Sheraton Vistana Resort Villas - which one?

[MyPrince&Princess]

Hi everyone, we are in the midst of planning our upcoming trip to WDW and Universal in a couple of weeks. We've booked the SVR, but I don't know which Villas are best. We've stayed there 3 times over the last 3 years, for at least 8 nights each trip. Every visit, we've asked for the Fountains - not sure if it's I or II. This is because we are creatures of habit. We wanted top floor, and quiet. Unfortunately, that meant that our kitchen window faced a garbage bin. Our balcony had a view of a fountain in a pond, but other than that, I can't really tell you much more. The rooms seemed quiet, but at the end of a full day at the parks and a glass of vino with the hubs, I usually don't hear much.
My question is - are there better units? We have two young children and we (read "I") need quiet when "we" sleep. There are no pools near by to worry about the evening noise, but that also means that we have to drive to the pools, which is also fine because most of our days are at the parks anyway.
So, you're probably asking: what does she want to know?
I'd like to know if there are any 2 bedroom villas that are quiet, away from any of the highways and main streets, that have a king and two double beds, skylights, etc. - pretty much the same set up as the one that we usually stay at the Fountains,.
I know that Gina is a SVR pro - if you happen to read this - I'd appreciate your advice!

Also, what is Diamond Lane? I am an SPG Gold member and usually get quick check-in, but that doesn't mean that our villa is ready, which is what we do need.

thanks in advance for your help!!!

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

I don't know if I would consider myself a "pro" or not, but I'm here and will try to help as much as I can!

We own in the Fountains, so I will admit....that's the section we are partial to. After staying in Fountains, Lakes and Spas, I can honestly say that for location and villa layout/decor, Fountains is still our favourite of them all.

Spas has virtually the same layout as Fountains, but no skylights in the top floor villas (so they feel much "darker"). Lakes has a bit of a different layout (whirlpool tub in the bedroom versus the bathroom, slightly different kitchen configuration) but *does* have skylights in the 4th floor units. Rather than overlook the parking lots/stairs/garbage bins like the Fountains units, the kitchen windows of Lakes look out onto the exterior corridor which takes you to the elevators.

If double beds in the 2nd bedroom are a deal breaker, then avoid Falls and Courts (they have two singles).

Your check-in (and sometimes, check out) days also can affect which sections you may, or may not, be assigned to. Spas, for example, is generally for Friday check ins only. If you are staying outside of a standard 7 night reservation, the building to which you are assigned may align instead with your check OUT day rather than the day you check in.

See the coloured buildings on this map?:

https://www.mystarcentral.com/CMS/en_US/svo_media/CMSMedia/PDF/resort_maps/svr_resort_map.pdf

Buildings numbered in red are generally for Friday check ins only. Blue signifies Saturday check ins, and Green is for Sunday. Some sections have a few buildings of each colour, because they allow check ins in those villages on different days of the week. Now, all that said, we checked in on a Friday on our most recent trip but were assigned to Lakes 1 (which is coded a "saturday" building). I have no idea why, but I am guessing that that particular building was the one that offered villas that fulfilled ALL my Diamond Lane requests, and because the resort wasn't full, they were able to bend the rules a bit.

Diamond Lane is a way you can pre-submit your villa preferences in advance of your visit, while the resort is still in the room assignment process for your check in dates. Its open to everyone, and the online form can be found here:

https://www.mystarcentral.com/services/diamond.jsp?propertyId=01

If you send it in about two weeks before you arrive, it gives Guest Services a chance to place you in a villa that meets whatever specific criteria you're seeking. Now, it could be that they simply CAN'T meet all your requests, and they certainly don't guarantee that they'll satisfy any of them at all....but I do find that they really, really try. The more general you are, the better chance you have of getting everything you ask for....but if you want something specific (like for those that need a ground floor unit because stairs are a problem) this would be the time to ask. I always request: top floor unit with skylight, near the pool, away from the highways (and because we now own in Fountains, that's where I know we will be from here on out). You may want to request: top floor unit with skylight, quiet location, nice view, away from the two highways, short walk to one of the main pools.

