Vistana Resort 7/25-8/1 via Skyauction

[ttfn3]

Just back from a wonderful week at the Vistana Resort won via Skyauction for a 2 BR sleeps 6 unit. I called ahead of time to make my requests - most importantly a quiet unit AWAY from 535 and I-4, top floor unit. I also signed up for Diamond Lane check-in plus I have a Sheraton card. We were assigned a Falls unit right across from the Falls pool (pool slide is here). Looks like the unit has been refurbished in the past year or so. No smoky smells and it was a nice unit. We were very close to 3 pools, the miniature golf course, playground, basketball court, shuffle board, activity center, arcade, etc. Short walk to General Store and Cascades pool. We spent a lot of time at the pools and participated in many of the activities - extreme minature golf, bingo, kids pool games, tie-dye t-shirts, dive-in pool movie. This resort is very close to Disney and has a lot of restaurants and shopping in the area. We have stayed at several of the resorts on the south end of International Drive so we are quite familiar with the area. We had a couple of maintenance issues when we checked in and the Vistana was wonderful about fixing things VERY quickly. For example, our ice maker didn't work so they brought a bag of ice over until the engineering guy came over about an hour later to fix it.

If anyone has any questions, let me know!!

 

[26555]

Thanks for this post! Did you request the Falls? Did they ask you if you wanted a 2bedroom that slept 6 or 8? I wouldn't have thought about specifically requesting a quiet area, were you led to believe other areas near the interstate were noisy? Was there an elevator? Thanks again.

 

[staylor]

How does skyauction work? Is it hard to get the dates you want?

 

[ttfn3]

Since the auction we won said 2 BR, sleeps 6 we were not able to request the Cascades, Fountains nor Lakes. However, I really liked the Falls and it's location so it worked out really well for us. We only had one short flight of stairs to our unit. No elevator. We saw some elevators in the Cascades units - which at 6? floors was needed! We were able to park our car very close to our front door. And we were right across the parking lot from the Falls pool! DS (age 8) declared the Falls pool his favorite (and we checked them all out) - because of the slide and the pool layout. It was a smaller pool and was very family friendly during our stay. We saw a few older kids but did not hear any rowdy behavior nor inappropriate language.

We previously stayed at the VR in the Springs section (in 2000) and were given a unit that faced 535. It was pretty noisy. So, we really wanted an inside unit that didn't face the major roads - 535, I-4. And we like a top floor unit since it tends to be quieter (no noisy footsteps).

We were given a map that shows the areas. The units are colored coded depending on which checkin day - Friday, Saturday, Sunday. Our Falls unit was for Sunday checkins.

Oh - on our first full day, Monday, several of the pools were closed due to pool accidents. Made it handy to have several pools within walking distance. I was very impressed by the level of attention to pool maintenance - including checking the pool out after major rain storms to make sure it was healthy to let people back in.

 

[26555]

I notice our skyauction description says sleeps 6 or 8 and specifially says "up to 3 floors and no elevators". I'll be checking in on a Friday. Besides, Cascades are there other sections that are definately excluded b/c of the 3 floors caveat? In other words, which sections have more than 3 floors? Thanks.

 

[Wishing on a star]

Our exchange is for a 2br sleeps 6/8.... Am I right to think that this means that we will be in a newer building?

Thanks!

 

[luvdisney14]

ttfn3

Can you let me know if there is a charge for any of the activites?

 

[Wishing on a star]

We will have a 2BR max/8... Saturday Check-in.

This agrees with the information have from Diamond Lane, which means that we will NOT get Falls. I just wanted to pass this on in case this info is useful to anyone!

I am glad to hear the Falls has been renovated. Assuming that all units in the Falls section have been renovated. I had seen some bad reviews before, online.

I know that Courts does not have jacuzzi's in the units. Does anyone know if other sections do not have jacuzzi's? Or is it hit-or-miss???

thanks!

 

[luvdisney14]

ttnf3

Did you get you week through skyaction? I have been looking at that site and I might try to get a week next August through them. I am a little afraid because I never bid on something before. I think we would probably check in on a Friday. Would you be able to tell me how much you paid for the week and what other charges, if any, we added on? Thank you

 

[mulanrouge]

ttfn3 - you stated

"We were given a map that shows the areas. The units are colored coded depending on which checkin day - Friday, Saturday, Sunday. Our Falls unit was for Sunday checkins."

Would you mind expanding on that? What sections are assigned to what days?

Thanks.

 

[luvdisney14]

Does anyone know on skyauction what the possible surcharge is?
states 150.00 for July 1, 2005 and November 18, 2005? I need to know what that means before I consider bid on anything. I read the information on skyauction, but it does not state the meaning clearly.

 

[lawgs]

luvdisney

that means for those dates.....if you win a bid for them, you would be paying the extra as a "surcharge", supposedly for the whole week

looks like those dates might include July 4th and American Thanksgiving

 

[luvdisney14]

lawgs

Thank you very much for that information. I was not thinking about those two holidays. You put my mind at ease.

 

[luvdisney14]

ttfn3

When bidding through skyauction is maid service included in the price? I can probably book the room for 99.00 per night no maid service. I think skyauction will end up being cheaper.

 

[lawgs]

luvdisney

when we were at Vacation Village on the Parkway, they had a trash and tidy about the fourth day into our stay, as far as total maid service ...probably not

then again they have timeshares that rent by the day now, so am not quite sure

when we are at orange lake, they have trash conatiners outside most units, thus there is no trash and tidy during the stay

thus, timeshares can vary ... if you have a specific one you are interested in, if you post its "name" someone can probably help you with your question

 

[ttfn3]

Vistana charges for some of the activities. The pool games, karoke, and dive-in movie were free. We were given a list of the activities and it had a coupon for buy 1, get 1 free for a few activities (you can get extra maps/activity schedules at the Cascade Activity center). DS and I each got a tie-dyed t-shirt for a total of $10. They charge $5 for 6 BINGO cards (no coupons for this) and you can play them all for the hour they have BINGO (and they give prizes to the winners - DH got addicted to BINGO!). I believe it cost $10 (using a coupon ) for DH and DS to play Extreme Golf - the minature golf course is decorated with "themes" and they have music.

We did use Skyauction. We actually won an auction for the HGVC near Sea World. By the time I submitted our dates it was not available. So I took a chance and asked if the Vistana Villages or Vistana Resort was available. They were able to substitute VR for the same price so we took it. It was our first time using Skyauction. Besides the initial scheduling problems, I was very pleased with Skyauction. We got a great resort at a great price. Make sure you add the $195 + $15 service charge to your bids for the total price.

We had a midweek cleaning. I forgot they would do this. We are used to staying in Timeshares/condos so we don't need daily maid service. It was nice to have a midweek clean - beds were changed, kitchen cleaned, trash emptied, baths cleaned and new towels/soaps/dishwasher detergent etc. were left.

I'll have to look for my map to see what sections/units are what checkin days. I wouldn't worry too much about what section. Just make sure your wishes are noted. We really wanted a unit away from 535/I-4, top unit, near pools/activites. I personally wouldn't want Lakes nor Fountains since it's so far from the main resort area. IMHO a car is really needed for this resort.

 

[luvdisney14]

Thank you very much for answering all my questions. I am thinking that my requests would be very similar to yours. I definately don't want to be near the interstate. I know my children would like to be close to various pools and the activities. I am thinking of booking the resort through spg. and if I eventually get it cheap through skyauction I can always cancel.
Also, maybe I can pay to have made service once in the middle of the week. I wonder if they let you pay 30 or 35.00 for that.