Sheraton Vistana Villages

[telaed]

Hi all, I am planning a "Grand Gathering" sans Disney for 12 (8 adults, 4 kids) next April. Because my niece and I are the only Disney Dweebs in my family, I wanted a resort that is comfortable for those family members who are not planning on visiting the parks. I also wanted a place that is entertaining for the little ones when they don't go to the parks. At first, I was looking at the Royal Plaza in Downtown Disney but I wanted us to have enough room to spread out. The Vistana Villages seems perfect for my family and the price is outstanding. I have just a few questions before I book my rooms.

1. How do I select the no housekeeping option when booking?
2. Do they charge my credit card when I book or does it just hold the reservation like other hotels?
3. What activities are available for toddlers inside the resort?
4. Can I book more than one villas at a time?
5. What are lock off rooms?
6. Are the villas as nice as the pictures portray?

I think that this is all for now. Please feel free to include any information that you think is helpful. Thanks!

 

[MickeyMickey]

I will help with what I can. We stayed at the Vistana Villages and loved it in September 2003. We stayed in a two bedroom.

1) Where are you looking to book through. Some places you book through will include housekeeping and some won't. The Sheraton website itself generally includes housekeeping unless they have an option that doesn't include it. If you can tell me what dates you are going, what rate you have and if you want 1 or 2 bedroom I can see if I can beat that rate (I have a couple of websites I am monitoring prices for my January trip). One includes housekeeping and one doesn't. The one that doesn't generally requires a Saturday or Sunday to Saturday or Sunday stay and is excess timeshare weeks. It is generally cheaper.
2) Again this depends on who you book through. Book directly through Sheraton and probably not, excess timeshare weeks you would pay immediately.
3)Someone else might be better to answer this since they have added buildings/activities since we were there. They have an awesome zero entry pool though.
4) Again depends on how you book
5)I have not seen anywhere where you can book the lockout units unless you rent directly from an owner. Basically the lock out units are two one bedroom units that can be rented as one two bedroom or two one bedroom units. If you are renting a one bedroom you will most likely be getting half of a lock out. Make sure you get the side with the full kitchen not the kitchenette.
6) We thought they were as nice or nicer. Loved the screened in porch.

 

[telaed]

Thanks for the reply! We are traveling from April 6th through the 12th (spring break as I am an educator). I wanted to go ahead and book for my party of twelve but would rather not have to pay up front in case my travel party changes. I want to reserve a 2 bedroom villa ($199/nt) as well as a 1 bedroom villa ($149/nt). Again, thanks for your help!

 

[MickeyMickey]

Best rate I see for that time period is $199 a night for an two bedroom. You would need to cancel by 6:00 on April 3rd. I can PM you with the detail if you are interested.

 

[inaminute]

We had a one bedroom. It was nice. That's pretty much all I can say about it. It was pretty small. We had no balcony, a teeny tiny washer-dryer (which only held like two pair of jeans). The tub had the jacuzzi like jets that were nice at the end of a day at Disney. The resort did have activities every day, but we weren't interested so I didn't pay much attention.

To be honest, we were kind of disapointed in our unit. It didn't look much like the photos we'd seen. Nor did it look like the units we were shown on the timeshare tour, either. If we'd had one of the other units I'm always hearing about, we might have considered buying. Based on what we ended up with, though, I wouldn't consider it. I expect a certain amount of luxury when being asked to hand over $20,000 or so!

All in all. We had a great vacation. The room was nice, just nothing special. I can't complain much--the price was pretty reasonable. And, even though I was disappointed, I would stay there again. As long as I didn't have to do the presentation, that is.

 

[got2beme]

We just returned from a stay there Oct19-Nov2.

1. We booked thru my brother-in-laws Interval International membership and got an outstanding price break. We did not pay extra for housekeeping - but they did pop in about 3 or 4 times (over 2 weeks) to tidy and change towels. On one occassion we called to ask for clean towels and were quickly obliged.

3. They provide a one page summary of daily activities at the resort - but to be honest - I didn't see any that catered to toddlers. There is a shallow pool like another diser said.

6. We had a 2bedroom suite in building 28 (I think this is the newer section). We requested it and they warned us that there was on-going construction next door - but we didn't care. The room was very new - exactly as pictured. The construction was only during weekdays. It started at 7am and was always wrapped up by the time we got home in the evenings.

I think a lock-off room is like two separate suites that can be accessed / locked off by a door between them. We did not have this.

Overall, our stay was very nice. I have no complaints at all. Enjoy your Spring Break!

 

[madge]

my answers are in red

1. How do I select the no housekeeping option when booking?
we had 7 nights booked (Sun-Sun) and we had housekeeping once, on Wednesday. I didn't even realize we'd be getting the service... we'd have tidied up a little bit. LOL
2. Do they charge my credit card when I book or does it just hold the reservation like other hotels?
not sure. we booked through www.govarm.com
3. What activities are available for toddlers inside the resort?
swimming, and a playground. Some of the organized activities might be toddler-appropriate. I can't remember
4. Can I book more than one villas at a time?
5. What are lock off rooms?
no idea to either of those
6. Are the villas as nice as the pictures portray?
we were in the Key West section, in a 2BR unit, last month. It was lovely.

I think that this is all for now. Please feel free to include any information that you think is helpful. Thanks!

 

[Taratink]

Telaed- We stayed there last year and we loved it. It was just as nice in person. We actually just booked it again April 5-12, 08. Same week as you. The kids activity staff was great. They had a pool party and all kinds of crafts. There is a tiny arcade which my kids loved it. The restaurant is really small and has a deli style menu. Both of my kids came down with the stomache bug last trip and the housekeeping staff and front desk were great. We went in the slow season last year and I know that April is really busy. We are from the Boston area but our school break is later in April. What schools have this week off?
Tara