The Diamond Lane check-in also allows you to let the resort know an approximate time that you will be arriving.....so hopefully, if you are there before the standard 4 pm check-in time, they will be able to get you into your villa early.

I hope that helps! Let me know if you have any other specific questions .

 

[MyPrince&Princess]

I KNEW you'd come through Gina! I've just been enjoying your posts on your most recent trip. I LOVE reading them! So full of awesome details, and I can just tell how much you love it there - like us! .... and the first few posts made me really hungry!!!
So, I guess that we did luck out that we've gotten Fountains for the last 3 years. Sounds like that's what we should ask for again. I was just wondering if there were any that were better. We are pretty far from pools, but that was okay because when I researched it for our first trip, a lot of advice was to ask for villas away from the pools because of the noise at night. In fact, I don't even know where the Fountains pools are. I think that we visited the Cascades pool last year. We're arriving on a Monday - what does that mean for check-in and building assignment?
I did contact one of the Managers and she said that she'd try to get us the same villa, but it sounds unlikely. I had no idea about Diamond Lane and she didn't mention it. Is it just for owners? I'll give it a shot anyway.
I'm going to get back to reading about your vacay.

thanks again!!!

 

[MyPrince&Princess]

oops. I forgot to add - do you know where on the map the major (i.e. loud) highways/roads are?

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

I KNEW you'd come through Gina! I've just been enjoying your posts on your most recent trip. I LOVE reading them! So full of awesome details, and I can just tell how much you love it there - like us! .... and the first few posts made me really hungry!!!
So, I guess that we did luck out that we've gotten Fountains for the last 3 years. Sounds like that's what we should ask for again. I was just wondering if there were any that were better. We are pretty far from pools, but that was okay because when I researched it for our first trip, a lot of advice was to ask for villas away from the pools because of the noise at night. In fact, I don't even know where the Fountains pools are. I think that we visited the Cascades pool last year. We're arriving on a Monday - what does that mean for check-in and building assignment?
I did contact one of the Managers and she said that she'd try to get us the same villa, but it sounds unlikely. I had no idea about Diamond Lane and she didn't mention it. Is it just for owners? I'll give it a shot anyway.
I'm going to get back to reading about your vacay.

thanks again!!!

You never got to the Fountains pool??? And you stayed in the Fountains section??? Oh, the travesty!!! (lol, I'm only shocked because its my FAVOURITE pool of them all! )

The Fountains pool has a wonderful waterfall (not quite as pounding and forceful as the one in Cascades), an assortment of deeper and more shallow sections, an in-water volleyball net, a separate kiddie pool adjacent to the main pool, and two tiered hot tubs set up in the rocks behind the waterfall (nice and private!). You can enjoy the music from the Tacky Tiki Bar while you swim, and they have an assortment of scheduled activities there throughout the week. There are two playgrounds adjacent to it: the Fountains playground (two play structures and swings with a sand base) and the Lakes playground (a bright and colourful play structure, completely different from the Fountains structures, with an artificial turf base).

It's a seriously awesome pool. Promise me you'll seek it out if you get assigned to the Fountains again this trip!

If you have little ones, they may also like the Lakes Pool (just a short walk from the Fountains pool). Its zero entry which is always nice for the younger guests.

Arriving on a Monday, you could be put almost anywhere (because that's outside of the customary Friday/Saturday/Sunday arrivals).

Fountains buildings 22 - 26 or 5-8 might be good choices for you, if you could get them. Close to the pool but not TOO close .

oops. I forgot to add - do you know where on the map the major (i.e. loud) highways/roads are?

State Road 535 is the thick grey line on the bottom of the map (its marked "To Disney World" and "To I4"). The I4 runs near the top right corner of the map, behind Fountains II buildings 44, 45, and 49-55 and extends to the left behind Lakes buildings 2, 3 & 6.

