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

[masterofthehouse]

Hi,

Wow - That's a great award and by the sounds of it, well deserved.

We're looking forward to our visit even more now

A couple of quick questions, will the security gate staff let taxis in to pick us up and drop off or do we need to meet taxis by the gate?

Also, a few people have said they have encountered "hard sell" here from the sales team. What do they do exactly??

Thanks!

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Hello all!!

My first post here. Some background:

We are 4 adults - parents, partner and myself planning to visit Orlando this summer. No kids - so we will become kids there...

I won an auction bid on Sky Auction for a 7-night stay at Sheraton Vistana resort and I am required to pay ~$470. I haven't paid it yet, but I also want to get a trip insurance, just in case.

Questions:
1. I don't see an option of trip insurance in their site for bids. I do see it for 'Buy it now' options. Does it mean I am ineligible to get insurance? Or should I buy that separately?
2. I am hearing that we get crappy units assigned if purchased this way. Is this true?
3. Also heard from front desk that shuttle service from the resort is not available if I reserve from Skyauction. Is this true?
4. Any other things I need to remember or be aware of about desirable units at SVR?

Thanks!!

to the Dis!

I cant answer your question about insurance, because we have separate travel insurance through our Visa card (so we dont purchase the additional coverage). Perhaps someone else can weigh in on that for you!

Another Diser, pigletto, stayed at SVR back in December via a Skyauction reservation, and enjoyed a week in a lovely unit in the Cascades section. I honestly dont think there are too many crappy units, per se.....and if you do happen to be assigned to a villa that doesnt meet you expectations, regardless of how you booked your stay, I would return to the Welcome Center to share your concerns and request to be switched to something more suitable. The whole resort is lovely, and there are a LOT of villas on property, so unless you are visiting during a very busy time of the year (which, with the $470 rate you received for your week with no other date surcharges, I am guessing is not the case) then they should be able to ensure you are satisfied with your unit.

Shuttle service is complimentary for those people who book a hotel or nightly stay through Sheraton. For owners and exchangers (which I believe Skyauction would be considered in the latter category) then there is a fee for the shuttle.

We have stayed on both sides of the resort....the north and the south (see the property map here):

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

Loved both locations . Preferred the Fountains area to the Spas, but honestly.....the whole property is gorgeous and each section has its merits. With our 1 bedroom reservation in May, we could end up in either the Lakes or Cascades (the only two sections that offer one bedroom villas)....and we will leave it up to fate as to which area we are assigned. I know we will be very happy in either location.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Hi,

Wow - That's a great award and by the sounds of it, well deserved.

We're looking forward to our visit even more now

A couple of quick questions, will the security gate staff let taxis in to pick us up and drop off or do we need to meet taxis by the gate?

Also, a few people have said they have encountered "hard sell" here from the sales team. What do they do exactly??

Thanks!

Hey there master, not sure about your taxi question....but I bet bankr63 will know .

We dont find the Vistana sales staff to be hard sell at all. At check in, they will ask you to sign up for a resort preview or something along that lines. Just politely decline as you are under no obligation to attend (unless you booked your stay via a manner in which a sales presentation is mandatory to preserve a discounted rate....but I am guessing that is not the case for you). If you decline to book a sales presentation time at check in, they will likely call you at the villa to ask again at least once.....again, just decline firmly and ask to be taken off their follow up list for any further calls. When we did that on our first stay, they left us alone and all was well.

On our trip this past summer, we actually opted to go to the sales meeting, and it wasnt bad at all (the guy was less than honest, and we caught him in a sales fib more than once) but it was right to the minute of the promised 90 minute commitment and we were out the door right on schedule. We were given cash for attending and offered tickets at various discounts. None discounted enough to warrant attending a presentation just for that, though, IMHO.

 

[curiousGal]

to the Dis!

I cant answer your question about insurance, because we have separate travel insurance through our Visa card (so we dont purchase the additional coverage). Perhaps someone else can weigh in on that for you!

