Vistana Resort Cascades/Lakes N/A

[kathyclownfish]

Diamond Lane just emailed me and said that Cascades & Lakes areas are not available during my stay. Anyone know of another area that I can request. Don't want to get an older unit. Would like to be close to a cool pool for the kids!! Would also like to get a room number is I could.
Thanks!
Kathy

 

[sista]

I am in the same boat as you and hope you get some responses. I just got the email today. We leave on December 3 and would be disappointed if we got an old room. We have 3 little ones and would hate to trek too far to swim. Let us know after you return how it went! I am hoping once we check-in they will have it available. If anyone has ever stayed in the older section..how is it?

 

[jdm]

The up side of staying in one of the older units (Courts excluded, I think) is that they are larger. I too, requested Cascades and couldn't get it. We were put in an older section by lakes. I can't remember the name of it but someone will know. It was the section that is away from the main resort close to Lakes. It had an awesome pool and althought our unit wasn't the ritz, definitely older.... it was huge and we were very comfortable. In fact, it was the resort and unit my kids have liked the best out of all the very nice places we have stayed. We requested the closest unit to the pool and although we had to wait until 4:30 to get it, it was worth it. We could step out our screeened in porch and the pool was about 20 feet in front of us. It was open until 1am and also had a little restaurant bar. We were very happy here. Can someone help me out with the name? It wasn't spas, I was offered that, but the main desk guy talked me out of it. Anyway, don't despair, this is a very nice resort.

Jenn

Also, just want to add that I was very apprehensive about staying across the road at the other end of the resort. It ended up being an area I will request next time. Lots of trees, and very quiet. Lots of little lakes with bridges. So peaceful. I walked around the entire resort and liked where we were the best.

 

[kathyclownfish]

Jenn,
Was it Fountains?

Sista,
I will definately post when I get back. E-mail me with any questions you may have if I forget.

 

[jdm]

Yes!! Thank you, I believe it was fountains. I had heard Spas was a good runner up if Cascade and Lakes was unavailable. When I mentioned this to the counter guy, he said no, no, you'll be happier in Fountains. And, as I said, it turned out to be very nice.
Older unit for sure, but we enjoyed the area, the space, and the pool.

Jenn

 

[spiceycat]

I have heard that Lakes are okay too.

 

[Mudd77]

kathyclownfish,

I just returned a couple of weeks ago from staying at the Vistana and we had a great time. Let me start off by saying that there is a big difference between the new sections (Cascades and Lakes) and the older sections that I saw (Falls, Courts and Springs). I was disappointed at check in when they said my two-bedroom villa was in the Falls section. I was even more disappointed when I saw our building. It wasn’t the most pleasant site, especially after just driving past the beautiful Cascades section. I was really scared too even look in our room. As I opened the door all my worries were put to rest. All the appliances were new and the furniture seemed to be in good condition. The only noticeable problem was the smell. It had that “old” smell to it. After a few days you get use to it. The villa was a little dirty but not unlivable. I am very obsessive-compulsive over cleanliness so I quickly tidied the place up. All in all we had a good stay. We were right across the street from the Falls pool, however me and my dad liked the very unpopular Courts pool because it was quiet and relaxing. I would stay there again but would in no way pay the asking price for the older villas. They are surely not worth more than $100 a night. Sheraton does have somewhat of a little scam going on with advertising the new units and sticking people in the older units. I would have demanded my money back if I paid $200 a night. It was kind of sad watching the expression on people’s faces when they arrived to the older sections. They go from joyous to one of almost shock. We only paid a little over $200 for the entire week (Skyauction) so I definitely cannot complain. I do have pictures of our villa if you would like to see them. Just let me know. Also, don’t give up on the Cascades and Lakes sections. Most people on these boards have gotten the "not available" e-mail, but were placed there once they arrived.

 

[sista]

Okay, I have a few questions. You paid $200 for an entire week? Are you serious? I am going to be paying $129 a night. I have read here where people do end up with Cascades. Did you not because of what you paid? I have heard before with buying stays on Expedia, etc, hotels will not always accomodate you. So if they tell us when we check-in it isn't available, do we just demand to pay less for the old? I wonder what the tip is to getting in the newer sections. Now I am so worried about being disappointed!

I would love it if you could post some photos.

 

[Mudd77]

We paid $211 for a weeks stay at the Vistana. And no it does not matter how much you won the auction for, there have been a few posters on here who paid almost the same thing that I did w/ Skyauction and got the Cascades or Lakes sections. I don't think that Sheraton even sees how much your final bid was for the auction. It just depends on avaiability and also what day you check in factors in to what section you get. Falls check-ins are on Sunday. I will post the pictures tonight when I get home.

 

[Mom of Sleepy Bashful and BabyDoc]

We paid $301 for a week at Vistana. I also signed up for DL check in. I ALSO was emailed to inform me that Cascades or Lakes were not available.

Imagine my surprise when we got Lakes. It was great. But I would take Fountains also. Our place seemed really big, especially the master bedroom. But I've heard Fountains is bigger, as are the older sections. I think I would have been happy in almost any section. This is a great resort, we absolutely loved it.

Hope we can stay there again sometime.

 

[kathyclownfish]

Thanks everyone for your replies.

Mudd77, thanks for the encouraging words. I'm sure no matter what unit I get, I will be happy. But...............it would be nice to get a newer unit. We are checking in around 9:00 pm Saturday night. I almost feel that this would be against me checking in late. We would get the "leftover" units. I'll post when I get
home.

Thanks again!

 

[spiceycat]

the thing I heard about the older things is no whirlpool tub in the room....

did your older villa have a whirlpool tub?

 

[disneymom3]

We have stayed in Spas, Fountains and Cascades. Of these, we liked Fountains best, Spas second and Cascades last. Cascades was smaller and the layout was not as spread out--the second bedroom was RIGHT off the living room instead of down a small hall as in the other two.

I used to have a map that was color coded for what day of the week check in was which units. I will look for it and post again if I find it.

 

[Mudd77]

Here are the pics:

http://www.ofoto.com/PhotoView.jsp?...9103&collid=146535869103&photoid=836535869103

 

[jdm]

Our older unit in Fountains had a whirlpool tub. It was located in the master bathroom rather than in the bedroom.

Jenn

 

[kathyclownfish]

Mudd77,
Thanks for the pictures. Wow! They really do show a difference between the newer and older units. From the outside pictures, it almost looks like its a completely different complex.

Thanks for sharing.
Kathy

 

[Local_Girl]

Mudd77,

Thank you so much for posting the pics. Although the outside of the units are uninspiring, it was nice to see the inside...they may not be deluxe, but certainly nice, and well worth the $211 you paid for the week.

 

[bigsis1970]

Hi Thanks for posting the pictures ! we will be there in a WEEK !!! Michelle

 

[spiceycat]

thanks for the pictures - I send Vistana a request yesterday for my exchange - when did you heard back?

 

[Mudd77]

spiceycat,

I e-mailed them two weeks before my departure date and had a response the next day. I then called to confirm. I also used Diamond Lane.