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

[bankr63]

We are arriving at the Vistana Resort in 23 days! We're so excited! Quick question...my kids are pool junkies and love to have pool toys (ie: noodles, swim rings, etc). Are there some for use at the pools or should we bring our own ? Some of the photos I've seen on tripadvisor show stacks of pool floats.

This isn't something that is my wheelhouse, our kids aren't the pool toy types. I did check the Sheraton owners site, and can't find anything specific on this. Someone please correct me if I am wrong, but I think the "official" policy is not to bring your own toys, but I also find Vistana pretty lax about enforcing this. About the only poolside policy I've ever seen enforced is the "no glass containers" rule. I am fairly certain that I have seen "non-Sheraton" toys in use; Nerf footballs, floaties and the like. I would expect the reasoning is that they won't ban unreasonable toys, but need a reason to refuse the unreasonable/unsafe. Don't bring your farm tractor inner tube that is 10 feet across...

Balls for the pool are available for loan at the activities center (for pool volleyball). They may also have pool toys to loan, but not sure. I have seen pool toys available for purchase at the poolside shop at the Spas pool and Cascades pool, and they are probably at Fountains/Lakes as well. The prices are actually fairly reasonable - my crew looks forward to buying from the good selection of very inexpensive sunglasses every year.

 

[karalgriffin]

Thanks! I would really rather not pack them if I don't have to. Especially considering that the store's selection in November is rather "bleh". I think I will just add buying some there into the Disney budget.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

This isn't something that is my wheelhouse, our kids aren't the pool toy types. I did check the Sheraton owners site, and can't find anything specific on this. Someone please correct me if I am wrong, but I think the "official" policy is not to bring your own toys, but I also find Vistana pretty lax about enforcing this. About the only poolside policy I've ever seen enforced is the "no glass containers" rule. I am fairly certain that I have seen "non-Sheraton" toys in use; Nerf footballs, floaties and the like. I would expect the reasoning is that they won't ban unreasonable toys, but need a reason to refuse the unreasonable/unsafe. Don't bring your farm tractor inner tube that is 10 feet across...

Balls for the pool are available for loan at the activities center (for pool volleyball). They may also have pool toys to loan, but not sure. I have seen pool toys available for purchase at the poolside shop at the Spas pool and Cascades pool, and they are probably at Fountains/Lakes as well. The prices are actually fairly reasonable - my crew looks forward to buying from the good selection of very inexpensive sunglasses every year.

We emailed the Vistana prior to our August stay to inquire if we could bring our own pool floats, and they replied back via email saying absolutely. They even offered for the activity center staff to blow them up upon our arrival. So like you said, they may have an official policy on the books, but I'm sure its only there to be able to put a stop to something problematic. Anything within reason and I'm sure you are okay.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Thanks! I would really rather not pack them if I don't have to. Especially considering that the store's selection in November is rather "bleh". I think I will just add buying some there into the Disney budget.

You could always check Amazon.....they had a much better selection AND better prices than our local retailers .

 

[karalgriffin]

Thanks Gina! Looks like Amazon Prime to the rescue!!!

 

[Sunset Cliffs]

This is a wonderful thread to stumble upon! We have stayed at this resort many times and will be visiting again soon. I'm getting so excited for checking in!!

I saw in one of the first posts that someone mentioned that different check in days are represented on the map by the building numbers being in different colors (red, blue, black). I can't find it anywhere what those colors mean. Can you tell me which colors are for Friday, Saturday and Sunday? We are checking in on a Saturday and I was getting ready to fill out the Diamond Lane request. I want to see what areas are available on my check in day.

Thanks so much and I'm sorry if this question has already been answered somewhere.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

I saw in one of the first posts that someone mentioned that different check in days are represented on the map by the building numbers being in different colors (red, blue, black). I can't find it anywhere what those colors mean. Can you tell me which colors are for Friday, Saturday and Sunday? We are checking in on a Saturday and I was getting ready to fill out the Diamond Lane request. I want to see what areas are available on my check in day.

