Vistana Resort Question

[kiminal]

It looks like we will be choosing to stay at Vistana Resort due to all the great help I have read here. I just have a few questions if anyone can help

1. Resort is more convenient to DW than Villages?

2. Do all 2BR at Resort have patio or balcony?

3. We will have car and will drive to parks, any shortcuts/help you can give on getting to the following, along with how much time you would allow to get to each??

Animal Kingdom
Epcot
Disney Studios
Magic Kingdom


Thanks again for all your help as it greatly appreciated

 

[bankr63]

It looks like we will be choosing to stay at Vistana Resort due to all the great help I have read here. I just have a few questions if anyone can help

1. Resort is more convenient to DW than Villages?

Only marginally more convenient. Villages is about three miles away from Resort. Maybe 5 minutes extra travel time to Disney.

2. Do all 2BR at Resort have patio or balcony?

Yes, all 2BR will have an outdoor patio or balcony. Most are screened in as well, important if you are there during Love Bug season. Not all 1BR units have an outdoor area.

3. We will have car and will drive to parks, any shortcuts/help you can give on getting to the following, along with how much time you would allow to get to each??

I've always claimed no more than 15 minutes to the parking lot of every park, but ran it through Google maps for an accurate number. Wasn't far off...

Animal Kingdom - 8.6 mi, 17 min
Epcot - 6.6 mi, 13 min
Disney Studios - 5.0 mi, 9 min
Magic Kingdom - 7.7mi, 14 min

Just remember to allow another 15 minutes to get from parking to the gate; 20-25 minutes for MK (you need to take both a tram and the monorail or ferry).

Since you are near by, and for the most part can avoid the busier thoroughfares (AK is the exception) you shouldn't really have any traffic problems.

Note also; DTD is nearby (under 3 mi.) but if you approach via the shortest route, the 9 minutes it should take will be more like 25-30 minutes due to heavy traffic on 535 near Hotel Blvd. Much better to take the long way around (536 to E. Buena Vista); twice as far, half the time.

My final driving tip: if you don't have a GPS, borrow one from a friend. That's what we did on our first trip and it was a godsend. I own one now. Note that the parks are very easy to find in the early morning light, but that finding the resort from the parks when it's dark and you are exhausted is a completely different story. On our last visit to MK at the end of our first week ever, I stupidly said I knew where I was going, and didn't turn on the GPS - WRONG!!!! I think we were about 1/4 of the way to Tampa before we got turned in the right direction!! Now several years later, I know the routes well, but still enjoy having "Bossie's" voice to guide me home. (Recalculating!). Also check out Mousesavers for a custom POI file for the GPS - their routes really are faster!

Have a really wonderful trip! I hope your crew loves the Vistana as much as we do!!

 

[IndyClown]

Those drive times above look pretty accurate.

All you need to remember is 535 to 536. Just keep looking for those signs throughout the property and you will be fine. Honestly, it took me a couple of days driving around Disney to really get my bearings. It's very big and sometimes the signage is a little obscure. Have a good time, we really enjoyed Vistana.

 

[talicskai]

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Vistana Resort ~ it's my home away from home ~ Enjoy it

 

[r&r2011]

Only marginally more convenient. Villages is about three miles away from Resort. Maybe 5 minutes extra travel time to Disney.



Yes, all 2BR will have an outdoor patio or balcony. Most are screened in as well, important if you are there during Love Bug season. Not all 1BR units have an outdoor area.



I've always claimed no more than 15 minutes to the parking lot of every park, but ran it through Google maps for an accurate number. Wasn't far off...

Animal Kingdom - 8.6 mi, 17 min
Epcot - 6.6 mi, 13 min
Disney Studios - 5.0 mi, 9 min
Magic Kingdom - 7.7mi, 14 min

Just remember to allow another 15 minutes to get from parking to the gate; 20-25 minutes for MK (you need to take both a tram and the monorail or ferry).

Since you are near by, and for the most part can avoid the busier thoroughfares (AK is the exception) you shouldn't really have any traffic problems.

Note also; DTD is nearby (under 3 mi.) but if you approach via the shortest route, the 9 minutes it should take will be more like 25-30 minutes due to heavy traffic on 535 near Hotel Blvd. Much better to take the long way around (536 to E. Buena Vista); twice as far, half the time.

My final driving tip: if you don't have a GPS, borrow one from a friend. That's what we did on our first trip and it was a godsend. I own one now. Note that the parks are very easy to find in the early morning light, but that finding the resort from the parks when it's dark and you are exhausted is a completely different story. On our last visit to MK at the end of our first week ever, I stupidly said I knew where I was going, and didn't turn on the GPS - WRONG!!!! I think we were about 1/4 of the way to Tampa before we got turned in the right direction!! Now several years later, I know the routes well, but still enjoy having "Bossie's" voice to guide me home. (Recalculating!). Also check out Mousesavers for a custom POI file for the GPS - their routes really are faster!

Have a really wonderful trip! I hope your crew loves the Vistana as much as we do!!

Thanks for the tips! We're staying at Vistana and this is great to know!