Review The Sheraton Vistana Resort Thread (key links on p.1)

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Thanks for the update Gina!

Can you give us an idea on how/where you pick up your towel? Is there a towel location in each section? We'll be staying in Springs (25 days and counting) and wondering if we will have to walk over to Cascades every day for pick up and drop off.

Enjoy your vacation!

FrankieD


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Pool towels are available at the poolside shops at Cascades, Spas (Super) and Fountains pools only during the daytime hours (8 am to 6 pm). So yep, you'll have to go over to Cascades to get/exchange towels. From 6 pm to 10 pm, they are at the Main Activities Center only. After 10....you're out of luck everywhere (crappy when the 3 main pools are all open until 1 am!!).

We brought our own beach towels and were glad we did .

 

[Asherry25]

Last week, there were towels at springs on a few days.

 

[The Fab Four]

bankr63, here is the promised update on the # of pool towels assigned at check-in:

When we arrived yesterday and checked in via Diamond Lane, the pre-arrival co-ordinator (Monica Shaw) initially gave us 4 pool towel cards (one per guest). I inquired if we could have more, and she said "sure, your villa sleeps up to 8, so you could technically have 8 guests at any give time, so I can provide you 8 towel cards" which she promptly did. So it appears the "rule" allows for 1 towel card per # of guests your villa accommodates. One bedroom units would then be allowed a max of 4 towel cards per villa.

We also chatted a bit about the change (and how we, personally, didn't find it favourable) and she said it may not be a permanent thing. Its currently "under testing and review" and may only be applied during high occupancy time periods like summer and Christmas. From what she said, I don't think we were the first owners who said the new system was rather disappointing.

For anyone else with specific questions, we are here now in a beautiful 3rd floor villa in Fountains with a vaulted ceiling and a skylight . If there's anything you want to know, say the word and I'll find it out within the next two weeks.

Hi Gina First, as always thanks for all the information you provide to us newbies. Do you happen to have an activity list for this week for the Vistana? We arrive on Friday and after all that driving we plan on hanging around the resort for the rest of the day and wanted to see if the resort had anything planned for Friday afternoon and Friday night. we also plan on bringing our own beach towels so that shouldn't be a problem. Thanks

 

[pigletto]

Hi Gina!! I hope you are having a blast!! I was wondering which location you liked best so far? I think I understand that you were on the other side of the resort last year? Do you find one area favourable over the other?

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Hi Gina!! I hope you are having a blast!! I was wondering which location you liked best so far? I think I understand that you were on the other side of the resort last year? Do you find one area favourable over the other?

Ooohhhh....that is such a tough question to answer!!

We love BOTH locations. We really do.

Decor-wise, we prefer the Fountains to the Spas. Fountains is a little more neutral and a has darker furniture. The master bedroom also seems larger, but the balcony is a tad smaller.

Layout-wise, they are virtually identical, but our Fountains unit has a beautiful vaulted ceiling and skylight in the living/dining room that makes the space so much brighter.

The Fountains unit feels a smidge "older", but I believe that section was also refurbed before the Spas units.

The south side has more pools (the north, where Fountains is located, only has the Fountains and Lakes pools) and the Marketplace. But the north side has felt much quieter to us overall.

We love the Fountains pool and the atmosphere there. But we also loved the Super Pool in Spas last summer.

Both sections have the most lush and beautiful landscaping. I love the views!

So which one do we like BETTER? I don't know!!! Its so hard to decide!

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Here's our unit's living/dining room with the vaulted ceiling:

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

And to compare....our Spas living room last summer:

 

[pigletto]

Soooo pretty!!!! I think I see exactly what you are saying decor wise. Both are nice, but the slightly different decor and vaulted ceiling /skylight gives the room something special! And really if you had such a hard time picking between the two I think it speaks well of the resort and that any area will be pretty and well cared for!

 

[delilah18]

Hello

I booked through Sheraton for a 2 bedroom villa, it says 1025 square feet
Does this mean I will get one of the smaller villas for sure?
If so what area are these in?
Thanks

 

[got4boys]

1025 square feet would be Cascades dedicated 2 bedroom.