Red is Friday, Blue is Saturday, Green is Sunday .

 

[kerplop]

I'm so bad about remembering to come back and thank people for their help, so I wanted to actually do that first. I had some questions and got great answers so thank you firstly to bankr63 for those, a few weeks too late - forgive me!

We're less than a week out now and I submitted my requests last Friday for Diamond Lane and Monica replied to let me know they were noted, but no guarantees. I don't anticipate much in the way of problems there, since we only had simple ones (quiet location away from main roads and 1st floor or a building with an elevator) and we are otherwise easy to please. Looking forward to getting there next week and checking it out for ourselves! I'm actually sort of tired of being excited now

I do have two quick questions I'm sure you lovely folks can help me with.

1. What's the timeshare pitch situation? We have zero interest in buying, but I want to know what to say/do to avoid even having them bother me much. I know at Bonnet Creek they try to get you to pick up a parking pass and if you don't do that, there's not really any other issues.

2. What's the drive time to the parks from the resort? We want to make rope drop, but some days it's at 8am and some 9am, so any ideas of when to leave would be great. We don't need/want to be there at the front of the pack as we have 7DMT and TSMM FP+ and no interest in meeting A&E.

Anyway thank you again for all your great info, both in the info posts and in all your answers to others!

 

[bankr63]

I'm so bad about remembering to come back and thank people for their help, so I wanted to actually do that first. I had some questions and got great answers so thank you firstly to bankr63 for those, a few weeks too late - forgive me!

We're less than a week out now and I submitted my requests last Friday for Diamond Lane and Monica replied to let me know they were noted, but no guarantees. I don't anticipate much in the way of problems there, since we only had simple ones (quiet location away from main roads and 1st floor or a building with an elevator) and we are otherwise easy to please. Looking forward to getting there next week and checking it out for ourselves! I'm actually sort of tired of being excited now

I do have two quick questions I'm sure you lovely folks can help me with.

1. What's the timeshare pitch situation? We have zero interest in buying, but I want to know what to say/do to avoid even having them bother me much. I know at Bonnet Creek they try to get you to pick up a parking pass and if you don't do that, there's not really any other issues.

2. What's the drive time to the parks from the resort? We want to make rope drop, but some days it's at 8am and some 9am, so any ideas of when to leave would be great. We don't need/want to be there at the front of the pack as we have 7DMT and TSMM FP+ and no interest in meeting A&E.

Anyway thank you again for all your great info, both in the info posts and in all your answers to others!

We're always happy to help!

The timeshare pitch thing is really up to how bothered you are by it. I have NEVER found the representatives at the activities desk to be pushy or aggressive, but others have indicated it can happen. This is Sheraton, and they have a reputation to uphold, so I don't expect any hassles after a polite "no thank you". Just remember that they are there to provide you information, including information about the resort. The reps are usually pretty personable, but they get a lot of "negative feedback" because of the job they do. They are often worth a quick stop for information about restaurants and activities in the area, often with coupons. Strike up a friendly conversation, and the fountain of information can really start going. Just politely decline to attend the breakfast presentation and you will be fine.

You may also get calls from the sales team in your room, indicate you are not interested and ask them to remove you from the call list for any subsequent calls. Note that you will also receive other voice mails from the resort regarding activities and or facility closures. These are legitimate. Some people unplug the phones, but I don't mind getting the updates about pool closures for a "code brown" so I know where to go.

Drive times to all of the parks are about 12 minutes or less to the parking lot entrance in light traffic (and I have never seen heavy traffic on the route from Vistana). You still need to allow time to pay, park, shuttle, and at Magic Kingdom ferry or monorail. I would generally plan to leave the villa about 45 minutes to an hour before rope drop to be there on time; even earlier if you want to catch the pre-show at MK.

