Review Sheraton Vistana Resort Questions

[Lupeix]

Very excited to be checking in at SVR in 48 short days! We are typically Disney property people so I am hoping to get some advice on requests to make.

There will be 5 traveling in our party and we have a one bedroom booked. It is me (32), DD (3), DSis (28), nephew (3) and mom. We love the idea of a zero entry pool for the kids, a pool bar for the moms/gma and a top level unit. Can anyone point me in the right direction for a section to request? Thank you!

I figured since I had so much help from the DIS boards last summer before going to Vistana, I will share my 2 cents after being there.

One bedrooms are only lakes or cascades I believe.They do have a max of four people and 5 will be tight in a one bedroom, not sure if you can upgrade to a 2 bedroom but I will seriously consider it, the price difference is not as much as you may think. Although a lot of people prefer cascades, we stayed at a one bedroom in the Lakes and like it better for the following reasons:

-My husband who always works out on vacation preferred the fountains /lakes fitness center to the cascades.

-It is a quieter area of the resort

- The fountains pool area has a really nice kid pool (we had a 2 year old, now 3) and also a nice bar

My toddler also loved the Falls pool area, but the bar is not as convenient

Here is a link to the resort map FYI

http://www.tugbbs.com/forums/showthread.php?p=886044

hope this helps! enjoy it is a great resort

 

[kokomos]

Questions for those who have stayed here. What everyday items do we need to pick up? Toilet paper, paper towels laundry detergent etc? We do plan to do a good bit of cooking. Should we bring plastic storage containers for the fridge for left overs? Thanks

 

[mrsap]

Questions for those who have stayed here. What everyday items do we need to pick up? Toilet paper, paper towels laundry detergent etc? We do plan to do a good bit of cooking. Should we bring plastic storage containers for the fridge for left overs? Thanks

Hi! Everything you mentioned (except storage containers) are provided. They also provide dish soap with a cleaning rag, as well as dishwasher soap. Most cooking items, such as pots, pans, utensils are also provided for use. I do buy aluminum foil to line the baking pans, and use it to wrap up items as well. It's up to you if need the containers. Enjoy!

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Hi! Everything you mentioned (except storage containers) are provided.

There was no laundry detergent in our villa last August. We brought along Tide Pods and used those.

 

[mrsap]

There was no laundry detergent in our villa last August. We brought along Tide Pods and used those.

Sorry, I forgot they no longer provide it. We too brought pods last year (my DH remembered). I wonder why they stopped giving it out.

 

[FrankieDplus3]

Does anyone have an update on Zimmie's? I heard they were going through some renos, but, was that last fall or this year?

(We're headed back in September.)

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Does anyone have an update on Zimmie's? I heard they were going through some renos, but, was that last fall or this year?

(We're headed back in September.)

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

I am pretty sure it underwent some sort of refurb in 2013, but its also scheduled for closure from August 15th to mid-December this year:

http://www.starwoodhotels.com/sheraton/property/overview/announcements.html?propertyID=5608

I received this email from Guest Services regarding our August stay:

"Commencing in the month of August , we will start on all the projects : such as The Welcome Center, Zimmies Family Restaurant, the Mini Golf areas and the new Sheraton Fitness center, Programmed by Core Performance at our Spa Recreation Center. Our Construction Team hopes to complete these projects by December."

With Zimmies, the mini golf, and the Spa Rec Center all scheduled to have work in progress during our August visit, I think we will take this opportunity to request a unit in Lakes or Fountains to give the other side of the resort a try. I am looking forward to comparing the feel of the two "sides"!

 

[kat3668]

Hello.... planning my first stay at Vistana and trying to pinpoint exactly where this resort is......Near downtown Disney? Do you have to go all the way down hotel blvd and turn right or left? I'm pretty familiar with the area as I always rent a car but I am baffled!

 

[mousiemom]

would love to know this too, checking in in 25 more days!!

 

[chalee94]

Hello.... planning my first stay at Vistana and trying to pinpoint exactly where this resort is......Near downtown Disney?

if you have a map (or look on google), SVR is on the north side of the triangle made by I-4, SR535 and SR536. you come out of the resort on SR535 and turn right on SR 536 (also called "World Center Drive") - right after you pass the marriott world center and cross over I-4, you hit the sign welcoming you to WDW. i'm pretty sure DTD is the first exit after entering WDW property.

(so it's not on hotel blvd - it is right across I-4 from DTD so it is close physically but not walkable.)

 

[kat3668]

if you have a map (or look on google), SVR is on the north side of the triangle made by I-4, SR535 and SR536. you come out of the resort on SR535 and turn right on SR 536 (also called "World Center Drive") - right after you pass the marriott world center and cross over I-4, you hit the sign welcoming you to WDW. i'm pretty sure DTD is the first exit after entering WDW property.

(so it's not on hotel blvd - it is right across I-4 from DTD so it is close physically but not walkable.)

Thank you!

 

[mickeys_chick]

if you have a map (or look on google), SVR is on the north side of the triangle made by I-4, SR535 and SR536. you come out of the resort on SR535 and turn right on SR 536 (also called "World Center Drive") - right after you pass the marriott world center and cross over I-4, you hit the sign welcoming you to WDW. i'm pretty sure DTD is the first exit after entering WDW property.

