Vistana Resort - Where are the 1 bedrooms?

[baileybrad]

I am looking for information as to where the 1 bedroom villas are located on the Vistana Resort property. We are checking in on a Friday evening and staying for 9 nights, leaving on a Sunday. We got a good rate of $86 a night and think that the 1 will work fine for us--2 adults and 2 small children (1 will be in a crib, and the 5 year old will be put down on the King and moved to the sleeper sofa when we go to bed. I did a search on the boards but found very little info about the VR 1 bedrooms.

Bedknobbery2, you stayed there recently and mentioned a possible trip report but I haven't been able to locate it. Lisa P., you seem very knowledgeable about all things timeshare related, could you provide some information on what type of building we might be placed in. I plan to do the Diamond advance check-in thing that I have seen referenced on the boards.

To further complicate our lives, I reserved a CSR, standard bedroom for essentially the same price and need to make a decision on whether to cancel it or not without penalty by the 15th of October. We are DVC owners and love staying on-site but there is so much more to offer at Vistana than in a moderate.

I am really looking for as many good things about VR as possible and any helpful building/location requests. My understanding is that there aren't any 1 bedrooms in the older sections.

We stayed at Vistana Village for 10 nights in early February in a 2 bedroom thru Hotelkingdom but want to give Vistana Resort a look this time. We had to rebook 4 airline tickets due to an unexpected future member of our family....that cost us about $400 dollars so we are going to make do with a 1 bedroom at VR instead of a 2 bedroom.

The only things that are drawing us to look at on-site is the bus system that would allow us to break up and/or leave at various times for the parks. Disney reinstituting a form of EE on us also makes staying off-site a bit harder because we would probably use for MK and maybe MGM or AK. Also, CSR is one Disney moderate resort that we have always wanted to try (and the price of $84.24 a night is killer) but again my main reason in posting this is to find out more about VR's 1 bedrooms. Things like a washer and dryer in the room, fridge and microwave along with a a place to put the kids down in the evenings and the little one for naps without everybody going to bed are most likely going to win out. And, no way, would we consider splitting a stay...way too much trouble.

Our stay is from 6Dec-15Dec. Any feedback would be most appreciated.

 

[Lisa P.]

The only 1BRs that I am aware of at VR are all located within the Cascades section. This is centrally convenient to one of the nicest pool areas, the store, minigolf, etc. The only location recommendation I can make would be to request a room closest to the pool or store... and not backing up to the highway. There are a small number of rooms that overlook the landscaped fence/wall which separates the front of the resort from the major state route highway.

IIRC, from a tour I took there a few years ago, every 1BR has a stacked washer/dryer, microwave, fridge or minifridge and sitting area or living room w/sleeper sofa. Some are deluxe with much more elaborate MBR suites, some simpler with nice though more basic BR & bath.

Whether to choose a 1BR nearby offsite or a standard hotel room onsite is a tough call. Certainly, your experiences with DVC and other onsite or offsite hotels will guide you in choosing. VR is lovely and 9 nights seems a long time to spend in a hotel room. Also, if you plan to spend any time visiting any non-Disney attractions, VR would be closer to those. Lastly, if you are concerned about costs, offsite restaurants and grocery stores are easy to reach from VR. Some people really love the onsite holiday decorations and transport. It can be great... or long walks to the bus stop at CSR, depending upon your room location. Tough call. LOL! Early December is a great time to visit Disney - have fun!

 

[goldenbear]

My biggest concern with reserving the various time shares available in Orlando, especially one that has much older areas and newer ones in the same complex, is that you might get an older unit in a less desireable area of the complex.

If I understand it, the 1 bedrooms at VR are in a newer section, but then there is the chance that one could get placed in one of the glorified studios, ie. one of the smaller 1 bedrooms that Lisa P. described. Are these units lockoffs or something? How does one avoid getting one of the small units, does checking in on day other than Sat. or Sun. during a slower period help?

Is VR moving away from the traditional timeshare concept of purchasing a "week" of time now that Starwood has take over. The original poster is arriving on a Friday and leaving 9 nights later on a Sunday. In the past I didn't think that this was possible, I thought it was a week at a time. Are they going to a point system similar to DVC?

One last question, to those who have stayed at VR, what is the one thing that you liked the least about it and the one thing that you enjoyed the most?

 

[Lisa P.]

...one of the smaller 1 bedrooms that Lisa P. described. Are these units lockoffs or something?

Yes, the one I saw was.

How does one avoid getting one of the small units...?

If it has a "full kitchen," it's generally one of the deluxe units.

...arriving on a Friday and leaving 9 nights later on a Sunday. In the past I didn't think that this was possible, I thought it was a week at a time. Are they going to a point system similar to DVC?

This person is renting so odd lengths of stay are possible.