 

[keeperof4]

I all! just booked our flights from Bangor,This time got a great price(Allegiant) flying into Clearwater .I got a great price on rental through Budget premium car (Pie pick up drop off Sfb)this trip. It's Daytona week(Feb.19-22 again the week of arrival so as expected the price really go's up in the Sandford area that week, that's why we chose to fly into Pie as to Sfb (Half the price!!) This trip Arrive Feb18 leave Feb28. Will spend the night in Brandon FL.($99 Hilton) hit the beach Thursday morning then drive to Vistana mid afternoon for 4pm check in.The only real stinker this year is the exchange,but will not let it affect our fun in the sun.Kids will be at Magic Kingdom one day,with friends,Its just to bad our friends have had to read so many negative reviews from those that appear?? to visit Disney with little or no research before they go.Must be Timmi drinkers LOL! Wife will do her best to make sure they get that very first amazing Disney experience. All I am really looking forward to at this point is a spot at the Spa's pool .As every year we were offered free nights at Hilton vacations to attend sales pitch.NOT! Its minus -23C wind chill ,(and its only Nov.!! ) today, so we are counting the days. Please drop a post if there is any thing those visiting might find helpful.Hope all have as great time as we have had in the past, can't wait to return home to Sheraton Vista Resort

 

[pigletto]

Just submitted our Diamond Lane request and had to come in here to do the happy dance!

All I ended up requesting was a top floor and away from any major road noise. Hopefully that's easy to fulfill and leaves them many places to put us. Just a little under two weeks and we'll be on our way to Florida. I just can't wait!

 

[keeperof4]

Units that you should avoid are Lakes 6,7,8,9(our first stay(9) moved us after two days to Cascades) are noisy (trucks,Harley's) when they turn the fountains off at mid night, Fountains 44,45 are right on the #4, The worst spot in the resort! That's were the Price liners end up? Fountains II units 49,50 53,54,55 are on exit 68 ramp.noisy when they shut off the fountains a mid night. Cascades units 7-10 ,Springs units 10-15,Palms 6-12 are right on SR535 none stop traffic all day.but not bad after 11pm. During the day if your not at the parks??.music from the pools leaf blowers.The main pools are open until 1am and you always get an idiot or two that will need to show every one how uncouth they can be. Last visit we had people smoking(Pot) at night on the balconies.We always have the ventilation on at night so this really drowns out most noise. Even If you get a top floor it all depends who is beside, below you. Have a great visit and sleep when you get home lol!

 

[blakefamily]

Checked in on Friday. The check-in / welcome center is under renovation so they have a temporary location set up. A small line at around 1:30. Villa not ready so we went and checked out the pool area at Fountains. Got a call about an hour later that the unit was ready. Back to Welcome center to pick up keys. Cascades Sec Bldg 11 , Unit 2727. Get to unit and keys dont work....call security with phone by elevator and they send security out. Security opens rooms, we get inside and realize this is a one bdrm unit and we reserved a 2 bedroom....Call again and spoke to same person, she then advises me "oh, you are in the wrong unit, you are supposed to be in 2729, thats why your key doesn't work, they must have written the wrong unit # on your paper" Key worked on 2729. WOW. What a cluster of an afternoon. Yesterday we slept in, and went to Animal Kingdom in the afternoon as we did the Mickey's Christmas party on Friday night and weren't in bed until after 1am. Last night we checked out the pool area for cascades and the market, rented a movie and then had pizza from Tacky Tiki delivered to our room. Delicious Chicken Bacon Ranch Then @ 5:30am Fire Alarm goes off..... Out and down we go before alarms stops and we are told the alarm was pulled on the 1st floor, no fire, ok to go back in......@ 8:00am alarm goes off again. Make it outside and down 1 flight of stairs before it shuts off again. Make it into the room for 15 minutes and it goes off again....SERIOUSLY!!! SO LOUD !!!! Security then informs us that the alarm is having technical difficulties. All is ok and the alarm company is coming out to service it. OMG. What a morning. Hoping for an uneventful next couple of days. Nothing planned until Tuesday. Wanting to enjoy the pools and resort. On an up note. Everyone has been friendly and the units are very nice!

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Just submitted our Diamond Lane request and had to come in here to do the happy dance!

