Sheraton vistana resort & villas ?

[MiaSRN62]

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.

The Springs aren't even the oldest sections. The Courts, Falls, Palms and Spas are older.

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 are also 2 full-serve restaurants on site at Vistana. One is called Flamingo Cafe and the other is Zimmies. I believe the one this poster was referring to was Zimmies. There is also a small pool-side eatery near the Cascades, called the Cascades Bar & Grill.

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.

The resort is huge and I also recommend a car. Just so you're aware though, not every building in the Cascades is close to the reception. This section is the newest and also very spread out. Some of the Cascade buildings are a decent walk from the Reception.
I've been a Vistana owner since 1994. Feel free to ask any questions. I'd be glad to help out. Good luck in your decision between the Villages and the main Vistana. Have a nice trip.

 

[MiaSRN62]

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

There is a shuttle to Universal/IOA and Sea World also. I don't know of the schedules for sure as I've always preferred using a car. I can tell you that as recently as Nov '01 the shuttle was still $7/roundtrip/per person/day, because I checked on it for a friend.

 

[Cyndiu]

Just jumping in... I've been an owner at VR for 4 years and my sister and her husband owned for 2 before that. We've stayed in Spas, Cascades, Lakes, Fountains I and Fountains II. Last year we gave one of our weeks to friends and they stayed in the Palms. We've had good luck with each section. Any problems (and there were very few) were addressed right away by management and we've been very happy with our stays for each of the last 6 years. I think if you have a car, so the walk around the resort will not be an issue, any section of the resort will be OK for you, because they do updates routinely. They only areas in which we have no experience, are the Courts and the Springs. Sorry, I can't speak to those areas, although I wouldn't be really worried to stay there myself since we've had such good vacations at VR.

I have lots of info and fond memories of VR, in case you have any other questions.

Have a great time!