Sheraton Vistana Resort

[ScoobyDoo84]

Hello All,

Has anyone stayed at the Sheraton Vistana Resort in Kissimmee, Florida? It looks like a very nice place to stay at. I wanted to go away this summer but am not sure if this is the best place to stay. I heard they have a newer section? Hope someone can help me out

 

[utahkennedys]

I haven't stayed there, but wanted to add that there are different sections of this huge resort, some good, some bad and older...

Also, I see very cheap rates for this all of the time on skyauction and eBay, so you should be able to find a great deal. IOW, don't rent from the resort...

 

[ADP]

I am an owner of that property and stayed there several times. Our family really loves it! I would add that before Sheraton bought this resort it was really very nice. After the Sheraton purchase the resort went through some cost cutting measures that were noticable by guests, but the property is still very nice.

If you really want to stay off-site of Disney property then this is one of the better places to stay. It's really close to the entrance of WDW on 535 and the Crossroads shopping and dining area.

I would suggest staying in the Cascades section. Request a spot close to the General Store, Zimmies restaurant and pool as well as the Cascades pool. These three spots are very popular and are in very close walking distance provided you are in the right building in the Cascades. The rooms in the Cascades are very nice and are the newest. There are a lot of activities at the resort, make sure to pick-up an activities guide when you check-in. It will list what activities are scheduled with the days and times. About the only complaint I have about the resort is that the pools are not equipped with slides. By the way, the resort is guarded 7X24.

The General Store is very nice and has a tropical theme to it. There is a counter service Pizza Hut located in the store with outside and inside seating available. The pools are very nice and the pool bars very relaxing.

Also, there is a Wal-Mart within 3 miles in case you don't want to pay the higher prices at the General Store. Restaurants in the area I would suggest outside of the Disney owned restaurants are Laundry's Steak and Seafood, Chevy's for Mexican food located at the Crossroads. If you are big on breakfast there is a very nice Perkins located at the Crossroads as well.

Hope this helps.

 

[isla bonita]

We have stayed and my kids had a great time, place is very nice, lots of stuff to do.

I personally did not like having to drive to pools and we were on the third floor with no elevator yuck.

I wouldn't let that stop me from staying again.

 

[ScoobyDoo84]

yea, i think i am going to stay there. I have been looking around for some good rental rates. Right now got my eye on the Sheraton Vistana Resort auction on SkyAuction.com. I will also check out ebay to see what they have. Thanks for your help everyone. I appreciate it. I hope my family has a good time there!

 

[mulanrouge]

We have stayed there several times, and REALLY like it. One year we went, I thought I would book a couple of different resorts just to see what was out there. I kind of regretted it. We wished we were at Vistana. It has everything we look for in a resort. It is like a second home for us now (we are not owners, but can usually find some really good rates for rentals). When my kids asked if we are going to be staying there for our trip in November I told them we were - they were ecstatic. They really like that resort too!! I don't know if it is by chance, but everytime we have stayed there we have always gotten the Lakes section, which is perfectly fine for us.

 

[MiaSRN62]

I am an owner at Sheraton Vistana as well (Fountains I & II section). I believe Vistana is technically in Lake Buena Vista area, not Kissimmee.
There are 9 different sections....in order of oldest to newest:
Courts (try to avoid...these were existing townhomes before Vistana even purchased the grounds)
Falls
Spas
Palms
Springs
Fountains I
Fountains II
Lakes
Cascades

The Cascades is the newest and most modern section. Only the Lakes and Cascades have elevators. I personally don't mind not having elevators, but those with small children and strollers or physically challenged, should request ground floor or an elevator section via the online request form : https://www.svosecure.com/starwoodvo/diamond.jsp?resortID=5
We actually request the 3rd floor because there is a vaulted ceiling and skylight in those units---at least in the Fountains I/II and Lakes. These are the only sections we've had a 3rd floor villa.
There are 9 pools.....some are mere steps from your room, while others may be a bit of a walk. There is pretty much some sort of pool within walking distance to the majority of villas. Some may choose to drive because they want to get to a specific pool I'm thinking ? There is one pool with a slide and this is located in the older Falls section. This one we have driven to from the Fountains (but we were very close to the Fountains and Lakes pools). We just wanted to use the slide. Here's a pic of that pool :

If you want to check out other pics I've taken over the years at Vistana (been an owner since 9/94), you can go to this link :
http://www.imagestation.com/album/pictures.html?id=4287948459

 

[spiceycat]

I personally did not like having to drive to pools and we were on the third floor with no elevator yuck.

where were you staying? I have stayed there twice and both times there was a pool close by- easy walking distance. Now not their pool with a slide.

this is not by any means Orange Lake where you MUST have a car to get around.

on this stay I tried not to drive (except to the parks) and I walked to Walgreens, Wendy's, Chick n lay - every times.

 

[Red-Snapper]

Its miles from Kissimmee isnt it ?

 

[MiaSRN62]

Its miles from Kissimmee isnt it ?

It is close to Kissimmee (I've actually driven to the Publix in Kissimmee to grocery shop and that's not more than a 10 min drive).....but when referring to resorts, I would not consider it in the Kissimmee resort area.
I sort of compartmentalize offsite resorts in the disney area as : Lake Buena Vista, Kissimmee and International Drive area. I would definitely put Vistana into the Lake Buena Vista area---it's about 3 traffic lights away from Crossroads and the Downtown Disney/Marketplace.