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

[bankr63]

Does anyone have pictures of the Fountains/Lake pools and playground areas? We are currently booked at YC for September but might get a good deal through ARmed forces vacation club and both Fountains is a book able section or just Vistana Resort (which I assume is the cascades side). We used AFVClub before and stayed at Wyndham Cypress Palms (loved it) but the pool wasn't kid friendly.

We have a 2 and 5 year old who love the water...looking for kiddie play areas, and since we'll be there during the renovations we thought fountains might be the better option if it's kid friendly!

Thanks!

Here you go, don't know why I didn't post these ones a while back. I'm not as prolific a photographer as Gina, so only a couple of shots:

Fountains Clubhouse with pool in front:


and a different view of the Fountains pool:


A few of Lakes pool. This first one shows why I don't like Building 1 in Lakes, that's TOO close to the pool noise for me; but if you want convenient access...


Better view of the pool, the whole back side near the fountain is zero entry:


Closer view:


Unfortunately no pictures of the playground area.

 

[jcondrad]

Here you go, don't know why I didn't post these ones a while back. I'm not as prolific a photographer as Gina, so only a couple of shots: Fountains Clubhouse with pool in front: http://s852.photobucket.com/user/ba...esort/FountainsClubHouse_zpse3503b3e.jpg.html and a different view of the Fountains pool: http://s852.photobucket.com/user/ba...ana Resort/FountainsPool_zpsedf5a066.jpg.html A few of Lakes pool. This first one shows why I don't like Building 1 in Lakes, that's TOO close to the pool noise for me; but if you want convenient access... http://s852.photobucket.com/user/ba...t/LakesBldg1-ClosetoPool_zpse106fae8.jpg.html Better view of the pool, the whole back side near the fountain is zero entry: http://s852.photobucket.com/user/ba...istana Resort/LakesPool2_zps1ead0ba1.jpg.html Closer view: http://s852.photobucket.com/user/ba...Resort/LakesPoolFountain_zpsb853ad11.jpg.html Unfortunately no pictures of the playground area.

I so wish we had taken pics of that pool when we played bingo in their recreation center last August!! Its very kid-friendly from what we saw (though we were never in the water). I know that's where they featured the poolside movies throughout the week. I am also 99% sure it had a waterfall, as well as a volleyball net in the water. Lots of loungers for relaxing when not in the pool. It looked very fun....and we hope to stay in that area ourselves next month!

Thank you both! It looks like a great place for the kids, and we could always try the others if not

 

[pigletto]

Well, it would appear I belong in here now!
This will be our 9th (I think, might be 10th) trip since 2008, and our first offsite stay. I have come close to booking offsite several times, but we always went with the familiar in the end and stayed onsite. Several factors contributed to our willingness to try Vistana this trip. The kids are older now (10 and 17) and we really want more space. That and the desire to try something new and how gorgeous Vistana looks in Gina's trip reports and this thread.. well now is the time!
So, last week I booked a 7 night stay through the SkyAuction website. It wasn't an auction but the "Buy Now" price. We are staying for 7 nights in a 2 bedroom unit for $620 US. I couldn't pass up that price, and because we were on a fixed budget for this trip, the savings over our Disney package allows us to book 2 nights at Universal as well. We will have 2 or 3 Universal days, and probably 5 at Disney.
We plan to eat almost entirely offsite. I think the plan is breakfast in our room, come back for a late lunch and a break in the afternoon and then a late evening dinner out somewhere.
I am sure I will have many questions as the days progress. Our confirmation states we are in a 2 bedroom, 2bath 6 privately, 8 maximum and we check in on a Sunday. Would anyone be able to point me to where I might see what building choices we might be able to request within those perimeters?
I have been reading and see I can use the Diamond Lane form to check in just under 2 weeks before we go. I think we'd like to be close to a nice pool, and on a top floor. I wouldn't want to be too near pool noise though.

Anyway.. sorry for the novel! Looking forward to sharing our trip planning with all of you.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Well, it would appear I belong in here now!

Our confirmation states we are in a 2 bedroom, 2bath 6 privately, 8 maximum and we check in on a Sunday. Would anyone be able to point me to where I might see what building choices we might be able to request within those perimeters?
I have been reading and see I can use the Diamond Lane form to check in just under 2 weeks before we go. I think we'd like to be close to a nice pool, and on a top floor. I wouldn't want to be too near pool noise though.

