Sheraton Vistana Villages--This Friday!! Help

[jascher20]

We are heading to the Vistana Villages on this Friday, April 15-- we are staying in a 2 bdrm/2 bath unit. Have really heard nothing but positives on this resort, so we are pretty excited w/ 3 of our kids ages 8,6 and 3.. I just called and confirmed our reservation and requested one of the first #s of buildings near the pool.. I wasn't sure which level to ask for.. is it nice to be on the ground level or is there a better/neater view if you are higher.. I guess I don't know how many levels there are, but wanted to get the best room possible for our trip so any recommendations on a building # and level to be on w/ our family to "take it all in"!!!

 

[Emily and Jack's Dad]

We are heading to the Vistana Villages on this Friday, April 15-- we are staying in a 2 bdrm/2 bath unit. Have really heard nothing but positives on this resort, so we are pretty excited w/ 3 of our kids ages 8,6 and 3.. I just called and confirmed our reservation and requested one of the first #s of buildings near the pool.. I wasn't sure which level to ask for.. is it nice to be on the ground level or is there a better/neater view if you are higher.. I guess I don't know how many levels there are, but wanted to get the best room possible for our trip so any recommendations on a building # and level to be on w/ our family to "take it all in"!!!

Jascher20:

We just returned from a week at the Vistana and truly loved the resort. We stayed in Lakes 1810 (3rd floor unit w/ an elevator) - 2 bdrm/2 bath unit. Near the Lakes pool complex, but we found driving over to Cascades better, as the pool there is much larger, has a waterfalls and has various depths for the toddler ages.

Be prepared though to reject some initial rooms. They had us in two other rooms initially. 1st suite was on the ground floor, which we didn't want with our 2 young children. 2nd suite in Lakes already had a tenant in it. We didn't unpack when we arrived at each suite. We checked out the suite first and then decided to go back to the registration desk for another. Make sure you do a Diamond Lanes confirmation, as you can stand in a much shorter queue for registration. Even arriving on Friday (4/2) at 6, there was still a long line in regular and I was the only person in Diamond Lanes. Check out is the same. Try to check out the night before so you can check your statement.

 

[jascher20]

I believe you are talking about the Vistana Resort... At least that is what it sounds like w/ the Cascades section.. but, I am only going off of what I have researched.. this is the Vistana Villages on Int'l Drive... if I have it wrong, thanks for the info... how do I do the Diamond Lane Registration??

 

[jascher20]

Just looking for a little more advice... thanks again..

JA

 

[Bella the Ball 360]

I have stayed at V.V. 5 times and I would never want the first floor suites. People can look right in as they walk by. I would always ask to be on the top floor so no one is over my head. I think that since it is small any building is fine. Last time I was a little nervous since my building backed up somewhat to the highway but there was absolutely no noise.

 

[jascher20]

Thanks Bella- I will probably request a high level for our stay.. how many levels are there at the Vistana Villages?? Is each building the same size?? thanks...

 

[disney 4me2]

We are going to be at the Vistana Villages From April 18th-26th! I called yesterday, as I have the same concerns that you have. We have reserved a 2 bedroom lock-off. I asked the reservationist not to be put on the 1st floor, she said that we would not be on the first floor because only the smaller 1 bedroom units were on the 1st floor. She indicated that we would be on the 2nd or 3rd floor, I think there are 5 floors, (but I may be wrong on this). From what I can gather, buildings 1 and 2 are near the pool, which is the area that I requested, as we have 2 kids ages 16 and 9. All of the buildings are nice , so I have heard, but building 10 is right next to the new construction.Where are you from? we are from upstate NY, and we are really looking forward to this trip, as I am sure you are too! The airport is 15 minutes from Vistana Village, and check in time is 4pm. Let me know if you have more questions!

 

[disney 4me2]

Sorry, forgot to add this in my last post...I was also told by the reservationist that we cannot do Diamond Lane check in as that is only offered at Vistana Resort, not Vistana Villages.

 

[jascher20]

Disney 4 me 2-- what does "lock-out" mean?? I've heard it b/f but didn't know what it meant in case I needed to be doing something about that.. thanks for the great post!!

Jeff

 

[jeff968]

Disney 4 me 2-- what does "lock-out" mean?? I've heard it b/f but didn't know what it meant in case I needed to be doing something about that.. thanks for the great post!!

