Vistana Villages---Should I do it?

[princessraygen]

I received an offer today to stay iin a one bedroom at Sheraton Vistana for 4 nights for $169. When I called to check availability (spring break in April), they had none for my dates but can substitute a 2 bedroom at the VILLAGES for the same price.

I was told no presentation has to be attended, and fees are $18 a night. PLUS, the letter says I can get $100 cash back.

I have never fallen for one of these offers, but this sounds good. Has anyone ever done this??? If so, any catches???

TIA
allyson

 

[Mari annie]

We did time shares for a while then purchased near WDW.
(not a condo) house.

Vistana Villages is nice, and that price is excellent, no presentation is even better, go for it!!!


enjoy


How many days until 4/10?
too many!

 

[madge]

I got a similar offer from Starwood.... and we're considering it or renting a week at Vistana Villages through www.govarm.com for $389/week for a 2BR unit. Any recent reviews? Is this a good choice for kids with a wide variety of ages? (17, 11, and 5)

thanks

 

[figgy4me]

I got a similar offer from Starwood.... and we're considering it or renting a week at Vistana Villages through www.govarm.com for $389/week for a 2BR unit. Any recent reviews? Is this a good choice for kids with a wide variety of ages? (17, 11, and 5)

thanks

Have you tried www.getravelop.com?
If they have the same unit available, it will be cheaper than that.

 

[hnfrisk]

Wow that is great! I have a reservation there and I'm paying $149.00 a night for a 2 bedroom! If you can get that without going to some kind of presentation then that is a bonus. I saw a good rate but it included going to a presentation and we really don't want to do that so I say if you aren't going to stay on site then go for it! I've heard some nice things about it and it looks nice.
Right now I'm just trying to decide if we will stay there or stay on site. This is our first trip and I would like to stay Disney but we are on a budget! If you don't mind me asking, did you get that offer in the mail?
Have fun -
Heather

 

[madge]

Have you tried www.getravelop.com?
If they have the same unit available, it will be cheaper than that.

I haven't seen Vistana on www.afvclub.com (the same thing as www.Getravelop.com) in a long time... and my suspicion is if it did turn up there, it would be under a high demand resort, which doesn't necessarily mean that the price will be lower. There's not a big difference in the price, either... space-A is $299/week and this unit at Vistana is $389. It's been quite some time since I've seen Vistana, Orange Lake, the Marriotts, or HGVC on either of those sites. I'm not sure why.

 

[madge]

Right now I'm just trying to decide if we will stay there or stay on site. This is our first trip and I would like to stay Disney but we are on a budget! If you don't mind me asking, did you get that offer in the mail?
Have fun -
Heather

I got the offer, too... I am a Starwood Preferred Guest member. Maybe that's why?

 

[princessraygen]

My offer did come throught the mail. My husband has a Sheraton rewards card (which we have never used) and I am assuming that is how we got on the list for the offer.

I went ahead and booked it because I was afraid availability would be gone quick for Spring Break and that was our only available time.

I am excited because we are just planning to go to Sea World this time and this is so close.

We have never stayed at Vistana, but the pictures and reviews look great.

allyson

 

[Taratink]

We stayed at the Villages last month and it was great. We loved it there and would stay again in a heartbeat.
Tara

 

[Dis1978]

I have read some very bad reviews for vistana resort. Is that different from the villages and how can you make sure that you get a refub villa. Really don't fancy staying anywhere old and worn out because it isn't exactly cheap.

 

[zaxmom]

Villages are newer. It is a seperate resort. We stayed there when it first opened and it was wonderful. Looked just like pictures you saw on the internet. That was a few years ago, though. Nice pool area, if only they has a waterslide...we would never stay anywhere else.

 

[Dis1978]

How do you make sure that you get a refurb unit and which block is best?
Any security issues with it being on IDrive?

