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

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

whether they traded Manhattan Club or a dog week in Outer Mongolia to get there.

You crack me up .

Hey...totally off topic, but the Starwood Vacation Ownership website has a new resort map posted for SVR. I just printed it today for my boss (and a copy for moi aussi). It lists the check-in days for each section, which is handy. It links to a PDF, so I can't figure out how to post it here in this thread, but perhaps you can work your magic? Just 'cause I know you like keepin' us all up to date 'n stuff.

 

[Mrs~Incredible]

Hi everyone!

Has anyone had experience with the Falls water slide? I have a 3.5 year old, and not sure if she will be safe to go down it- I saw a YouTube video and it looked pretty fast and steep-

Do you think it would be ok for a preschooler wearing floaties?

Thanks!

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Hi everyone!

Has anyone had experience with the Falls water slide? I have a 3.5 year old, and not sure if she will be safe to go down it- I saw a YouTube video and it looked pretty fast and steep-

Do you think it would be ok for a preschooler wearing floaties?

Thanks!

Its a pretty small slide. These pics may help.

Up close:



A little further back:



And the adjacent playround (just in case that interests you):



The Falls pool has always been frequented by an assortment of little folks on each of our visits. I know my DS would have had no problem with the slide at 3.5 years old...but he was also (a) fearless and (b) a good swimmer.

All that said.....apparently the slide has been temporarily (?) removed. The CEO of this thread, bankr63, was there mid-March and the slide was still MIA. I will be arriving in 16 days for our next stay, and if its not yet re-installed, I will see if I can find out when it might be returning.

 

[Mrs~Incredible]

Thanks for the info!!

I think we will be there the same time!

Now I am hoping the slide is reinstalled

If you see a couple with a 3yo with wet pigtails and an Elsa bathing suit, please say hi!!

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Thanks for the info!!

I think we will be there the same time!

Now I am hoping the slide is reinstalled

If you see a couple with a 3yo with wet pigtails and an Elsa bathing suit, please say hi!!

Absolutely!! We're there from May 1 to May 8.

Look for a short lady with long dark hair, and a tall, burly fellow with almost no hair on top and a bushy goatee .

 

[Mrs~Incredible]

Will do!

And my name is Heather

(Though the Mrs Incredible screen name makes me laugh every time I log on!

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Diamond Lane requests are in!! (top floor unit with balcony: Lakes if possible, Cascades 3 if not)

Two weeks to go!!!

 

[DizMom82]

Hi ! A friend has offered me a week of her RCI time share to use @ the Sheraton Vistana. I am a little worried never having stayed off property but, this is a budget trip and you can't beat $317.00 for a week. A few questions, RCI says the unit is a two bedroom and sleeps 8/6. I have tween children who love swimming and movies by the pool. I would love a newly renovated unit (don't need a jetted tub). We will be renting a car so getting around the resort shouldn't be a problem. We are checking in on a Saturday. What location/building would you recommend ? How far is the resort from the Disney Parks ? What is the best driving route to the parks ? Sorry for so many questions. Any advice/tips you could give me would be greatly appreciated.

 

[chalee94]

I would love a newly renovated unit (don't need a jetted tub).

whole resort has been fairly recently renovated - i like the lakes section but opinions vary. not sure there is a bad option...

How far is the resort from the Disney Parks ?

only a couple of minutes from the big disney sign (the entrance near downtown disney).

probably closest to epcot overall.

What is the best driving route to the parks ?

turn right out of the resort. at the light, turn right again. cross over I-4 and *boom* - you are on disney property.

 

[mulanrouge]

I put in my Diamond Lane requests just over a week ago, and I got confirmation back just this past weekend. So it took them about a week to confirm. I requested a room in the Cascades section (2 bedroom) with a water/fountain view, as close to the Super Pool and Zimmies as possible. That is my favorite pool. So hopefully, the requests will be honored. Fingers crossed!! 12 days to go!!

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Hi ! A friend has offered me a week of her RCI time share to use @ the Sheraton Vistana. I am a little worried never having stayed off property but, this is a budget trip and you can't beat $317.00 for a week. A few questions, RCI says the unit is a two bedroom and sleeps 8/6. I have tween children who love swimming and movies by the pool. I would love a newly renovated unit (don't need a jetted tub). We will be renting a car so getting around the resort shouldn't be a problem. We are checking in on a Saturday. What location/building would you recommend ? How far is the resort from the Disney Parks ? What is the best driving route to the parks ? Sorry for so many questions. Any advice/tips you could give me would be greatly appreciated.

Dive-in movies are only shown at the Fountains pool, so keep that in mind if that is a deal breaker for you.

As far as I know, all two bedroom villas include a jetted tub (so you should get one anyway!).

