Vistana Promotion

[Toulouse]

Can I ask you guys something about the Vistana?

Is the Chick-Fil-A on Apopka-Vineland attached to the resort? If not, how far is it to walk and what are the directions. We LOVE us some Chick-Fil-A... it's just one little Southern thing we always enjoy when we're down there

 

[familyfirsttimer]

Is there shuttle service to the parks? If so, how is it. I would love to not have to rent a car and drive ourselves to the parks but I want to make sure it is worth it. We got the 5days/4nights for $129 and $100 back in resort amenities or park tickets with a 90 minute presentation.
Great deal I assume but if I have to start adding expenses like a car, etc, maybe it's not that great of a deal.
Thanks for any advice.

 

[MiaSRN62]

Toulouse asks : Is the Chick-Fil-A on Apopka-Vineland attached to the resort? If not, how far is it to walk

Chick-Fil-A is not attached to Vistana, nor is it a close walk. I can't even picture where it is, but it's not that close to Vistana to venture a walk. I'd even consider the Crossroads shopping center to far to walk because of the big roads/traffic you'd have to contend with.

familyfirstimer says : Is there shuttle service to the parks? If so, how is it. I would love to not have to rent a car and drive ourselves to the parks but I want to make sure it is worth it.

There is a shuttle that runs with limited departure and pick up times. A poster from another thread about Vistana "Villages" posted this about the shuttles :

owners and RCI exchange guests must purchase shuttle passes for $9 per person, round trip per day. Renters are complimentary. Two trips are made to each of the four Disney parks per day - 8am and 915 am. Return from the MK is 730pm, Epcot 715 and 945. You must use Disney transportation to travel to either of the above parks to return from MGM and AK.

So I'm sure Vistana is similar. The last I heard the shuttle at the main Vistana was about $7.50-$8.00 but it could have gone up. We never use it because for our family of 5 it would cost over $40/day and one can get a rental car for less than that. Plus then, you have the added luxury of leaving and returning at your own pace. I highly recommend a rental car when staying at Vistana----the resort is so large that you probably would prefer to drive to some places within the resort itself.

 

[MiaSRN62]

Return from the MK is 730pm, Epcot 715 and 945.

I'm thinking they must adjust these times based on the season, because during the summer the MK stays open very late and 7:30 pm final pickup wouldn't cut it. Also.....I'm questioning the stress level of getting back to the shuttle at 9:45 pm from Epcot. I'm guessing the busses pick up in front of the resort. If one wishes to watch Illuminations which starts at 9 pm, I'd think you'd really have to run to the front of the park to make that shuttle at 9:45 pm ! Illuminations is around 15 min long, so with the crowds making the mass exodus to the front of the park, one really only has 20-25 min to jog up front ? It's taken us 30+ min to get out of Epcot after Illuminations. I can do without that stress.....lol

 

[tbviolin]

Chick Fil A IS a stone's throw from Vistana, you can walk there 2 minutes from the edge of the resort, I've done it several times.

Chick-Fil-A is not attached to Vistana, nor is it a close walk. I can't even picture where it is, but it's not that close to Vistana to venture a walk. I'd even consider the Crossroads shopping center to far to walk because of the big roads/traffic you'd have to contend with.

There is a shuttle that runs with limited departure and pick up times. A poster from another thread about Vistana "Villages" posted this about the shuttles :

So I'm sure Vistana is similar. The last I heard the shuttle at the main Vistana was about $7.50-$8.00 but it could have gone up. We never use it because for our family of 5 it would cost over $40/day and one can get a rental car for less than that. Plus then, you have the added luxury of leaving and returning at your own pace. I highly recommend a rental car when staying at Vistana----the resort is so large that you probably would prefer to drive to some places within the resort itself.

 

[MiaSRN62]

Chick Fil A IS a stone's throw from Vistana, you can walk there 2 minutes from the edge of the resort, I've done it several times.

Ok good to know........I'm glad someone was able to answer the OP's question. I've owned there since 1994 (and visited every year but 1996) and can't recall which direction it's in. I know we've walked to Bennigans and there's a nearby Wendy's as well. Can you tell me which direction is the Chick Fil A.....I've probably gone right by it and not noticed it.

 

[tbviolin]

HA, oh yeah, it's right next door to Bennigans! ( or 2 doors down).
So what location at vistana do you think is the best to be at for convenience to pools, etc?

 

[MiaSRN62]

HA, oh yeah, it's right next door to Bennigans! ( or 2 doors down).

Oh ! I thought that was where the Wendy's was. It must be next to the Wendy's So, to the OP, if you're walking, you'll walk towards the main entrance of Vistana and turn left on SR 535. You'll see the Bennigans on your left not far down.

Thanks....I'm glad u came forward and posted because I guess we never stopped here.

So what location at vistana do you think is the best to be at for convenience to pools, etc?

There are 7 pools, so there are many different sections of the resort that are pool front (or nearly pool front). The Cascades is the largest of the sections, thus some of the buildings are a little bit of a hike to the Cascades pool. Most Lakes buildings are centrally located near the pool (this is a smaller section. Are you interested in one particular pool tbviolin ? BTW.....WELCOME to the DIS

 

[keishashadow]

Where @ parks, do the Vistana shuttles do drop-offs/pick-ups?

Still can't picture the immediate area (know we must have driven past it). Is it "built-up" with shopping, etc.?

What other dining options are within a 10 min. drive from Vistana?

 

[MiaSRN62]

Still can't picture the immediate area (know we must have driven past it). Is it "built-up" with shopping, etc.?

