Very worried about Vistana Resort - Make me feel better

[boomhauer]

I know this may sound silly, but we'll be staying at Vistana in December and I'm not very excited about it.

I've stayed onsite the last 13 trips, and love it. We're only staying at Vistana because my MIL owns there and is going with us. She'd only go if we could stay there, and with 2 babies it will be much easier with her there.

I know Vistana won't have anything Disney there, which is going to be tough, but my main concern is getting back and forth from the parks.

I'm used to getting on a Disney bus and being to the parks in 10 minutes. How long will it take us to get to the parks driving? Plus, if my wife and MIL decide to leave tghe parks early, how often do the shuttles run so I can get back to the resort?

 

[spiceycat]

okay you have to pay to use their shuttles - don't - get another car. or be prepared to shuttle the car or van you have.

that means you leaving too and driving your wife & MIL - then come back to the parks.

be prepared to do this and you will be fine. kept your cell phone with you and on at all times.

you will be happily surprise - SVR is not far at all - it is just a couple of miles further than SSR, OKW, PO.

the drive won't be long at all. the only problem would be the MK - but that is because the parking is so far from the park. You need to schedule at least an hour to park the car here and get to the park.

the resort only have 2 bedrooms - so who gets the master with the king - the second bedroom has 2 twin beds - plus the queen sleeper sofa in the livingroom.

you might really enjoy it - you can relax here!

 

[KLAIT]

I would NOT panic about it....I think you will also be pleasantly surprised

 

[djpositivek]

the only problem would be the MK - but that is because the parking is so far from the park. You need to schedule at least an hour to park the car here and get to the park.

Are you serious ? I did not realize this at all. I'll have to plan to leave earlier than anticipated. Are there usually line ups to get in at opening in early Feb. ? If you have a AAA parking pass, can you park much closer or is it still a long journey to the entrance.

 

[3DisneyGals&1Grumpy]

We are Vistana owners and return to our unit every year. While I will admit that it does not have the Disney magic (we usually start our Disney vacation with a night or two on Disney property and then transfer to Vistana) it is nice. Vistana has lots of activities and things to do. It can also be a nice quiet break from the hussle and bustle of the parks as well. I love that after a couple of nights in a hotel room we can spread out in a condo and do laundry without leaving our room.
As far as traveling time to and from the parks...are you renting a car? We find it necessary at Vistana. By driving ourselves, we have actually beaten friends and family that were staying ON PROPERTY to the park more than once because of the Disney bus schedule. I don't find it very time consuming at all. However if I had to rely on the shuttle that Vistana offers it would not be as easy.
I think you will enjoy Vistana. Give it a try!

 

[kstgelais4]

We stayed there our last trip (almost a year ago). and loved it! Ever since I got married I have only stayed offsite, but I can compare to onsite because we ONLY stayed onsite when we were growing up.
It only took us about 5-7 min. in the AM to get to the parking lot of the parks. The Vistana is real close. The rooms are very nice, and I too think you may be pleasantly surprised. Enjoy your trip!

 

[3DisneyGals&1Grumpy]

Also, I wanted to add that Vistana has a lot of different sections. Not all units are set up as King in one room and two twin beds in another. Most of the newer units offer two double beds in the second bedroom. It just depends on the section that you are in.

 

[Taratink]

I have stayed at WL and CR before and they were nice. I stayed at the Vistana last year in a newer section and it was great. I don't miss staying onsite at all. We never took advantage of the onsite perks. It was so nice to have two seperate bedroms and all the extra vanities. We packed really light and washed our clothes in our unit. We also enjoyed the time we saved by eating breakfast in the unit. I loved the extra space and we are staying at the Vistana Villages this year. We love it and I hope that you will too.
Tara

 

[spiceycat]

Are you serious ? I did not realize this at all. I'll have to plan to leave earlier than anticipated. Are there usually line ups to get in at opening in early Feb. ? If you have a AAA parking pass, can you park much closer or is it still a long journey to the entrance.

