Vistana - Room / Pool Questions

[MisterPat]

I'm looking at the map of the Sheraton Vistana Resort and I need help.

Tell me anything you can about the various pools...which is best, waterfalls, slides, etc.

Also, I read some other posts about the rooms in various sections. It sound like Cascades is newest and nicest. But are all the units in Cascades new?

Also, I'm considering Fountains and Lakes for the pools and rec centers. Does anyone know about the units in Lakes between 1751 and 1774? This building looks central to the pools and is a Saturday check-in.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[jeff968]

My family and I stayed at the Vistana Resort in February of 2001. We were in the cascades area. All of the buildings in this area were new and built at the same time. As for pools, the cascades was the nicest and newest. Had the zero entry for the little ones and an island in the middle with the water shoots. There was a water fall. Unfortunately, everyone knows this is the nicest pool so it is the busiest. The super pool is huge. I picked up a water vollyball game there. The slide pool is nothing special. The slide was kind of lame. The springs pool was quiet.

 

[MiaSRN62]

<<<<<<Tell me anything you can about the various pools...which is best, waterfalls, slides, etc.

Also, I read some other posts about the rooms in various sections. It sound like Cascades is newest and nicest. But are all the units in Cascades new?

Also, I'm considering Fountains and Lakes for the pools and rec centers. Does anyone know about the units in Lakes between 1751 and 1774? This building looks central to the pools and is a Saturday check-in. >>>>>>>>>

I'm a Vistana owner in the Fountains, but the Lakes is actually my favorite section. It's newest right under the Cascades. The units you refer to are pool-front and slated for Saturday check-ins. It's an excellent location. I wouldn't want a ground floor villa though because you wouldn't get alot of privacy when you're on your balcony---the pool is right there. I stayed in Lakes villa #1785 a few years ago and really like this location. The Lakes pool is also zero-depth with a small fountain island for the kids. I've never found the Lakes pool too crowed, but we tend to go in slow season.
I agree with the previous poster that the "slide pool" is no big deal. My kids do enjoy the slide, but we end up pool-hopping. The Fountains pool is very large and has a waterfall. I have pics of the Fountains and Lakes (interior and exterior if you're interested). The Fountains II are newer than the Fountains section and are for Sat & Sun check-ins. Just be careful of one thing with the Fountains II. Some of the units back up to a small grassy area and a fence and you get no water view from your balcony. If you have the map, you can see that villas #1631--1672 are ones to avoid in the Fount II if you want a water view. Hope this was some help.

 

[MisterPat]

Thank you both for the advice.

MiaSRN62 - Yes I would love to see your pics. Are they online somewhere? Also, do you have any suggestions for how a person exchanging into the resort could best gaurantee their choice of building? I would like to request the Lakes building you suggest, with specifications, but I'm not sure how or when that would be best accomplished.

Please advise.

 

[MiaSRN62]

You're welcome MisterPat,
I don't have a web site with the pics presently, but I'm sure I could get one up for you. Are u on AOL ? If so, I can send them to you in email.....or if you use another ISP I can send them as attachments. Let me know your preference. I'll be happy to show them to you. I have pics of the Cascades, Lakes, Fountains I & II.
As far as requests go. Exchangers, unfortunately, have the least amount of preference given to requests. Owners and renters are given priority as far as that. But you can email me for more info on this subject.
You should also defintely fill out the Vistana online request form : http://www.starwoodvo.com/overview.jsp?resortID=5
To back this up, I always fax the resort directly, about 3 days prior to check-in. Use this #407-239-3111. Politely request the section you wish to be placed in. Give them 2 or 3 options. Nothing is guarenteed, but they will oblige you if they can.
Hope this helps. Feel free to email me at MiaSRN62@aol.com.

 

[Mjasp]

Vistana is an awesome resort. We stayed at the courts, which is one of the oldest ones. It was fine and convenient to all the pools and across from the general store. Anyone want to rent me a unit for 5 nights in July?

 

[acmeyer]

Hi
We just stayed in the Cascades at the Vistana at the end of April and it was very nice. We to were and exhange guest and basically how we got into Cascades was to get there early and request Cascades. I think we got there about 11:00 am that day and requested it. We did then a little touring and ate lunch at the Golden Corral right down the street (good food, good price) and then started checking back. I think the key was that we kept checking in. At 12:30 they assigned us a room even though it wasn't ready until almost 3:00. We just drove to whatever pool we wanted to go to. Also make sure you ask for the way to WDW if you don't know it. It is really close to the back way into WDW and the travel times where great.



acmeyer

 

[MiaSRN62]

I do agree that checking in early and requesting your building/section is a benefit to getting your request honored.

******Also make sure you ask for the way to WDW if you don't know it. It is really close to the back way into WDW and the travel times where great.**********

When you exit the resort on SR 535, you can either make a right turn, go to the first stop light and make another right. This is I-4 and will take you directly into WDW---all the main exits.
If you make a left (you'll have to do a U-turn), head down SR535 about 2 stop lights to the Crossroads shopping center. At this light, the entrance to WDW (via Downtown Disney) is a left. Either way, I can get to the main parks in 8-10 minutes on a good traffic day.