Review Sheraton Vistana Resort Questions

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

I will just add a little input to the pools. Lakes pool is zero entry up to about 5 feet medium size, this is my sister's favorite pool.She is there right now. Although there are usually some younger children it is quieter than the fountains pool that is about a 2 minute walk away. We use the fountains pool often especially on Friday nights when they have outdoor movie night. It is a very large pool and yes you must get there by 11am and claim your chairs. Ages range from infant to senior. Heads up there is almost always two morons throwing a foot ball.There is a food court with pizza hut, A&W etc. This will keep the kids happy. There are also hidden away at the top of the waterfall, two hot tubs. Now the only problem with these is that sometimes large groups, families, teenagers will move in and want to have them exclusively for themselves. The fountains pool later in the evening is taken over by teens and although they don't bother you , it can get a little wild. This also can be expected at the cascades pool which is open until 1am. Again, plan on getting to cascades by 10 or 10:30 am if you expect to get a lounger or a chair. Make use of the whole resort, like banker stated the super pool is our favorite by far. Although it gets busy you can almost always find a place to sit and relax. After 6pm courts (seniors) pool is a great place to relax ,I would say that it has the best hot tub and is almost always empty. Until I posted this anyway! Ps sister says that the resort is top notch again this week and the pools are like bath water, Counting the days until we get there.

Thank you.....fabulous info!

We are also counting the days until our next getaway, but August still seems soooooooo far away . Keeperof4, when is your trip?

bankr63 had better dust off that camera of his, and take a whole bunch of resort pictures when he's on his March break trip. Us poor folks who still have more than six months to wait need a little photo therapy to help get us through .

 

[tots05]

hello, just discovered this Board and would love some help for trip to Disney this summer. We will be staying at Sheraton Vistana Resort for one week and just found out that we have to pay shuttle service to Disney and Universal for the 4 of us. Is there a cheaper way of going around the area? Im thinking of using a taxi to bring us to Disney and back but not sure how much it cost compared to paying for the shuttle.

About units, where is a nice place to stay in the summer? We would love a pool area and close to the market or places to eat as well but don't want it to be too crowded. We have a 7 yr old and 2 yr old kid with us. Is it better to get a ground floor unit or a top floor one? Any help will be very much appreciated.

 

[bankr63]

hello, just discovered this Board and would love some help for trip to Disney this summer. We will be staying at Sheraton Vistana Resort for one week and just found out that we have to pay shuttle service to Disney and Universal for the 4 of us. Is there a cheaper way of going around the area? Im thinking of using a taxi to bring us to Disney and back but not sure how much it cost compared to paying for the shuttle.

About units, where is a nice place to stay in the summer? We would love a pool area and close to the market or places to eat as well but don't want it to be too crowded. We have a 7 yr old and 2 yr old kid with us. Is it better to get a ground floor unit or a top floor one? Any help will be very much appreciated.

Hi tots and to DIS!

If you haven't done Orlando before, you may not know how much of a car-oriented city it is. It is tough relying on shuttles, especially with a young one in tow. I strongly recommend a rental car to everyone. Parking at Vistana is free, but you will pay $14 to park at Disney each day (only once a day - you get in and out privilege at all lots). Check out the transportation board here on DIS and you will get an education on how to get great deals on rental cars. Taxis are do-able, but the costs will add up.

There is really no section at Vistana that is better than another. Read through this thread (it will take a long time!) to understand the layout and where you might like to be. Almost all sections are very close to at least one pool - with a 2yo, the Cascades and Lakes pools are probably your best bets - zero entry. All units are well air-conditioned. Lower level units have easier access, but you always run the risk of having an elephant herd in the unit above (I've had mid/lowers before and never heard the neighbors, but I do occasionally hear that complaint). Top level units in most sections will have you climbing a few stairs, but no noises from upstairs to worry about. Also, some sections have uppers with nice vaulted ceilings and skylights.

 

[tots05]

Hi tots and to DIS!

If you haven't done Orlando before, you may not know how much of a car-oriented city it is. It is tough relying on shuttles, especially with a young one in tow. I strongly recommend a rental car to everyone. Parking at Vistana is free, but you will pay $14 to park at Disney each day (only once a day - you get in and out privilege at all lots). Check out the transportation board here on DIS and you will get an education on how to get great deals on rental cars. Taxis are do-able, but the costs will add up.

There is really no section at Vistana that is better than another. Read through this thread (it will take a long time!) to understand the layout and where you might like to be. Almost all sections are very close to at least one pool - with a 2yo, the Cascades and Lakes pools are probably your best bets - zero entry. All units are well air-conditioned. Lower level units have easier access, but you always run the risk of having an elephant herd in the unit above (I've had mid/lowers before and never heard the neighbors, but I do occasionally hear that complaint). Top level units in most sections will have you climbing a few stairs, but no noises from upstairs to worry about. Also, some sections have uppers with nice vaulted ceilings and skylights.

