The Sheraton Vistana Resort Thread (key links on p.1)

[masterofthehouse]

Hi,

Thanks for your very helpful reply.

We are fine with walking, all enjoy walking, but I couldn't really get a handle on how big the resort was. If you can walk around it in 30 mins that's great.

We are coming from the UK so used to driving on the left on little roads! - Everyone tells me how easy it is to drive around there but for our 1st trip at least I'd rather get cabs. Not sure I can deal with the wrong side of the car, wrong side of the road and having no clue where I'm, going all at the same time!!

Can anyone recommend any good cab firms? - I have downloaded the Mears taxi app but not sure how good they are. We are a family of 6 and need a firm that has the 6-8 seater vehicles.

On another point, I'm confused about the Disney monorail. I know there is a station at Downton Disney (which is where we are planning to get dropped off each day) which goes straight to MK. I have seen the journey on youtube and have read about it but on all the Monorail maps I have found, DD only appears as a bus station and not Monorail.

Is the DD Monorail station fairly new?

Thanks!

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

On another point, I'm confused about the Disney monorail. I know there is a station at Downton Disney (which is where we are planning to get dropped off each day) which goes straight to MK. I have seen the journey on youtube and have read about it but on all the Monorail maps I have found, DD only appears as a bus station and not Monorail.

Is the DD Monorail station fairly new?

Thanks!

Hi master,

The monorail does not service Downtown Disney, unfortunately.

This link might help:

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/faq/transportation/monorail-route/

DTD is serviced by buses and boats to the resorts (not to the parks). You would have to take a taxi to Downtown Disney, board a bus to a resort, then take a bus or the monorail to the park you plan to visit. This could potentially take you a LONG time.....which is never fun when you are trying to maximize your vacation fun. If I were in your shoes, despite your concerns about driving to the parks, I would seriously consider renting a car. Or even taking a park shuttle right from the Vistana.

 

[masterofthehouse]

Thanks Gina, I was looking at the DisneyLAND monorail system which does go straight from DD into the park !!

Oh dear, god knows how I'll manage if I can't even get the resort right!!!!

How embarrassing!!

 

[masterofthehouse]

In that case we'll probably just take a cab direct from the Vistana to the park we want to visit that day. I've heard the park shuttle is a little irregular but we'll certainly check it out.

Thank you.

 

[bankr63]

In that case we'll probably just take a cab direct from the Vistana to the park we want to visit that day. I've heard the park shuttle is a little irregular but we'll certainly check it out.

Thank you.

Or go half and half. If you are staying on a "hotel" type stay, the shuttle will be included (extra cost for the timeshare stays). Take it TO the parks in the morning if the times work for you. Grab a cab back to the resort from the park entrance when you are all tired and ready to head back. It is much harder to coordinate making the shuttle when leaving the park than getting to the resort shuttle pickup in the morning. This can save you significantly on fares. Mears is probably the most prevalent transportation company in the area and will have the larger vehicles. There are taxi stands at the parks, but I usually only see standard sedans there.

PS - had a suspicion you were from the UK. You're writing with an accent

 

[masterofthehouse]

Writing with an accent.......lol !!

 

[kokomos]

Well I'm half way there. I booked 2 br thru skyauction today. My chosen date may 24 wasn't avi after I sent in my dates so now we check in Fri May 22. I'm going to hold off a few weeks to add the other 1br to make sure we even need it. Seems like someone always backs out.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Well I'm half way there. I booked 2 br thru skyauction today. My chosen date may 24 wasn't avi after I sent in my dates so now we check in Fri May 22. I'm going to hold off a few weeks to add the other 1br to make sure we even need it. Seems like someone always backs out.

Congrats on your booking! (I saw your bid yesterday on Skyauction.....not creeping you or anything , I was getting ready to place a bid for my boss and said HEY! I know that person! lol). Those are some freakishly good rates for May via Skyauction, I must say.

As of tomorrow, we hit double digits on our countdown. bankr63 has to be under 60 days at this point. Time is rollin' by so quickly.

 

[masterofthehouse]

Hi,

As we are weedy Brits with no experience of wild animals that are capable for killing you, can anyone offer any advice on what we might encounter in Florida?

I know there are snakes and spiders etc....are we likely to come into contact with anything dangerous around the hotel or WDW? - Anything tips on what to look out for?

Alligators....Hmmmm, I know they are all over Florida but we're not gonna see any walking down the street right??? - I assume most people never see any unless they go looking? - Are they ever seen on the grounds of the hotel and if so are they generally aggressive?

I can't believe I'm asking this!

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Hi,

As we are weedy Brits with no experience of wild animals that are capable for killing you, can anyone offer any advice on what we might encounter in Florida?

I know there are snakes and spiders etc....are we likely to come into contact with anything dangerous around the hotel or WDW? - Anything tips on what to look out for?

Alligators....Hmmmm, I know they are all over Florida but we're not gonna see any walking down the street right??? - I assume most people never see any unless they go looking? - Are they ever seen on the grounds of the hotel and if so are they generally aggressive?

I can't believe I'm asking this!

I haven't seen any snakes or spiders around the Vistana, but I'm sure they're there.....they would just prefer to hide out. The foliage and gardens are so lush and beautiful that its certainly where I would choose to make my home if I were a slithery or creepy-crawly creature . If I happened, by chance, to see either of those animals I would probably steer clear, just to be safe. I am certain they will be equally happy to avoid you too!

Alligators....haven't seen those at the resort either (though they are prevalent in lakes and swampy areas). Gatorland brings their travelling show to the resort once a week, though, so if you WANT to see a gator, it will be convenient to do so.