 

[Taratink]

I believe that all of the units at the Villages are equally nice. i loved that resort. It was a liittle farther out than the Vistana resort but really easy to get to. It is very close to Sea world. i would highly recommend this resort. Both of my kids got the stomach bug on our last trip and they wee so helpful. I can't wait to go again. Have fun!
Tara

 

[Dis1978]

I rang up to book vistana but they said that they don't do non smoking villas at all. Seems strange. Has anyone managed to get non smoking appartment/villas here?

 

[calgarygary]

I rang up to book vistana but they said that they don't do non smoking villas at all. Seems strange. Has anyone managed to get non smoking appartment/villas here?

Timeshares are typically all smoking units. You may be able to dictate the smoking habits of an individual renting but it's very hard to tell an owner they can't smoke.

 

[bonnie w]

Hi,
We had the same offer & we are Starwood members. We actually did the package for $169 for a 1 bedroom for 4 nights back in November. Unit was very nice. It really was $169 & we did get $100 back so it only cost in the end $69. When we checked in, they sent us over to talk to a gentleman who gave us info on Disney & map. He did try to talk us in to doing a time share presentation but we declined. He told us to come back to him the next morning for the $100 which we did. He again tried to talk us into a presentation at which point we declined again. He gave us a voucher for $100 which we took to guest services. They in turn gave us $100 cash. So it is for real & what a deal. Any questions you can PM me.

 

[DBC]

Hi,
We had the same offer & we are Starwood members. We actually did the package for $169 for a 1 bedroom for 4 nights back in November. Unit was very nice. It really was $169 & we did get $100 back so it only cost in the end $69. When we checked in, they sent us over to talk to a gentleman who gave us info on Disney & map. He did try to talk us in to doing a time share presentation but we declined. He told us to come back to him the next morning for the $100 which we did. He again tried to talk us into a presentation at which point we declined again. He gave us a voucher for $100 which we took to guest services. They in turn gave us $100 cash. So it is for real & what a deal. Any questions you can PM me.

We had exactly the same experience 2 weeks ago. We did upgrade to a 2 bedroom unit (the price was $100 more). Total out of pocket was $159 for 4 nights.

There was no high pressure sales gimmicks, they just asked if we wanted to attend the presentation and we said no. I believe they offered $60 to go to the presentation.

I'm hoping they offer it again next year, but I doubt they will since we already went. Has anyone that went ever recevied the offer again?

We are mulling over a similar offer at the Marriot for next year, but they require a 90 minute presentation, which I'd like to avoid.

We'd do the Sheraton one again in a second. The whole family loved it, and having a washer/dryer in the unit really helps when packing. We were much lighter than usual.

EDIT-I just called and was told we couldn't do that deal until after March of 2008, so I guess it's after 1 year.

 

[3mickeymom]

We have stayed at both the Vistana Villages and the Vistana Resort. Both were great and I would stay there again in a heartbeat.Our Village unit was beautifully decorated and the pool area was very nice and not a far walk from any of the units. There was also a quiet pool with cabanas that we enjoyed one night. My boys also played basketball on the lighted courts one evening. I don't think anyone used the weight room. It is on a very quiet section of International drive and not a very far distance from WDW at all. You will havce a great time!!!

 

[princessraygen]

Thanks for all the info everyone. My confirmation came in the mail today, so I am really excited. Someone suggested that I make requests through diamond lane. How do I do this, and what should I request? We have small children, so we would like to be close to a pool, but we are easy to please as long as it is clean and safe.

allyson

 

[pewing]

I booked 4 nights and did the 2 BDR upgrade. I have been SO nervous...and am glad to find this thread (Thank goodness for DIS!)

I did call and add on two additional days, but with a discount code from Deb's site...I got $165 a night (ouch..more than the other four days), but I thought that would be easier than switching hotels mid-trip.

I have some questions (as always!):

*Do they really have shuttles to the parks? How does that work? Did you use them?

*Can you make requests for areas or rooms like you do with WDW? What would I ask for?

Thanks!