Sheraton's Vistana Resort VS. Orange Lake

[Raevyn_Wolfe]

HI. I just registered and this is my first post. But I've been a lurker for some time.
Everyone here really seems to know what they are talking about, so I hope you all can help me make up my mind.

I notice that Orange Lake and Vistana get mentioned on here frequently and a lot of people seem to own at one or the other, or visit one or the other frequently.

I am stuck trying to decide between the two, and since I've never been to either I was hoping someone that's been to both could tell me which they liked better. I understand both are supposed to be very good.

If you haven't been to both, maybe if you've been to one of them you could tell me what you like(d) best about it.

I'll be traveling with my husband, our 4 year old and my two grandparents for a week at the end of Jan. I am paying for everything as a nice surprise for my grandparents and want things to be really nice. I've stayed in timeshares before and I absolutely love them (for all the amenities), and the kitchen will help me with costs. We will be only going to disney, so close as close can be is a must.

I know it would be more magical and ideal to stay on site, but not financially possible. And I get either of these for roughly the same price, so picking one over the over because of price isn't option (although it would have helped ended my debate by now).

Thank you for any help or advice!!!

 

[Julia M]

well, I've stayed at both and liked both. My only complaint about OLCC was that it took a while to get to Disney......Vistana was so much faster and closer. If I was hanging around the resort alot, I'd choose OLCC. If I planned at being Disney alot, I'd choose Vistana

julia

 

[spiceycat]

Vistana is definitely closer. I have only stayed at Vistana will stay at OL in Sept.

I also like that the quiet pools at VIstana have very few people. Now their main pool had alot of people. but the quiet pools were very quiet.

I loved been around 6 feet from the door of the unit. Mother has problems walking and she loved this.

we were in Springs - yes it needed alot of work done. the carpets were in bad shape (very bad), the curtains needs work, the patio needed work, the second bathroom major work. the hot water for the second bathroom never worked the entire time we were there.

would I stay there again - yes - because it was for convenient for mother.

 

[reddixie]

HI. I just registered and this is my first post. But I've been a lurker for some time.
Everyone here really seems to know what they are talking about, so I hope you all can help me make up my mind.

I notice that Orange Lake and Vistana get mentioned on here frequently and a lot of people seem to own at one or the other, or visit one or the other frequently.

I am stuck trying to decide between the two, and since I've never been to either I was hoping someone that's been to both could tell me which they liked better. I understand both are supposed to be very good.

If you haven't been to both, maybe if you've been to one of them you could tell me what you like(d) best about it.

I'll be traveling with my husband, our 4 year old and my two grandparents for a week at the end of Jan. I am paying for everything as a nice surprise for my grandparents and want things to be really nice. I've stayed in timeshares before and I absolutely love them (for all the amenities), and the kitchen will help me with costs. We will be only going to disney, so close as close can be is a must.

I know it would be more magical and ideal to stay on site, but not financially possible. And I get either of these for roughly the same price, so picking one over the over because of price isn't option (although it would have helped ended my debate by now).

Thank you for any help or advice!!!

I own OLCC and have stayed at Vistana. I love OLCC and have very few complaints. I will say that in Jan. OLCC will have the better pool area. We are getting a new River Island which will feature a lazy river. As for Vistana I thought the unit could be updated. I did love that where we stayed was very close to the pool. My unit at OLCC is a drive to any pool. Also I loved the grocery store at Vistana but we have Publix and I think I drove just as far for either. As for cons I didn't like the layout of Vistana. I got very confused as we stayed in a unit that you had to leave a guard gate and then get on a small road and go into another guard gate. I also didn't like the kid's mall store thing. It had a bunch of junk in it and ate up alot of my child's spending money. I did love that they had tatoos and hair wraps like the Disney hotels at Vistana. The quiet pool was really nice as well. So I say look at price and which parks you are going to visit and then decide. Both have pros and cons.