Another Diser, pigletto, stayed at SVR back in December via a Skyauction reservation, and enjoyed a week in a lovely unit in the Cascades section. I honestly dont think there are too many crappy units, per se.....and if you do happen to be assigned to a villa that doesnt meet you expectations, regardless of how you booked your stay, I would return to the Welcome Center to share your concerns and request to be switched to something more suitable. The whole resort is lovely, and there are a LOT of villas on property, so unless you are visiting during a very busy time of the year (which, with the $470 rate you received for your week with no other date surcharges, I am guessing is not the case) then they should be able to ensure you are satisfied with your unit.

Shuttle service is complimentary for those people who book a hotel or nightly stay through Sheraton. For owners and exchangers (which I believe Skyauction would be considered in the latter category) then there is a fee for the shuttle.

We have stayed on both sides of the resort....the north and the south (see the property map here):


Loved both locations . Preferred the Fountains area to the Spas, but honestly.....the whole property is gorgeous and each section has its merits. With our 1 bedroom reservation in May, we could end up in either the Lakes or Cascades (the only two sections that offer one bedroom villas)....and we will leave it up to fate as to which area we are assigned. I know we will be very happy in either location.

Very informative! Thank you for sharing it. I have few credit cards and inquired about travel insurance. They do NOT provide any trip insurance . Mind if you could share which visa card provides that?

Do you suggest I rent a car for the week there? Or use cab rides? initial car rental quotes are north of $400. Normal?

I am about to pay for the resort, but will have to find out about the insurance first, should there be any changes (hopefully not!). Btw, did I get a good quote? Because that sky auction site also have bids starting at $1 and all fees included.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Very informative! Thank you for sharing it. I have few credit cards and inquired about travel insurance. They do NOT provide any trip insurance . Mind if you could share which visa card provides that?

Do you suggest I rent a car for the week there? Or use cab rides? initial car rental quotes are north of $400. Normal?

I am about to pay for the resort, but will have to find out about the insurance first, should there be any changes (hopefully not!). Btw, did I get a good quote? Because that sky auction site also have bids starting at $1 and all fees included.

$470 for a week at the Vistana in a two bedroom villa is an excellent rate. As owners, our annual maintenance fees are around the $900 per week mark (give or take a bit, depending on the section in which you own) so you are staying far cheaper than an owner does.

I would strongly suggest you rent a car. Getting around Orlando is quite easy, and having a rental vehicle will offer you far more flexibility than the limited schedules of the shuttles. I am sure you will do far better than $400 for the week, though you don't mention what size vehicle you will require. We have a full size car reserved for our May trip for 8 days with Dollar at a total price of $165. I suspect we may be able to do even better, rate-wise, as our trip grows closer. Check out the month-specific rental thread for your travel dates on the Transportation Board as that will be a great resource for the various deals that are being offered.

The credit card we have that provides trip cancellation, interruption and emergency medical coverage is a Visa Gold with Royal Bank of Canada. There is an annual fee of $100 for my card and $50 for DH's, but we save that multiple times over in not having to purchase travel insurance independently (plus, we easily earn a couple hundred dollars worth of free gift cards through our Visa points over a 12 month period). I just booked a reservation for my boss last week via Skyauction at the Vistana, and I'm virtually 100% certain that there was an option to add insurance on the payment page. Certainly call or email them, though, to find out for sure.

 

[bankr63]

Hi,

Wow - That's a great award and by the sounds of it, well deserved.

We're looking forward to our visit even more now

A couple of quick questions, will the security gate staff let taxis in to pick us up and drop off or do we need to meet taxis by the gate?

Also, a few people have said they have encountered "hard sell" here from the sales team. What do they do exactly??

Thanks!

Not a cab user, but if I understand correctly from other reviewers there is one cab company that Sheraton authorizes for access into the resort for at your door pickup. That reviewer also indicated that the charges for this company were reasonable (although I expect fares are probably regulated anyway). Someone else may pipe in here, or call guest services at the resort about this.

