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

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

we recently completed a stay. when we called ahead, we were told the pack and play was not guaranteed, so we brought our own travel one. we then requested theirs. It was so dirty, stained, ripped that we opted to use the one we brought instead.

We put a pack-and-play and high chair on our prearrival requests, and when we checked in on Saturday, I also mentioned it to the team member at the welcome center. She told us that the request was already on our reservation, and that the items would be brought up to us within 30 minutes. True to her word, both items were dropped off to us and both were clean and in great condition (thank goodness). I am sorry that you were given a dirty item ..... I hope you let the resort know so they could remedy it [both for you AND for the next guests who followed].

 

[bankr63]

@Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina those are some great pictures - especially the grandson! Hope you have a wonderful stay!

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

@Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina those are some great pictures - especially the grandson! Hope you have a wonderful stay!

It was probably the best stay we've had since Marriott took over the Sheraton brand. We found the property was in excellent shape .... everything from the landscaping to the pool areas to the interior of our villa was looking top-notch. Every staff we encountered was friendly, helpful and seemed genuinely interested in providing good guest service.

There seemed to be noticeably fewer activities than in previous years, and prices at the Marketplace, Azzula and Mai Tiki Hut seemed VERY elevated (even absurd, on a few items) but that's all we truly could offer criticism on.

We loved, loved, LOVED the text concierge. Responses were so swift.

Our pre-arrival requests were all on file when we checked in. They delivered a highchair and pack-and-play to the room within 15 minutes of check-in, and both were clean and in very good condition.

The resort was SUPER empty during our week's stay. Most nights, we had the Fountains pool to ourselves (at most, 5 other people at any given time). We rarely saw another person at the hot tubs either. It was also probably the best weather week we've had on all of our August visits (which have been fairly numerous) ..... hot but not ridiculously so, and very tolerably humid. Couldn't have asked for better.

 

[erinch]

For the first time in more than a dozen stays at the Vistana, I’ve not been able to find a rental through TUG or Redweek for Nov9-16. Marriott has a special for about 1300 total in a sleeps 8, 1260 sq feet. We really only want to stay in Fountains 1 or Springs. Does anyone have experience booking directly with Marriott, and what sections they use for direct bookings?

 

[bankr63]

Marriot owns weeks in all sections of the resort; that is how they maintain control of the boards of the owners' associations. You would be assigned as 'run of resort' but you can request a section. Fountains I and Springs both match the booking description sizes as does Palms and Spas. There are a couple of options that are bigger as well that they could assign.
If you are good with the price, book it and then put a request in for the sections you want. November is usually a bit quieter, but there is Veterans Day that week - maybe that would drive up occupancy? They generally have more flexibility during lower occupancy periods.

 

[erinch]

Marriot owns weeks in all sections of the resort; that is how they maintain control of the boards of the owners' associations. You would be assigned as 'run of resort' but you can request a section. Fountains I and Springs both match the booking description sizes as does Palms and Spas. There are a couple of options that are bigger as well that they could assign.
If you are good with the price, book it and then put a request in for the sections you want. November is usually a bit quieter, but there is Veterans Day that week - maybe that would drive up occupancy? They generally have more flexibility during lower occupancy periods.

TY!

 

[Mrs~Incredible]

TY!

We will be there same time as you!!
We’ve booked a few days direct through Marriot to tack on to our week long time share rentals and they’ve always accommodated our requests.

Has anyone heard how they fared with Milton?

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

We will be there same time as you!!
We’ve booked a few days direct through Marriot to tack on to our week long time share rentals and they’ve always accommodated our requests.

Has anyone heard how they fared with Milton?

There's a Facebook page for SVR Owners, and someone posted photos of slightly flooded parking lots and a lot of garden/foliage debris, but the buildings look like they fared well. Clean up crews were on site the day after the storm, but progress was reportedly fairly slow.

 

[Mrs~Incredible]

There's a Facebook page for SVR Owners, and someone posted photos of slightly flooded parking lots and a lot of garden/foliage debris, but the buildings look like they fared well. Clean up crews were on site the day after the storm, but progress was reportedly fairly slow.

Thanks for the update. Glad to hear it wasn’t too bad for them.

 

[haPevraftr]

We are here now. Staying in Courts. Arrived Saturday (2 days after Milton). Been to Spas, Cascades, and Fountains pools. Only evidence of the hurricane has been landscaping crews working to clean debris from trees, but they are doing such a good job that most of it has already been collected and waiting for removal in the parking lot near the Marketplac. Noticed Spas hot tub not open the other day but not sure that is hurricane related. Earlier in the week, Courts pool was closed due to hurricane, but not sure what needs fixing or if it is done yet. All in all, nothing related to the hurricane has impacted our stay. The property is as beautiful and well maintained as always. Kudos to the amazing staff for their hard work!
Edited to add: Courts pool was open when I walked past this afternoon.
Edited to add: The Spas hot tub is also now open.

