What is the difference between the Vistana Resort and the Vistana Villages..

[Davefrompgh]

Hi..I was just checking on availability dates for our Aug 07 stay at the Vistana Resort. While on the phone with the customer rep, he said that the dates were now opened. However, he was going to put us in the Vistana Villages. Although, I did book this, I am now very concerned. Can anyone ease my mind or do I have a right to be concerned. He said the Villages were actually newer and were very nice. Can you tell me...are they as nice as the Resort? What about the pools, room sizes, balconies, restaurants, pool bars, laundry facilities and distance to all parks (WDW, Universal etc..)

If I need to call them back and complain, I would LOVE to do this as SOON as possible and get this resolved. Am I getting a better deal, or was this some sort of bait and switch?

thanks for any input you might be able to give my family

 

[shoney]

They are two separate properties. The vistana villages is newer but smaller.

During the summer of '05, I had an rci exchange for the vistana villages on hold, but changed it to Orange Lake. While at Orange Lake, I spoke to the RCI rep on site about some issues I had with Orange Lake and when she heard that I changed my reservation, she said "you should have NEVER let the villages go".

Look on tripadvisor.com.

 

[Lucky'sMom]

The villages are better, IMO. Although slightly further out, they are just beautiful. We stayed there for 9 nights a couple of years ago.

 

[swilshire]

Sue,

If you plan to spend a lot of time at the resort, the Villages may disappoint because they won't have as much going on as Sheraton Vistana. If, like us, you spend most of your time at the parks and doing other things, you made a good choice.

I haven't driven over to the Villages, but they would be a little farther from the parks. You might Mapquest the two addresses to see the difference, but traffic is also an issue, of course.

Sheila

 

[MiaSRN62]

The Villages are newer. The main resort is larger and has more amenities i.e. : 2 restaurants onsite and a Pizza Hut & all offer room service to your villa. The Villages is much more limited in what it offers in way of food/dining on it's property. The main Vistana offers several themed nights and activities during the week : family BBQ night, Carribbean Night, Mexican night, poolside karaoke night etc. The main resort has 7 pools vs I think 1 or maybe 2 pools at the Villages. There is a mini golf on the main resort as well as tennis/basketball/bike rentals.
But the main resort has older sections as well as new sections on the resort. If you cannot guarentee a new section at the main resort (Lakes or Cascades), you may enjoy the Villages more.
The Villages is closer to Sea World/Universal, while the main Vistana resort is closer to WDW. You may have a 10-15 min further drive to WDW from the Villages.

 

[Davefrompgh]

I am a little concerned about the distance....I know the Resort offers shuttle service to Universal...I will have to find out about that. In addition, I really liked the idea of having a washer and dryer. It does not appear that there is one in the rooms. Does anyone know about that?

 

[MiaSRN62]

I really liked the idea of having a washer and dryer. It does not appear that there is one in the rooms. Does anyone know about that?

The main resort has a stackable washer/dryer in all villas. I've never stayed at the Villages, but I'm 99% sure they also have w/d in the rooms. Hope this helps.

 

[Mrs Doubtfire]

We stayed in a 2br condo with w/d, full kitchen etc. Really liked this resort although we did get daily housekeepin as well. Booked through TA.
Didn't fin distance a problem - easy drive into WDW - it brings you in near DTD.

 

[MiaSRN62]

I am a little concerned about the distance....

Mapquested out, using the Contemporary as an address, the main resort is 8.5 miles away vs the Villages is 11 miles away. So it's not really a huge difference in miles, but you really need to take traffic into account (something Mapquest does not do). Since you are going in August, the traffic will most likely be on the heavy side. And the International Drive area can be especially congested. Perhaps someone who has stayed at the Villages knows of a good short cut (avoiding main highways) ?
The main Vistana is closest to the Downtown Disney/Marketplace area. I can get there in 5 min. I've actually had views of the Planet Hollywood restaurant from the balcony from some of the villas I've stayed in at Vistana. I know WDW well enough, that I can navigate to the parks via the DD area. But I'm not familiar with short cuts from the Villages.

