sheraton vistana resort

[eyeluvflorida]

If you are planning a trip to this area, DO NOT choose the Sheraton Vistana. it is not a place for families. They constantly pressure you to buy time shares, the service is awful, the staff unfriendly and un-cooperative, the pools are too far from the rooms, the rooms are dirty and old, and the worst part is the walls are paper thin and you can hear every noise from people around you.
Save your money and stay in a discount motel, you'll get the same experience anyway.

 

[sarahandhannahsmom]

Thanks for the advice

 

[Buzz'sBetterHalf]

We spent 2 days at this resort (4/11/06 & 4/12/06) and found it to be very close to WDW and highway access to Universal. We stayed there 2 days before heading over to CSR. We couldn't find a single room on Disney property for the 2 days so I found this place on the internet and got a great rate of $175.00 (very good for Easter/Spring break week) per night for the 2 bedroom villa. We stayed in the PALMS section to be close to friends of ours also staying there, rooms 642 & 719. I was pleasantly surprised at the size of the suites. The rooms were huge, 3 tv's, a vcr, 2 bathrooms, very clean and well maintained. We had no complaints.

We didn't get a chance to use the pool but to a walk over to view it. The general store had a Pizza Hut Express but the overall store was small.

I would stay here again if I could get a similar rate.

As far as the hard sell, we had the choice to go to the pitch or not to get $50.00 each and a 50% off coupon. There was no pressure to attend the presentation. That was our choice. Once there, we encounter pressure to buy but just got up and walked out after 30 mins.

 

[seaprincess]

Thanks for the advice. We will be staying there in May!!

 

[spiceycat]

been there twice and loved it.

here are my pictures
springs nov, 2004 - thanksgiving week
http://new.photos.yahoo.com/spiceypj/album/576460762336391958

lakes, march,2007 - one of the spring break weeks
http://new.photos.yahoo.com/spiceypj/album/576460762396166990

I was only called maybe once each day - much, much, much better than Westgate - those people even threaten me. Westgate offfers you NOTHING. at least SVR offers you cash.

now lakes was a little far from the main resort - but it was within walking distance of Walgreens, wendys, and chick n lay.

I didn't heard anyone in the next room.

only when I had the balcony doors open -did I heard others.

what section were you in?

 

[meandtheguys2]

I've stayed in the Courts, and the Fountains. I would love to go back! I never had a call for a time-share presentation. The people were lovely, including the pool lady who gave me a discount on a wrap that i liked when she saw one of the colors had run just a bit.

eta: The walls were no thinner than the Boardwalk's or Old Key West's.

Sorry you had a rotten time.

 

[iwannago!!]

We were just there 3/25-4/1 and stayed in the Cascades Section - 2748 I *think*. We had a beautiful 2bdr with full kitchen, dining area, living room w/ pull out couch, screened porch. we were a short walk to the Cascades pool - or the Springs (??) pool. There was a pizza hut, cyber lounge, general store all within a 2block walk. The drive to the parks was short..

Nice place, we would definitely stay there again.

they started pressuring us for a time share presentation as soon as we arrived. We kept putting him off. On the day before we checked out - Tony called AGAIN! He says' Hi, I have been trying to get a hold of you'. I say 'well, we are busy - we are on vacation'. he says 'I guess so - would you like to do the tour now.. I can get you in at 12:45'. Me - 'No, this is the last day of our vacation and we aren't buying another timeshare'. tony "would you do it for $65?' - NO. "would you do it for $100?" NO. 'Starpoints?" me - HOw MaNy? "3000" - Me.. "NO, that will get me one free night at a highway fourpoints in rural Ohio - Thanks, but no thanks - have a great day, goodbye".

and that was it... but Tony pestered us daily - FYI. We had to stop answering the phone and I ended up unplugging them so that he didn't wake us up!

 

[orlando 6]

Compared to the Vistana Villages the Vistana Resort looks very shabby and old fashioned. I've stayed at Villages 4 times and my sister stayed at the resort once. Her feedback, shabby, smelly with cockroaches (she stayed in an old section) convinced me not to try the Resort which I had been tempted to do.

 

[my2kidslvdisney]

We stayed here through an RCI exchange and were not satisfied. It did not hold up to the Fairfield quality we were used to.

 

[swilshire]

We've stayed there many times and had a very different experience. The only noise I've ever heard has been a time or two when we had upstairs neighbors that tromped around at all hours of the day and night. I've never heard anything through the walls. We've stayed in other Orlando resorts, but the kids always complain that they'd rather be at Vistana.

I've also stayed in at least a couple of Fairfields and found the Vistana better than either of them.

We've never been bothered much by sales calls, have had very good service for the most part, and never had a dirty unit.

My only complaint on our last visit was the painfully slow dialup internet service.

Sheila

 

[utahkennedys]

I have to admit I am afraid to ever stay at Vistana just because of the random good and bad reviews I always read here and elsewhere...and I have to admit those pictures posted above look VERY dated to me. With all of the wonderful choices in Orlando for fair prices, Vistana isn't high on my list. I know some get remodeled rooms in better sections, etc. but I am afraid to risk it.