 

[Mrs~Incredible]

We are here now. Staying in Courts. Arrived Saturday (2 days after Milton). Been to Spas, Cascades, and Fountains pools. Only evidence of the hurricane has been landscaping crews working to clean debris from trees, but they are doing such a good job that most of it has already been collected and waiting for removal in the parking lot near the Marketplac. Noticed Spas hot tub not open the other day but not sure that is hurricane related. Earlier in the week, Courts pool was closed due to hurricane, but not sure what needs fixing or if it is done yet. All in all, nothing related to the hurricane has impacted our stay. The property is as beautiful and well maintained as always. Kudos to the amazing staff for their hard work!

Thanks for the update! If you could please write back and let us know if you noticed Spas hot tub open at some point that would be great- I’m planning on going there ASAP after check in!

 

[erinch]

I've just booked an 8 day stay direct through Marriott.
Does anyone know what number to call to request my preferred sections and room location?
(Fountains 1, 3rd floor, overlooking pond not pool. Very picky, LoL!)

 

[Mrs~Incredible]

I've just booked an 8 day stay direct through Marriott.
Does anyone know what number to call to request my preferred sections and room location?
(Fountains 1, 3rd floor, overlooking pond not pool. Very picky, LoL!)

Awesome! You can just call the main number, +1 407-239-3100 and speak to the front desk. They will note it on your reservation and make every effort to accommodate

 

[haPevraftr]

Thanks for the update! If you could please write back and let us know if you noticed Spas hot tub open at some point that would be great- I’m planning on going there ASAP after check in!

Just walked past and the hot tub is open!

 

[soccerdad72]

This has been a great thread to read through. We're Vistana/Westin owners (in Maui), but this is our first time staying at the Orlando resort. We had some points to use up, so we booked four nights as part of a larger trip to the Orlando area. Looks like we're booked into the Cascades area (Premium 1BR), so I suppose that's a pretty good area to be at. I figure we'll probably have one day that we just hang by the pool and the resort as a whole, as we have 3 day park hopper passes. Is there a pool that people prefer or is the nearest one fine for most?

 

[Mrs~Incredible]

This has been a great thread to read through. We're Vistana/Westin owners (in Maui), but this is our first time staying at the Orlando resort. We had some points to use up, so we booked four nights as part of a larger trip to the Orlando area. Looks like we're booked into the Cascades area (Premium 1BR), so I suppose that's a pretty good area to be at. I figure we'll probably have one day that we just hang by the pool and the resort as a whole, as we have 3 day park hopper passes. Is there a pool that people prefer or is the nearest one fine for most?

Cascades pool is great and there is a poolside bar. Spas pool is a very short walk and has a ginormous hot tub. Falls pool also close and has a water slide. People also love the fountains pool on the other side of the resort but I’ve never been- hoping to try it out this time!
Have a great trip!

 

[haPevraftr]

This has been a great thread to read through. We're Vistana/Westin owners (in Maui), but this is our first time staying at the Orlando resort. We had some points to use up, so we booked four nights as part of a larger trip to the Orlando area. Looks like we're booked into the Cascades area (Premium 1BR), so I suppose that's a pretty good area to be at. I figure we'll probably have one day that we just hang by the pool and the resort as a whole, as we have 3 day park hopper passes. Is there a pool that people prefer or is the nearest one fine for most?

We have stayed in Falls, Fountains twice, and Courts. We have been to the Falls pool (when we stayed in that phase and the kids were little), the Cascades pool, Spas Super Pool, and the Fountains pool. We like the Fountains pool best and Cascades is a close second. Fountains wins out b/c my kids are older and don’t have use for the Cascades splash/fountains area AND the bathrooms/showers at the Fountains pool are easier to access.
Honestly, we enjoy going to different pools throughout the week b/c they all have a different vibe. Your family will have different preferences based on ages of family members. All of the pools are easy to get to regardless of the location of your unit.

 

[soccerdad72]

We have stayed in Falls, Fountains twice, and Courts. We have been to the Falls pool (when we stayed in that phase and the kids were little), the Cascades pool, Spas Super Pool, and the Fountains pool. We like the Fountains pool best and Cascades is a close second. Fountains wins out b/c my kids are older and don’t have use for the Cascades splash/fountains area AND the bathrooms/showers at the Fountains pool are easier to access.
Honestly, we enjoy going to different pools throughout the week b/c they all have a different vibe. Your family will have different preferences based on ages of family members. All of the pools are easy to get to regardless of the location of your unit.

It’s just my wife and I on this trip, so a comfy chair by the pool and a bar are good enough for me.

 

[bankr63]

It’s just my wife and I on this trip, so a comfy chair by the pool and a bar are good enough for me.

Well in that case, try the Courts pool. It is the most boring pool in the resort - just a standard rectangle. Good for swimming laps and usually no kids. The Outpost bar (seasonal) is just a few steps away (but we usually bring a cooler with a few canned beverages). DW and my favorite now for a quiet bit of sun.