Thank you so much Cascades and Lakes are what Im leaning to as well (based on what I have read so far) what Im also intrigued about Spas. It won't be until June so I have a lot of time to read this board before then Thank you for the advice on checking the transportation boards... will do that. We have been to Orlando 7 yrs ago but we drove that time. This time we are flying so not sure on how to go around. Was thinking of renting a car but since we will be mostly at disney and one day at universal and not really thinking of going around, I thought of just using the resort shuttle but adding up everything, might as well just rent if that is the case. I was just wondering if using a taxi will be cheaper than both and how much it will be one way from Vistana to Disney.

 

[keeperof4]

tots05 rent a car !. Although the resort is a great place to spend your off time , shuttle buses and taxi cabs can add up to a substantial amount of money in no time. Depending on the size of your family and where you are flying into , simple research can get you an amazing price on midsize/full car with unlimited mileage. There is one particular rental car that is a fraction of "T"he others. We use them every year and it works out to about 25 dollars a day. There are so many things to see and do in Orlando that you don't want to be limited to where you can travel. As others have stated it's easy getting in to the parks in the morning, it's not so easy getting back to the resort after dark. So it's best to purchase an inexpensive gps and program SVR as your home base. There is amazing shopping , restaurants and entertainment in the Buena Vista, Kissimee area but it is almost a necessity to have a rental car. Have a great trip.

 

[keeperof4]

Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina This year Feb 19-Mar.5 tue tampa ,wed lego land, thur recover from lego land LOL sun, daytona 500,wed, thur? Aquatica, sat Sanford ,sun home, Its currently 89F at SVR

 

[tots05]

tots05 rent a car !. Although the resort is a great place to spend your off time , shuttle buses and taxi cabs can add up to a substantial amount of money in no time. Depending on the size of your family and where you are flying into , simple research can get you an amazing price on midsize/full car with unlimited mileage. There is one particular rental car that is a fraction of "T"he others. We use them every year and it works out to about 25 dollars a day. There are so many things to see and do in Orlando that you don't want to be limited to where you can travel. As others have stated it's easy getting in to the parks in the morning, it's not so easy getting back to the resort after dark. So it's best to purchase an inexpensive gps and program SVR as your home base. There is amazing shopping , restaurants and entertainment in the Buena Vista, Kissimee area but it is almost a necessity to have a rental car. Have a great trip.

Thank you so much... been researching on car rentals and the cheapest I can find right now is $476 for the whole week. I don't know if that is a good deal. I would love any info you can spare my way about rentals and where to rent.

About Vistana, are there any grocery stores close by the resort where we can get groceries or supplies when we get there? Any help is really appreciated.

Thank you so much to all the wonderful and helpful people on this board. We are excited to bring the kids to WDW this year.

 

[keeperof4]

tots05 It all depends on when you will be there ,if your there March, its pretty hard to get good rates this late.This is there peak time. Stay away from those third party sites.I don't think that I can name the one we use, but it rhymes with nifty. Again it all depends on where you pick up. The very most you should pay is $35 day( on this site,but this give you freedom to come and go.)When you see what is available in the vast Orlando area you will understand way you should have a car.There is a Walmart super store about ten min. away and Publix the same distance.The market on site is understandably over priced ,but dose provide many items as a last resort.I would figure that rent a car would be far cheaper in the long run. I would also stay clear of the cabs that the resort recommends,use the phone book on line before arriving (Buena Vista) call and you might work out a deal direct with them and they will take car of you ,remember my motto, a little tip money go's along way here. good luck to you

 

[keeperof4]

tots05 Just seen when you will be there .Don't book car now! wait and start viewing that site about the end of March first of April go on in the late evening , they will drop the rates to book the cars out. sat ,sun nights are a good time.If you don't get in under $200 wk. by end of April take there going rate. It always works for us, hope this helps

 

[tots05]

tots05 Just seen when you will be there .Don't book car now! wait and start viewing that site about the end of March first of April go on in the late evening , they will drop the rates to book the cars out. sat ,sun nights are a good time.If you don't get in under $200 wk. by end of April take there going rate. It always works for us, hope this helps

thank you so much keeper You just don't know how much you guys here have helped me. Im now leaning on renting. I really don't know what a good price for renting a week is but now because of you, I have a better idea. I will keep an eye on the car rental sites around March and April and hopefully will be able to get a good price I hope its ok if I can PM you when I get PM priviliges if I have more questions... Again, thank you so much...