 

[MyPrince&Princess]

thanks Gina! Wish I could put you on speed dial! I cannot believe we've never seen the Fountains pool! We were in Orlando for 10 days last year - 7 days at WDW, 2 at Universal, and 1 at SeaWorld - with a 3 and 5 year old, from park opening to close every day. On our last day, we decided to have a resort day and hung around at the Cascades pool and all I could think of was "why didn't we do this earlier???".

Looking at the map, something tells me that we had to have been in one of buildings 51 to 57 or 49 to 55. Does that make sense? If we were in 49 to 55, would we have heard the highway? I need to dig out my check-in map that circled the building that we were in, but it was Fountains II for sure. Maybe we shouldn't ask for the same villa but ask for something in Fountains I.
We had a chance to look at a few other villas and I'm not a fan of the jacuzzi in the bedroom.

thanks again!

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Well, since you haven't checked out the Fountains pool area, let me show you what you have been missing!!























And this is the Lakes pool:



I can't say for sure, but I would hazard a guess that road noise could definitely have been a possibility if you were in the buildings you mentioned. I would recommend requesting via Diamond Lane a villa away from the highways, just in case! The Fountains II units all have the jacuzzi in the bedroom IIRC, but the Fountains I have them in the bathroom.

 

[MyPrince&Princess]

OMG OMG OMG. That's what we've been missing????!!?!?! Yeah, we are leaving one day for just pool time so I think we will be staying at the Fountains. Do you know if there is a bar/restaurant around the Fountains pool or is it just at Cascades? Also, can we bring our own snacks and drinks (alcoholic and non)?
Okay, that clears it up. We definitely had the jacuzzi in the bathroom. So we must have been in Fountains I. I am going to fill in the Diamond Lane request over the weekend. Does that give us enough time? We'll be in Orlando for the first week of July.

Gina - where in Universal is the Christmas store? Every year, I buy ornaments for my kids from MK's Christmas store, but a Minion ornament? Come on, who wouldn't love that!??!!?

thanks so much for taking the time to help me Gina!

 

[MyPrince&Princess]

Sorry - forgot to ask what is IIRC?
"The Fountains II units all have the jacuzzi in the bedroom IIRC, but the Fountains I have them in the bathroom.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

OMG OMG OMG. That's what we've been missing????!!?!?! Yeah, we are leaving one day for just pool time so I think we will be staying at the Fountains. Do you know if there is a bar/restaurant around the Fountains pool or is it just at Cascades? Also, can we bring our own snacks and drinks (alcoholic and non)?
Okay, that clears it up. We definitely had the jacuzzi in the bathroom. So we must have been in Fountains I. I am going to fill in the Diamond Lane request over the weekend. Does that give us enough time? We'll be in Orlando for the first week of July.

Gina - where in Universal is the Christmas store? Every year, I buy ornaments for my kids from MK's Christmas store, but a Minion ornament? Come on, who wouldn't love that!??!!?

thanks so much for taking the time to help me Gina!

The Tacky Tiki Bar is right beside the Fountains pool (your standard bar with a whole host of specialty drinks). The Tacky Tiki Bar & Grill is also there (hamburgers, pizza, fries, etc.). You can absolutely bring your own snacks and drinks to enjoy poolside...there are several tables (some with umbrellas, others with canopies) and lots of loungers.

Diamond Lane....submit your form two weeks before your arrival date, and you should be golden.

There are two Christmas stores at Universal...one in the New York section (across from the park), and the other in Port of Entry at Islands of Adventure. Lots of Minion ornaments in both locations!

Sorry - forgot to ask what is IIRC?
"The Fountains II units all have the jacuzzi in the bedroom IIRC, but the Fountains I have them in the bathroom.

"If I remember correctly". Lazy typer today .