Some timeshare resorts have unsold inventory (either never sold or foreclosure for nonpayment). Second, the resorts retain a week or two per year per unit to handle refurbishments but they're not always fully needed. Third, owners may give their weeks to the resort to handle rental on their behalf. Fourth, with floating time (or points), if a given week is not fully reserved by owners by a particular time, the resorts may rent it out (putting a portion of proceeds toward maint). These can all result in rental inventory being available.

Starwood/Vistana does have a points program. I'm unfamiliar with the specifics. There are many points programs out there, some preceding DVC's. I like our Fairfield points a lot!

...at VR, what is the one thing that you liked the least about it and the one thing that you enjoyed the most?

Least: No lake or river for waterside strolls at night. We like that a lot. VR only has smaller ponds with fountains, ducks, etc.

Most: Variety... many pools and each was different. Also our room in Lakes was very, very nice and the location near Disney is excellent.

 

[BedKnobbery2]

I did not post a trip report because my visit was so short (3 nights) that I barely spent any time at all at the resort for this visit.

However, I do believe as Lisa states that most of the 1 bedrooms are in the Cascades region. I believe there may also be some in the Lakes region.....however, my general feeling is that you'll be in Cascades as that is there 'friday night check-in' area, and it will probably be easier for them to place you there for a Friday.

I had one of the 'deluxe' units, which essentially means a larger MBR with a whirlpool tub instead of a standard tub. Frankly, a standard might be better for your family, if your children are more accustomed to taking baths rather than showers; it would be a PITA to fill the whirlpool tub every time your child needs to bathe, IMO.

When I stayed there this past August with my children, we had the 2 bedroom, and used the resort facilities (meaning pools). My boys LOVED the pools, and the one in the Cascades area is really nice. It has a waterfall you can pass under, and it is one big pool that is curved. One end of the curve is the kiddie pool, with fountains spouting (flat surface, so no chance of a child snagging on the fountain spout). The other end of the curve is the deep end. On certain days they have a DJ and run all sorts of games for the kids (and adults...but family friendly). We spent an entire afternoon there, so it is easily a resort that allows for 'resort days'.

I don't think you'll get stuck in a studio, as another poster mentioned. Studios and 1 bedrooms are entirely different units.

Anyway, hope that eases your mind somewhat.

BK

 

[baileybrad]

Bedknobbery2,
Thanks so much for the information. Could you address a few more questions---Was the 1 bedroom that you were placed in considered the larger of the 1 bedrooms ie., the ones with a larger kitchen area that Lisa P. has described as existing at VR? Did your unit also have a stand alone shower? Did you request a unit with a whirlpool tub or do the advanced Diamond Check-in that I have read about? And lastly did your unit have a screened porch area? Is it true that VR doesn't have non-smoking units anymore and what type of unit did you request or receive? I know that this is a bunch of questions but you input would be most appreciated. Thanks for any info that you might provide.
BaileyBrad

 

[Cyndiu]

Dear Baileybrad,

We stayed in a one bedroom Cascades unit summer of 2001. My daughter and son were 11 and 9 so one took the pullout couch and one used a roll-away that we rented from Vistana for $5 per night. We were not too cramped and enjoyed ourselves just fine. This was our first experience in a one-bedroom as we've owned for 5 years and always used two-bedroom units before. I would describe the kitchen as a galley more than a full although there is a sink, refridge, stove, oven toaster, microwave and coffee maker. There was a screened in porch which was lovely and the one bathroom was full sized and more than adequate. I especially like the washer/dryer right in the room, cause then you can pack less! I'd be happy to answer any other questions for you. Have a great time!

 

[baileybrad]

Cyndiu,
Thanks for the info. We are members of DVC and have also stayed at Vistana Village in a 2 bedroom this past February but have always wanted to try VR. Were you in a 1 bedroom that had the more elaborate masterbedroom/bath that Lisa P. mentioned above? Did you do the Diamond Checkin by making an requests ahead of time? What day of the week was your checkin? Do you know if the Lakes has 1 bedrooms, also? Did you have a smoking or non-smoking unit? We have stayed at Disney's OKW, VWL and HH resort in studios with our 2 little boys and managed fine. A 1 bedroom at VR with a Government employee rate of $86 a night sounds like a tremendous deall to us. We, too, love the thought of having the washer and dryer right there in the room. With our trip being in early December, we will have to take both the cold and warmer weather clothes and we are flying so we won't be able to just throw it into the "Odyssey" if we think that we might need it.

We also have a standard room at CSR on property for a tremendous rate of (for a Disney moderate) $84 a night but though our hearts say stay on site, our brains say and we pretty much know that a VR 1 bedroom will serve our needs so much better. Spouse is going to be 7 months pregnant when we are there and the availability of the Disney bus system is the main thing that is causing to look at onsite. The CSR has a tremendous pool/slide along with the great Disney theming. And lastly, the reinstitution of EE (even though Disney is trying to call it something else) would be great for the MK. We are like 65 to 35 VR over CSR. We are just hoping to get the best of what VR has to offer in a 1 bedroom.