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

thank you so much keeper You just don't know how much you guys here have helped me. Im now leaning on renting. I really don't know what a good price for renting a week is but now because of you, I have a better idea. I will keep an eye on the car rental sites around March and April and hopefully will be able to get a good price I hope its ok if I can PM you when I get PM priviliges if I have more questions... Again, thank you so much...

What exactly are your dates, tots05? (arrival and departure)

We have a mid-sized SUV secured through National for August 23 to August 31 (8 days). Our total, with taxes, is $266. Cars were, of course, even cheaper if you can make do with a smaller vehicle (my DH is almost 6' 4" .... so we need all the space we can get ). This rate also includes many of the optional extra insurance coverages that you don't get with a standard vehicle rental.

The transportation board has some very good threads for rental car discounts and codes. That is also a great place to look!!!

 

[tots05]

What exactly are your dates, tots05? (arrival and departure)

We have a mid-sized SUV secured through National for August 23 to August 31 (8 days). Our total, with taxes, is $266. Cars were, of course, even cheaper if you can make do with a smaller vehicle (my DH is almost 6' 4" .... so we need all the space we can get ). This rate also includes many of the optional extra insurance coverages that you don't get with a standard vehicle rental.

The transportation board has some very good threads for rental car discounts and codes. That is also a great place to look!!!

we are going on June 8-15... I tried to use united mileage plus contract ID and its $476... I will keep on reading the transportation boards... I hope I can find a deal as good as yours. It would be so wonderful to have the freedom to move around Orlando without the mercy of shuttles.

if we are checking in Saturday, what areas in Vistana are good to request? Will summer be very crowded? Although we will be spending majority of our time at Disney, Im thinking of having just one day to stay at the resort and enjoy the amenities.

 

[bankr63]

we are going on June 8-15... I tried to use united mileage plus contract ID and its $476... I will keep on reading the transportation boards... I hope I can find a deal as good as yours. It would be so wonderful to have the freedom to move around Orlando without the mercy of shuttles.

if we are checking in Saturday, what areas in Vistana are good to request? Will summer be very crowded? Although we will be spending majority of our time at Disney, Im thinking of having just one day to stay at the resort and enjoy the amenities.

2nd week of June is still not too busy - but you are arriving on a Star Wars Weekend (DHS). Shouldn't affect rental cars as they will all be using their teleporters The resort probably won't be at full capacity for another couple of weeks.

IMO - Best time to start looking for deals on rental cars is about 3 months out. But make a cancellable reservation now, and then rebook each time you find a better deal. There is no penalty with most agencies. I'm on my third reservation for March 8-17 - not as good a deal as Gina is looking at, but I knocked another $150 my rental this week.

 

[tots05]

2nd week of June is still not too busy - but you are arriving on a Star Wars Weekend (DHS). Shouldn't affect rental cars as they will all be using their teleporters The resort probably won't be at full capacity for another couple of weeks.

IMO - Best time to start looking for deals on rental cars is about 3 months out. But make a cancellable reservation now, and then rebook each time you find a better deal. There is no penalty with most agencies. I'm on my third reservation for March 8-17 - not as good a deal as Gina is looking at, but I knocked another $150 my rental this week.

Thank you We didn't even know about this until you have mentioned it. Is this a good thing? I noticed we will be coming on the last 2 days of the event. We will be arriving late Saturday afternoon so the only time we might be able to catch this is Sunday. My son (7yrs old) loves Star Wars, hopefully he will love this too

 

[bankr63]

Thank you We didn't even know about this until you have mentioned it. Is this a good thing? I noticed we will be coming on the last 2 days of the event. We will be arriving late Saturday afternoon so the only time we might be able to catch this is Sunday. My son (7yrs old) loves Star Wars, hopefully he will love this too

Don't know, not a huge SW fan myself, and the weekends are always in summer - we are always there in March. There are quite a few threads on DIS about it, but the most active appears to be this one:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2955827

If you hit the "Search" button on the ribbon above and type "Star Wars Weekend" you'll get lots of hits. There are threads about "how busy is it" and "is it good for a 5/10/15 year old". As you get used to DIS, you'll find that search button can be a good friend if you ask it the right questions...

 

[keeperof4]

It's kind of strange that we all want a great deal on a car rental/air fare/hotel but when we get to Disney World we gladly pay $15 for a 50 cent hat and $5 for a hotdog.Stand in line for an hour for a five minute ride eh. Little Canadian humor there guys. Seriously though, my brother is in the insurance business and if you are going to be renting a vehicle especially in Florida you may want to pay the extra $12 a day to purchase "liability" insurance. This covers you in case you are involved in an accident, surprisingly in Florida , they have the tendency to sue each other. Your insurance will not cover physical injuries. This $12 a day gives you up to a million dollars. If you do a little research you will see how many Canadians now have Floridians owning their homes because of this. Just my oppinion

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

we are going on June 8-15... I tried to use united mileage plus contract ID and its $476... I will keep on reading the transportation boards... I hope I can find a deal as good as yours. It would be so wonderful to have the freedom to move around Orlando without the mercy of shuttles.