The only two sections you rule out with a Saturday check-in are Falls (Sunday check-ins only) and Spas (Friday check-ins only). Buildings marked in dark blue on this map are allocated for Saturday arrivals:

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

The three main pools are Fountains, Cascades, and the Super Pool (in Spas). If your kids enjoy swimming, I would request to be near one of those. Our favourite location is Fountains (the upper units have skylights, and the pool has the deepest depths of the three main pools, plus a waterfall, in-water volleyball, dive-in movies, poolside entertainment, music from the Tiki Bar, and two hot tubs). Others have preferred to be closer to Cascades or the Super Pool to also be near the mini golf and Marketplace.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

I put in my Diamond Lane requests just over a week ago, and I got confirmation back just this past weekend. So it took them about a week to confirm. I requested a room in the Cascades section (2 bedroom) with a water/fountain view, as close to the Super Pool and Zimmies as possible. That is my favorite pool. So hopefully, the requests will be honored. Fingers crossed!! 12 days to go!!

I put my request in on Friday of last week, so hopefully I will hear something soon, too .

We arrive in 10 days!

 

[DizMom82]

Thanks Gina ! Hope you won't mind me asking you a couple more questions. Are the units in the Fountains section newly renovated ? Saw a post from bankr63 with photos from his last trip report. Do the rooms in the Fountains look similar to that (not layout but furnishings,flooring etc.)? Where do you recommend getting groceries in the area ? Thanks so much !

 

[DizMom82]

whole resort has been fairly recently renovated - i like the lakes section but opinions vary. not sure there is a bad option...



only a couple of minutes from the big disney sign (the entrance near downtown disney).

probably closest to epcot overall.



turn right out of the resort. at the light, turn right again. cross over I-4 and *boom* - you are on disney property.

Chalee94 Thanks so much for the info !

 

[bankr63]

Thanks Gina ! Hope you won't mind me asking you a couple more questions. Are the units in the Fountains section newly renovated ? Saw a post from bankr63 with photos from his last trip report. Do the rooms in the Fountains look similar to that (not layout but furnishings,flooring etc.)? Where do you recommend getting groceries in the area ? Thanks so much !

The furnishings in the resort are very consistent across the sections for comfort and scale; colour schemes are all earth tones and do vary from section to section. Pretty sure that Gina has some pics that she'll link in here.

We eat in unit a lot, so I'll chime in on the groceries. Publix is the best full service grocery nearby, having once again placed near the top of the ratings in a major consumer magazine. Corner of Vineland and I-Drive; I suggest going the longer way around and approaching from I-Drive. There is a lot of traffic at Premium Outlets if you go the Vineland way.

There are good Super Walmarts and Super Targets nearby. We do the Super Target on 192 (Irlo Bronson E). There is a SuperWally down the road on 535, but we actually prefer the one on Turkey Lake Road. If you need any specialty groceries, there is a Whole Foods at Turkey Lake and Sand Lake. We've also done the Winn Dixie just past Crossroads, and several other Publix in the area (a couple more on 192 and one on Sand Lake)

And for all those forgotten essentials, don't forget the Marketplace on site. They have a very good selection of groceries, prices are a bit higher, but not outrageous, and you can enjoy a Starbucks while you pick a few things up.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Thanks Gina ! Hope you won't mind me asking you a couple more questions. Are the units in the Fountains section newly renovated ? Saw a post from bankr63 with photos from his last trip report. Do the rooms in the Fountains look similar to that (not layout but furnishings,flooring etc.)? Where do you recommend getting groceries in the area ? Thanks so much !

Here is our Fountains unit from August 2014:

Living and dining rooms:





Master bedroom:



Master bath:







2nd Bedroom:



2nd Bath:



Kitchen:





Desk:



Balcony:

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Fountains section exterior:

 

[laurabelle]

Publix is the best full service grocery nearby, having once again placed near the top of the ratings in a major consumer magazine. Corner of Vineland and I-Drive; I suggest going the longer way around and approaching from I-Drive. There is a lot of traffic at Premium Outlets if you go the Vineland way.

Thanks for the tip! I haven't stayed in VR in years, but I do recall going to the outlets and the traffic was horrific in that area. We love Publix in FL. Best Key Lime pie!

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Thanks Gina ! Hope you won't mind me asking you a couple more questions. Are the units in the Fountains section newly renovated ? Saw a post from bankr63 with photos from his last trip report. Do the rooms in the Fountains look similar to that (not layout but furnishings,flooring etc.)? Where do you recommend getting groceries in the area ? Thanks so much !

Thought you might also want some pics of the North side amenities to go along with the photos of the Fountains villa interiors.

Fountains pool:











Fountains splash pool:



Dive-in movie night:





S'mores by the pool, hosted by the FUN Team:



Upper hot tub:



Stairs to lower hot tub:



Lower hot tub:

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Fountains play ground:







Lakes play ground:



Basketball courts:



Shuffleboard:



Volleyball: