[kphil89]

Anyone here know anything about the Sheraton Vistana Resort???

[preidel24]

kphil89,

Check out tripadvisor. At the bottom of the page there are review from actually visitor. They have a excellent rating

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Rev...o_Florida.html

Hope that helps

Paula

They are a great source for checking on any hotel.

[kphil89]

thanks this looks great! hope it turns out to be true!

[mickey]

Here are a couple of recent reviews. These come from a website called Timeshare User Group:

7/15/03 - Date of Visit: 6/22/03
First I thank all the TUGGERs for their inputs on this resort. We used the Diamond Lane and requested a Cascades unit. Check in was easy and we did receive a first floor Cascades unit - two bedroom (we had 4 adults and 2 kids). The unit was very nice and well equipped. We ate breakfast in the unit most days, and found the kitchen satisfactory for our needs. They do not provide coffee filters, so bring or buy the basket type if you need your morning cup of joe. Ee found the Publix grocery (next to the outlet mall) an easy drive and well stocked at reasonable prices.

We spent most of our time at Disney - which was only about 5 minutes away (just keep in mind that means 5 minutes to the entrance of Disney World, it can still be about 10-15 minutes beyond that to reach your destination within Disney World).

We attended the sales pitch - pretty low pressure. We received a check for $50 and my parents who also attended received a check for $30. The breakfast was pretty sad - should have eaten in our villa.

We spent one day off from Disney playing in the Cascades pool. The pool was crowded, but we did find a couple of lounges. If you are particular about your lounge chair location, stake your claim early. We did enjoy the pool and the chance to relax and refresh before hitting Disney again.

We only had two issues, both with housekeeping.

(1) The beds were short sheeted on the bottom sheet. They used a flat sheet not a fitted sheet. The sheets were pulled up to cover the head area, but left our feet on the matress pad - not very sanitary. We ended up remaking the beds. We also made it a point to address this issue with the manager at check out.

(2) The day we stayed at the resort was also our scheduled day for maid service. We had been out briefly and returned to our unit to change into our bathing suits just as the maid came to clean. She volunteered to give us 5 minutes and then come back. We said great and were gone in 5 minutes. We stayed at the pool area for 2 1/2 hours. We then came back to eat lunch and put our 3 year old down for his nap. Just as we showed up the maid was just starting to clean our unit. Because we needed the kitchen and needed to get our little guy a nap, we asked her to come back the next day. Which she did (short sheeting the beds again). The information from the resort stated that a change of housekeeping day without advance notice would result in a $30 fee - I was concerned that they would try to charge us , but they did not.

Overall, we enjoyed our time at Vistana and would recommend the Cascades section to others - the rest of the resort did look like it need some TLC. We would give the resort a 8.5 (but only if you are in the Cascades)


7/8/03 - Date of Visit: 6/23/03
As many people have said before, thank you Tug members for the info on Diamond Lane and Cascades. Diamond lane reduced check in to minutes and our request for Cascades was honored.

We were located on the top floor but no worries, the elevator came in very handy. Actually the top floor units have better views, higher ceilings and sky lights. We reserved 4 suites and all were immaculate and very nicely appointed. The grounds were well kept and clean. We never received a pitch or a request to attend a timeshare presentation. Our building was a 5 minute walk to the Cascades pool which was very nice and a lot of fun for the kids.

We stayed at the resort for one of the seven days we were there and just hung out around the pool. Activities were planned by the resort for each day but we did not take advantage of them.

While driving around the resort and observing the other sections....Cascades is where you want to be. The other sections looked tired and dated, and generally not as well kept as Cascades.

Overall rating an 8.


6/23/03 - Date of Visit: 5/26/03
I booked a week at Vistana because I had heard so many good things about the resort. We have family that own there. However, we were unfortunate enough to have been assigned to the Falls unit.

The unit was extremely old and outdated. When we checked in, the closet door in the master bedroom was off track and lying in the closet. A light bulb was burned out in the master bathroom. These items were obvious to anyone walking in the door and should have been replaced/repaired prior to assigning the room to anyone. I called and complained and they were fixed.

The furniture had stains on it. The sheets and blankets had stains on them. At least two of the blankets on the beds had holes in them. I called again and complained and was told that someone would be up to change the beds. The sheets were changed; the same holey blankets were left on the beds.

Midway through the week, I called and requested additional towels. For a party of six, we received three towels (which had holes in them).

We attended the timeshare presentation. The unit we were shown was very nice. However, I informed the sales person about our surprise and displeasure with our unit and was told that only the Vistana owners are placed in the newer sections! I was not willing to pay 15- 20K for a unit only to receive the same inept housekeeping system.

The grounds, pools and activities were very nice. My children were pleased.

