Sheraton Vistana Villages - Your reviews, tips & ratings

[DisMomAmy]

Just got back from a week's stay at Vistana Villages. Once I get organized at home, I'll post all of my pictures & my thoughts on our stay. We were in a 2BR in the St. Augustine section & really enjoyed our visit.

[laliclay]

We are booked for the week of June 19th. getting closer and closer! I noticed at Resort some of the buildings do not have elevators. Is that the same at Villages? My Mom will be with us and her knees aren't the best anymore.

[Beccabunny]

We're here now and love it! Wish we didn't have to leave tomorrow. They didn't honor the requests we had noted on our reservation, but it turned out fine. We are in the Amelia section. Carpet is quite worn, but everything is very clean. Beds are comfortable. Grounds are beautiful, pools are warm! Love the waterfall pool! We checked out the pirate ship pool in the St. Augustine section as well, but it seemed most suitable for younger children. I'm a little annoyed that we couldn't get a sharps container. We asked about two hours ago, people at the desk had no idea where to get one, finally said security would bring one right down to us. Hasn't happened. Other than that, we have no complaints. Would stay here again!

[Detailor]

Originally Posted by Beccabunny

I'm a little annoyed that we couldn't get a sharps container. We asked about two hours ago, people at the desk had no idea where to get one, finally said security would bring one right down to us. Hasn't happened.

If they don't deliver on that request you might be able to get one just down the street at the Walgreens store. I suspect that it isn't something that they have in their inventory and security might not even know what it is.

Dick Taylor

[Detailor]

Originally Posted by laliclay

We are booked for the week of June 19th. getting closer and closer! I noticed at Resort some of the buildings do not have elevators. Is that the same at Villages? My Mom will be with us and her knees aren't the best anymore.

This is a much newer resort than Vistana Resort, which was built out over twenty or so years. Consequently, the buildings at Vistana Villages are more standardized than those at the sister Vistana Resort and they all have elevators.

Dick Taylor

[CdnKayDee]

Thanks for this thread and all the responses!We were finding it super confusing Resorts or Villages they seem to have the same pictures on a lot of websites. Just a few questions, is parking extra? is wifi extra? if so around how much?

[Detailor]

[QUOTE=CdnKayDee;44807619Just a few questions, is parking extra? is wifi extra? if so around how much?[/QUOTE]

Parking comes free as does WiFi. The WiFi coverage is a bit spotty and sometimes slow but as long as you're patient you'll get online.

Dick Taylor

[DisMomAmy]

We stayed at Vistana Villages for the first time from 4/22-4/29/12. Here is a map of the resort. They are still giving out maps showing construction in the St. Augustine section. I believe the St. Augustine section is complete. There was construction going on behind St. Augustine (to the left of the section of the map that currently shows construction).



We had requested the St. Augustine section, top floor. That's exactly what we got! We were in building 26, top floor, villa 26612 (first three digits of the villa number indicate building 26, floor 6). We had spent three nights at the Disney Beach Club before checking in at Vistana Villages. We arrived around 3:00 on Sunday 4/22. Here is the first round of pictures from our arrival day:

View of our building from the pool & some pool pictures:






Pictures of our 2BR villa:
Kitchen:




Laundry room off kitchen (it had a pocket door that you could close if it was too loud, there was also an iron and ironing board in there):




Second bedroom:






View into bathroom from 2nd bedroom:


Second bathroom:










Balcony (the door is just where the water heater is, not connected to another villa):




View from balcony (sorry picture is bad because camera kept focusing on the screen):


Continued next post...

[DisMomAmy]

Living room & dining room:














Master Bedroom:










View from master bedroom:








Master bathroom (there were two smaller sink areas - one between the tub & toilet area (with my junk on it) and the other between the closet & the shower (that DH used)):






Toilet was behind pocket door:


Closet on left, door back to master bedroom on right:

I have more pictures from around the pool & resort that I post when I get to them. I'll also post a review a little later. Please ask if you have any questions in the meantime.

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Great pics, DisMomAmy!