Vistana is on SR 535 between I-4 and the Crossroads Shopping center/DD entrance. There is not too much shopping as far as being "built up". It's not like 192 or International Drive in this particular area. It's a bit more low-key right around Vistana (as far as the Orlando tourist area goes) and it's why I like it. There's a Super Walmart maybe 10 min down the road from Vistana (cross over I4). There are some small souvenier/tourist shops across the street and down the street from the resort as well.
I-4 is 1 traffic light away and Crossroads/DD is about 2-3 lights away.
Other dining options nearby would be the various restaurants in the Crossroads shopping center (Pizzeria Uno, Pebbles, Jungle Jims, Perkins etc). There's also a Bahama Breeze maybe 5 min from Vistana and a Macaroni Grill perhaps 15 min away.

 

[keishashadow]

Thanks, got questions as to driving directions.

Got our confirmation letter but, only gives route using bee-line x-way.

We like to use the Greenway from MCO. Do you know if we can pick up 535 to Vistana off that route?

Called the Vistana, they just referenced the directions I was given....bee-line, I-4W to exit 68, turn left & hotel is straight ahead (8800 Vistana Centre Drive) - based on map they sent it looks like it's about 3000 ft from I-4???.

Now you see why we get lost all the time LOL. Starting to think it'd be quicker to just take the bee-line...except we always hit traffic that way...help!

Vistana is on SR 535 between I-4 and the Crossroads Shopping center/DD entrance. There is not too much shopping as far as being "built up". It's not like 192 or International Drive in this particular area. It's a bit more low-key right around Vistana (as far as the Orlando tourist area goes) and it's why I like it. There's a Super Walmart maybe 10 min down the road from Vistana (cross over I4). There are some small souvenier/tourist shops across the street and down the street from the resort as well.
I-4 is 1 traffic light away and Crossroads/DD is about 2-3 lights away.
Other dining options nearby would be the various restaurants in the Crossroads shopping center (Pizzeria Uno, Pebbles, Jungle Jims, Perkins etc). There's also a Bahama Breeze maybe 5 min from Vistana and a Macaroni Grill perhaps 15 min away.

 

[tbviolin]

well, I was hoping to know which room to ask for that's closest to the best pool, there is a pool there that has zero depth, is that the cascades?

Oh ! I thought that was where the Wendy's was. It must be next to the Wendy's So, to the OP, if you're walking, you'll walk towards the main entrance of Vistana and turn left on SR 535. You'll see the Bennigans on your left not far down.

Thanks....I'm glad u came forward and posted because I guess we never stopped here.


There are 7 pools, so there are many different sections of the resort that are pool front (or nearly pool front). The Cascades is the largest of the sections, thus some of the buildings are a little bit of a hike to the Cascades pool. Most Lakes buildings are centrally located near the pool (this is a smaller section. Are you interested in one particular pool tbviolin ? BTW.....WELCOME to the DIS

 

[MiaSRN62]

well, I was hoping to know which room to ask for that's closest to the best pool, there is a pool there that has zero depth, is that the cascades?

tbviolin........
With the info you just provided, I'll tell you there are 2 zero depth pools. One at the Lakes and one at the Cascades. The Cascades is a bit larger of a pool but there are also many more Cascades villas. For your best bet of getting close to the Cascades pool you should check-in on either a Friday or Saturday and request "close to pool" or "pool front". The following villa numbers would be in the closest location to the Cascades pool :
Sat check-in: #2101 thru 2132 and #2133 thru 2156.
Fri check-in: #2157 thru 2176

As for the Lakes which also has a zero depth pool:
Friday check-in : #1775 thru 1798
Sat check-in : #1751 thru 1774 (pool front !)
Sun check-in: #1972 thru 1995

Hope this info helps

 

[tbviolin]

Thanks. Now I hope to push for a better accomodation while there!

 

[caribbound]

I'd about given up considering Vistana after reading so many negative reports on various sites, but you guys are getting me interested in it again. We're traveling with another family, 10 people in all, so either need a large 3 BR if they sleep 12 or two 2BR's. What are the chances of getting the 2BRs close together, like next door? I'd really like a 4 br somewhere but skeptical of Westgate Lakes also due to so many neg reviews and distance and the new Fairfield at Bonnet Creek is hard to get into now with few units available.

Any suggestions on whether their 3 BR would be plenty of room? The two teens are opposite sex/family which poses one problem in room division, and my younger two are girls and their younger two are boys. Maybe Vistana doesn't even have 3 BR and I'm thinking of Liki Tiki.

Also, if I were to get in on a special such as mentioned in OP, then rent addl nights through Sam's Club, would they work with us to stay in the same rooms? We're traveling late Jan so low season if units are sold as floats. But if people actually request room numbers when they reserve, that could be a problem, unless just owners staying for a week can do that? We check in on Sunday 1/28.

Now I have to find a good deal on a room in Clearwater for the weekend prior which seems to be sold out!
Thanks.

 

[MiaSRN62]

Maybe Vistana doesn't even have 3 BR and I'm thinking of Liki Tiki.

The Courts have some townhouses that sleep 10 I believe----I think there is a loft. But this is the oldest section on the resort just so you're aware.
You'd be better with two 2 bedrooms---they will try and place you near eachother. We did this once and got side by side villas. But no guarantees.

Also, if I were to get in on a special such as mentioned in OP, then rent addl nights through Sam's Club, would they work with us to stay in the same rooms?

This is iffy. You can request it but no guarantees. I'm an owner and rented extra nights one year and they made us move from the Fountains to the Spas. I was not happy. I'm sure there is a small chance they could keep you in the same unit but I wouldn't count on it.

But if people actually request room numbers when they reserve, that could be a problem, unless just owners staying for a week can do that? We check in on Sunday 1/28.

You can always request a specific room number but I would imagine that would be difficult. I mainly posted the villa numbers above to give one an idea of which units were close to the pool so you could ask specifically at check-in if they were available.
Hope this helps.