If, by some fluke, you DO see a gator waltz out from one of the little ponds and lakes at the resort (I know small ones have been spotted at Disney resorts from time to time), I would beat a path to the villa and report it to management. I am sure they have something in place to handle such situations, as gator are protected in the state of Florida. They would capture and relocate him to a much more suitable habitat, away from tourists.

One thing you WILL see at the resort are zillions of these guys:



They're harmless little lizards that are lightning fast. They like to crawl up walls and zip past your toes as you walk down the sidewalks. You have nothing to fear from them, though if one gets inside your villa it may be next to impossible to catch it. So just be sure there's none on the door or door fram when you enter and exit your villa and you'll be fine .

The only "wild animals" we fear are the folks who choose to text and drive . They are far more dangerous than any creature you might find at the resort.

You know what I am dying to see some day? A real live armadillo. I keep peeking around the bushes to see if I can spot one, but so far....no luck. The Vistana staff have said they're there, but none have come out to say hello just yet.

 

[masterofthehouse]

Those lizards are so cute!

Thanks for the info - This all seems very alien to me. We are used to letting the kids run wherever they like, there is nothing dangerous here - except the politicians!

We have a couple of non venomous snakes, only tiny spiders which aren't dangerous and certainly no alligators!

All adds to the fun I guess

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Those lizards are so cute!

Thanks for the info - This all seems very alien to me. We are used to letting the kids run wherever they like, there is nothing dangerous here. We have a couple of non venomous snakes, only tiny spiders which aren't dangerous and certainly no alligators!

All adds to the fun I guess

Honestly....there's nothing to fear. Let them run and play and enjoy. You will all be just fine and probably won't see a thing other than the lizards.

You have a much higher chance of getting struck by lightning while on vacation in Florida than having an encounter with a dangerous creature:

 

[bankr63]

Honestly....there's nothing to fear. Let them run and play and enjoy. You will all be just fine and probably won't see a thing other than the lizards.

You have a much higher chance of getting struck by lightning while on vacation in Florida than having an encounter with a dangerous creature:

Jeez Gina, way to make them feel comfortable. Next thing you know you'll be talking about Love Bugs and Palmetto Bugs (ick!).

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Jeez Gina, way to make them feel comfortable. Next thing you know you'll be talking about Love Bugs and Palmetto Bugs (ick!).

I am so sorry Munro. Epic fail!!!

There goes my Vistana Ambassador privileges .

Hey, speaking of love bugs, they're not a spring thing, are they? 'Cause I despite flying bugs . And we're going in May.

 

[kokomos]

I am so sorry Munro. Epic fail!!!

There goes my Vistana Ambassador privileges .

Hey, speaking of love bugs, they're not a spring thing, are they? 'Cause I despite flying bugs . And we're going in May.

2 years ago the bugs were bad around Mother's Day. Last year didn't see any but we were there a week later. Btw thanks for not bidding against me

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

2 years ago the bugs were bad around Mother's Day. Last year didn't see any but we were there a week later. Bite thanks for not bidding against me

We're there early May (1st to 8th) so we'll have to see how bad they are . Totally forgot about it being buggier in the spring!

lol, I was actually bidding for my boss. He won his auction earlier today (I saw there were two running for the same price, so I left yours alone and placed his bid on the other one to preserve your price). He's there from the 3rd to the 10th of May. I am hoping he and his daughter love it as much as we do! It was a great price either way....$470 all-in for a two bedroom villa for a week. Can't hardly stay in a hotel for that!

 

[bankr63]

I am so sorry Munro. Epic fail!!!

There goes my Vistana Ambassador privileges .

Hey, speaking of love bugs, they're not a spring thing, are they? 'Cause I despite flying bugs . And we're going in May.

Yep, the bad news is that season is late April into May and again late August into September. The good news is that they don't inundate the whole state, they kind of crop up in different areas. So sayeth the Wicked Pedia...

Had to look it up since I have never actually seen a lovebug (although they have some Canadian relatives that I have seen). They aren't around when we are there in March.

I am fairly certain that this is why most porches and even backyard swimming pools are screened in in Florida.

 

[kokomos]

We're there early May (1st to 8th) so we'll have to see how bad they are . Totally forgot about it being buggier in the spring!

lol, I was actually bidding for my boss. He won his auction earlier today (I saw there were two running for the same price, so I left yours alone and placed his bid on the other one to preserve your price). He's there from the 3rd to the 10th of May. I am hoping he and his daughter love it as much as we do! It was a great price either way....$470 all-in for a two bedroom villa for a week. Can't hardly stay in a hotel for that!

It is a great deal. I booked the same way last year and everything went smooth I did get the 39.00 insurance though for peace of mind.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

The Vistana has been honoured by TripAdvisor as one of the Best Hotels for Families in the USA:

http://www.tripadvisor.ca/TravelersChoice-Hotels-cFamily-g191

 

[curiousGal]

Hello all!!

My first post here. Some background:

We are 4 adults - parents, partner and myself planning to visit Orlando this summer. No kids - so we will become kids there...

I won an auction bid on Sky Auction for a 7-night stay at Sheraton Vistana resort and I am required to pay ~$470. I haven't paid it yet, but I also want to get a trip insurance, just in case.

Questions:
1. I don't see an option of trip insurance in their site for bids. I do see it for 'Buy it now' options. Does it mean I am ineligible to get insurance? Or should I buy that separately?
2. I am hearing that we get crappy units assigned if purchased this way. Is this true?
3. Also heard from front desk that shuttle service from the resort is not available if I reserve from Skyauction. Is this true?
4. Any other things I need to remember or be aware of about desirable units at SVR?

Thanks!!