And no, I have never found Sheraton sales to be anywhere near a "hard sell". I go to Mexico when I want that. They may get an overzealous sales associate from time-to-time, but Sheraton is a pretty high-end brand and doesn't want their reputation besmirched by lousy sales people. I actually enjoy the "activities" desk at the resorts. Sure they are trying to entice you to a presentation, but they offer lots of great local tips for restaurants, shows, and other deals. Just always decline the presentation. Maybe I have a thick skin, but I really don't find it at all intimidating or intrusive.

 

[bankr63]

Very informative! Thank you for sharing it. I have few credit cards and inquired about travel insurance. They do NOT provide any trip insurance . Mind if you could share which visa card provides that?

Do you suggest I rent a car for the week there? Or use cab rides? initial car rental quotes are north of $400. Normal?

I am about to pay for the resort, but will have to find out about the insurance first, should there be any changes (hopefully not!). Btw, did I get a good quote? Because that sky auction site also have bids starting at $1 and all fees included.

Just to add to Gina's comments. Make sure that you check out the transportation board here on DIS for the latest discount codes. That's where I usually find all the latest deals on rentals.

As to the "lousy unit", in thinking it through there may be a grain of truth behind the rumor, but not because of price paid. Sheraton initially assigns units based primarily on WHEN the reservation was made. Often Skyauctions are for excess rooms that aren't moving. So yes, everyone that booked before you may get a "better" unit. Book early for best selection.

But, if you are travelling in a quiet time, then there are lots of good units too. And, I don't think that there are really any particularly bad units in the resort to start with. For instance, I would never want a poolside villa, especially if I still had young children, but those are some of the most popular villas at Vistana, so what do I know? As Gina said, don't sweat it, and if you don't like what you are assigned, ask for a change BEFORE you have settled in.

Welcome to DIS, and to Vistana. I'm sure you will have a great vacation!

 

[curiousGal]

Just to add to Gina's comments. Make sure that you check out the transportation board here on DIS for the latest discount codes. That's where I usually find all the latest deals on rentals.

As to the "lousy unit", in thinking it through there may be a grain of truth behind the rumor, but not because of price paid. Sheraton initially assigns units based primarily on WHEN the reservation was made. Often Skyauctions are for excess rooms that aren't moving. So yes, everyone that booked before you may get a "better" unit. Book early for best selection.

But, if you are travelling in a quiet time, then there are lots of good units too. And, I don't think that there are really any particularly bad units in the resort to start with. For instance, I would never want a poolside villa, especially if I still had young children, but those are some of the most popular villas at Vistana, so what do I know? As Gina said, don't sweat it, and if you don't like what you are assigned, ask for a change BEFORE you have settled in.

Welcome to DIS, and to Vistana. I'm sure you will have a great vacation!

Thank you bankr63 and Gina:

Very encouraging! I booked it this morning. Now I am fishing for a good car rental. The best I have seen with taxes for 1 week rental is around $350 from Dollar for full size car. As suggested, I will have to look harder as the date approaches.

I am not a picky type on accommodation, but it's our parent's first visit and didn't want to disappoint them with bad units or housekeeping etc. They are elderly and might prefer less walking (at least near the resort). So picking up some tips about Cascades or Fountain etc. At the end of the day, it may not matter

 

[masterofthehouse]

Thanks as always for the info guys.

I have already contacted the hotel about the cabs as I also wanted a schedule of the shuttle bus if available. I hadn't heard back so I posted on here.

I got an email back today saying my mail had been forwarded to the correct person so I should get some answers soon.

I'm more than happy to say no to the timeshare meeting, just that some people said they felt it was very pushy and it wasn't until you were a bit abrupt that they left you alone. As you say, everyone is different in how they interpret things.

Thanks!

 

[kokomos]

Thank you bankr63 and Gina:

Very encouraging! I booked it this morning. Now I am fishing for a good car rental. The best I have seen with taxes for 1 week rental is around $350 from Dollar for full size car. As suggested, I will have to look harder as the date approaches.

