Sheraton Vistana Villages

[bluedaisy1974]

looking to book a 2 bedroom villa here and was wondering what advice, pointers, reviews you can all offer me about this...

what section should i be looking for when i book? i know some sections are newer and more appealing so i don't want to make a mistake when booking.

i know a lot of the units there are time shares so i don't know how it works exactly and i don't want to be bombarded/pressured with time share nonsense while i'm on vacation...

please help/advise!!

 

[mcqueengroupie]

Hi!
We stayed at the Vistana Villages in June. It is a beautiful resort located very close to WDW. We stayed in a two bedroom villa in the Keys Section. This is a newer section, which had it's good points and bad points. First, it was the nicest timeshare/hotel room we've stayed in. Gorgeous furnishings and it was huge. The downside was that we were separated from the main area by a driveway. I thought this would bug me, but it didn't. We had our own pool, and game room in the Keys. It was short walk to the main area, which had two pools and a hot tub, pool side bar, the main bar and small restaurant. They had tons of activites and live singers. We really spent the majority of our time at the parks, but coming back was nice and relaxing.
As for the timeshare sales, we already own with Starwood (company who owns the Vistana Villages) so I just told them I wasn't interested in hearing the info. They will offer you tickets to the parks, dinner, and even money to come hear them, but you can just say "Not Interested!!." They called the room twice, the first time I said we'll see (of course I had no intention) but then they called later in the week, and I then said no, and please don't call back. So they didn't.
All that being said, we do own with Starwood and with Disney and we are very happy with both!! Sorry it was so long, let me know if you need any other info.

 

[bluedaisy1974]

thanks for that! it was helpful!

is there any section in particular i should avoid? i know i won't be spending the majority of my time there but i want it to be the best possible experience!

any other advice?

 

[madge]

Hi!
We stayed at the Vistana Villages in June. It is a beautiful resort located very close to WDW. We stayed in a two bedroom villa in the Keys Section. This is a newer section, which had it's good points and bad points. First, it was the nicest timeshare/hotel room we've stayed in. Gorgeous furnishings and it was huge. The downside was that we were separated from the main area by a driveway. I thought this would bug me, but it didn't. We had our own pool, and game room in the Keys. It was short walk to the main area, which had two pools and a hot tub, pool side bar, the main bar and small restaurant. They had tons of activites and live singers. We really spent the majority of our time at the parks, but coming back was nice and relaxing.
As for the timeshare sales, we already own with Starwood (company who owns the Vistana Villages) so I just told them I wasn't interested in hearing the info. They will offer you tickets to the parks, dinner, and even money to come hear them, but you can just say "Not Interested!!." They called the room twice, the first time I said we'll see (of course I had no intention) but then they called later in the week, and I then said no, and please don't call back. So they didn't.
All that being said, we do own with Starwood and with Disney and we are very happy with both!! Sorry it was so long, let me know if you need any other info.

I was just reading your review of the resort from several weeks ago - and I'm interested in knowing what the quickest way to get to the parks is. I thought I had the directions from another post saved, and I don't.

 

[mcqueengroupie]

is there any section in particular i should avoid? i know i won't be spending the majority of my time there but i want it to be the best possible experience!

The map I have of the resort isn't very good, but I know that they have newer buildings which sit right next to building that are under construction, so I wouldn't want to be over there. These are also further away from the main swimming pool, but unlike the Keys, there was no additional pool by them. (At least at the time we were there) My map shows buildings 1-11 being in the main area, with buildings 1-7 being closest to the main pool. Like I said we were in the Keys section which were buildings 12-17.(We were in 16, which was kinda on a corner, and we loved it, had a view of woods.) So the newer construction buildings must be 18 and up, but I don't know what they were called.

any other advice?

Order a pina colada poolside, it's delish!

 

[All4Nuthin]

I believe that Vistana Villages is right next door to Vistana Resorts?

If this is so... then when you exit the driveway you hang a left and about a mile and a half down the road you take a left (there is a sign and it is at a light) and Disney is right there.

If you go the wrong way, you will see a Super Wal-Mart on your right about a mile or two in the other direction.

 

[mcqueengroupie]

I believe that Vistana Villages is right next door to Vistana Resorts?

Actually, the two resorts aren't next to each other. The Vistana Villages is much newer and is located on International Drive, not too far from the back enterance to Sea World. I don't have a map in front of me, but we took a left out of the parking lot onto I-Drive, and continued down until we bared(sp?) right onto World Drive (I think!!!) and that took us past the Nick Hotel, over I-4 and onto Disney Property! It was very easy and had the least amount of traffic on it. You can also take a left out of the lot, make your first right onto Vineland Ave (Publix on the corner) and take this around the Dixie Stampede and the outlets, take it to the end, make a right onto Apopka-Vineland Ave (435) the road the other Vistana is on, and continue under I-4, and make a left onto Hotel Plaza Blvd, the enterance by the Marketplace. We didn't use this much because of the high traffic. Any other questions?????

