Sheraton Vistana Resort Villas???????

[WeCantWait]

I can most certainly understand your frustration WeCan'tWait......but this is a rare thing to happen at Vistana. Unfortunately it happened to you & unfortunately things like this can happen at any resort---even disney resorts. It's unbelievable that housekeeping thought you'd be alright with it. They had to have smelled it.

I agree it can happen at any resort. Honestly we stayed at the Poly in October and I was not pleased with the mousekeeping but it was nothing compared to what we just experienced at the Vistana.

 

[lenabelle]

My family owns at the Vistana in the Cascades, and we absolutely LOVE the Vistana. The variety of pools, size of your room/villa/condo/whatever you want to call it, and amenities are wonderful. We have also had family on some of our trips stay in a few of the other areas, and despite them being dubbed the "older" locations, are still extremely nice. I definitely recommend staying there - it is marvelous!

 

[littlbugmom]

Thanks for the replies. I also posted on the Disney Resorts board and have gotten a lot of responses there.

I'm sorry for the confusion I caused with the wording. I said Vistana Resort Villas.....I was trying to ask about the rooms at the Vistana Resort. (I didn't even know there was a Vistana Villages until I started reading the responses and doing some research on the web). They refer to the rooms as 1 and 2 bedroom villas.

This is what I've been reading:

The Vistana Resort is great but only the renovated rooms are great. There are MANY bad reviews for the not-yet-renovated sections. I'm not comfortable taking a chance that we'd get a non-renovated room.

I've read very good reviews about the Vistana Villages, though. I haven't come across anything startling there. I'm one of those people who believe every hotel/resort will have bad reviews here and there. I read some bad reviews about Disney's Old Key West but ended up loving it. The red flags go up when I read the same thing over and over...from many different people.

So, I moved our Vistana Resort reservations to the Vistana Villages and told the hotel agent why. I just don't want to risk getting a yucky room.
I haven't cancelled our OKW reservations yet. I'm still researching.....but the Vistana Villages are looking pretty good.

The amount of space we get, the price and the kitchen are big factors for us. OKW gives us space and a kitchen but kills us with the rate. I also think the Vistana Villages pools beat OKW by a mile. (at least, in pics)

I'm worried about being too near any new construction. It might bother us in the afternoon.

I've been thinking about what staying off Disney property might mean to us and I can't really come up with anything we'd lose by going offsite. I was worried about the "magic" of being on a Disney property and truthfully, I might miss all the hotel and restaurant employees talking up Disney with me.....but that isn't enough to make me spend over $2,000 more for a room.

I've already started thinking of ways to keep the "Disney" feel in our room. I actually don't want too much of it because my ds will need a break from all the stimulation.....but I've purchased some Mickey Mouse cups and plates for the kitchen and some wall clings to put up in the bedroom for him. He'll also be getting a small Disney themed toy each day when we go back to our room for a break. And even without any of that, I think we'd keep the magic with us.

 

[MiaSRN62]

I've been thinking about what staying off Disney property might mean to us and I can't really come up with anything we'd lose by going offsite. I was worried about the "magic" of being on a Disney property and truthfully, I might miss all the hotel and restaurant employees talking up Disney with me.....but that isn't enough to make me spend over $2,000 more for a room.

wow....$2,000 more is an awful lot. Though I feel onsite perks are not so much that the cast members talk up disney...but rather the ability to enter the parks an hour early and stay 3 hours later after offsite guests leave....package delivery and the ability to forgo renting a car all together onsite. When we stay onsite, we utilize the disney transportation alot. But then again, I have teens. They love being able to come and go as they please using the disney busses. When they were little....the busses made it easy to go back and forth for naps leaving one parent able to stay in the parks with the older ones.

My kids also love the OKW pool and sand castle pool slide.....but then again, I've never seen the Vistana Villages pool. Sounds very nice though. I think you are safer going with the Villages vs the main Vistana resort. Their villas are all consistantly newer. The main Vistana resort is working hard to get to a more uniform villa style. Over this year and 2009 many of the older sections are getting major facelifts (flat screen TV's, granite counter tops, new carpet/curtains/bedspreads etc).

I'm sure you'll be happy at the Villages. You know what is best for your family. Maybe one day when it's in your budget, you can try OKW (try renting it from a DVC Member---you can get it cheaper than from disney). OKW is a really quiet, laid-back resort. But for now, I'm sure you'll love Vistana Villages. Have a great time !

 

[Zippercat]

We've owned and stayed nearly every year at Vistana for over 10 years and have also stayed at Vistana Villages 3 times, including March, 2008. Villages is MUCH newer and the two bedroom units are very, very nice. You'll have full sized kitchen, very well equiped with nearly anything you need except food/spices, 3 flat screen tvs, stereo, dvd player, 2 full baths, balcony/porch with table and chairs and a washer and dryer.

