Sheraton vistana resort & villas ?

[abbysmom]

Please help enlighten me, I am in the planning stages for my next trip and I do not know the difference between the resort and villas? Our main focus for this trip will be Sea World and Universal we will probably not visit disney this trip, so please help with the differnce between these 2 places, does one have more to offer than the other, is one closer to sea world and universal than the other? we would also just like to enjoy our accomodations for a few days so please help decide what you think would be best for this type of vacation! Any suggestions will be appreciated.

Thanks!!!

 

[abbysmom]

Can anyone help me out? I need to book my vacations soon!!!!

 

[Claudia2]

I just came accross another thread on this question

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?threadid=205676&highlight=Vistana

We're going to stay at the Vistana Resort, BTW.


HTH

 

[Disney Fool]

the Vistana Village is at the end of International Drive and Sea World is down the road from there. So for location it's just a straight drive. But the Vistana Resort has more to offer if you're planning on just hanging out. They both offer the same amenities in the condo.

 

[ttfn3]

I've stayed at both resorts. Vistana Villages is a much newer resort than Vistana Resort. Vistana Villages is closer to Sea World (just a quick ?5 minute trip down the road). Vistana Villages is a smaller resort overall. It's very beautiful. The pool has a nice waterfall but no slide. We stayed in a 2 BR unit that was great!

Vistana Resort has more to offer in terms of the number of pools (one has a slide), it's much larger (number of units) overall, it has a restaurant, and it's a tad closer to Disney (but not much at all). It's an older resort, so you have to be careful about the building.

If you have any more questions, let me know. (By the way, check the rates offered through hotelkingdom.com - they were the best we could find and it worked out well).

 

[halfway there]

ttfn3 - Looks like your the resident expert here so I have a couple of questions for you too. Are there shuttles to Disney from both these resorts and do you know approx how often/when they run? Does each park have their own?
I have friends staying there in a timeshare but not sure yet which one (Villages or Resort). I'm hoping to gather as much info as I can for them. This is the first and most important thing they wanted to know so they can plan their on and off site days accordingly.
Thanks for your help!

 

[ttfn3]

Halfway there -

Yes, both the Vistana Resort and the Vistana Villages offer van shuttles to Disney Parks. I may still have the schedules so let me take a look. However, I remember the times were not terribly convenient for our family. We had a rental car and I was very glad we did not have to rely on either Vistana for transportation to/from the parks. I do remember clocking our commute time to the Magic Kingdom (TTC) from the Vistana Villages - 15 minutes by driving our rental car. Very quick!

Please let me know if you have other questions

 

[zaxmom]

Hi. I have stayed at the Vistana Villages and LOVED it. We went with the grandparents and the 2 BR was great. We are considering the Vistana Resort for next time and wanted to find out more about the pools and such. Is the slide a good one? Water park style or climb the ladder and slide on your dry butt style? Is there mini golf there? What kind of restaurants are at the resort and are they open late? I also agree that the hotel transportation never is convenient for us, but we always have a car. Hotel Kingdom has had the best rates I have seen by far, but does that mean you get stuck in the oldest section? Thank you for any help you can give me.

 

[ttfn3]

Vistana Resort - slide at smaller pool near Super Pool (sorry can't remember the name of the section) - the slide is an enclosed tube that has some water running on it and empties you out into a pool. It's not a very long one but my then 4 year old LOVED it! We saw older kids use it also. Vistana Resort has lots of different pools you can try out. Vistana Villages has only one large pool with different "areas" offering options such as water volleyball, zero entry - water spray area. It is a beautiful pool - just would like at least a small waterslide for the in between kids.

Vistana Resort has a mini golf course. It's not much but it is free and worth it to entertain a small child. They also have several playgrounds for the kiddies and a better arcade than Vistana Villages.