I have a question that maybe you (or someone else on this thread) can answer.

Is there a daily resort fee for this property?

[lindseywithane]

oh my! thanks for sharing those pictures DisMomAmy!! We are visiting in October and trying to decide whats a better value, Sheraton or AOA. Leaning towards the Sheraton, your pictures may have sealed our decision!!

[bankr63]

Originally Posted by Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina

Great pics, DisMomAmy!

I have a question that maybe you (or someone else on this thread) can answer.

Is there a daily resort fee for this property?

Neither of the Sheraton Vistanas (Villages or Resorts) charge a resort fee. They do however charge for many of the activities and programs as a result.

IMO this is a better way than making everyone pay for the stuff that only a limited number of guests actually use. The amenities that a majority or significant number of guests use are all free (pools, hot tubs, parking, wi-fi).

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Originally Posted by bankr63

Neither of the Sheraton Vistanas (Villages or Resorts) charge a resort fee. They do however charge for many of the activities and programs as a result.

IMO this is a better way than making everyone pay for the stuff that only a limited number of guests actually use. The amenities that a majority or significant number of guests use are all free (pools, hot tubs, parking, wi-fi).

Thank you . The items you listed are exactly the kinds of amenities that matter to our family of three. I couldn't find any resort fee listed on the website but thought maybe I was overlooking it.

I have found (what appears to be) a fabulous deal for our travel dates at SVV. $58 per night for a one-bedroom or $83 for a two-bedroom via Bookit.com. Trying to determine (without any experience at either place) if this would be a better choice than our current reservation at Westgate Lakes.

I should stop reading these forums. They make me second guess my well-though out original plans .

[bankr63]

Originally Posted by Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina

Thank you . The items you listed are exactly the kinds of amenities that matter to our family of three. I couldn't find any resort fee listed on the website but thought maybe I was overlooking it.

I have found (what appears to be) a fabulous deal for our travel dates at SVV. $58 per night for a one-bedroom or $83 for a two-bedroom via Bookit.com. Trying to determine (without any experience at either place) if this would be a better choice than our current reservation at Westgate Lakes.

I should stop reading these forums. They make me second guess my well-though out original plans .

Can't help with the comparison, never been to Westgate Lakes, but I will say that it is a really good rate. It is about half of what an owner pays there in annual maintenance fees, so somebody is taking on a loss there for sure!

As for the important amenities for your crew, I seem to recall that the b-ball court is MOST important from your TR. It is free too at both Vistana resorts; but there might be a charge for a loaner ball from the activity center (not sure on that).

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Originally Posted by bankr63

Can't help with the comparison, never been to Westgate Lakes, but I will say that it is a really good rate. It is about half of what an owner pays there in annual maintenance fees, so somebody is taking on a loss there for sure!

As for the important amenities for your crew, I seem to recall that the b-ball court is MOST important from your TR. It is free too at both Vistana resorts; but there might be a charge for a loaner ball from the activity center (not sure on that).

The rate was from Bookit.com, but alas, he who hesitates is lost (and its gone this morning ). Serves me right for overthinking things. I need to learn to be more spontaneous.

I called Sheraton's reservation line this morning, and we can get a CAA rate of $99 nightly for a smaller one-bedroom (488 square feet) or $108 for the larger one-bedroom (800+ square feet). Still a great rate when you consider that there is daily maid service included (which we aren't getting at Westgate Lakes), there's no resort fee, and wi-fi and parking are both complimentary.

Colour me impressed that you remember that a basketball court is #3 on our list of must-haves (directly in line after a separate bedroom and a nice pool) . You have a good memory! You won't be surprised to know, then, that we did lots of research on their sports facilities before deciding that it met the boys' criteria . If a basketball is an issue, we can always purchase a new one to use while we are vacationing and either (a) donate it to the resort when we check out or (b) bring it home and added it to the 23 others that are in our garage. They tend to be "ball snobs" at the best of times (its got to be the right size, inflated properly, and a quality brand) and usually the loaner balls tend to be everything but!!!