Sheraton Vistana Resort's Diamond Lane

[Suebie]

How long prior to my visit should I submit my Diamond Lane request? I know the form states 72 hours but I don't want to wait too long to get my requests in for fear my desired accomodations will be gone. I also fear too soon will cause my request to get buried some where.

Can anyone help?

 

[CrazySun27]

That's a great question i'll be at the Vistana in Sept.. ...

 

[Jim from Jersey]

bump

 

[Cyndiu]

I have used Diamond lane as early as a couple of weeks ahead of time. However, you can call 1-800-vistana if you have special requests. That's what we did this year. We went with another couple and wanted for both families to be in Cascades and in the same building if possible. They made a note in our reservations and although the said they couldn't promise, we were able to stay in 2203 and 2205 (not exactly right next door, but pretty darn close).

 

[BlueFairy]

Sorry - I'm a newbie. What is Diamond Lane? We will be at the Vistana Villages in Sept. I was wondering about room requests and such. We will be there on an RCI trade.
Thanks!

 

[laurabelle]

Suebie-I stayed at Vistana Resort at the end of last month and I had submitted my requests online 19 days out after someone here helped me see that the wording makes it sound like you aren't supposed to make requests prior to 72hours before, but if you read it carefully, it's says:Please submit this information at least 72 hours prior to your scheduled and confirmed arrival date I wouldn't do it too far in advance though for fear they'd lose it. BTW- I got everything I requested, checked in on a Sat. and got Cascades.

Bluefairy- Diamond Lane gives you a faster check in, you can make requests, even for earlier check in times. I'm not sure if VIstana Villages has it or not, but if you go to theVistana Resort page you click on Diamond Lane and you can see from there.

 

[BlueFairy]

Oh well, I see the button. But the Vistana Villages page doesn't have it. I guess it's not available there.
Thanks.

 

[erinch]

I did my diamond lane request about a month out last summer, and got an email confirmation back. I then sent a "refresher" about 4 days prior with the same info just in case.

 

[CrazySun27]

Quick question, are the Cascades in the newer section or the older...i know I wrote the order of the sections from newest to oldest. Anyone know what section has the largest two bedroom?

 

[DianeV]

Cascades is the newest section however the units are smaller then many of the older ones..Lakes is second newest

 

[erinch]

As it was said upstream, Cascades, then Lakes, then Fountains are the newest sections. Lakes and Fountains are across the street from the main pool and general store but have pools connected to them.

The older units have larger 2 bedrooms; our research (just staying as guests) showed that Springs is the "newest" of the older units, and that's where we request to stay, because we like the larger units in more mature landscaping (we request pondview as opposed to poolview.) Spas and Falls are the other "newer older" units. Courts and Palms were built before Vistana took them over, don't have jacuzzis (from what I understand) and don't have pools right there.

 

[CrazySun27]

Yes, I wanted to know which of the units had larger bedrooms. Do you have any pics of the Springs? If you don't mind sharing...thanks!!!!!

 

[erinch]

I'm so sorry--

I took pictures--and then moved the pics to cd and now i've no idea where i put it...

In the springs the master bedroom had a king bed with 2 night tables; an overstuffed armchair, a tv and a chest of drawers, a room length closet, and opened onto the master bath, which is nearly as big, with a giant jacuzzi tub, a separate toilet area with a door that closed, a full length counter with 2 sinks, and enough floor space to ice skate on.

The second bedroom had 2 doubles, with 2 dressers, a tv, and a full closet. The second bath was smaller, but still bigger than my "master" bath at home.

We walked through a Cascades unit, which felt much more cramped to me, but I've not stayed in one. As far as I can tell, most "complaints" about Springs or one of the older units tends to be the color scheme (in Springs a turquoise/peach thing), which I like, but for some feels dated. -- or the older carpet, or an occasional piece of furniture which is ending its useful life. We were so pleased with our screened porch which looked down on our private pond with the turtles and the ducks that we didn't notice any decore drawbacks.

 

[Tron[ADS]]

Erinch, something you just posted caught my eye..."Courts and Palms were built before Vistana took them over".
Ive been trying to work out if part of the Vistana Resort is what used to be called the "marriott residence inn", which we stayed at in 1996. I wondered if you know if thats the properties that Vistana took over and are now known as "courts" and "palms" ?

The entry to the Residence Inn used to be the road between Bennigans and Wendy's, but it got blocked offa few years ago.

Could these properties be one and the same do you think ?

 

[26555]

Anyone know which areas had bug problems?

I don't care so much new or old but don't want bug or mold problems. Just don't see how I could request "any unit without bugs or mold" without insulting someone. We check in on a Fri so I don't think there will be many choices. Thanks for all the great info posted here about the continual Vistana questions!

 

[mog]

26555,

We just returned from a week at Vistana a week or so ago. We had a Friday check-in also. What I learned is that all Friday check-ins are in the Spas section. I had made some requests that they were not able to honor because I had to be in the Spas section since I was a Friday check in. That being said, we were extremely happy where we were. There is nothing wrong with being in that section. Yes, it is a little older, but the inside of the units is well kept up and the furnishings, etc. did not look at all run-down. The place was very clean (and I am very picky about these things!). Also the location was great. We walked right out our door and were at the clubhouse that has Zimmies (a great place to eat) and the big super pool. We were also right across the street from the General Store and the Cascades pool. We were within a short walking distance of the Fountains Pool (which has the water slide).
With a Friday check-in you will be in the Spas section, but don't worry about it - it was great!! Wish I were still there!

 

[26555]

Thanks so much for the info! Which area of the spas where you in, maybe I'll request that area since it sounds so nice! Which floor where you on?

 

[mog]

Originally posted by 26555
Thanks so much for the info! Which area of the spas where you in, maybe I'll request that area since it sounds so nice! Which floor where you on?

We were in unit 404 in the Spas section. It was on the 2nd floor. Like I said, we walked right out our unit and into Zimmies or the Super Pool. It was a very nice location. That pool was open until 1am and on a couple nights there were a few people over there late at night that were a little loud, but the kids' bedroom was in the front and they were so tired they didn't notice! Our room was in the back and the noise never bothered me. It was only a night or 2 that that happened anyway.
Good Luck!

 

[26555]

Thanks again for all the info! Last question, did your unit sleep 6 or 8?

 

[CrazySun27]

erinch-

Thanks for the tips, I guess I would rather have room to move around in then worry about decor. It will be myself , DH, DD(2), DS, my mom, my sis, and her daughter...so we need the space.

What is the website to request the section preference?

I'm checking in on Saturday 9/11.