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

Thanks. A couple of blocks walking is fine. Just wasn't sure how pedestrian friendly it would be...looks like it crosses quite a big road.
I don't disagree with this. One of the oddities of Central Florida road building is the tendency to overbuild roads to nowhere. Meadow Creek Drive is 4 lanes wide, 3 blocks long, and dead ends in an empty lot about 1/2 block past the resort. Most likely either Sheraton or Marriott own that lot and have some future plans for a big development (although it's not a bit lot), but for now, the only traffic is resort traffic, and that is very light, the heaviest traffic is all the housekeeping carts zooming back and forth. The sidewalks between the two halves of the resort are wide and well set back; a very safe walk.
 
Thanks. A couple of blocks walking is fine. Just wasn't sure how pedestrian friendly it would be...looks like it crosses quite a big road.

We own in Fountains, and aside from one stay in Spas, have spent all of our SVR vacations in either the Fountains or Lakes sections. We walk from one side of the resort to the other all the time, and its very pedestrian friendly. When you have to cross the road at the security gate, that point is basically the end of the traffic on the road. All vehicles entering at the lights at the end of the street have either turned into Walgreens or the gas station, turned into Vista Way (the community for Disney cast members, adjacent to SVR property), or are turning left or right at the gate to enter the resort property. The road does continue onward, but that area appears to be a service type area (for the resort, or ???) so we hardly ever see a vehicle go past the gate and drive straight on through.

As you are walking out, stay on the sidewalk to the right of the gate, and you'll be able to cross without so much as a wait. There is a split sidewalk on the other side (marked one path for foot traffic, the other for golf carts) so walking is super safe. Distance, of course, is a whole other beast!! And distance becomes very subjective between different seasons....what's a nice, pleasant walk in mid-February can be brutal in mid-August.

If we want breakfast from the marketplace (which we enjoy regularly.....the Starbucks coffee there is pretty good) we generally drive over. Walk for pleasure, drive for food. But....my husband is a big eater and a long walk when he's hungry makes him crabby :rotfl:.
 


A few photos from our most recent stay (April 29th to May 6th):

18301677_10155712032306416_1034554552451899844_n.jpg


Fountains building 38:

18423853_10155712034331416_2387204262985752481_n.jpg


18301324_10155712032696416_5107688973854760662_n.jpg


Fountains Villa 1554, Building 38 (top floor of a 3 story walk-up):

18300935_10155712031591416_7467655491462637430_n.jpg


18301514_10155712032291416_1434928045106554058_n.jpg


18425456_10155712033141416_6393261473931455486_n.jpg


18423719_10155712031891416_2045060389959762590_n.jpg


18300808_10155712030566416_6754405006815995009_n.jpg


18342158_10155712032281416_3841939902220846591_n.jpg


18342355_10155712030806416_8949936145867816291_n.jpg


18300868_10155712031586416_4160922228392014571_n.jpg


18342668_10155712032616416_1455893799035325093_n.jpg


18301385_10155712031146416_366725643123227984_n.jpg


18424058_10155712033126416_2739219522133119340_n.jpg


18301016_10155712032611416_4789655740373109114_n.jpg


18300884_10155712030896416_4411742372994889023_n.jpg


18424170_10155712031251416_8335770957882939616_n.jpg
 
Last edited:
View from the balcony of 1554:

18300961_10155712034341416_2717664982156936674_n.jpg


View from the stairs of building 38:

18403427_10155712039416416_8016579376963008766_n.jpg


Fountains playground, immediately adjacent to Building 38:

18301731_10155712034321416_8836866603909318344_n.jpg


Straight down from the rear of our villa, via the back stairs, was the Fountains pool and playground:

18301480_10155712039821416_4832980879303041210_n.jpg


18403668_10155712039836416_5397608127837342472_n.jpg
 


Thanks guys for all the awesome pictures and advice on this thread!!

OK so I am getting super excited. We are less than 30 days out and I just got my response back from the Diamond Lane email I sent and have a few questions for the experts. First off we called The lady who emailed us and she was super nice and they told us they were going to link our two weeks so that we would not have to change rooms after the first week which is awesome! Second she said we didn't have to stay in the fountains and we could request in Fountains, Cascades, or lakes if we wanted to.


What is your favorite section. Fountains, Cascades, or Lakes? We are staying with another couple so 4 adults, 3 Kids total and the kids are 10-15 in age. We are leaning towards the Cascades or Fountains


Edited The courts won't work for us since we are a Friday Check In........
 
Last edited:
Thanks guys for all the awesome pictures and advice on this thread!!

OK so I am getting super excited. We are less than 30 days out and I just got my response back from the Diamond Lane email I sent and have a few questions for the experts. First off we called The lady who emailed us and she was super nice and they told us they were going to link our two weeks so that we would not have to change rooms after the first week which is awesome! Second she said we didn't have to stay in the fountains and we could request in Fountains, Cascades, or lakes if we wanted to.