 

[MiaSRN62]

Well, to each his own. It's a shame this is your very first post eyeluvflorida and it's so negative. We vacation there every year since 1994 and have had some of the most wonderful family vacations for 14 years !
We own in the Fountains, which is not the newest, nor the oldest.
Vistana offers many activities for families as well. My kids have enjoyed day camps, pool games, arts and crafts and family kareoke nights. We loved the themed nights (Mexican, Tropical etc). My kids have trick or treated at the resort on Halloween and had a blast. They had a "haunted house" set up one time for the kids.
I don't think we'd be going back year after year if we didn't enjoy ourselves. We enjoy getting up early and feeding the ducks, swan and some times otters

There is usually a pool within walking distance to your room. There are 7 of them on the resort. We could walk to two of them in under 3 minutes from our villa. Just wondering where you stay eyeluvflorida ? What section ? What was your room number ? And we have always found the staff attentive. It's only the timeshare sales people we find annoying. How was the staff "uncooperative" as you stated ? Hope you come back and elaborate a little. It seems, to me, that you really over generalized here. Like ALL rooms are outdated ? All staff unfriendly/uncooperative ? If this were so, I think we would have noticed it in over 14 years worth of vacations at this resort ?

Timeshare sales pressure can be hard here, I agree. But many timeshare resorts are like this. Tips to avoid this :
1) after getting your room assignment at the front desk, immediatly leave 2) do not go to the back desk after checking in to receive your "welcome packet" or "coupons or discounts" 3) unplug all phones in your villa once you get there. Most family/friends will call on your cell phone anyway.
Never ever had a dirty room in 14 stays there. Yes, some of the rooms are outdated. We only stayed once in an older section and while it was outdated, it was clean and I've heard it's been remodeled/rehabbed.
Not every resort is for every person, but I think there was a bit of overgeneralizing going on as far as Vistana goes. This from the DIS'ers very first post and very first stay at Vistana.
Some recent pics from Vistana (last summer). Going back this summer and can't wait.

 

[jessiangel]

Sorry to hijack this thread. MiaSRN62, I love your pics. Can I ask if those are from Fountains I or II? Also, the pics with the lake, are those views from your balcony? I would love to request a room with a view like that.

 

[MiaSRN62]

Hi Jessiangel,
Thanks....I'm glad u liked the pictures.
The pics are from Fountains II and yes, those were the views from my balcony. But I did step outside the balcony to snap the actual pictures, because Vistana's balconies are screened covered, thus making the picture blurred. But my kids went right out the back steps and down to feed those ducks from our villa. We were a Sunday check-in to get this view.
There are a few Fountains II villas that do NOT have a water view. The ones to avoid are : 1601-1612; 1631-1642 and 1655-1672. If you get any of these room numbers, see if you can get switched and ask for a water view. The views from these villas is a small grassy hill and a wooden fence. I have always refused these units. I would rather take an older Fountains I villa with a water view, vs a newer Fountains II villa with this grass/fence view. Just my preference. Some may prefer the newer design of the Fountains II (the jacuzzi is in the master bedroom as it is with the Lakes and Cascades). The Fountains I has the whirlpool tub inside the master bathroom.
Hope this helps.

 

[isla bonita]

We had a great time room was clean, unplugged phone on first entrance to room and had no problems what so ever. Did not like being on the 3rd floor with out an elevator I'm a packer so it was heavy lifting without my husband the first 3 nights.

 

[MiaSRN62]

Did not like being on the 3rd floor with out an elevator I'm a packer so it was heavy lifting without my husband the first 3 nights.

Deb ~
We like the 3rd floor because you get the vaulted ceiling and skylight in the living room.
For future reference....Vistana does have Bell Service and they would be happy to take your luggage up stairs and then back down when you checkout. I don't think everyone is aware that there are Bell Hops there. They are located right outside the door of the Reception Center (main lobby).

 

[KLAIT]

We stayed at the Vistana Resort in October of 2005 during hurricane Wilma and we really loved our stay. We were in Fountains I and we could not have aksed for much more. We loved the resort. Was it brand new? No, was it the Ritz? No, but we are not used to staying at those sort of places anyway.

As far as the Timeshare presentation, we took Marias advice and steered clear of the info and coupon desk across from checkin and they did call, but they took no for an answer pretty easy compared to a lot of other places we have stayed..

 

[ttfn3]

My family also loves the Vistana Resort. We have been very fortunate to have received some very nice rooms - recently renovation also! Once you get past checkin, the staff at this resort are wonderful. We called once for maintenance and they were there in a flash and fixed our problem (ice maker not working - they even brought a bag of ice for us to use until they fixed it!). The activities are really fun and we have enjoyed meeting employees from all over the world. Lots of things for everyone to participate in. The pools are also really nice and most rooms are within a few minutes walk to any pool on property.

Hint for those trying to avoid the timeshare calls - unplug your phone. We travel with our cell phones so we just unplug the phones. You can always just plug them back in when you need to make a call.

 

[runwad]

We just got back last night from the Vistana stayed in the Fountains II and we loved it. I did avoid the other desk where I was to get my welcome packet but you know what? When I went back to get my room key they had me go over there cause I needed my parking pass...I forget our guys name but he NEVER called us for a time share presentation not ONCE in 7 days. I got this room thru Skyauction. I had filled in the Diamond Lane Check In Form and requested Lakes, Fountains II or Cascades. When she said we were in the Fountains I said isnt' there anything in Lakes and she acted like she was looking and then said there are only 1 bedroom units in the Lakes and Cascades, now that's not true right? We checked in Friday 3/30 at 11 am...I got the feeling she didn't want to put us elsewhere...but it was ok we liked the Fountains II just fine. We were in unit 1584 and loved that waterview..although sometimes when my DS6 would wake me up at 7:30 am to go out "exploring" I didn't love it so much.haha He loved feeding the ducks, GIANT catfish, and turtles. We'd definetely go back here again.

 

[MiaSRN62]

and then said there are only 1 bedroom units in the Lakes and Cascades, now that's not true right?

There are 2 bedroom lockoffs which owners can rent out as 1 bedrooms. Maybe she meant that was all that was left ? But there certainly are 2 bedroom villas in the Lakes and Cascades.
Glad u had a nice stay and managed to give the sales people the "slip" !