Sheraton Vistana Villages

[marlynnp]

The Villages does have free wifi access

 

[bluedaisy1974]

if i'm reserving online is there any way to make sure that i get one of the newer/renovated rooms?

 

[LAS2AMS]

FWIW, a company named Vistana owned the Vistana Resort and later developed the Vistana Villages. Starwood acquired Vistana and slapped the Sheraton brand name on these properties... I kinda wish they would've dumped it -- at least from the Villages -- to avoid confusion, but I guess the recognition was strong.

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The Vistana Resort was actually built over a 20+ year period, and some of the buildings & facilities are the same age (maybe younger?) as the Vistana Villages.

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We stayed at the Villages earlier this past summer via a rate book on Starwood's website... they kept soliciting us for for a timeshare presentation, which we took & it ultimately wound up being very high-pressured. And although our rate included housekeeping, we did not receive it ANY of the four nights we were there -- we had to keep calling for the towels to be replaced. They did put us in a brand new room, though, which was nice -- except for the dirt hole where the lake will one day be .

Although it was a nice property, I wasn't impressed (and certainly not by the cost to buy into it!!!) and probably wouldn't stay there again.

 

[calgarygary]

FWIW, a company named Vistana owned the Vistana Resort and later developed the Vistana Villages. Starwood acquired Vistana and slapped the Sheraton brand name on these properties... I kinda wish they would've dumped it -- at least from the Villages -- to avoid confusion, but I guess the recognition was strong.

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The Vistana Resort was actually built over a 20+ year period, and some of the buildings & facilities are the same age (maybe younger?) as the Vistana Villages.

---

We stayed at the Villages earlier this past summer via a rate book on Starwood's website... they kept soliciting us for for a timeshare presentation, which we took & it ultimately wound up being very high-pressured. And although our rate included housekeeping, we did not receive it ANY of the four nights we were there -- we had to keep calling for the towels to be replaced. They did put us in a brand new room, though, which was nice -- except for the dirt hole where the lake will one day be .

Although it was a nice property, I wasn't impressed (and certainly not by the cost to buy into it!!!) and probably wouldn't stay there again.

The original section of Vistana Resort was opened in 1980 and was the very first timeshare in Orlando. The final phase of Vistana Resort began construction in 1997. Vistana Villages, the first of Starwood's properties after purchasing Vistana, opened in 2000 and construction of the newest phase is ongoing. The newest phase at Vistana Resort is three years older than the oldest phase at Vistana Villages.

Although I am certain that you felt that the timeshare presentation was high-pressured, Starwood's (and most hotel-based systems) are low-pressure compared to what is often encountered within the industry. I definitely agree with the comment about not buying from a developer. Visit tug if you are ever considering buying into a timeshare.

 

[mejkjj97]

I just got back from staying at the Vistana Villages. It was great and very easy to get to and from the Magic Kingdom

do not stay in the Amelia section, it is the brand new section but you will be looking at a mound of dirt and a hole in the ground. This is because it is still being built and it is a hike to the pool. We stayed in Garden Building 4 and this was close to the pool without being right over it.

I do agree that we did get pressured at first to take the timeshare tour on the first day and then was never bothered after that. I also lied and said I was there with a friend and not my spouse, they will not let you take the tour if you are by yourself and not together.

 

[LAS2AMS]

calgarygary, I'll shamefully admit that I've seen many timeshare presentations over the years and I'd place the pair of Starwoods (one in Maui, the other at the Villages) among the most pressured I've experienced (yes, that bad). Of course it's dependent on who gives the presentation... but it wasn't the high-pressured sales pitch that bothered me (after all, I take the bait), it was the fact that the hotel aggressively solicited me for the pitch even though I had booked the room direct as a hotel room. They called me twice a day to ask if everything was OK, but couldn't address the problem that I wasn't receiving the housekeeping I had paid for (instead focusing their efforts on getting me to tour the property).

I thought the property was very nice -- I stayed in one of the newest rooms, which was furthest from the pool but only a couple minute walk or so -- but probably wouldn't stay here again simply because there's other properties I prefer in the area. But given that a one-bedroom unit was selling for for about the same price as a Disney Value Resort much of the summer, I could easily highly recommend it. One big plus is that even if you don't tour the resort, you're still eligible to buy discounted Disney/other theme park tickets.

 

[Taratink]

I have been to a new section of the Resort and the Villages. I take my phone off the hook and check for messages every few days. They can't reach me and I like it that way!
Tara

 

[madge]

any VV vets know of the resort has swim vests for children to use?

 

[neonurse]

I stayed at VV a few years ago. I had RCI timeshare and was sooooo disappointed with the room. It was a 1 bedroom with a pull out couch and kitchenette. The room was sooooo small...not room to swing a cat let alone 4 people to stay. I had called earlier and asked to pay extra to ungrade to a larger room and they said no!!! When I got there and saw the room I was mortified. Is this how they treat other timeshare companies!!! I called to complain and said that I wouldn't be staying here. They said let them see what I can do. They moved us to a 2 bedroom lovely villa and didn't even charge us extra. There were 2 huge bedrooms, full kitchen, LR/DR, washer/dryer and a corner jacuzzi tub in the master. Now why couldn't they let me pay extra for that the first time I asked...why did I have to get nasty. I didn't like the timeshare meeting that we went to. Very high pressure.

Soooo don't stay in the one bedroom. They might stick you in the same one I had. Plus it was miles from the pool. We would have had to drive to it. The pic that someone posted of the one bedroom was not the one we had...that looked huge compared to ours. The bedroom was so small that the bed was the only thing in it beside the tv stand. Just enough room to get in bed...not joking!!!!

When are you thinking of going. We went in Nov. and I think that was why they could move us. If it had been a busier time I probably would have had to leave.

Hilton timeshare is very nice...gorgeous. I stayed only one night in their 1 bedroom and it was huge with a 2 or more person jacuzzi. Stunning!!

Goodluck!!