 

[Davefrompgh]

Thank you ALL for the great info. It is true we will not be spending alot of time in our room. We will be using this stay when we visit Universal and then move over to Disney and stay there for our days at WDW. The pools (and the number of them) looked so enticing at the Resort, I just was caught off guard when the customer rep. wanted to switch us. I am going to call tomorrow and find out exactly the the villas at the Village have. I could not find any w/d (I know this sounds absolutely absurd) to wash on vacation, but we will be staying a total of 11 days and that would be great to start off at WDW, with all laundry done. Thanks again and if you can think of anything else, I would greatly appreciate it Thanks AGAIN

 

[tomandrobin]

The vistana Village is closer to Universal. All of the buildings in Vistana Village has elevators. The Vistana Resort is older, some of the original buildings do not have elevators.

Both are Sheraton properties. The older resort was bought from another developer, where as Villages is being built completely by Sheraton. Eventually Vistana Village will be quite large, but probably not for 10 years or more.

 

[MiaSRN62]

The older resort was bought from another developer, where as Villages is being built completely by Sheraton.

True, the main resort was preexisting----BUT, it was bought as a prexisting townhouse development and only the oldest Courts existed then. Vistana built the rest of the entire resort from scratch. So, it is only 1 section (out of 9) that was prexisting. Just wanted to make that clarification. Vistana bought the townhouse development and all surrounding undeveloped land in 1980 and built all the other 8 sections themselves.

 

[MiaSRN62]

I am going to call tomorrow and find out exactly the the villas at the Village have. I could not find any w/d

Dave....
As I stated before, the Villages do definitely have a stackable washer/dryer in every villa.
click on any of the villas (1 or 2 bedroom) and you will see they are included :
http://www.starwoodvacationownership.com/resorts/sheraton_vistana_villages/villas.jsp
Hope this helps !

 

[Davefrompgh]

Geez, how did I miss that..thanks bunches Mia...I feel much better now. Our children are 13 and 12 DS and DD....do you think they will be disappointed by no golfing. Is there an arcade? Are the pools more kiddie-like? I really appreciate all of your insight...

 

[MiaSRN62]

do you think they will be disappointed by no golfing. Is there an arcade? Are the pools more kiddie-like?

You're welcome. I'd love to help you more in the way of the Villages, but I've only stayed at the main resort (I'm a timeshare owner there). I can tell u the Villages does have a game room but I'm not sure how large it is ? Maybe someone who has stayed there can help u with that.
The main pool at the Villages is very nice....it has a waterfall and I believe has a fountain play area (I recall someone saying this....again, I've never actually stayed here. Not sure if it's zero depth entry if this is important to you ?
As for the golf....no, I do not think your kids will be disappointed in no golf. The course at the main resort is small and not very fancy. They won't be missing much. I think it would appeal to younger children more. My kids prefer the disney golf courses especially Wintersummerland. Check that one out if you get a chance.

 

[Davefrompgh]

Thanks again Mia....all this info really helps

 

[jeff968]

We've stayed at both resorts. We were at the newest building (Cascades) at the resort. That said, I liked the villages better. It had a better configuration, everything was new and easy to get to. The pool was beautiful. The Resort are nice but bigger, not Orange Lake big (need to get in the car to get someplace at the resort) but "long walk" big. Also, you run the risk of getting an older unit and two of the areas of the resort are seperate from the rest of the resort which could be a pain. We ate once at the Resort and the meal was not great. There were many activities there and more kids if you are looking for that. But my kids still found things to do at the villages and it was a much nicer resort.

 

[MiaSRN62]

We ate once at the Resort and the meal was not great.

I agree the food's not terrific at the resort, but we like it enough. We've eaten many times at both restaurants and ordered from the Pizza Hut as well. I like that you can get room service to your villa at the main resort. Not sure you can get that at the Villages. But agree....the Villages is newer.

 

[sandshal]

Stayed at the villages in 2003 then in a Villa in Davenport this year - could not fault the Vistana Villages in any way - faultless and beautiful, with not only a washer/dryer in the 2 bedroom units but a jacuzzi as well - enjoyed it so much booked to go back in Oct 2007. Stay put!! you will not be disappointed. Do you really want that much going on with the buzz all day!?

 

[Davefrompgh]

Well, you have all certainly made up my mind for my family and I. I think the Villages might just be what we need after a long day at the parks. Larger is not always better and the Villages look beautiful too. Thanks to all who posted, I really appreciate the input. Now, we just have to get through our cold winter months in Pittsburgh.. .its snowy and cold today