 

[MyPrince&Princess]

oh man, I was trying out all sorts of things before I gave up and asked. I didn't even think of that!
So, yes, we were definitely in Fountains I because the jacuzzi is in the b-room. I am secretly hoping that we can just get the same unit. I'm not sure if they all look identical, but my kids think we own it - just like the condo we rent on the Gulf coast, just like the minivan we rent....hate to burst their bubble!!!
I cannot believe I missed TWO Christmas stores!!!

thanks Gina! I'm going to fill in the Diamond Lane and cross my fingers....

I've been looking at the forecast for the weeks that we are there, and it's not looking so friendly. Damn that Accuweather. I'm hoping it's not very accurate. I can handle the odd afternoon shower that we are used to getting, but the weather looks down-right awful!

thx!!!

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

oh man, I was trying out all sorts of things before I gave up and asked. I didn't even think of that!
So, yes, we were definitely in Fountains I because the jacuzzi is in the b-room. I am secretly hoping that we can just get the same unit. I'm not sure if they all look identical, but my kids think we own it - just like the condo we rent on the Gulf coast, just like the minivan we rent....hate to burst their bubble!!!
I cannot believe I missed TWO Christmas stores!!!

thanks Gina! I'm going to fill in the Diamond Lane and cross my fingers....

I've been looking at the forecast for the weeks that we are there, and it's not looking so friendly. Damn that Accuweather. I'm hoping it's not very accurate. I can handle the odd afternoon shower that we are used to getting, but the weather looks down-right awful!

thx!!!

The footprints of the fountains units, and the interior decor, should be pretty much exactly the same (except maybe the opposite floor plan, depending on whether your are on the right side or the left side of the building). I am betting your kiddos will never notice the difference between the two!

Disregard accuweather, its darn near useless. And Florida weather predictions are really only accurate to 24 hours or so out. I bet you will find that it will totally change by the time you are ready to go .

 

[CLK]

I don't know if I would consider myself a "pro" or not, but I'm here and will try to help as much as I can!

We own in the Fountains, so I will admit....that's the section we are partial to. After staying in Fountains, Lakes and Spas, I can honestly say that for location and villa layout/decor, Fountains is still our favourite of them all.

Spas has virtually the same layout as Fountains, but no skylights in the top floor villas (so they feel much "darker"). Lakes has a bit of a different layout (whirlpool tub in the bedroom versus the bathroom, slightly different kitchen configuration) but *does* have skylights in the 4th floor units. Rather than overlook the parking lots/stairs/garbage bins like the Fountains units, the kitchen windows of Lakes look out onto the exterior corridor which takes you to the elevators.

If double beds in the 2nd bedroom are a deal breaker, then avoid Falls and Courts (they have two singles).

Your check-in (and sometimes, check out) days also can affect which sections you may, or may not, be assigned to. Spas, for example, is generally for Friday check ins only. If you are staying outside of a standard 7 night reservation, the building to which you are assigned may align instead with your check OUT day rather than the day you check in.

See the coloured buildings on this map?:

https://www.mystarcentral.com/CMS/en_US/svo_media/CMSMedia/PDF/resort_maps/svr_resort_map.pdf

Buildings numbered in red are generally for Friday check ins only. Blue signifies Saturday check ins, and Green is for Sunday. Some sections have a few buildings of each colour, because they allow check ins in those villages on different days of the week. Now, all that said, we checked in on a Friday on our most recent trip but were assigned to Lakes 1 (which is coded a "saturday" building). I have no idea why, but I am guessing that that particular building was the one that offered villas that fulfilled ALL my Diamond Lane requests, and because the resort wasn't full, they were able to bend the rules a bit.

