Vistana Resort

[Pan's Dad]

Unless you guys convince me otherwise, I think our family will be staying at Vistana Resort end of Aug - two children ages 11+12..i like that it is close to Disney and has restaurants on site. We are using our inlaws timeshare wk and had a choice betw this and the Marriott Grand Vista (still thinking about this!), Cypress Harbour and Horizons.

Can you please tell me:

1. Are the restaurant prices reasonable?
2. Any perks for Starwood Preferred Mbrs?
3. Our flight arrives at 10:15 - how would you handle this?
4. Should I request a certain bldg or room?
5. Is this resort close to grocery store, other restaurants?
6. Do you know the difference with Interval between codes VIT and VI1 for Vistana?
7. Can a person book a timeshare for a wk beg Sunday but not arrive until Wed? How is this handled?
8. Does Vistana charge for mini golf Do any of these resorts have indoor basketball courts? How are the outdoor courts?

Thanks,

Jim

 

[monarchsfan16]

1. Depends on your definition of reasonable. However the prices are not outrageous and there are some inexpensive options (pizza hut take-out, fried chicken family meals) that can save a lot of money. You will also have full kitchen which would allow you to either cook on your own or heat the prepared meals that are sold in the General Store there and pretty inexpensive.
2. Sorry, no idea
3. We checked in at 1:30 am one time. We just went to the check in desk.
4. It's better to request a certain section. However, at the time you'd be checking in, I'm not sure how you'd go about doing that. I just reccomend trying to NOT get into Fountains or Springs. Those are the two sections that are in the worst amount of disrepair. The section you are placed in depends on the day you check in.
5. There is a Goodings just down the road (grocery store) in a plaza that also has many restaurants (chains). Maybe 5 minutes away. Somewhere there is also a publix and either a Target or WalMart. Both have been located by my navigationally challenged family members so they can't be far away.
6.No clue, sorry
7. Yes you can book a week beginning Sunday and not check in until Wednesday. Call the front desk to find out how that would be handled. We've done it with timeshares, just not at Vistana.
8. I think there's a fee for minigolf but I remember receiving coupons for free rounds. Sometimes they've just given it to us for free. Actually I'm not sure we've ever paid to play. I don't remember indoor basketball courts there, but the outdoor ones looked very nice.
Hope that helps, any more questions just ask.

 

[ttfn3]

1. Are the restaurant prices reasonable?
Well, I'm pretty cheap so we didn't eat at any of the restaurants ;-) I wasn't too thrilled about the offerings, so we went offsite.

2. Any perks for Starwood Preferred Mbrs?
I'm the lowest level Starwood member. I showed our card at checkin. I don't know if it helped. We were not charged for local phone calls. I thought maybe this was a perk of this card?

3. Our flight arrives at 10:15 - how would you handle this?
Is this a.m. or p.m.? We checked in at 2 p.m. and our room was ready.

4. Should I request a certain bldg or room?
I wouldn't stress out too much about a certain bldg or room. IMHO it's more important to note your request such as top floor, near pool, etc. I would suggest that you request a room that is NOT next to 535 nor I-4. Those rooms can be noisy.

5. Is this resort close to grocery store, other restaurants?
IMHO Goodings is very expensive. There are two Publix stores very close. The resort will direct you to the one on 192/535. I prefer the one near south end of International Drive. It's near the new HGVC. The name of the road escapes me. I'll have to look it up.

6. Do you know the difference with Interval between codes VIT and VI1 for Vistana?
No idea.

7. Can a person book a timeshare for a wk beg Sunday but not arrive until Wed? How is this handled?
No idea.

8. Does Vistana charge for mini golf Do any of these resorts have indoor basketball courts? How are the outdoor courts?
Vistana does charge for mini golf. The schedule of activities that we were given had a buy one/get one free activity coupon in it so we used these. Hint - you can also request more copies of this program from the activity centers. No indoor basketball at VR nor MGV. I don't remember an outdoor basketball at MGV. We stayed near the one at the VR and DH/DS played a couple of times. The courts are nice and they will give you a ball at the Activity Center.

We have stayed at both the MGV and VR. IMHO VR had a lot more for older kids to do. I told my DH it would be a great place for a teenager. Lots of kids their age to meet.

 

[natorimom]

There is a publix about 2miles across from HGVC on Vineland Rd.

 

[luvdisney14]

ttfn3

I just read your thread about buy one/get one on the golf. Does this mean that they charge for activities = basketball, golf, tennis, shuffleboard, and ping pong. Any info would be helpful.