 

[coaster girl]

both resorts are very large. I own at OLCC, and go back there several times each year. I noticed you are going at a time of year, that there will not be much traffic at all. So even though Vistana is closer, even if you did stay at OL, you'd be on Disney property within a few minutes. All said, you and your family would probably be pleased either way.

 

[gjw007]

I own at Orange Lake but I have stayed at Sheraton's Vistana Resort. Really, you can't go wrong with either resort. Vistana is closer but this could be argued as splitting hairs since Vistana is about 1 - 1 1/2 miles from the entrance to Disney while Orange Lake taking Sherbert Road is about 2 miles or so from Disney property. The long drive for Orange Lake is about 4 miles to Disney property. From my villa at Orange Lake, I can watch Disney fireworks although it was easier before they built new units in front of mine but I can still see fireworks. You cannot see Disney fireworks from Vistana.

Orange Lake is big, about 1200 acres while Vistana is about 135 acres, still a good size resort. Vistana's units are closer overall to any of its pools while unless your villa (like mine) is next to a pool, it is a drive at Orange Lake. There seemed to be only 1 parking space per villa at Vistana while there was plenty of parking at Orange Lake. This is important if you have guests or traveling with friends or family who also have their own car.

Once you are in Orange Lake, you are in Orange Lake. In Vistana, depending on your section, you may need to exit the resort and re-enter the resort for activities within the resort. Sections of Vistana are across a road so that section has its own secruity and gate guards. If you wish to go to the main pool (this section has its own pool so you don't need to go tot he main pool) or the store, it is over in a different area meaning that you have to exit your section of the resort and re-enter the resort at the main section. Hopefully you can follow; it is not really a problem just the way the layout is setup.

As you would expect, there are more activities at Orange Lake such as golf, an inhouse movie theater, boating, and watercraft but Vistana has many of the same activities as Orange Lake such as a store and activity centers. Both resorts are very nice while Vistana is more compact, Orange Lake is more open. I own two weeks at Orange Lake and I really like it there but although I don't own at Vistana, I would certainly consider it. The 4-year old would be happy in either place but I think she'll be happiest at the Magic Kingdom during the trip While River Island at Orange Lake should be open, I think that the pool area in the North Village will be a better choice. It is still large but River Island is suppose to have an recreation area of about 12 acres and that may be a bit much to watch with a 4-year old.

Enjoy your vaction; either resort will do fine.

 

[MN Dis Fans]

We also own at OLCC, but have stayed at both. I think the units themselves are much nicer at OLCC. Both have nice pools, but at OLCC you will most probably have to drive to the pool, unless you are lucky enough to get assigned a unit near one. Both have plenty of activities, and like a previous poster, if you catch the back roads, can be at Disney in a matter of minutes. Given the choice, we would go with OLCC every time!

 

[talicskai]

You cannot see Disney fireworks from Vistana.

This is not true. We have watched EPCOT fireworks every night from our Lakes unit for about 5 years now. You simply have to go the the top floor of the building and watch from the balcony. Not a big deal but just wanted to clarify. I personally love Vistana but we always stay in either Fountains or Lakes so the units are newer. That's the advantage of being an owner. You can always request the new units but I am not sure what the odds of getting one are. OLCC sounds way too big for my liking, I find Vistana big enough and the proximity to DTD is exactly what I love!
Enjoy! It sounds like either one is what you are looking for.

Teresa

 

[gjw007]

This is not true. We have watched EPCOT fireworks every night from our Lakes unit for about 5 years now. You simply have to go the the top floor of the building and watch from the balcony. Not a big deal but just wanted to clarify. I personally love Vistana but we always stay in either Fountains or Lakes so the units are newer. That's the advantage of being an owner. You can always request the new units but I am not sure what the odds of getting one are. OLCC sounds way too big for my liking, I find Vistana big enough and the proximity to DTD is exactly what I love!
Enjoy! It sounds like either one is what you are looking for.

