Vistana Villages question

[GTLINZ]

I have seen II getaways for SVV but they do NOT list a balcony for a 2BR 6/8 unit.

I believe there are some "smaller" 1br units that do not have a balcony - but wouldn't all 2br units at SVV have a balcony ?

 

[dioxide45]

I have seen II getaways for SVV but they do NOT list a balcony for a 2BR 6/8 unit.

I believe there are some "smaller" 1br units that do not have a balcony - but wouldn't all 2br units at SVV have a balcony ?

Yes, all two bedroom units will have a balcony.

I looked in II and I don't see where they list a balcony for any of the units. Not even the 1BR with full kitchen indicates a balcony.

 

[DeniseM]

Here is a link to the floorplans - https://www.vistana.com/destinations/sheraton-vistana-villages/villas

 

[GTLINZ]

Thanks.

Is there any section to avoid - i.e. in serious need of refurbishment? The main pool holds my interest and it sounds like Key West is a walk, but i don't really care about a walk if the villa is in good shape.

 

[dioxide45]

Thanks.

Is there any section to avoid - i.e. in serious need of refurbishment? The main pool holds my interest and it sounds like Key West is a walk, but i don't really care about a walk if the villa is in good shape.

If you are using II, you can't really book a specific section and just have to place a request. If you are using StarOptions then you book a specific phase. As for what to avoid, I would stay away from Bella. Those villas are in bad need of refurbishment and probably won't get one until 2025 or even 2026. Amelia and St Augustine are the most recently refurbished. Key West will be getting some kind of soft goods refurbishment soon, if it hasn't already. The Key West pool has recently been renovated and resurfaced and is nice and they installed a new food and beverage kiosk over there. Amelia will gave some road noise from I-Drive, but it is nice if you are going to be driving off resort as it is the closest to the resort entrance. Key West being the furthest.

 

[GTLINZ]

i will need to be able to work while there and reviews say the wifi is terrible. But the pool looks like the best of the orlando choices , to me at least.

Would Cypress Harbour and Grande Vista have dependable wifi ?

 

[dioxide45]

There are no issues with the WiFi at Sheraton Vistana Villages. The reviews you may be seeing are probably for Sheraton Vistana Resort or people who have written a review and confused the two. We work all the time from SVV without issues.

 

[GTLINZ]

There are no issues with the WiFi at Sheraton Vistana Villages. The reviews you may be seeing are probably for Sheraton Vistana Resort or people who have written a review and confused the two. We work all the time from SVV without issues.

Great to know. Would love to try SVV, have never been there, and the pool is calling me but i know i will have to work some.

Thanks again.

 

[GTLINZ]

Yes, all two bedroom units will have a balcony.

I looked in II and I don't see where they list a balcony for any of the units. Not even the 1BR with full kitchen indicates a balcony.

So would you expect a balcony with a 1BR unit also if it has a full kitchen designation (K vs LK)?

 

[dioxide45]

So would you expect a balcony with a 1BR unit also if it has a full kitchen designation (K vs LK)?

Yes, if it indicates Full Kitchen (K), there will be a balcony.

 

[dioxide45]

I beleive the K is also always the 1BR premium side of the 2BR lock off. The LK can be either the small (standard) side of the 2BR lock off or also the dedicated 1BR. The dedicated 1BR has a balcony but the standard 1BR does not (except in St Augustine).

 

[GTLINZ]

@dioxide45 As usual, thank you for the detailed response!

 

[cfabar1]

We just returned from SVR and had no wifi issues - it was easy to use and speedy.

 

[pedro47]

Here is a link to the floorplans - https://www.vistana.com/destinations/sheraton-vistana-villages/villas

Thank for sharing this information very interesting

 

[pedro47]

I beleive the K is also always the 1BR premium side of the 2BR lock off. The LK can be either the small (standard) side of the 2BR lock off or also the dedicated 1BR. The dedicated 1BR has a balcony but the standard 1BR does not (except in St Augustine).

Very nice thank for sharing.

 

[pedro47]

There are no issues with the WiFi at Sheraton Vistana Villages. The reviews you may be seeing are probably for Sheraton Vistana Resort or people who have written a review and confused the two. We work all the time from SVV without issues.

Sound liked Sheraton Vistana Villages has the better WiFi and accommodations. I‘m going to Dioxide45, YouTube Videos to check out his videos on the two Vistana resorts.

 

[dioxide45]

We just returned from SVR and had no wifi issues - it was easy to use and speedy.

