuttle service (plus annual pass holders to WDW so free parking @ the parks)
neither of us are time share owners, nor do we have any desire to be a time share owner.
There are 6 of us in total (3 adults 3 kids) so are considering the 2 bedroom villa @ the florida resident rate

with that said, all the threads I have searched on this forum appear to be timeshare owners etc. can anyone who is not timeshare affiliated stay here? anyone who has stayed here, would you stay again? if you would not stay here, what other nontimeshare offsite hotel would you consider? we are going back again 2 more times this year, and both times staying onsite, so trying to save some money on this trip by staying offsite and having a kitchen for some of our meals..

thoughts... suggestions... thank you!

 

[Upatnoon]

Hi There... My Sister and I are meeting up for a WDW Trip in early early April 2011. We are talking about staying offsite and one of the options we are looking at is Sheraton Vistana Resort.

We are driving, so are not concerned with the shuttle service (plus annual pass holders to WDW so free parking @ the parks)
neither of us are time share owners, nor do we have any desire to be a time share owner.
There are 6 of us in total (3 adults 3 kids) so are considering the 2 bedroom villa @ the florida resident rate

with that said, all the threads I have searched on this forum appear to be timeshare owners etc. can anyone who is not timeshare affiliated stay here? anyone who has stayed here, would you stay again? if you would not stay here, what other nontimeshare offsite hotel would you consider? we are going back again 2 more times this year, and both times staying onsite, so trying to save some money on this trip by staying offsite and having a kitchen for some of our meals..

thoughts... suggestions... thank you!

My neighbors have stayed there several times as guests of a relative. You can buy reservations from owners and even from Sheraton. They like it.

Another good option is Wyndham Bonnet Creek, which is within the gates of Disney. Read about it in the "We looooooove Bonnet Creek" thread.

 

[kathy884]

I highly recommend the resort. The units , ammenities, landscaping, etc. are really nice. I have done retail stays there, just called them and booked a few nights. For longer stays to save $s, I've rented from timeshare owners on Redweek.com or TUG2.net, but that only works for a seven night stay from the day that the owner's week starts, usually a Fri, Sat., or Sun.

If you haven't stayed at timeshare resorts before, do remember that the free informaiton / coupon packet that they call you about and ask you to pick up is just their way of getting you to come over and maybe having you sign up to attend a high pressure timeshare presentation that they say will be an hour and a half, but from what people tell me ends up being no fun at all and lasting about three hours. I love staying at timeshare resort, but I recommend just saying no to this kind of thing.

 

[2disneyboys]

Thanks for the info. Yes, we will def say no to the presentation and or any "free" coupon packets. We don't want to waste our time or theirs as we have been burned by a time share program before and have no intention of EVER going that route again.

Thanks again folks!

 

[DLB]

We DO own a timeshare through RCI which is how we stay at Sheraton vistana. It is wonderful! We really enjoy the resort, the pools, the grounds, the restaurants, and the distance to the world.
We just never answered our phone (they were pretty persistent) and we never had to sit through the presentation.

One time my friend used my timeshare and she did go to the presentation and she just said bluntly "why would I buy a timeshare when I can use my friends whenever I want" end of story they gave her the coupons and off they went. No high pressure.

We really enjoy staying off site and highly recommend it. It is nice to leave the world and De-Mickey for the night. Eat at other restaurants and not pay the crazy prices, stop at Dunkin donuts, or the grocery store and cook a meal.

This is our first time staying within the world and I am scared that I will feel "trapped"!

.... So I highly recommend Sheraton vistana! And in the words of my son as we were leaving our "hotel house" he cried "I just want to live her for 100 days. "mom, it has everything we need a tv, washing machine and a really cool pool!!"
So? I guess you can't ask for anything better! Feel free to ask any specific questions as I have stated there twice.

 

[iluvflorida]

I am not a time share owner but stay in them all the time. I will be again staying at Vistana the last week of Jan. (getting close). It is my favorite timeshare and have stayed in a lot of them in the Orlando area. Go for it. I get them from www.skyauction.com and Vistana currently offers a 2BR on Apr 10 or Apr 29 or 30 Check in for $559 plus $20 tax=$579 for 7 nights/8days.

If you are not familar with skyauction it is a 100% legit web service that I have booked close to 75 weeks of vacation for myself and friends and am 110% satifified. If you need more information send my a private message and I will guide you through it. Oh and you do NOT have to take a tour but will be asked and they will give you a gift if you do but it is NOT a condition of this offer.