I am not a picky type on accommodation, but it's our parent's first visit and didn't want to disappoint them with bad units or housekeeping etc. They are elderly and might prefer less walking (at least near the resort). So picking up some tips about Cascades or Fountain etc. At the end of the day, it may not matter

I didbt think housekeeping is included for rooms booked thru skyauction but they did surprise us and showed up mid week for a cleaning. I won't expect it this year but it was a nice surprise.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

I didbt think housekeeping is included for rooms booked thru skyauction but they did surprise us and showed up mid week for a cleaning. I won't expect it this year but it was a nice surprise.

I think anyone staying for a full week as a timeshare rental receives a "mid week tidy" (general clean up, towel change, etc.). We had one on each of our weeks last summer. I am pretty certain that you can fully expect to receive the same mid-week service again this year .

 

[masterofthehouse]

Hi,

Does anyone have any general comments on the safety of the area around the resort, and around WDW in general.

I have read it's all very safe around there, not much crime etc....but is there anything specific we should be aware of?

Is it safe to walk around the area day and night or should we stick to the resort at night?

Is there much recorded crime against tourists? - Robberies etc...

I am a worrier!

Thanks!

 

[bankr63]

Hi,

Does anyone have any general comments on the safety of the area around the resort, and around WDW in general.

I have read it's all very safe around there, not much crime etc....but is there anything specific we should be aware of?

Is it safe to walk around the area day and night or should we stick to the resort at night?

Is there much recorded crime against tourists? - Robberies etc...

I am a worrier!

Thanks!

I have never felt particularly unsafe anywhere we have gone around Disney, or around the resort. I wouldn't be concerned about walking across the street for pizza or coffee - well not for crime; crossing 6 lanes of fast moving traffic is a concern. However, off resort you will probably be driving everywhere. Orlando is a very spread out space, so you tend to drive everywhere anyway and that certainly reduces the opportunity for crime.

The closest area that concerns me would be parts of Irlo Bronson East where the really budget hotels are located - this ares seems pretty seedy to me and I might take extra precautions. I've only driven through downtown Orlando on the I-4, but expect you would take the same precautions there as in the core of any other American city. That is a long way away from the Disney property though.

I would say that yes, there is probably an elevated amount of crime against tourists. But only to the level you would expect at every other tourist trap. A steady supply of vacationers with fat wallets tend to attract more than their share of people willing to relieve them of their dollars, be it pickpockets or swindlers, timeshare salesmen, or large amusement park operators. Just take standard precautions that you would take in any large European tourist city (don't flash the cash, purses on a tight leash, wallets in inner pocket, no outlandish jewelry).

And to be fair to Disney, they employ a huge security staff and I expect that Universal does too. There are lots of "unmarked" security people watching the crowds in the parks or at DTD/City Walk venues and they seem to do a pretty good job of keeping the petty criminals at bay.

So do you need to worry, no. Do you need to take standard precautions yes. Are Disney and South Orlando safe, mostly yes, just stay aware of your surroundings.

 

[masterofthehouse]

Thanks Bankr, that is very reassuring.

We certainly won't be venturing as far away as Irlo Bronson East. We'll just come in to Orlando Int then get the transfer to SVR. From there we will use the shuttle or taxis to WDW, universal and that's about it. Maybe Kennedy if we can manage the long drive.

The kids want to hit the Florida Mall but the better half is convinced we'll all get shot lol..........even I'm not that jumpy but you know it is a daunting place to visit for the 1st time. Just the vastness of the area is enough to deal with without all the new wildlife and fear of getting targeted as a tourist. I'm from London and can deal with a large city but in your own city you don't feel vulnerable. (Plus here everyone isn't walking around with a gun in their pocket!!! - Even the Police aren't armed although they probably should be!)

I know so many people that have been 3,4 and 5 times so it's obviously fine.

 

[bankr63]

Thanks Bankr, that is very reassuring.