Overall, I would not stay at this resort again. We vacation one to two times a year and I'm not about to gamble on whether we are going to be in the slums again or not. I am somewhat skeptical now in choosing a resort because RCI gave this resort such a high rating. I give Vistana a 5.5 (for the grounds and activities only).


6/17/03 - Date of Visit: 2/03
No problems checking in. Got a spacious, luxury 2BR condo on the 2nd floor of a building that has an elevator to the upper floors -- a much appreciated feature for folks like us with bad knees. That's in the "Lakes" section, I believe. Vistana Orlando is huge, & the different sections have their own names within the resort complex. Most of the condo buildings do not have elevators, so we condisered ourselves fortunate to have exchanged into a luxury elevator building.

Our son & daughter-in-law & their baby son were with us for part of the time, & we put them in the master suite while they were there. We requested a crib, which was delivered pronto for a nominal charge ($10 all week). The non-master BR was very nice -- 2 full size beds, large closet, plenty of room. But when the kids went home we switched to the master suite.

Kitchen was conveniently equipped and nicely laid out. Large bathrooms were clean & freshly decorated. Nice whirlpool bath in the master suite. Plenty of towels, soaps, shampoo, etc.

For the usual promotional freebies, we signed up for a timeshare sales tour & were taken over to Vistana Villages, which is beautiful. I've never seen a more spectacular pool than the Vistana Villages waterfall pool. The sales representative found out we exchanged into Vistana by depositing a week at our South African timeshare, which cost less to buy than just 1 year's fees at Vistana. So, realizing that we were lookers & not buyers, she did not bother applying the high pressure treatment to us. (In fact, she asked how to find out about South African timeshares, so I wrote down the TUG URL for her.)

No complaints whatever about Vistana management, the vast Vistana complex (which is conveniently located), the Vistana staff, or the quality & condition of our 2BR 2BA luxury condo. The only tiny defect I even noticed is that the lid hinge on the Mr. Coffee coffee pot is broken. The lid stays on OK when you make coffee, but when you try to flip up the lid, it comes off the hinge because a tiny plastic thingy is broken -- no big deal, a complete non-issue.

In unloading the dishwasher & putting things back in the kitchen cabinets, I accidentally dropped a drinking glass on the tile floor of the kitchen. The glass smashed into a thousand shards. On check- out, mindful of the inventory sheet listing stuff in the condo when we got there, I confessed that I had broken the glass, expecting to be charged exhorbitantly for a replacement. "No problem," the check- out lady said. "Thanks for letting us know." I was not charged.

The Vistana complex is so large that it took a few wrong turns before we caught on to the most direct route to our condo building. Once inside the complex, the roads go past a couple of security check points. You just make sure your parking permit shows on the dash of your car & you wave at the guard as you go by. Usually the guard opened the gate before we rolled to a full stop.

The check-in folks handed us a sheet listing daily activities, including barbecues, etc., plus kiddie craft & entertainment events. The only tiny tot we had with us was too young & we preferred going to off-site restaurants for lunch & supper. We only used the timeshare kitchen for breakfast & snacks.

We loved the Vistana swimming pools, especially the one nearest us that had a "zero depth" entry at one end, meaning the edge of the pool blends with the edge of the surrounding deck at an incline so slight that you can literally go into the water an inch at a time. We think that's a superior feature for both the old folks (us) and for the tiny tots (baby grandchildren). The pool was heated comfortably so that we enjoyed being in the water even in late afternoon in February.

Rating: Solid 9.

[kphil89]

Mickey you rock~:)

Thanks for all the great info!

[graybill]

We stayed there 2 times in the late 70's (it was just Vistana at that time). It was a beautiful resort with a lot of amenities and roomy, well equipped units.
There were only 2 negatives. It is not on Disney property and I am now spoiled and have to stay on site. Also, at that time, we were required by the terms of our package to sit through a very high pressure pitch to purchase a time share.
Other than that, we enjoyed our stay tremendously.

graybill

[iluvwdw]

HI, kphil! I happen to own two weeks at Sheraton's Vistana Resort. I own a 2 bedroom week in the Lakes Section and a 2 bedroom week in the Cascades Section. These are the two newest sections of the resort. The resort is absolutely GORGEOUS, and yes, there are a lot of older sections that do need to be updated! I have never stayed in those units, so I can't really say anything much about them.

My hubby and I went to Orlando for the FIRST TIME EVER in 1997 (we were dating 6 years then and we both have NEVER been to Orlando growing up!). We went to see a timeshare presentation and got two tickets to Disney or Universal for going. My DH and I fell in love with the resort and with Vacation Ownership. We walked away from that meeting owners of one week in the Lakes section!