Diamond Lane is a way you can pre-submit your villa preferences in advance of your visit, while the resort is still in the room assignment process for your check in dates. Its open to everyone, and the online form can be found here:

https://www.mystarcentral.com/services/diamond.jsp?propertyId=01

If you send it in about two weeks before you arrive, it gives Guest Services a chance to place you in a villa that meets whatever specific criteria you're seeking. Now, it could be that they simply CAN'T meet all your requests, and they certainly don't guarantee that they'll satisfy any of them at all....but I do find that they really, really try. The more general you are, the better chance you have of getting everything you ask for....but if you want something specific (like for those that need a ground floor unit because stairs are a problem) this would be the time to ask. I always request: top floor unit with skylight, near the pool, away from the highways (and because we now own in Fountains, that's where I know we will be from here on out). You may want to request: top floor unit with skylight, quiet location, nice view, away from the two highways, short walk to one of the main pools.

The Diamond Lane check-in also allows you to let the resort know an approximate time that you will be arriving.....so hopefully, if you are there before the standard 4 pm check-in time, they will be able to get you into your villa early.

I hope that helps! Let me know if you have any other specific questions .

Hi - I just stumbled upon this thread and found it very useful! We are also in the planning stages of a trip (summer 2016) and we have never stayed here before. We just booked a two bedroom for Friday July 22 - 29th. I am overwhelmed when it comes to trying to figure out WHERE we want to stay within the resort. I realize we already booked, but I had heard (and then read here) that you can place your preference 2 weeks ahead of time. My personal thoughts would be near a great pool with a pool bar/food service and not a Villa on ground floor. That's really it - but reading this thread it sounds like there may be more things to consider? Views, noise, skylights, etc. I'm not that concerned about noise as our kids are teens - and will sleep through most things but what are some other things we should consider - and based on this post, it seems like you would say Fountains is the best area? I wold love some feedback on where you think the best area(s) are in the resort. Lastly, we want to add on 2 to 3 days to our stay because we really wanted to do 10 days, but since you can only book a week at a time, we did the Friday to Friday. We are considering staying on-property for a couple of days then heading over to the Vistana however, is it possible to add a couple days to a 7 day stay? Have you ever done that (or anyone reading this)? thanks for any help!

 

[bankr63]

Hi - I just stumbled upon this thread and found it very useful! We are also in the planning stages of a trip (summer 2016) and we have never stayed here before. We just booked a two bedroom for Friday July 22 - 29th. I am overwhelmed when it comes to trying to figure out WHERE we want to stay within the resort. I realize we already booked, but I had heard (and then read here) that you can place your preference 2 weeks ahead of time. My personal thoughts would be near a great pool with a pool bar/food service and not a Villa on ground floor. That's really it - but reading this thread it sounds like there may be more things to consider? Views, noise, skylights, etc. I'm not that concerned about noise as our kids are teens - and will sleep through most things but what are some other things we should consider - and based on this post, it seems like you would say Fountains is the best area? I wold love some feedback on where you think the best area(s) are in the resort. Lastly, we want to add on 2 to 3 days to our stay because we really wanted to do 10 days, but since you can only book a week at a time, we did the Friday to Friday. We are considering staying on-property for a couple of days then heading over to the Vistana however, is it possible to add a couple days to a 7 day stay? Have you ever done that (or anyone reading this)? thanks for any help!

Hi CLK,

You'll probably love it regardless of where you stay in the resort. I am always reluctant to recommend one section over another as one (wo)man's pleasure is another one's pain. Fountains is a great section, but it also has more than its share of poor location buildings.

My best recommendation for first timers is to just go, and get the feel of the place. No real reason to request a certain section until you really have your OWN favorite. Over time we have stayed in many sections other than our own section, and eventually will probably try them all.

To learn a ton more about Sheraton Vistana Resort, read along at our all purpose thread at:
http://www.disboards.com/threads/the-sheraton-vistana-resort-thread.3148502/
Currently at 52 pages, and over 1000 posts, there is lots to absorb, but you can find pictures of all the sections, and all the amenities, and find answers to most of your questions. Worth skimming at least!

As to extending, by all means it is possible. We've done this before by renting the extra days directly from Sheraton, but you can also get them through Dreams Unlimited (sponsor of this thread) or another TA. Sheraton is usually pretty good about linking up the reservations (through DL request) so you won't have to change locations between the reservations.