(so it's not on hotel blvd - it is right across I-4 from DTD so it is close physically but not walkable.)

I'm so glad you posted this, being from uk and driving when I come over I was worried about how to turn left back on sr535 to head back to say bahama breeze or downtown disney - knowing how busy it is. Glad you pointed the triangle out I'd have probably spotted that on the last day

 

[Mysteria]

Looking for advice on who/where to rent from for a stay at SVR. Any help greatly appreciated!

 

[bankr63]

Looking for advice on who/where to rent from for a stay at SVR. Any help greatly appreciated!

Check the other thread for Vistana here (started by myself); it has an index at the beginning which can help find this sort of stuff. The discussion starts with this post:
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=50633616&postcount=112

 

[Mysteria]

Check the other thread for Vistana here (started by myself); it has an index at the beginning which can help find this sort of stuff. The discussion starts with this post:
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=50633616&postcount=112

Thank you!

 

[blakefamily]

Just confirmed for Nov21-28th Friday check-in. 2br 8/6 occ. Any ideas which section we will be in and what size beds there will be?
I see that Zimmie's will be closed. What other food options are on site?
We have a 7yr old daughter. This will be her 1st trip to WDW and we will celebrate her 8th birthday there on the 22nd I am sooooo excited for this trip. My husband and I went with another couple in Sept and stayed at WBC. we loved it but it wasn't available to our dates and we wanted to be sure to get somewhere just as nice. The reviews seem great for SVR. I am curious to how large this resort is. Is it possible to walk to all the pools and sections? Also is there transportation to the parks? Any info and advice is greatly appreciated THANKS

 

[bankr63]

Just confirmed for Nov21-28th Friday check-in. 2br 8/6 occ. Any ideas which section we will be in and what size beds there will be?
I see that Zimmie's will be closed. What other food options are on site?
We have a 7yr old daughter. This will be her 1st trip to WDW and we will celebrate her 8th birthday there on the 22nd I am sooooo excited for this trip. My husband and I went with another couple in Sept and stayed at WBC. we loved it but it wasn't available to our dates and we wanted to be sure to get somewhere just as nice. The reviews seem great for SVR. I am curious to how large this resort is. Is it possible to walk to all the pools and sections? Also is there transportation to the parks? Any info and advice is greatly appreciated THANKS

Gina gave you a breakdown on the sections elsewhere.

Don't count Zimmies out - there were 5 different projects listed to be completed between summer and December - that doesn't mean they will all be going at the same time. Zimmies has both indoor and outdoor sections and one or the other is likely to remain open; there's a good possibility that both could be open. There is also the Cascades Bar and Grill, the Liki Tiki Bar and the Snack Shack (took the place of the food court last year). Also, the Marketplace has a really nice deli counter and makes fresh sandwiches to order. After that, you are heading off-site where there are lots of nearby options, or have something delivered to the resort. Ci-Ci's pizza is popular and has a nearby location.

We find the resort very manageable for walking, but we aren't afraid to walk a bit. Compared to the distances you walk at Disney, everything is just around the corner. There are sidewalks throughout, many that skirt along the lovely ponds. My best advice would be to pull the resort up on google maps and zoom in close. You can get a pretty good feel for the distances just by looking online.

Vistana runs shuttles to the park, free for hotel stay guests, fee for owners and timeshare stays. They offer a very limited number of trips per day. I would not recommend them; the convenience of a car is far superior; you can come and go from the parks as you please.

 

[tristyp]

Hello all. I am a spg platinum member and am looking at doing a 4 nighter in this area while I am in Orlando. Is my best bet to book through Sheraton (possibly use points) or book through someone reliable. If the latter could somebody please point me in the right direction on who to trust or where to book. If I book through spg am I subject to a time share presentation and if I go through them will I be able to request my area.
Thanks for any help you can give

 

[Tinky624]

In reference to Zimmies - We were just there in February and will be back in June. The bartenders at Zimmies informed us that at the end of summer the bar and Resturant will be closed at the same time due to the over hall to the kitchen, that is long over due, and the roof extension/replacement over the bar/outdoor dinning area. Not sure how long the kitchen updates will take, but they won't be able to sever outside if they can't cook inside. We normally book Thanksgiving weekend and did not last year due to the "scheduled" remodel that never took place. We will not be booking this year due to the postponed remodel from last year that know effects this Thanksgiving. Oh well!

 

[bankr63]

Hello all. I am a spg platinum member and am looking at doing a 4 nighter in this area while I am in Orlando. Is my best bet to book through Sheraton (possibly use points) or book through someone reliable. If the latter could somebody please point me in the right direction on who to trust or where to book. If I book through spg am I subject to a time share presentation and if I go through them will I be able to request my area.
Thanks for any help you can give

If you are SPG platinum, I would go through Starwood. There are no points on granted on timeshare stays, and you can't use your points to book timeshare stays. The only points we get when we stay are points for incidentals at the resort (dining and activities) that we charge back to the room. You will get points for your stay if you book a hotel stay through Starwood.

There is never a requirement to attend a TS presentation for a regular booking with Starwood; they occasionally offer really cheap 3 night getaway packages at their TS resorts to SPG members - THOSE generally require a TS presentation. I am not sure if the resort offers upgrades to SPG Platinum members; this should be listed on the SPG site. I would bet that Platinum will probably mean you get a better location within the resort.