What phase were you in. I've heard people who have stayed in Cascades or Lakes are okay but other phases aren't as good. Then someone reported, perhaps here, on Disboards or maybe even a YouTube comment that the WiFi was out for three days during their stay.

 

[cfabar1]

We were in Fountains and had no issues related to Wifi.

 

[dioxide45]

We were in Fountains and had no issues related to Wifi.

That's good to know. I just can't take the chance when we rely on WiFi so much. Three days without would mean we are probably leaving.

 

[kwijibo]

@dioxide45 and other experts - we've rented a few times from SVV owners and enjoyed staying in St. Augustine. Our understanding is that while we can put in a request for a particular section or unit, it is not guaranteed.

Question - does it makes a difference if we rented from an owner who owned in St. Augustine, vs. an owner who owned in other parts of the resort? (Key West, Bella) I.e. does owning in a particular section give any priority or preference, or ultimately it is still first-come-first-served based upon time of check-in?

Thanks.

(Let me know if it's better to start a new thread)

 

[dioxide45]

@dioxide45 and other experts - we've rented a few times from SVV owners and enjoyed staying in St. Augustine. Our understanding is that while we can put in a request for a particular section or unit, it is not guaranteed.

Question - does it makes a difference if we rented from an owner who owned in St. Augustine, vs. an owner who owned in other parts of the resort? (Key West, Bella) I.e. does owning in a particular section give any priority or preference, or ultimately it is still first-come-first-served based upon time of check-in?

Thanks.

(Let me know if it's better to start a new thread)

As I understand it now, since Marriott has taken over, they keep home resort and StarOption reservations into the phase that they booked. So if someone owns Bella, they will be placed in Bella on a home resort reservation. If a VSN member reserves St Augustine with StarOptions, they will be put in St Augustine. I don't know if this is a hard and fast rule, but that has been our experience on the few StarOption reservations we have made. I think they have more flexibility when it comes to II bookings.

 

[kwijibo]

As I understand it now, since Marriott has taken over, they keep home resort and StarOption reservations into the phase that they booked. So if someone owns Bella, they will be placed in Bella on a home resort reservation. If a VSN member reserves St Augustine with StarOptions, they will be put in St Augustine. I don't know if this is a hard and fast rule, but that has been our experience on the few StarOption reservations we have made. I think they have more flexibility when it comes to II bookings.

Thanks for the quick reply - so sounds like if we really want St. Augustine, if possible, we should go with an owner in St. Augustine (i.e. both are home resort owners, just different sections, not a VSN or exchange booking).

Now that you mention it, I looked back at the Sheraton e-mail confirmation from last year that an owner forwarded. I do notice it does specifically say the villa type, just that the villa number is assigned at check-in.

Home Resort Reservation
Confirmation Number:	xxxx
Guest Name:	xxxx
Confirmation Date:	xxxx
Arrival:	xxxx
Departure:	xxxx
Villa Type:	St. Augustine 2 Bedroom Villa
Villa Number:	Floating - assigned at check-in
Occupancy:	8 Maximum
Accessibility Features:	Does Not Apply
Housekeeping Fees:	Does Not Apply

 

[GTLINZ]

I have booked an Interval getaway at SVV and am looking forward to my first visit. I hope I am able to get a building request honored if i call a week out.

When booking it showed the 2br unit sleeps 8/6 and had 2 beds in the 2nd br - so i assume it is a true 2br and not a lockoff. The unit code is HTOVI which also shows up for Vistana Resort with a Tug search - so I suspect that is a generic code for 2br not lockoff and not specific to SVV ?

Does anyone know if there true 2br units in all 4 phases? I am hoping to get either St Augustine or Amelia.

 

[dioxide45]

I have booked an Interval getaway at SVV and am looking forward to my first visit. I hope I am able to get a building request honored if i call a week out.

When booking it showed the 2br unit sleeps 8/6 and had 2 beds in the 2nd br - so i assume it is a true 2br and not a lockoff. The unit code is HTOVI which also shows up for Vistana Resort when searching - so I suspect that is a generic code for 2br not lockoff and not specific to SVV ?

Does anyone know if there true 2br units in all 4 phases? I am hoping to get either St Augustine or Amelia.

All phases have dedicated 2BR and they don't have different codes for the different phases. You can be placed in any phase. Call them a few weeks in advance to place a request. We really like Amelia. Avoid Bella as those units are in bad need of refurbishment.

 

[dmoe0826]

I'm heading to SVV in August. I have a 3BR in St Augustine booked. I remember reading somewhere that all 3BR in St Augustine are in building 25...is this correct? If not, any suggestions on building requests?