 

[The Fab Four]

I was looking on SVR's website and I didn't see any mention of hair dryers in the bathroom, my DW would like to know if they provide them or does she need to bring her own. Thanks

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

I was looking on SVR's website and I didn't see any mention of hair dryers in the bathroom, my DW would like to know if they provide them or does she need to bring her own. Thanks

There are hair dryers in both bathrooms . And they are good ones, very similar to the type I have at home (not the crappy kind you find attached to the wall in most hotels).

 

[jcondrad]

Gina..are there blenders in the kitchens?

 

[FrankieDplus3]

Gina..are there blenders in the kitchens?

I remember there being a blender in our Springs unit last year. We never used it though.



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[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Gina..are there blenders in the kitchens?

Yes ma'am . Its stored in the cupboard above the microwave.

 

[jcondrad]

I remember there being a blender in our Springs unit last year. We never used it though. Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

Yes ma'am . Its stored in the cupboard above the microwave.

Thank you both!

 

[sunnydreams]

We just booked for next April and I'm very excited! Was wondering if anyone could give me an idea of what activities there are. People mention lots of activities, but I couldn't find a list anywhere except for the basics (basketball, tennis, etc.). Sounds like there are poolside and family things going on? And what has a fee and what doesn't? I read somewhere mini golf has a fee. Does tennis and the others?

I would love to see a copy of the activities page they give out at check in if anyone has one?

I made it through most of the thread- great info- thanks so much!!!! If I missed the above info somewhere, I apologize!
Thanks!

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

We just booked for next April and I'm very excited! Was wondering if anyone could give me an idea of what activities there are. People mention lots of activities, but I couldn't find a list anywhere except for the basics (basketball, tennis, etc.). Sounds like there are poolside and family things going on? And what has a fee and what doesn't? I read somewhere mini golf has a fee. Does tennis and the others?

I would love to see a copy of the activities page they give out at check in if anyone has one?

I made it through most of the thread- great info- thanks so much!!!! If I missed the above info somewhere, I apologize!
Thanks!

I will try and scan our activity list when I get home....until then, here's a sample:

Grand Event Bingo (Mondays), $10 per adult, must be 18 and up

Tie Dye Shirts: $12-$15

Furry Friends for Life: $10 or $18 per furry friend

Sandy Sculptures: $10 - $18

Victory Casino Cruises (adults only): $30

Crayons & Canvas: $15 or $20 (depending on size)

Canvas by U painting: $35 (all ages)

DVD rentals: $5 per day

Tennis: fees apply for racquet rentals. Adult clinic $25 and kids $15.

Scuba Academy: $20 ages 5-7, $30 ages 8 and up

Sports equipment rentals: shuffleboard, basketball and volleyballs available for one hour at no cost

Special event mini golf nights (Family Mini Golf, Wacky Mini Golf, Disco Mini Golf) $10 per family

Things like the poolside dive-in movies (Sundays at the Fountains Pool), Gatorland Show (Wednesdays at the Super Pool), and pool parties (Pirate party on Saturday at the Super pool, the Vacation Celebrating and Alligator Wrestling Mondays at the Cascades pool, Wild Wack-A-Doo party Wednesdays at the Super Pool) are all no charge for guests.

The activities were the same for both this week and last, but I'm sure many are also seasonal (so keep that in mind, in the event that you are visiting during a different time of the year).

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Hi all, we're here now and currently enjoying a lazy Sunday siesta at the resort . While the rest of the fam catches 40 winks, I thought I'd post some pictures of the North side of the resort.....specifically, a Fountains I unit and the Foutains and Lakes landscaping and recreation areas.

To start, here is our villa. Top floor of building 23:

Kitchen:





Living Room/Dining Room combination:





Master Bedroom:



Master Bathroom:





Guest Bedroom:



Guest Bathroom:



Desk Area:



Screened Balcony:



Balcony view:



More pics to come later....housekeeping just arrived!

 

[sunnydreams]

Thanks for the activities info Gina! Very much appreciated! Enjoy your vacation!