Well, let's just say ITS ABOUT TIME!!!!!!!!!

Just kidding my friend, I am so glad you have joined us over here. I am super excited that you are giving SVR a try!

Sections that have a sleeps 8 configuration and a Sunday check-in are Fountains I & II, Lakes, Cascades, Palms and Springs.

The Fountains & Cascades pools (as well at the Super Pool, in Spas, which is a Friday check-in section) are the ones that are open late (to 1 am). here's a handy dandy resort map:

https://www.mystarcentral.com/CMS/en_US/svo_media/CMSMedia/PDF/resort_maps/svr_resort_map.pdf

We like the top floor as well.....we prefer not having the pitter patter of little (or big ) feet above us. We are hoping that this trip we will get a Fountains top floor unit with the skylight to give our great big villa an even more spacious feel.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

pigletto......

This link will show you the various layouts of the villas in the resort, specific to each section. Most are pretty similar to the others, but there are small variances. Thought you might want to check it out :

https://www.starwoodvacationnetwork.com/sheraton-vistana-resort/villas/#floorplan-1

 

[pigletto]

Thanks so much Gina!! That really gives me alot of choice doesn't it? And the good thing is, I know they are just requests, so I'll make a couple but won't be too disappointed if I don't get them because everything is new and exciting to us!
I do prefer the top floor for the same reason as you and I think I wouldn't be too happy directly facing a pool, but then again it will be December so the pools probably won't be as busy as summer time!

 

[blakefamily]

We are booked thru RCI for a Friday-Friday stay and were thinking we would arrive 3 nights before and stay onsite for 3 nights to start our trip. If we decide against onsite, I see we could book at SVR on a nightly basis, what area do you get placed in for the nightly rates?

 

[bankr63]

We are booked thru RCI for a Friday-Friday stay and were thinking we would arrive 3 nights before and stay onsite for 3 nights to start our trip. If we decide against onsite, I see we could book at SVR on a nightly basis, what area do you get placed in for the nightly rates?

Nightly can be any section of the resort. Sheraton has actively bought back delinquent/foreclosed ownerships from the HOA's in every section, and uses them all for rental until resold. If you extend your stay at Sheraton make sure to use the Diamond Lane request to link your two reservations. If at all possible, they will book you into the same unit for your entire stay; it's more effort for both you and the resort to have you change mid-stay.

We've extended stays a couple of times and been able to stay in one unit by linking our RCI stay to the Sheraton reservation.

 

[blakefamily]

Great. Thanks for the info

 

[pigletto]

I was wondering what grocery stores around the resort everyone typically uses? We'll be onsite at Universal for two days and then driving over to Vistana on the Sunday morning. Our plan is to stop and get groceries for the week (breakfasts, snacks, drinks, beer, sandwich makings e.t.c). We used a Walmart near the airport last time and it was.. ummm.. interesting. I guess the selection and prices weren't too bad but the staff were miserable, the store was messy and dark and there was one man who literally leered at my 16 yr old daughter and just happened to keep popping up in the same aisle as us to leer some more. He was a younger guy and when he finally walked up to dd to start chatting my husband just said "NO" and he walked away.
So on that note, we're just looking for a nice, clean reasonably priced place. I'll put dd in a snowsuit and ski mask.

 

[got4boys]

Depending on what day you check in - especially Saturday (major check in date for condos and timeshare) - avoid Walmart on 535 that is closest to the Sheraton Vistana at all costs.

By the time we got there (usually Saturday evening) there was hardly anything there - They did a bad job restocking. It is really, really busy at this Walmart.

We usually go to the Winn Dixie (2 miles away) or Publix (2.3 miles away - Off International Drive) for the basics for a couple of days and hit Walmart on Monday or Tuesday during the day.

If need be an cannot hit a grocery store, we hit Hess Gas Stations and grab what we need there until we can do our major grocery shopping. The cost of the items there are slight more, but not that bad.

There is a Walmart on Turkey Lake Road (which turns into Palm Parkway) between Universal and on the way Sheraton Vistana that we like and will drive out of our way to go to versus the one on 535.

 

[pigletto]

Thank you got4boys. I will try the Publix or Winn Dixie

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

I was wondering what grocery stores around the resort everyone typically uses?