Here's what you can get with National for your dates (I used a drop off and pick up time of 12 noon.....your rate may change slightly if the actual times are different):

(1) Time & Distance ($216.13/Rental) $216.13
Contract ID Flying Blue/air France Klm
Inclusive Rate Items
No Charge Distance Included
Loss Damage Waiver Full Included
Supplemental Liability Insurance Included
Customer Facility Charge 2.50/day Included
Airport Access Fee 10 Pct Included
Florida Surcharge 2.00/day Included
Tire/battery Fee .02/day Included
Vehicle License Fee .69/day Included
Sales Tax (6.50%) $4.06
Guaranteed Base Rate Included
Unlimited Miles Included

TOTAL: $220.19

That's for a midsize car. A midsize SUV was $259. These prices include all taxes and all the extra insurances listed above.

These rates are obtained using the KLM Flying Blue code 8572130 . The membership to Flying Blue is free, you just need to sign up on their website. Check out this thread for more information:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2878667

If National releases a coupon for your date range, then you could even knock it down another $25 or so.

Stand in line for an hour for a five minute ride eh. Little Canadian humor there guys. Seriously though, my brother is in the insurance business and if you are going to be renting a vehicle especially in Florida you may want to pay the extra $12 a day to purchase "liability" insurance. This covers you in case you are involved in an accident, surprisingly in Florida , they have the tendency to sue each other. Your insurance will not cover physical injuries. This $12 a day gives you up to a million dollars. If you do a little research you will see how many Canadians now have Floridians owning their homes because of this. Just my oppinion

The KLM Flying Blue code gives you all those extra insurances you recommend . See the info above.

A pretty good deal, eh?

 

[keeperof4]

That is a great price! This year was full size $368 us 13 days+ the $12 a day extra ins., pass 24 not inc.,never no what the total is until we return and get the exchange rate . I am wondering what the air was,we fly out of Bangor direct $89 down $119 back this time (5 people plus one $60 baggage fee $1300 can. apx ) we get the park and fly at the court yard 14 days parking one night($146) when we return ,that's when we buy all of our grocery items to take back across.We tried to take the kids to disney I do think when the were to young.We also tried to do more than two parks in the week this is really expensive,exhausting. I was not kidding about the time waiting in lines for more than one of the rides,even with the fast pass.By far our most memorable time was our first visit to Magic kingdom.(even with the time share sales lady calling from west gate!) Every one should visit there at least once. But we all agree the most fun was the air boat ride up in midway $150 afternoon.That why we are so happy to stay at SVR the kids always have someone to play with ,and we always know some one from home.18 days and counting

 

[disrev]

We're here right now (Cascades building 17, 5th floor just like we requested in our Diamond Lane form). This is our second stay here (Falls section last time).

I'm fairly certain this has not been mentioned but the KFC, Pizza Hut, A&W is no longer here. It's been replaced with a "Snack Shack" (can't remember actual name) that is more or less a classic resort counter service restaurant. Got wings and nachos there on Super Bowl Sunday and they were good. It must be pretty recent because the resort map they give you still has the chain restaurants down.

I gotta say we (DW, DD5, DS3,DD7mo) L-O-V-E this resort. Have stayed at multiple options on and off site and I think I'd choose this one for every category except the loss of reliable park transportation. We are talking about coming for a week and not even going to the parks... just enjoying the pools, playgrounds and area attractions that are free (DTD, Beach, etc.) of course, we'll end up getting Disney tix in the end (just can't pass it up)!

 

[tots05]

We're here right now (Cascades building 17, 5th floor just like we requested in our Diamond Lane form). This is our second stay here (Falls section last time).

I'm fairly certain this has not been mentioned but the KFC, Pizza Hut, A&W is no longer here. It's been replaced with a "Snack Shack" (can't remember actual name) that is more or less a classic resort counter service restaurant. Got wings and nachos there on Super Bowl Sunday and they were good. It must be pretty recent because the resort map they give you still has the chain restaurants down.

I gotta say we (DW, DD5, DS3,DD7mo) L-O-V-E this resort. Have stayed at multiple options on and off site and I think I'd choose this one for every category except the loss of reliable park transportation. We are talking about coming for a week and not even going to the parks... just enjoying the pools, playgrounds and area attractions that are free (DTD, Beach, etc.) of course, we'll end up getting Disney tix in the end (just can't pass it up)!

thank you Keeper and Gina, your advice are truly appreciated.

Disrev, how will you rate your room with the kids? Is there an elevator on the building? Im thinking of requesting for Cascades too with 2 kids (7 and 3) and would love some feedback