Sheratons' Vistana Resort vs. Vistana Village

[baileybrad]

We stayed at VV in a 2 bedroom in late January at the unheard of rate of $79 per night with 1 night free during our 10 night stay. Rates have obviously rebounded somewhat.

I just made a reservation for VR in a 1 bedroom for $86 a night - government employee rate. This is a tad cheaper overall than Hotelkingdoms's $98 a night with 1 night free at VV for a 1 bedroom.

My question is twofold: My understanding is that VR 1 bdrms are 600 sq ft compared to VV size of 500 sq ft. Has anyone ever stayed at VR in a 1 bedroom? A lady at VR told me that the 1 bedrooms are all located in the "newer" sections. Can anyone give me some idea as to what to expect at VR? We have friends who have stayed there in a 2 bedroom and speak very highly of the entire resort/complex. Our only fear was getting an older unit and with the information I received that does not appear to be an issue.

Thanks so much for any information that you may have on this subject.

One other thing we have stayed at Oak Plantation twice before and found it to be very nice. We thought about going for a 2 bedroom there for $88 a night but the closer location of VR and the overall resort itself is drawing us to VR.

 

[KelliR]

I have been an "owner" at VR for over 8 years. We love the resort and the 2BR units. Last February we stayed in a 1 BR in Cascades, which is the newer area. It was very small. The pull-out was basically right in the very small kitchen area. I felt very crowded, Iwas used to the very roomy 2BR units. How many in your party?

Hope this helps you...

 

[baileybrad]

KelliR,
Thanks for the response. We are a family of 4. With a 2 and 5 year old. We are DVC owners used to very roomy accomodations also. We stayed at Vistana Village this January in a 2 bedroom and loved it. We don't want to stay there in a 1 bedroom because they are only around 500 sq ft and the VR ones are listed as 600 sq ft. We just don't wish to pay $130 a night for a 2 bedroom at VV. We could get a 2 bedroom at VR for $125 but are afraid of getting a much older unit. The VV 1 bdrms do not all have decks/patios. I just hope that a big part of the 1 bdrms sizewise at VR are not the porch areas .

Part of our reason for choosing to stay at VR is we have heard really good things about the overall resort and we HAVEN"T seen a 2 bedroom and won't know what we are missing. We were deciding between "Dixie Landings" mansions, Oak Plantation (2 bedroom) or VR. We have stayed at OP twice and enjoyed it but it is 7 minutes farther out. We love "Dixie Landings" (Port Orleans, can't stand the name change) but it is still just a very nice motel room with no fridge, microwave, or washer dryer in the room. We find the washer and dryers a godsend when flying and having to pack both winter and fall clothes with 2 little boys.

We plan to put the little one in a baby bed in the bedroom. Put his brother to bed in the king and move him over to the sleeper sofa when we go to bed. We have done this several times in Residence Inn 1 bedrooms on weekend trips.

Could you be so generous, based on your ownership and knowledge of the resort over 8 years, to answer a few more questions about VR? Are the washer/dryers in the 1 bdrm stackables or full size? Is there a TV and a door that closes from the bedroom to the living room area? Is it a true 1 bedroom and not an open floor plan? Do you find the units to be fairly quiet? Are the Cascades the only area with 1 bedrooms? Are there newer sections than the Cascades and just how old are they? We were told that the 1 bedrooms are only in the "newer" sections. Is there a neat pool area for 2 little water bugs near the sections that have 1 bedrooms? Do they heat their pools well in the colder times of the year? And anything else that you might be able to add?

I will look forward to your response and thanks in advance.

 

[KelliR]

baileybrad...I'll take a stab at some of your questions:

-I didn't use the washer /dryer in that 1BR, my husband thinks it was a stackable. We have been in units with both types...the stackables work very well and are very convenient.
-I'm not sure if there are 1BR's in other areas, you may want to call to check that out. I believe they are only in the Cascades area but I am not sure.
-It is a true 1BR...a door that closes off the BR and a door that closes off the bathroom. You can enter the bathroom from the BR or the living area.
-There is a TV in the BR and another TV in the living area.
-The units are fairly quiet. I didn't hear a thing...BUT, that depends on your neighbors. The pull-out was close to the window in the hall...if people are loud in the hall, you would definitely hear them! But the BR was far in the unit...very quiet.
-The Cascdes are the newest area at VR. All of them would be less than 5 yrs old.
-The pools are great. The cascades pool is very nice and interesting with some fountains. The Super Pool is a very close walk and it is great! Lots of activities, too. There are playgrounds around as well.
- I haven't done much swimming in the winter months, but there are plenty of people still in the pools in the winter!
-The General Store is close by and so is a restaurant. You can go to any of the pools on property.

I know the Fountains and Lakes areas the best, that is where we stay the most. I just want to state again that the 1BR was small. You willbe a little cramped with 4 people. The 2BR's have more room around the beds and in the living areas.

Hope I helped a little...

 

[baileybrad]

KelliR,
Thanks for the very helpful information. Honestly, we have stayed at OKW and VWL in a Studio 3 different times with our little boys for 10, 9 and 8 days and we manage nicely. We spend most of our day at the parks or at the pool. We are probably some of the ones that you have seen at the pools in the winter. We have been very fortunate with the weather on most of our winter and fall trips.

Anybody else out there that is familar with Vistana Resorts....I would love to hear from you.

 

[BedKnobbery2]

Baileybrad,

I just switched from a room at PO-R to a 1 BR at Vistana, and will be there next weekend. We made the switch because the rate was around $50 less per night (when you factored in a fridge at PO-R) and we wanted the kitchen to make light meals and a full fridge for beverages. The Resort is VERY close to WDW; I stay there in August in a 2 BR. Our washer/dryer there was stacked, so I am guessing it will be the same in the 1 BR. We had to do laundry every day (there were 3 of us) as the load capacity was very small.

We were in Cascades, and anticipate being there next weekend, too. Really beautiful units, and the pool area was great!

I'll do a report when I return.

BK

 

[BriarfoxinWA]

Does the resort provide detergent for washing clothes or did you bring/buy your own??

 

[BedKnobbery2]

I had to bring my own detergent for the washer/dryer, although plenty of packs of detergent were available for the dishwasher.

 

[BedKnobbery2]

and the 1 bedrooms did indeed have the stacked washer.

 

[baileybrad]

Bedknobbery2,
Thanks for the info, look forward to any details that you might provide about this resort.

 

[luvdisney14]

baileybrad

I was just reading old threads and I think I read that you got a government employee rate. Where did you call to get that and do you know if it is still available? Thank you