Teresa

Okay, I stand corrected. I stayed in Fountains II and could not see the fireworks but I was not in an upper floor unit. It is also true at Orange Lake that you cannot see the fireworks in some locations and in other locations unless your villa is located in the upper levels. Those darn trees and other villas just get in the way! While nice to sit on the balcony, it is still not the same thing as being at the parks and watching the fireworks. Orange Lake's property does border the Animal Kingdom but the fireworks is still some distance away.

 

[MiaSRN62]

I am a Vistana owner, but have never stayed at Orange Lake. I have heard good things about that resort though and I would think having the lake right there is a big plus particularily if you plan on spending time at the resort.

I didn't like the layout of Vistana. I got very confused as we stayed in a unit that you had to leave a guard gate and then get on a small road and go into another guard gate. I also didn't like the kid's mall store thing. It had a bunch of junk in it and ate up alot of my child's spending money.

The resort is large (though not quite as big as I'm seeing OL is), but Vistana is divided into two sections 1) Fountains I/II and Lakes 2)Courts, Falls, Spas, Palms, Springs, Cascades. Each section has a security gate for privacy and protection. They are both accessed off the main driveway going into the resort. I don't find it confusing at all, but then again I've been an owner for 11 years. Perhaps someone new coming in would find it a little confusing ? Not sure what the poster is referring to when they state kid's mall store thing ? If she/he means the General Store, I always find that store is nice though a little pricey. Any resort gift shop would be. The General Store is somewhat divided into three sections 1) general store/food/supplies 2)clothing/small selection of kids toys/souveniers 3)Pizza Hut/bakery. I feel the General Store is tastefully done (not junky looking), but it is a little pricey !

As far as seeing fireworks. Depends on which unit you're in. We normally stay in the Fountains I and II and have often been able to see both the Epcot and Pleasure Island fireworks (the tops of them). And we haven't always been in an upper unit. But it really does depend on which way your villa is facing and how many trees are blocking your view.

The villas themselves range from very nice and almost brand new, to older and in need of some maintenance. This is the trouble with Vistana. IF, you're not trading into the resort via II or RCI, you probably have a better chance of getting a new unit. Often times people who specifically request the Cascades or Lakes (or even Fountains) are pleased. But when you get to the older sections is where you start to see complaints. If you're booking through a travel agent you can ask them to request a certain section. If you're booking through the resort itself, you can also request Cascades or Lakes. Distance wise, we can get to the WDW parks in 10+ minutes from Vistana. It's very close to the entrance of Downtown Disney (I believe 2 or 3 stop lights away).

Good luck and I'm sure you'll be happy regardless of which resort you stay at.

 

[gjw007]

Not sure what the poster is referring to when they state kid's mall store thing ? If she/he means the General Store, I always find that store is nice though a little pricey. Any resort gift shop would be. The General Store is somewhat divided into three sections 1) general store/food/supplies 2)clothing/small selection of kids toys/souveniers 3)Pizza Hut/bakery. I feel the General Store is tastefully done (not junky looking), but it is a little pricey !

I'm not sure about the reference to the kid's mall thing but there was an area that sold inexpensive items for kids. It might have been part of the activities, I don't remember it being part of the store. I thought it was a good idea. OLCC also has activities designed for kids. I believe both resorts have activities that are also geared towards adult such as Bingo.

I think the OP should get the idea from the discussion that both resorts are nice.

 

[jeff968]

I have stayed at both and give the Vistana resort higher marks for the following reasons:

1) I had an old dirty room at OLCC, SVR was much cleaner, so was the resort itself.
2) Resort layout, SVR is a large resort but OLCC is huge. You have to get in your car to get to the pools
3) resort location, OLCC is way out of the way on 192. SVR is right in the middle of things so you can hit stores, restaurants, and attractations.

If you are a golfer then you may want to go with OLCC, otherwise, SVR, IMHO.