I don't use the AAA parking pass at the MK - it is a long walk if you do. It is behind (not besides like in the other parks) the handicapped parking. so very long walk and the tram doesn't stop here.

otherwise you park you car then you walk to where the tram is loading. It takes you to TTC -then you need to get on either the monrail or ferry.

and no I am no making this up - leaving can really be a big problem - because Disney does not put out enough trams and I have waited more than 35 minutes for one before.

at Epcot and Studios and even AKL with your AAA parking - you can easily walk to the entrance. but the MK you can't. (unless you are on a WDW resort bus)

remember that parking is $10 each day.

 

[Ms.Mouse]

I've never been but I do have a couple of friends who've gone to Vistana. There have never been complaints from either of them (and one of them is a very picky person!!!) Don't worry about a thing and have a great time!!!

 

[DKrisak]

We too own odd years at Vistana and return there every other year. It is extremely close to Disney and offers lots of activities and some gorgeous pools. We love having a kitchen to eat breakfast each day there (except for an occasional character breakfast at the park). We have stayed on-property before at Pop Century and Caribbean Beach. Both are nice, but we still like having our own laundry and kitchen.

I think you will be pleasantly surprised.

 

[hercamore]

Get to the parks early and you'll get a closer spot. I read somewhere that the MK parking lot is the larget parking in the world.

herc.

 

[runwad]

We've stayed off site and driven to MK using our AAA diamond parking pass and I didn't find that it was soooo long of a walk, yes I'll agree it's not as close as the other parks, but it's not Timbuktu either.

 

[swilshire]

Another Vistana owner here. We stayed just a few days at Pop Century last year to take advantage of the free dining, and we could have easily gotten from Vistana to the parks quicker by car than we did riding the Disney buses.

There is no comparison for us. The extra room is SO worth the slight inconvenience.

The only downside is if your party wants to split up with part of you staying and the rest leaving. Then it gets a bit complicated being off site. You could probably take a cab for a reasonable rate if that became a big issue. We usually just compromised somehow.

Sheila

 

[MiaSRN62]

Not all units are set up as King in one room and two twin beds in another. Most of the newer units offer two double beds in the second bedroom.

Really, it is just the Falls and some of the Courts units that have 2 twin beds in the second bedroom. All the other sections have 2 double beds in the second bedroom.

I'm used to getting on a Disney bus and being to the parks in 10 minutes. How long will it take us to get to the parks driving? Plus, if my wife and MIL decide to leave tghe parks early, how often do the shuttles run so I can get back to the resort?

Literally it'll be about a 10-15 min drive to the parking lots of the theme parks. Spicey is right......the MK is the one park where it really pays to be staying onsite because you can bypass the TTC parking lot and having to catch a tram and then later either the monorail or Ferry to the MK. This is a time consuming process that onsite guests get to bypass. But the other parks will be a snap.
Staying at Vistana, you will be very close to the Marketplace/DD. It's maybe 3-4 traffic lights away. I have had glimpses of Planet Hollywood from some of my villa balconies at Vistana. I think if you stay offsite, Vistana is one of the best resorts to stay at for spacious villas, beautiful grounds, and proximity to WDW. I can understand how you feel, because we do prefer to stay onsite, but we always enjoy our stays at Vistana as well.
What section of Vistana does your MIL own in may I ask ?

 

[jodifla]

Are you serious ? I did not realize this at all. I'll have to plan to leave earlier than anticipated. Are there usually line ups to get in at opening in early Feb. ? If you have a AAA parking pass, can you park much closer or is it still a long journey to the entrance.

unlike all the other parks, where the parking lot is right in front of them, the MK is separated from it's HUGE parking lot by a big lake. So you have to park, take a tram to the front, then wait for either a monorail or the boat to take you across the lake to the MK.

But if you stay onsite, a bus will take you to the front gate of the MK. Cuts out a lot of time.