Jeff

Jeff, a 2 bedroom lock off is actually a one bedroom suite with a full kitchen next to a one bedroom studio unit and they open the doors between the two to give you a "two bedroom" unit.

 

[jeff968]

We stayed at the VV two years ago. It is a very nice resort. I wouldn't worry too much about the buildings as they all seemed fairly close to the main pool area. I did notice continued construction when I drove by a few weeks back. It looks like they are adding more buildings.

 

[disney 4me2]

A lock-off is the biggest unit that they have, and it is almost like having 2 seperate units, but they can be opened up if you wish. You do need to reserve a lock-off ahead of time, so if you are interested , now is the time to ask for it! They have 4 televisions,( the standard 2 bedroom has 3 televisions) 1 in each bedroom, and 1 in each living room.They sleep 8 people, same as the 2 bedroom. There is a full kitchen,and a kitchenette in the lock- off part.For us it will be nice because we invited another couple to join us, and I like the idea of all the space.The Vistana Villages has a program for kids, with activities daily, and a free shuttle to all the parks. We bought a package through Vistana that included a rental car.There is a big grocery store right next door, and also a factory outlet complex is a half mile away. I am not even going to bother packing beach towels for the pool, because they take up so much room in the suitcases and Vistana is more than generous with pool towels.

 

[talicskai]

FYI - We were there the first week of March and the towels at the pool were very scarce. We ended up using our own the whole week. We were in a 2 bdrm unit on the ground floor in building 5. In the past we have been main floor in building 6 so they are not only 1 bdrm units. We prefer the ground floor because we have a disabled son and it is much easier for him. Also we drive down so the stuff we bring in from the car is unbelievable and I am glad not to have to climb stairs or wait for an elevator! The Villages are beautiful and I will definitely stay there again. The food from the snack bar is good and the pool is amazing! Enjoy your time there ~ I wish we were there again.

Teresa

 

[disney 4me2]

that was interesting because I called again and they did tell me that there were no units like ours on the ground floor at Vistana Villages. Maybe they mean there are no lock-offs on the ground floor? But they would have to have handicapped accessible units (including 2 bedroom I would assume ) on the ground level, I just do not really want to be on the ground floor, so maybe they were just telling me that to appease me.... And thanks for the heads up on the towels, I will be sure to pack some! Do you have any other tips on the Vistana Villages? thanks!

 

[webprinter]

We were at Vistana Villages which was one of the nicest timeshares weve stayed at. I would recommend the top floor of any building. We were at the other end from the pool and it was a close walk to the pool. The grounds are beautiful and it was fun to walk through them. It is nice to be on the top floor as you get a nicer view of the resort and it is quieter. Have fun, you will love it there. There housekeeping is immaculate! Debby

 

[SammieG]

we got back yesterday from a week at VV.. we had a 2nd floor 2 bed. It was nice.. not my favorite resort.. but I felt at home there after awful summer bay...(eek!)

Pool towels were plentyful last week..
it was VERY noisy from above.. actually the resort itself was noisy.. not sure how thick the walls are. We could hear a lot of banging doors from next door-- running around upstairs, flushing of toilets etc!!!!

however, the resort is nice, its a good size.. we stayed in building 1, close by the pool..
its all pretty good actually.. as I said, its not my favorite resort but I would go back!

 

[doodlenj4]

We were also there last week. We had a Building 5 4th floor two bedroom. Not too far from the pool and the view was great. The unit was very nice. My only issue was once we were unpacking we realized we had no vanity in the master bath. It was then apparent that we had a disability/handicap designated unit. I think the regular master baths may have an outside sink, a vanity in the main bath and a shower. We had a regular tub in a huge bathroom. It was just hard to put our stuff away as there was no medicine cabinet or shelf space. You may be able to ask about this in advance if it is important to you.

Also, be prepared for lots of phone calls to pickup your "welcome package"

 

[SammieG]

Also, be prepared for lots of phone calls to pickup your "welcome package"

Oh yes, we had LOTS of those calls!!

We had the outside Vanity Unit, so i think it was because you were in a special unit you did not have it.

If anyone is intererested I have photos of the unit.
If anyone can tell me also how to post them here!