We certainly won't be venturing as far away as Irlo Bronson East. We'll just come in to Orlando Int then get the transfer to SVR. From there we will use the shuttle or taxis to WDW, universal and that's about it. Maybe Kennedy if we can manage the long drive.

The kids want to hit the Florida Mall but the better half is convinced we'll all get shot lol..........even I'm not that jumpy but you know it is a daunting place to visit for the 1st time. Just the vastness of the area is enough to deal with without all the new wildlife and fear of getting targeted as a tourist. I'm from London and can deal with a large city but in your own city you don't feel vulnerable. (Plus here everyone isn't walking around with a gun in their pocket!!! - Even the Police aren't armed although they probably should be!)

I know so many people that have been 3,4 and 5 times so it's obviously fine.

If the kids want to get some retail therapy, but the Florida Mall is out (and it is a long way by cab), might I suggest the Orlando Premium Outlets "around the corner" from the resort on Vineland (maybe 10 minutes away). This is a huge shopping complex with many major US brands, and great prices on many things. See the link below, there is a mall map on the site with all of the shops listed.

http://www.premiumoutlets.com/outlets/outlet.asp?id=17

I would also suggest a visit to Downtown Disney for the atmosphere and the biggest Disney store in the world. Retail wise, it is about 80% Disney, but it is a really fun time.

 

[dreamerAl]

We will be staying in the fountains section and will arrive on a Sunday. Could anyone recommend a unit that they are aware of that is quiet and has a nice view. We like looking over the ponds. I do have a map of the unit numbers. I see some are very close to the highway at the back of the resort. Is there a difference between the fountains I or ii sections.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

We will be staying in the fountains section and will arrive on a Sunday. Could anyone recommend a unit that they are aware of that is quiet and has a nice view. We like looking over the ponds. I do have a map of the unit numbers. I see some are very close to the highway at the back of the resort. Is there a difference between the fountains I or ii sections.

We were in building 23, which is a Sunday check-in building.

This is the view from the front:



And the view from the 3rd floor balcony:



Immediately behind the building is this:





Just across the street (towards the Fountains rec center) is this:



It was away from any road noise, and close (two minute walk) to the Fountains pool (but not so close you could hear the music from the pool side DJ). The Lakes pool is just a couple of minutes walk further.

From what I understand, the interior layout of the Fountains I and II villas are slightly different.

Fountains I layout:

https://www.starwoodvacationnetwork.com/villa-collection/sheraton-vistana-resort/villas#floorplan-8

Fountains II layout:

https://www.starwoodvacationnetwork.com/villa-collection/sheraton-vistana-resort/villas#floorplan-9

The jacuzzi tub is in the bathroom of the Fountains I units, and in the bedroom of the Fountains II villas.

 

[pigletto]

Sigh. Just reading through the Vistana thread tonight really really makes me want to stay there again. Maybe next Fall.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Sigh. Just reading through the Vistana thread tonight really really makes me want to stay there again. Maybe next Fall.

I think that's a marvelous idea . May I suggest October 10th to 17th?

 

[dreamerAl]

We were in building 23, which is a Sunday check-in building.

This is the view from the front:



And the view from the 3rd floor balcony:



Immediately behind the building is this:





Just across the street (towards the Fountains rec center) is this:



It was away from any road noise, and close (two minute walk) to the Fountains pool (but not so close you could hear the music from the pool side DJ). The Lakes pool is just a couple of minutes walk further.

From what I understand, the interior layout of the Fountains I and II villas are slightly different.

Fountains I layout:

https://www.starwoodvacationnetwork.com/villa-collection/sheraton-vistana-resort/villas#floorplan-8

Fountains II layout:

https://www.starwoodvacationnetwork.com/villa-collection/sheraton-vistana-resort/villas#floorplan-9

The jacuzzi tub is in the bathroom of the Fountains I units, and in the bedroom of the Fountains II villas.

thanks Gina
do you know if the new gas grills are available in the fountain sections