As for restaurants I remember a small sitdown restaurant near the Super Pool - we didn't eat there. The menu seemed a bit pricey to us. They also have a general store (bigger than the one at Vistana Villages) that you can also order Pizza Hut pizza from (and they will also deliver to your room). I believe that's it for onsite restaurants at the Vistana Resort. There's a Bennigans right beside Vistana Resort and a Wendy's near it. We ate at Bennigans one night and it was very reasonable and tasty.

If you go to Vistana Resort make sure you ask for an inside unit. There are some units facing Rt 535 and it can be pretty noisy. Stay away from the Springs section - it's a bit dated.

I actually prefer Vistana Villages since it's newer.

 

[halfway there]

Thanks ttfn3!

I would definitely be interested in those schedules if you can find them!! Please let me know. I think our friends are not planning to rent a car so having the schedules beforehand would really help. They are going in Oct.
Also, I'm assuming that the Resort is closer therefore an even shorter commute time than the one you gave for the Villages?
I'm looking forward to relaying all the wonderful details you've provided!
Thanks again!

 

[ttfn3]

I finally had an opportunity to look for my Vistana Resort and Vistana Villages information. It's amazing the stuff I saved from these two trips!

Let me start off by saying that we stayed at the Vistana Resort in December 2000, so my transportation schedule is from that time. Maybe you could call the hotel directly to get a new schedule. Here's the transportation schedule from Dec 2000 (I'm leaving out the late night hours due to the holiday schedule)
Animal Kingdom Departs 7:55 a.m, 9 a.m., 11:40 a.m.
Returns 4:30 p.m., 5:35 p.m.
Magic Kingdom (looks like maybe shares with Animal Kingdom)
Departs 7:55 a.m, 9 a.m, 11:40 a.m.
Returns 5:55 p.m, 7:30 p.m., 8:45 p.m
MGM & Epcot Departs 10:25 a.m., 11:40 a.m. (I think they share)
MGM Returns 4:40 p.m., 7:10 p.m., 8:25 p.m.
Epcot Returns 5:45 p.m., 7:20 p.m., 8:35 p.m, 9:55 p.m, 10:45 pm

 

[ttfn3]

I have a lot of other Vistana Resort info that I saved, so please let me know if you have any other questions.

I would say that this resort is HUGE! It may be difficult to navigate without a car. If your friends are not planning on renting a car, they may want to ask for the Cascades Section, since it's close to the Reception area, where you have to catch the shuttle to the parks. If they can afford a car, I would recommend they rent one. They will save money by stocking up at the Publix grocery store down the road (it's too far to walk to).

As for closer to the parks. I really think the V. Resort and the V. Villages are about the same. You have less traffic from the Villages than the Resort so it may a bit farther distancewise, but actually travel time is probably the same.

 

[halfway there]

Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!

ttfn3 - This info has been invaluable! I just talked to my friends last night and they are definitely staying at the VR as opposed to the V V, I wasn't sure before. I know when I tell them about this schedule they will probably want to rent a car. They will have other family with them who are driving down so they may be able to manage with only one car but I'm not so sure.

Thanks for the recommendation on section. If it's a timeshare exchange will they still be able to do this? Or only for a rental? Perhaps they will be able to find out beforehand at least so they'll know where they're going. Do you know the exact location of the Resort? It looks to be just south of the Crossroads shopping center, on 535? The Publix you spoke of, is it on 192? I'll be sure to pass along any other questions they may have. These people without computers! What are ya gonna do??

I also saw your reply to the other post regarding the Villages shuttle. They don't share one then? I will have to tell them to get an updated schedule but at least with this they can get an idea of what it will be like. Not a lot of selection there on times, eh?

Thanks again and I'm sure you'll be hearing more from me before Oct!

 

[halfway there]

Ugh! I just finished reading your other reply more thoroughly, ttfn3 but I wanted to keep it all together here since it pertains to the VR.
Now back to the 'ugh' - they charge for the shuttle at the Villages?? Is this true at the Resort too, do you know?? I'm pretty sure they're exchange guests and I'm assuming it's RCI so will there be a charge for them as well?
I think that will pretty much decide it on the rental car then. At 9$ per person per trip that'll add up to the cost of a cheap rental!