 

[KelnRon]

Here is my review I posted on tripadvisor last year: http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUser...ages_International_Drive-Orlando_Florida.html


There are a few pictures as well as our building we were in. We are not timeshare owners and it was our 1st trip there! We loved it!! We are going again in May and hope to stay there again!! With 4 children and a w/d & full kitchen and space for all of us is very important!

 

[disneymom3]

Thanks for the info. Yes, we will def say no to the presentation and or any "free" coupon packets. We don't want to waste our time or theirs as we have been burned by a time share program before and have no intention of EVER going that route again.

Thanks again folks!

My thing when we are staying at a timeshare resort is that I simply don't answer the phone. Anyone trying to get ahold of us on vacation will call our cells. Anyone calling my villa is very likely NOT someone I really need to talk to.

I am not a time share owner but stay in them all the time. I will be again staying at Vistana the last week of Jan. (getting close). It is my favorite timeshare and have stayed in a lot of them in the Orlando area. Go for it. I get them from www.skyauction.com and Vistana currently offers a 2BR on Apr 10 or Apr 29 or 30 Check in for $559 plus $20 tax=$579 for 7 nights/8days.

If you are not familar with skyauction it is a 100% legit web service that I have booked close to 75 weeks of vacation for myself and friends and am 110% satifified. If you need more information send my a private message and I will guide you through it. Oh and you do NOT have to take a tour but will be asked and they will give you a gift if you do but it is NOT a condition of this offer.

I second the sky auction suggestion. We have also used them several times. We have also booked through all ears at a great rate. Not sure if that can be linked from here, sorry.

As far as Vistana itself goes, let me say that our last trip we were able to use a trade in from my ILs to do a week at BCV. My kids were bummed that we were not at Vistana. They really liked walking to Epcot but other than that...they have requested that we stay at Vistana next time we go. Which we will.

The drive to the parks is beyond easy. The location is so convenient to everything you will need and more. There is even a Walgreens really close in case someone gets sick. And the grounds...so gorgeous and relaxing.

 

[disneymom3]

We really enjoy staying off site and highly recommend it. It is nice to leave the world and De-Mickey for the night. Eat at other restaurants and not pay the crazy prices, stop at Dunkin donuts, or the grocery store and cook a meal.

This is our first time staying within the world and I am scared that I will feel "trapped"!

.

I missed your post my first time through the thread. I completely agree with all you said and sadly, we did feel trapped staying at BCV. The problem is tha tyou are so far onto WDW property that just going to the grocery store to pick up a couple of items is a pain. And the prices in the resort markets are very possibly even crazier than in the restaurants themselves.

There are definite perks to it, don't get me wrong. But it's just not our style. We also really didn't like relying on the buses and much prefer having our own car. So, that shows kind of what we are like.

 

[cv499]

Hi, I am not a timeshare owner and just booked 9 nights at this resort. We have always stayed on site and want to try something different. We got a 2 bedroom villa the first week of april. The auction prices are way lower than what I paid. If you are driving and dates are flexible that would defiantely be the way to go. we have 3 adults and 3 kids going as well. We will be flying, so the cost averages out because airline tickets are much cheaper midweek.

 

[2disneyboys]

Thanks for all the good info guys! I think we are going to go ahead and take the plunge.. it will be our first offsite trip in a few years and it sounds like this is a good place to take the trial run. Thanks for the info!

 

[Taratink]

It is a fantastic place to stay. We love the vistana villages too. We take the phone off the hook the entire time we are there. You will not be disappointed.

 

[mousehouse]

thanks for the sky auction trip...i used it sunday was approved on monday....just like you said under 600.00 total for 7 nights....2b2b!! i've stayed here 8 or 9 times in the past...LOVE this resort and now i LOVE sky auction!!! one of the best tips ive ever gotten

 

[tripletmommiesrock]

My DH and I stay here every time we have ever gone to WDW. We've been 8 or 9 times and at different times of the year. It's wonderful. The rooms are beautiful and very spacious. We are not timeshare owners, my DH and I have a friend who works for Sheraton and booked us here the first time. The kitchens are well equipped, the master is HUGE. I honestly wouldn't stay anywhere else (except we are going to stay on property 1 time when take our kids for the first time) but no matter how great on property is, we will come back it's just too good! I would be happy to answer any other question you have about it. Enjoy!