Lastly, we stayed at Oak Plantation in one of their larger 1 bedrooms 2 different times when we only had 1 child and we know that VR is much superior to OP along with a much better location. We love staying onsite but don't let the "magic stuff" keep us from making the best deal we can for our family. Anything else that you can offer would be appreciated.

 

[DianeV]

Vistana's 1 bedroom unit are both in the lakes and Cascades and I think they are pretty good about putting you where you request. Definitely do the Diamond Checkin as they give priority when you do put in all your requests and there is a separate line at checkin too. Go ahead and request the Cascades and that it be one of the regular one bedroom units if it makes you more comfortable. A plus about the Cascades section is it is right near the Super Pool which has water squirts and is pretty kid friendly. They also have a nice pool bar/snack area there. I just think Cascades puts you closer to the "action"..

The units are beautiful but I would make sure to ask for one not facing the main road.

 

[baileybrad]

DianeV,
What do you mean by the "regular" 1 bedroom units? And when is the appropriate time to do the Diamond Checkin, how many days before checkin?
Thanks.
BaileyBrad

 

[Cyndiu]

Baileybrad,

When we had the 1 bedroom unit it was one of the larger units. The lockout unit which was referenced earlier is a studio which is different. As long as you are specifying a one-bedroom and not a lockout or studio unit you'll be OK. You can check in on-line at Diamond lane for several weeks before checkin, but I always do it about a week in advance. When you get to Vistana you can get in the diamond lane checkin line (its shorter) and they'll imprint your credit card and you're good to go. We checked in on Saturday, but I know Friday is a good date to check in as well. I always feel safer to double check all these details directly with Vistana about a week before I get there, just to feel sure.

I think Lakes has one bedrooms too, but they are roughly equivalent to Cascades. In general, Lakes units are a LITTLE bigger than Cascades, but Cascades is a LITTLE newer. Cascades, however, is located more centrally on property. By the way, I agree with an earlier poster about the road. The units are just as nice and you won't get a tremendous amount of road noise, but you'll know its there, if you know what I mean.

You didn't mention a rental car. If you're not getting one, you'll need to check with Vistana about shuttles. I think they're all scheduled for every hour or so, but you'll have to grocery shop at the General Store if you don't have a car. They have everything, but its a little pricey. You pay for convenience I guess. We always shop on our first day at Publix grocery store on Rte 192 (at the South end of Rte 535 on left is the back entrance). They have great fried chicken at the deli and really nice fresh fruit! We prefer doing that so that breakfast is always in the unit. It's way cheaper! Plus we do lunch and dinner a couple of times too. The kitchens have pots and pans and really all you'll need for 4 people.

By the way, remember to try more than just the Cascades pool. They're all nice and each has a little something the others don't. And, Zimmies has great Chicken Cheese Steak sandwiches, but they're huge. Don't miss it.

 

[Debsi]

Hello. I too am staying at Vistana but leave the day you arrive baileybrad. I also have a one bed unit, exchanged through RCI, with full kitchen. I am relieved to read these posts as I am arriving on a Friday and hope to be in Cascades as a result of my research on the boards. I intend to use the diamond lane facility. Can any of you experts tell me the sort of driving time between Vistana and Universal please?

Debbie

 

[hercamore]

Debsi, driving time to Universal from that area is about l5 min.

Maybe a little less if traffic is light.


Herc.

 

[BedKnobbery2]

Sorry I'm replying a bit late--I was away for the weekend.

I did have one of the 'larger' one bedrooms; it came with the jacuzzi tub, which is right in the bedroom. It did have a seperate shower with sliding doors--no tub with it. The living areas were identical to those in the 2 BR we stayed in in August. I believe all units have the screened in porch--this one did. I guess it was a smoking unit, as there were ashtrays in the cupboard above the stove. It didn't smell at all. I usually smoke on the porch, but I did have 1 or 2 cigarettes inside, and whenever I returned to my unit it smelled fresh, so I think the ventilation system does a good job filtering the smell. When we had the 2 bedroom, I always smoked on the porch (my kids were with me), and that unit didn't have a smoky odor either. Hope that helps.

 

[MHolleman]

We just stayed there on Sept. 13-21 and loved it at the VR. We stayed in a 1 bedroom unit, and my parents had the 2 bedroom unit. We were also in the Cascades section. My 2 year old LOVED the pool at the Cascades section.

I have attached some pictures, so I hope that they show up. If you have any questions just ask.

Kitchen area

Living Room

Bedroom

Cascades Pool