Like got4boys, we like the Publix near the resort and the Walmart on Turkey Lake Road.

The resort has a little Farmers Market a couple of times a week as well (in the parking lot of the Marketplace), and they had some great fresh fruits and veggies for sale in small quantities (perfect sizes for stocking the villa fridge).

 

[pigletto]

Like got4boys, we like the Publix near the resort and the Walmart on Turkey Lake Road.

The resort has a little Farmers Market a couple of times a week as well (in the parking lot of the Marketplace), and they had some great fresh fruits and veggies for sale in small quantities (perfect sizes for stocking the villa fridge).

That sounds great Gina! I love having fresh Florida fruit on hand for when I can't take one more greasy fattening meal

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

That sounds great Gina! I love having fresh Florida fruit on hand for when I can't take one more greasy fattening meal

I don't know about you, but we find that the fresh Florida fruit always seems to be sooo much better than the fruit we get here. Maybe its because its all locally grown, maybe because I'm just in a better mood in general on vacation and the world seems rosier, but I swear......the Florida produce is 10 times better than the stuff that gets trucked up north.

We had peaches from Publix last year that were seriously the size of grapefruits. Huge. And so delish!

 

[bankr63]

I don't know about you, but we find that the fresh Florida fruit always seems to be sooo much better than the fruit we get here. Maybe its because its all locally grown, maybe because I'm just in a better mood in general on vacation and the world seems rosier, but I swear......the Florida produce is 10 times better than the stuff that gets trucked up north.

We had peaches from Publix last year that were seriously the size of grapefruits. Huge. And so delish!

And just to pipe in with our Favorites: for Publix at on Vineland at I-Drive just always take the I-Drive approach.

Wal-Mart we have done both 535 (take a right out of the resort and a couple of miles down 535) and at Turkey Lake Rd. Turkey Lake is the nicer store.

For specialty food there is a Whole Foods at Sand Lake and Turkey Lake not too far from the second Wal-Mart. My DS has a food allergy and we get all his favorites there.

I am surprise that no one mentioned the Super-Target on 192 (Irlo Bronson) near Lake Cecile. This is probably our #2 grocery destination after Publix. I much prefer the higher end Target to Wally World and the grocery selection is similar and it is only a couple of miles further than the Wal-Mart on 535.

We have also done the Winn-Dixie near The Crossroads mentioned above, but prefer Publix. The good thing about W-D is there is an ABC Liquor store out front if you plan on mixing up some Margaritas or other harder cocktails.

 

[pigletto]

And just to pipe in with our Favorites: for Publix at on Vineland at I-Drive just always take the I-Drive approach.

Wal-Mart we have done both 535 (take a right out of the resort and a couple of miles down 535) and at Turkey Lake Rd. Turkey Lake is the nicer store.

For specialty food there is a Whole Foods at Sand Lake and Turkey Lake not too far from the second Wal-Mart. My DS has a food allergy and we get all his favorites there.

I am surprise that no one mentioned the Super-Target on 192 (Irlo Bronson) near Lake Cecile. This is probably our #2 grocery destination after Publix. I much prefer the higher end Target to Wally World and the grocery selection is similar and it is only a couple of miles further than the Wal-Mart on 535.

We have also done the Winn-Dixie near The Crossroads mentioned above, but prefer Publix. The good thing about W-D is there is an ABC Liquor store out front if you plan on mixing up some Margaritas or other harder cocktails.

Thank you! It looks like we will have plenty of choices. I better start bookmarking these pages or making a notebook so I'm not asking the same questions again before we go!

 

[dianept]

Does anyone know if there is currently a pool closed for renovations at SVR? We are heading there in two weeks.

Thanks!

 

[delilah18]

Hello

Just wondering is there any other ways to book the Vistanas other then through Sheraton or being an owner?

Thanks

 

[bankr63]

Does anyone know if there is currently a pool closed for renovations at SVR? We are heading there in two weeks.

Thanks!

The only currently announced maintenance items are the Zimmie's refit starting in a couple of weeks through December 2014, and Reception Centre refit from mid-Sept to mid-Dec.

Pools can be closed from time-to-time for minor maintenance (or "code browns") these are not announced. For instance last summer there was a rotating pool resurfacing that closed one of the seven pools at a time for a few days. This was not pre-announced to guests.