 

[Taratink]

We were there this past March. It was wonderful! We were in bldg 9. This unit was one of the one of the farthest from the pool. It was still great. It was only a 3 minute walk. It was quiet and all of the units a pretty new. It is not like the Vistana Resort where there are many years between building. When we went both of my kids got a stomach bug. We need to change bedding 3 times and they were so helpful and kind. The activities staff were great. You can't go wrong.
Tara

 

[Letsbgoofy]

I just got an offer from Sheraton Villages - 4 nights in a 1 bedroom villa for $149 plus $100 towards area attractions. Has anyone done this before? If so, is there a catch other than that we have to sit through a timeshare session? I know I looked in to a Marriott offer only to find that you stayed at the Fairfield not the actual resort that they were trying to sell you.

 

[2xDisneyDad]

I just got an offer from Sheraton Villages - 4 nights in a 1 bedroom villa for $149 plus $100 towards area attractions. Has anyone done this before? If so, is there a catch other than that we have to sit through a timeshare session? I know I looked in to a Marriott offer only to find that you stayed at the Fairfield not the actual resort that they were trying to sell you.

We did a very similar deal here last year before we bought our home in Windsor Hills in June. For us it really was this simple without any catch. Yes, you do have to sit through the 90 minute presentation, but we thought it was well worth it. Once they told us what the price would be, we simply told them there was no way could drop that amount of money on a timeshare. We had to say the same to the "manager", took about 10 minutes from the point we said "no thanks," and we were done. Was impressed at the lack of hard sell pressure.

 

[Letsbgoofy]

We did a very similar deal here last year before we bought our home in Windsor Hills in June. For us it really was this simple without any catch. Yes, you do have to sit through the 90 minute presentation, but we thought it was well worth it. Once they told us what the price would be, we simply told them there was no way could drop that amount of money on a timeshare. We had to say the same to the "manager", took about 10 minutes from the point we said "no thanks," and we were done. Was impressed at the lack of hard sell pressure.

Thanks, just what I wanted to hear!

 

[sam.diss@btinternet.]

Hi, I like the sound of the Sheraton visitana resort, its one of the many I have been looking at, does anybody know if its within walking distance to any restaurants !!? Thanks

 

[mcqueengroupie]

I don't believe there are any restaurants in walking distance besides a Chinese Food place next to Publix. I did see pizza being delivered, and they do have a small restaurant on site. There were places to eat on Vineland Ave., but I think it is too far to walk. Plus this is a time share resort, so you have kitchen facilities right in your room. Here is a pic. of our kitchen when we were there in June. We had a two bedroom lockoff and this was the smaller side.

the other kitchen was HUGE.

 

[sandshal]

Can anybody tell me if the villages has wifi?

I'm taking my laptop this trip and it would be nice to check my email every now and again.

 

[jeff968]

Hi, I like the sound of the Sheraton visitana resort, its one of the many I have been looking at, does anybody know if its within walking distance to any restaurants !!? Thanks

Remember, there are two Vistanas, the resort and the villages. I've stayed at both and they are not near each other. As for the resort, there are a couple of restaurants just before you get to the resort, on the same side of the road (535). One is a chain, chile's maybe. You could walk to them but you would have to walk down the main driveway to get there.

 

[sam.diss@btinternet.]

Thanks Jeff968 I will have a look into the resort !

 

[bluedaisy1974]

ok, so what exactly is the difference between the vistana villages and the vistana resort?
which property is loctaed closer to WDW?
are there any advantages to one over the other?

i'm thinking the vistana villages are newer so might be 'nicer' to stay at...

more advice please!!!

 

[calgarygary]

ok, so what exactly is the difference between the vistana villages and the vistana resort?
which property is loctaed closer to WDW?
are there any advantages to one over the other?

i'm thinking the vistana villages are newer so might be 'nicer' to stay at...

more advice please!!!

They are two completely different resorts that often get confused. The original vistana resort is much older than vistana villages. The VR is also much larger with more pools and onsite services such as restaurants. It is closer to WDW but the difference in drive time is not enough to really be a factor when deciding when to stay. If you have google earth, VR is across I4from Downtown Disney. VV is located along International Drive just past where you would exit for Orlando Premium Outlets. If you are guaranteed a newer room or a renovated room (they are currently doing renovations) the VR is a good choice. Without that guarantee, I would pick VV everytime.

 

[mcqueengroupie]

We've stayed in both the Vistana Resort and the Vistana Villages, I can tell you I will not go back to the Resort again, It is OLD!!!!! From what the people there told us, it is the original timeshare resort in Orlando, and if you ask me, it shows. We stayed in the Cascades section, which at the time was the newest section (I understand they are updating throughout) and it was still gross. We had a two bedroom and it was very big, but it was run down and dirty. Ya, know, you walk across the floor and your feet turn black. Yuck None of the furniture matched, the walls were chipped, it just looked old and outdated, but all I could think was what does it look like in the other older setions. Now, I know this is only my opinion, and some people are just looking for a place to sleep, but for me its my vacation and I want a nice resort that is...well...pretty.
The Vistana Villages is just a little bit further away, but really feels like a resort. It very tropical, new, clean, our room was the nicest timeshare we've ever stayed at, the pools were great, the restaurant was small but had great food. And they had many activites going on. Well, that just my opinion, here are some pics.

 

[sam.diss@btinternet.]

hi, you have definiately put me off the resort , I will look into the villages, thanks for that!!