Pools at Villages are great...but don't expect lots of planned activities for the kids. You really need a car there too since onsite store is pretty limited and the onsite restaurant is just ok for lunch (in my opinion).

If you can, request a unit that is NOT in one of the buildings which front International Drive. There is a lot of traffic noise, plus Villages' construction behind the buildings and more construction across the street. It starts pretty early. We liked the Key West area...but it's a longer walk to the main pool. There's a nice quiet pool at Keys, but the kids' stuff (waterfall) is at the main pool.

Enjoy your Trip.

 

[tjlamphere]

I had gotten something in the mail about the Caribe Royale, and called about booking a trip...price was right, but it was the Vistana Villages they were going to put me up at..and NO timeshare trip required. I had to talk to my wife about it, so I had them call me back. We firmed up the details, except it was the Vistant RESORT, not the VILLAGES. I have stayed at both, but it was over 5 years ago that I stayed at the Vistant Resort. I know it is much older than the Villages, and much larger. Should I have complained and demanded the Villages??? Is there a great difference? We will have our 8 yr old DGS with us, and he might actually enjoy the Vistana Resort more...they had their own onsite mini golf when I was there last. And I like the location better than the Villages.

If I can request a certain section, which is best? I know some areas have been renovated/updated and I would definitely want a newer section.

Did I get a dirty deal by accepting the Vistana Resort instead of demanding what they offered me originally, for the same price ????

 

[MiaSRN62]

Should I have complained and demanded the Villages??? Is there a great difference? We will have our 8 yr old DGS with us, and he might actually enjoy the Vistana Resort more...they had their own onsite mini golf when I was there last. And I like the location better than the Villages.

If I can request a certain section, which is best? I know some areas have been renovated/updated and I would definitely want a newer section.

Did I get a dirty deal by accepting the Vistana Resort instead of demanding what they offered me originally, for the same price ????

Hi jjlamphere,
I guess it all depends on the price if I'm to answer if this was a good deal or not ? I will say the Villages is uniformly more updated/newer. It's a newer resort overall.

That being said, if you got the main Vistana, I would strongly make a request for the Cascades, Lakes or only a newly remodeled Fountains I unit. These three will be the most updated sections. If they cannot guarantee it in writing, I'd ask for the Villages unless you're ok with getting an older/less updated unit.

Fountains II is not completed yet either and MOST of the Fountains I is done, but not quite all. The Fountains I "should" be done by the end of Aug or early Sept. Without knowing your dates or price quoted, this is the best I could do with suggestions. I wish you lots of luck and have a great stay

 

[MemoryMaker711]

"Fountains II is not completed yet either and MOST of the Fountains I is done, but not quite all. The Fountains I "should" be done by the end of Aug or early Sept. "
Maria-
I am staying in Fountains 1330 in mid-August-any idea if that unit is updated yet? I have looked at the map online and think that is a 3rd floor villa?
Thanks for being our "in-house" expert!

Amy

 

[MiaSRN62]

Hi Amy,
1330 is Fountains I. It's the area to the left as soon as you pass through the security gate. I'm not 100% if it's ground or top ? I also have Fountains I reserved and specifically asked for a remodeled unit. I think that's the best we can do, is request a remodeled villa. Fountains I is supposed to be done by the end of Aug, so I can't imagine there are many that are not remodeled. IOW, I think we both have a pretty good chance of getting an updated room.

 

[MemoryMaker711]

Hi Amy,
1330 is Fountains I. It's the area to the left as soon as you pass through the security gate. I'm not 100% if it's ground or top ? I also have Fountains I reserved and specifically asked for a remodeled unit. I think that's the best we can do, is request a remodeled villa. Fountains I is supposed to be done by the end of Aug, so I can't imagine there are many that are not remodeled. IOW, I think we both have a pretty good chance of getting an updated room.

Thanks! I'll keep my fingers crossed!

 

[Tanzanite]

Hi we stayed there 3 nights 2 bedroom it was very nice we did the Halloween haunt very con venient to everything we loved it we will go back again

 

[spindoctors]

I've been reading this thread trying to decide what to do about a 2-night stay for this Sept. Currently, I have three reservations for the two days and need to pick one and cancel the others. I have:
1. Family Suites at ASMu ($189)
2. 2Br at Caribe Royale ($200)
3. 2BR at Sheraton Vistana (although now I have no idea which one) ($99)

Which Sheraton is the one that I want to be in, if any? The resort or villages?

 

[spindoctors]

I just figured out that our $99 2BR was at the resort and that I can get a 2BR at the villages for $149. Input?

 

[disneyagogo]

Sounds like your reservation is at Sheraton Vistana and the $99 rate is fantastic. I would go with the Vistana due to the cost and chance of getting one of the newly refurbished areas. More units are being completed and if you get a redone room, you will scream like a little girl for getting it at $99/night . For the location and price difference, I would stick with the Vistana and save the Vistana Villages for another trip.

Best of luck!

disneyagogo