What is your favorite section. Fountains, Cascades, or Lakes? We are staying with another couple so 4 adults, 3 Kids total and the kids are 10-15 in age. We are leaning towards the Cascades or Fountains


Edited The courts won't work for us since we are a Friday Check In........

You will probably get a lot of different answers on a person's favourite section. But, I will give you my feedback based on our experiences: we have stayed in Fountains, Lakes and Spas (which is immediately adjacent to Cascades, so in the same general area).

We like the layout of the Fountains villas best. We prefer the jet tub to be in the bathroom versus the bedroom. I am pretty sure that Cascades will be your smallest square footage of the three options, but not by much (maybe 50 square feet, if I remember correctly?).

We also like that the top floor Fountains villas have skylights (Lakes *might* too....I can't recall). It makes the villa feel larger and brighter. The trade off, though, is that you'll be navigating stairs to get to and from your villa. Both Cascades and Lakes have elevators to each floor, and those buildings can be up to 5 stories high versus the 3 story Fountains villas.

We prefer the Fountains pool best out of all the pool options at the resort. It has a waterfall, deep middle section (6 feet), in-water volleyball, a separate kiddie pool, and two hot tubs which are set apart and somewhat secluded from the pool. The Cascades pool lacks a deep center section, but has sprinklers that the wee folk enjoy. The Super Pool in Spas (which can be quite close to some Cascades units) lacks a waterfall and the hot tub, while large, is more out in the open. But, Cascades will be more convenient to the Market/general store and the mini golf, if that is important to you.

We also find the Fountains/Lakes side to be quieter and feel more relaxing than the Cascades/Spas/Courts/Palms/Springs/Falls side. Less buildings, less cars, less people, less coming and going. Apparently we're growing to be old poops and enjoy the tranquility more than being right in the middle of all the action.
 
You will probably get a lot of different answers on a person's favourite section. But, I will give you my feedback based on our experiences: we have stayed in Fountains, Lakes and Spas (which is immediately adjacent to Cascades, so in the same general area).

We like the layout of the Fountains villas best. We prefer the jet tub to be in the bathroom versus the bedroom. I am pretty sure that Cascades will be your smallest square footage of the three options, but not by much (maybe 50 square feet, if I remember correctly?).

We also like that the top floor Fountains villas have skylights (Lakes *might* too....I can't recall). It makes the villa feel larger and brighter. The trade off, though, is that you'll be navigating stairs to get to and from your villa. Both Cascades and Lakes have elevators to each floor, and those buildings can be up to 5 stories high versus the 3 story Fountains villas.

We prefer the Fountains pool best out of all the pool options at the resort. It has a waterfall, deep middle section (6 feet), in-water volleyball, a separate kiddie pool, and two hot tubs which are set apart and somewhat secluded from the pool. The Cascades pool lacks a deep center section, but has sprinklers that the wee folk enjoy. The Super Pool in Spas (which can be quite close to some Cascades units) lacks a waterfall and the hot tub, while large, is more out in the open. But, Cascades will be more convenient to the Market/general store and the mini golf, if that is important to you.

We also find the Fountains/Lakes side to be quieter and feel more relaxing than the Cascades/Spas/Courts/Palms/Springs/Falls side. Less buildings, less cars, less people, less coming and going. Apparently we're growing to be old poops and enjoy the tranquility more than being right in the middle of all the action.


Gina, thanks for your advice! I didn't realize the Fountains pool had the deeper section in the center and my daughter will love the volleyball net. It confirmed that we were leaning in the right direction as we were already thinking either Fountains 1 or Lakes. So I may just request that we be in fountains 1 or Lakes Section with a top floor. I tend to like a bit quieter atmosphere and it looks like any of the buildings in those sections have quick walk to a pool. I really like that the second bath in the Lakes section has the sink outside of the showering area which may help with everyone getting ready to go at the same time but I don't really like how the washer and drier are inside the master bedroom. I think either of the floor plans look like the would work well though.
 
We own in Fountains, and aside from one stay in Spas, have spent all of our SVR vacations in either the Fountains or Lakes sections. We walk from one side of the resort to the other all the time, and its very pedestrian friendly. When you have to cross the road at the security gate, that point is basically the end of the traffic on the road. All vehicles entering at the lights at the end of the street have either turned into Walgreens or the gas station, turned into Vista Way (the community for Disney cast members, adjacent to SVR property), or are turning left or right at the gate to enter the resort property. The road does continue onward, but that area appears to be a service type area (for the resort, or ???) so we hardly ever see a vehicle go past the gate and drive straight on through.