Please let me know for sure on this before I pass it along. Thanks!

 

[bevvy5]

I'm not an expert on Vistana - we'll be staying there for our first time in March, but do know a bit about timesharing. If your friends have exchanged in there and want to know what section is best, etc., they may want to check out the Timeshare Users Group - www.tug2.net

If they join the bulletin board system, which is free, then do a search on Vistana, they will come up with lots of info about pros and cons of which section, etc. One suggestion is to sign up at the Vistana website for the "diamond lane" check in -- with that you can request a certain section in advance. No guarantee you'll get it but doesn't hurt to try.

I should add that if your friends own a timeshare, they may find the info at TUG useful - it's to timesharing what these boards are to Disney fanatics!!

Bev

 

[ttfn3]

Halfway there -
Vistana Villages charges owners and RCI exchange guests for the transportation shuttles. Other guests I believe the shuttle is free.

Vistana Resort. The bottom of the transportation schedule says $7 per person round trip.

I think your friends will be very happy to have a car!

Yes, the Vistana is just down the road from the Crosswoods Center on 535. It's the other side of I-4, down a ways. Much too far and busy of a street to walk to the Center, tho.

Grocery Stores - The Publix is near 192 on 535. It's about 1.5 miles from the VR. There's also a Walmart Superstore on 192 which is about 5 miles from the VR. If you'd like directions, I've got it on the sheet from the VR. (Amazing I kept this stuff, eh?)

Oh - tell your friends, that the General Store has free coffee from 7 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. each morning. My DH liked stopping here on our way out each morning

 

[halfway there]

Thanks for clarifying that ttfn3! I think if it was $7 almost 2 yrs. ago there's a good chance it also has gone up to 9$ by now! Is there also a shuttle to Universal or IOA? I'm thinking they're better off with a car as well and that's what I'll recommend but I'll want to give them all the details first.
Yes, you are a genuine pack rat there and good thing for all of us who want to know these things, eh?
Thanks for the details on Publix and WM. I'm somewhat familiar with the area so I know generally where you're talking about. Is the WM on 192 further away from Disney property or going toward the main gate from 535? And the General Store, is that near the Reception Area and shuttles as well?

bevvy5 - Thanks for the info on timesharing. I have recently stumbled across that TUG site and find it very interesting as a timeshare owner myself. I'm going to look into it more. As for our friends, they have family who own and I'm not sure how involved they get in the whole business. As they don't have a computer either they wouldn't be able to utilize this service but I am glad to know I will be able to look up info (for them as well as ourselves) without actually joining first. I wasn't clear on this the last time I looked around there. So, thanks for mentioning it!

 

[ttfn3]

Halfway there
I don't have any info on any other transportation that may be available from the VR for parks other than Disney

The General Store is located between the Spas and Cascades Section of VR. It's not a long walk from the Reception Center, but it's not right next to it. We didn't actually buy anything here but did pick up free coffee each morning

Oh - if your friends don't have a computer and want to check out the Disney info online, you might recommend they stop by their local library. Most library's offer free internet access to their patrons (via computers at their branches). Of course, I'm spoiled by Ohio libraries, so I know that other states libraries may not have such easy access.

 

[ttfn3]

Halfway there
I don't have any info on any other transportation that may be available from the VR for parks other than Disney

The General Store is located between the Spas and Cascades Section of VR. It's not a long walk from the Reception Center, but it's not right next to it. We didn't actually buy anything here but did pick up free coffee each morning

Oh - if your friends don't have a computer and want to check out the Disney info online, you might recommend they stop by their local library. Most library's offer free internet access to their patrons (via computers at their branches). Of course, I'm spoiled by Ohio libraries, so I know that other states libraries may not have such easy access.

 

[halfway there]

Aah good point about the library, ttfn3! I hadn't thought of that. I will mention it to them the next time we talk.
Thanks again!!