 

[MiaSRN62]

OLCC also has activities designed for kids.

Vistana has kid's activities as well which can vary from week to week.
http://www.starwoodvo.com/resorts/svroactivities.jsp
And there are 4 playgrounds on the resort.

I think the OP should get the idea from the discussion that both resorts are nice.

I totally agree with you gjw007.

 

[meandtheguys2]

We have stayed at both, and would stay at either again in a heartbeat. We were in East Village of OLCC in a new room and firework view, which we loved, but it was too spread out. The boys enjoyed the theater, though.

SVR was an older room, but we found it much easier to get from place to place. If DH had the car, walking to our destination was much quicker, and thus we did more activites.

 

[ZanneMarie]

We have stayed at both. I think I prefered Vistana because the pools were more easily accesable. OLCC you had to drive to the pool. We had a group that would split up some days and the people who stayed at the resort had to try to catch a shuttle to get to the pool -way too complicated according to them. Also no way for a quick swim -had to be a planned out event since was far away from our unit.

Also my MIL says the air conditioning at OLCC made her sick with pneumonia. I do take that with a grain of salt that but she did start getting sick at the end of our trip and now 2 months later she is still batteling it. They are testing her for Legionaires Disease (among other things) which can come from bacteria laded water in air conditioners. Just a side note and probably an isolated event -althought she says she won't ever go back there!!!

 

[Raevyn_Wolfe]

Thank You!!!!!!

Exactly the type of stuff I was wondering.
WOW, OL sounds HUGE! And to be honest would probably be where I would go if it was just me and my husband.

I guess Vistana would probably be the best for having a small kid, and two grandparents, who have mobility issues.
We'll probably spend a bit of time at the resort (much to my dismay, I'm a ride everything till you drop type) so walking to the pools is a bonus, and having stuff to do close too.
I've heard bad things about getting an older unit, and so was a little antsy. . . .so plan on making a request for either the Lakes or the Fountains. From my understanding these are a little less hectic or "busy" as the Cascades?
Do they still go by the colors on the map in assigning rooms? (can't remember which days are which colors, but I remember reading that somewhere)

Thanks for all the advice.

I was raised with Disneyland; me, my husband, and our son (then 2) have been to Disneyworld (stayed at Silverlake, don't think we'll stay there again). . . . . but my grandparents have never been to either. EVER.
And they don't even know I'm doing this for them.
I've only told them to not plan anything for the last week of Jan. (Ya, I picked Jan because years of Disney have taught me that off times can be more relaxing, which I want this trip to be).

So far it's been hair raising. . . .trying to plan it all. Between flying them in (I live in Fl), where to stay, when exactly to book, my husband's vacation time. . . .
but I know it will be worth it.
Can't wait to see the looks on their faces when we enter the Magic Kingdom and have breakfast in the castle.

So, again, thank you for the help!!!!!!!!

 

[MiaSRN62]

so plan on making a request for either the Lakes or the Fountains. From my understanding these are a little less hectic or "busy" as the Cascades?

The Cascades are the newest section and they are very nice but a little smaller than the Lakes and Fountains (and any of the other sections for that matter). So you trade off some space for everything being brand new. And yes, the Cascades are in the area of the resort that is slightly more hectic.
The Lakes and Fountains are in a more quiet area. But honestly, there are some Cascades buildings that are in quieter areas as well.
As for check-in days:
RED = Friday
BLUE = Saturday
GREEN = Sunday

 

[gjw007]

so plan on making a request for either the Lakes or the Fountains. From my understanding these are a little less hectic or "busy" as the Cascades?

I stayed in the Fountains II area. It was quiet. The pool was across the street and behind the buildings. A recreation center was also located near by in that area. I think in the main section, they had a band playing during the evening and was more active than in the pool area around the Fountains. I liked some of the layout as far as the bridges over the waterways, the walkways provided for nice little strolls. Its kind of cute, but watch out for the duck crossings. Enjoy your trip.