We bought an additional week over the years, and have not regretted it for a second...I only wish I did own timeshare at DVC and I am actually considering it!!! Just have to talk my husband into it!

Sheraton's Vistana Resort features the following amenities:

Seven outdoor swimming pools
Three saunas and steam rooms
Fully equipped fitness centers
Eight outdoor whirlpool spas
Four children's playgrounds
Three game rooms
Food & Beverage (3 restaurants AND Haagen Dazs Ice Cream Parlor and Pizza Hut!!!)
General Store/Gift Shop
Thirteen lighted tennis courts (9 clay; 4 DecoTurf II)
18-Hole miniature golf course (handicap accessible)
Snorkel and dive shop
Full activities program for Adults and Children!
Full-service tennis pro shop
Basketball courts
Shuffleboard courts
Volleyball courts
Bicycle rental
Videotape rental library
Tanning and massage therapy services
Sports and leisure equipment rental
Business center (M-F, 9-5)
Themed party nights

Seriously, you don't have to leave the resort if you don't want to! It is so close to Disney, let's put it this way...we had a 8am PS at Chef Mickeys and we were SUPPOSED to check in at 10 to 8. We only LEFT the resort at 10 to 8 and we still made it to the Contemporary by 8am! And also, it is EXTREMELY close to Downtown Disney/Hotel Row that you can see the Planet Hollywood lights from the back of our resort. And the property line of Vistana touches Walt Disney property lines! (you can see a HUGE property map at the resort!)

PLEASE let me know if you have any further questions. I don't think anyone on this site is a Vistana Owner so I would be MORE than happy to provide you with any and all information you need!!!!

HAPPY PLANNING!!!!! :D :D :D :D :D :D

[kphil89]

I decided to bite the bullet and make the ressies for the Vistana after reading your post I am glad I did. We bought a week at the amerisuites @calypso cay in April and I am using one of our getaways for this stay!

Unfortunately there were no 2 br available but I think a 1 br will be room enough for us (DH & 2 lil ones 6, 1). Interval said the ressie is for the lakes or cascades whichever is available...which one would you suggest? I understand that I can email the resort a week before we arrive and request a particular location...is that true? And also what is the deal with the diamond check in? Oh here's another one do you know if the 1 br have washer/dryer?

How often do you travel to Orlando? Do you have an AP? Sorry for all the ??? but I am just curious about how others swing the trips to WDW. For this trip I am thinking about buying an AP for myself and my DD. My DH is not that big of a fan and my DS is still very young ( DD and I can leave them at home if we decide to go for a quick weekend:D ) I would like to visit again next Feb, Apr, & Oct maybe even sometime during the summer but DH isn't gamed! Ok sorry about rambling I am trying to justify buying the AP;)

Thanks for all the info!!

[iluvwdw]

Kphil, no worries about all the questions!!! I go to Orlando minimum of one time every year. Put it this way..I have been 10 times since 1997!!!

Vistana is great, you will not be disappointed. However, we just recently stayed in a one bedroom, but it was the SMALL one bedroom. Try to make sure you get the bigger one bedroom! I think the one bedroom will do just fine, I am just very spoiled by their bigger units!

As for which location, the Lakes and Cascades are both beautiful. I stay in a different location between the two each time. They are both in prime locations and near restaurants, pools, gaming areas, etc. And they are not that far from each other!!! But for some reason, I think the Lakes units are bigger...I might be crazy, but that is just what I think!!!

This year, we finally bought AP's. Especially since we have two MORE trips from now until Feb! If you plan on going to the parks for 8 days during the year, the AP's are worth it.

Yes, the one bedrooms also have washer/dryer and hairdryer. Just know that the hairdryers at Vistana aren't really that strong and I always bring my own! I have very long and thick hair, and it takes me FOREVER to dry it with Vistana's hairdryer!!!

I DEFINITELY suggest doing the Diamond Lane Check in!!! Here is the resort link for you:

Vistana Resort

You can get all the info you need about the resort on this link. There is also a place to sign up for the Diamond Lane Check in. I FORGOT to do this my last trip and I had to wait on line for 15-20 minutes to check in!!! Duh!!! :madmad The Diamond Lane opens at 11am and usually has no one on the line. It's GREAT!!!

Also know that Vistana offers Grocery stock up service...when you check in, they bring you all the groceries you order! It definitely saves time, but it is more expensive than the local grocery stores. The best store for groceries, in my opinion, is Super Wal Mart on West Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway (I think it's RTE 192???)

PLEASE let me know if you have any other questions. Your family will not be disappointed, there is a lot to do for everyone there!!! HAVE FUN!!!! :D

[kphil89]

Thanks Kim

This information is great!!!! I can't wait to get to Florida now!!
I am still trying to decide about the park tickets can't convince dh that it's a good idea but still working on it:D