All I ended up requesting was a top floor and away from any major road noise. Hopefully that's easy to fulfill and leaves them many places to put us. Just a little under two weeks and we'll be on our way to Florida. I just can't wait!

I will dance to that, too!

I am so excited for you guys, and can hardly believe your trip is almost here! Can't wait to hear what you think of the resort!!!

Checked in on Friday. The check-in / welcome center is under renovation so they have a temporary location set up. A small line at around 1:30. Villa not ready so we went and checked out the pool area at Fountains. Got a call about an hour later that the unit was ready. Back to Welcome center to pick up keys. Cascades Sec Bldg 11 , Unit 2727. Get to unit and keys dont work....call security with phone by elevator and they send security out. Security opens rooms, we get inside and realize this is a one bdrm unit and we reserved a 2 bedroom....Call again and spoke to same person, she then advises me "oh, you are in the wrong unit, you are supposed to be in 2729, thats why your key doesn't work, they must have written the wrong unit # on your paper" Key worked on 2729. WOW. What a cluster of an afternoon. Yesterday we slept in, and went to Animal Kingdom in the afternoon as we did the Mickey's Christmas party on Friday night and weren't in bed until after 1am. Last night we checked out the pool area for cascades and the market, rented a movie and then had pizza from Tacky Tiki delivered to our room. Delicious Chicken Bacon Ranch Then @ 5:30am Fire Alarm goes off..... Out and down we go before alarms stops and we are told the alarm was pulled on the 1st floor, no fire, ok to go back in......@ 8:00am alarm goes off again. Make it outside and down 1 flight of stairs before it shuts off again. Make it into the room for 15 minutes and it goes off again....SERIOUSLY!!! SO LOUD !!!! Security then informs us that the alarm is having technical difficulties. All is ok and the alarm company is coming out to service it. OMG. What a morning. Hoping for an uneventful next couple of days. Nothing planned until Tuesday. Wanting to enjoy the pools and resort. On an up note. Everyone has been friendly and the units are very nice!

Oh my, what a start to your vacation!!

Here's hoping all the "excitement" is out of the way, and things go more smoothly from here .

 

[pigletto]

Do you know roughly how long it should take to receive a response from Diamond Lane requests? Or if I will at all? It's not a big deal to wait, but I didn't get any auto response that it sent or anything so now I'm wondering if maybe I didn't submit it properly.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Do you know roughly how long it should take to receive a response from Diamond Lane requests? Or if I will at all? It's not a big deal to wait, but I didn't get any auto response that it sent or anything so now I'm wondering if maybe I didn't submit it properly.

I have submitted Diamond Lane requests for two separate trips. One I got a response, one I heard nothing back. In both cases, our requests were noted on the reservation upon arrival and all were honoured .

 

[pigletto]

I have submitted Diamond Lane requests for two separate trips. One I got a response, one I heard nothing back. In both cases, our requests were noted on the reservation upon arrival and all were honoured .

Thank you Gina.. I won't worry about it then. I just wasn't sure if I had done something wrong.

It was so so cold out this morning. I can not wait for these next 10 days to pass and get to the warm sunshine!!

 

[micheypl]

I have submitted Diamond Lane requests for two separate trips. One I got a response, one I heard nothing back. In both cases, our requests were noted on the reservation upon arrival and all were honoured .

I had sent out my request on Monday and received a response the next day from Monica, the pre-arrival diamond lane coordinator

 

[pigletto]

Just an update I did also receive a response on Tuesday!

 

[snow nurse]

Hi - Sorry to ask, but I've tried to read through most of the thread and I still need expert opinion about what area to request (I've enjoyed all the learning, but am now a thoroughly overwhelmed). Thank you in advance for any suggestions :

our details:
Saturday Dec 20 checkin
2br/sleeps 8
4 adults, 3 kids (5,3,1)
1 adult cannot do too many stairs (had knee replacement)

we want: quiet-ish and hopefully near small kid friendly pools. I'm leary of some of the reported cockroach sightings I've seen on other boards/reviews on the ground floors (not sure if they are true).