As you are walking out, stay on the sidewalk to the right of the gate, and you'll be able to cross without so much as a wait. There is a split sidewalk on the other side (marked one path for foot traffic, the other for golf carts) so walking is super safe. Distance, of course, is a whole other beast!! And distance becomes very subjective between different seasons....what's a nice, pleasant walk in mid-February can be brutal in mid-August.

If we want breakfast from the marketplace (which we enjoy regularly.....the Starbucks coffee there is pretty good) we generally drive over. Walk for pleasure, drive for food. But....my husband is a big eater and a long walk when he's hungry makes him crabby :rotfl:.

Thanks Gina, and great photos too :)

I think we're sold on Fountains now...will try for a top floor near the pool.
 
just found this thread today we check in Saturday. Two adults kid free trip since 2010!!
We have 3 days planned for Universal and a day at the beach. Hopefully we will find time to enjoy the resort. My husbands sister own here and so we booked through her, staying in Cascades area. I have spent the morning reading this thread :)
 
Last edited:
Hey Gina and Bankr63 - we just came back from our week long stay @ SVR. First off I want to say that I read this thread thoroughly and can't thank you guys enough for answering questions and being so detailed. All the info you've provided is pretty much 100% accurate. My wife, boys and myself took our first ever trip to Florida 14 years ago and we stayed at SVR. A lot has changed since then - and all of them for the better. We were in Lakes on the 5th floor (yes Gina there's a skylight :-)) our room was remodeled and very nicely appointed. Pools were awesome and the staff were super friendly. We've stayed at Bonnet Creek the last 7 years as well as Orange Lake and Summer Bay a couple of years as well so we've got a pretty good idea of what we like and don't like. This resort pretty much nailed it ! Close to Magic Kingdom - our GPS told us it was only 8.3 kms away !! 2. Lots of pool selection - 7 if I'm not mistaken ...and most importantly a nice room to come back to and relax - Check, Check and Check ! Only one complaint and this might be a me problem more than everyone else ...but for the life of me I cojuldnt' get my bearings straight when we were in the resort driving to the pools. Although I'm embarrassed to admit it - I couldn't get back to our room on the first try from any pool all week long ! Is this a common complaint lol .... or am I Geographically challenged ??:rotfl:
 
That's just the weird magnetic field of Central Florida messing with your internal compass. :crazy: I swear the entire state is built from switchbacks and dead-end streets; there is not a straight road to be found anywhere in the region. So yes, getting lost is always a possibility, even within the resort. I suppose you could always use google maps on your phone to find your way back (it actually does walking directions).

It does get better if you've stayed a few times. Eventually you know SVR like the back of your hand.

Thanks for letting us know how your visit went. I am so glad to hear you enjoyed it! It is really gratifying to know that the time spent writing all this out actually helps folks enjoy their vacations!
 
So after a bunch of debate we made up our mind and put our request in for Lakes section top floor or Fountains 1 top floor. We really liked the lakes layout since the shower is separate on the second bathroom and will help out when everyone is getting ready to go.

The same afternoon that we put the request in we got an email back stating our request had been fulfilled. So I guess we got one of those options lol.

Man I'm getting excited for this trip! Two weeks at Disney with great friends and an awesome resort what's not to love!
 
We are booked in a 2 bedroom, arriving in about 3 weeks. Can you recommend a building with an elevator and close to a pool with a volleyball net? Also, not a fan of the jetted tube IN the bedroom (-: Thank you!
 
What time should we leave the resort to get to each of the WDW parks at rope drop? It's my family's first time so we are not familiar with what to expect. There is so much research left to do!

From what I've read (and pls correct me if I'm wrong), for MK we need to go park the car at TTC, ride monorail/ferry, then walk to the gate (probably 60-75 mins travel time from vistana?) and for the other parks, go to parking lot, ride tram, walk to the gate (probably 45-60 minutes from vistana?)
 
We are booked in a 2 bedroom, arriving in about 3 weeks. Can you recommend a building with an elevator and close to a pool with a volleyball net? Also, not a fan of the jetted tube IN the bedroom (-: Thank you!
Without knowing your booking date, I can't suggest particular buildings. If an elevator is important you can request Lakes or Cascades. I think there is a net in the Fountains pool, and the Lakes buildings are central enough to have easy access. Gina knows that side better. Spas Super Pool has a net, with Cascades 1, 14, 15, 16 being the buildings closest to that pool.

The resort is really well laid out for access to pools, so no matter where you are, you will probably be fairly close to the pools.
 

GET A DISNEY VACATION QUOTE

Dreams Unlimited Travel is committed to providing you with the very best vacation planning experience possible. Our Vacation Planners are experts and will share their honest advice to help you have a magical vacation.

Let us help you with your next Disney Vacation!






Top