Sheraton Vistana Villages - Orlando, USA     

We spent 4th of July weekend at the Sheraton Vistana Villages with our 2 1/2 yr old and 4 mo. old daughters. We were very pleased with the check-in servive and lobby area. We were just as pleased when we saw our room, a 1 bedroom suite which was very clean and spacious. After exploring the pool and eating at the restaurant/bar the first night we were hooked! Our 2 yr old especially loved the pool and our 4 mo old loved the walks we did on the immaculate grounds. The only thing that was a bother were the constant phone calls for the timeshare presentation. We finally gave in because we were so impressed with the property. The $100 cash incentive at the end of the presentation and the 50% off coupon on a future stay at ANY Sheraton property didn't hurt. We had to take our children with us but were not too worried since we were assured over and over that the presentation was at max 90 min. Upon meeting our rep, he brought us into the "sales" room and started his pitch. Our 4 mo. old slept and our 2 yr old had a snack which freed us up to listen. That being said, 2 1/2 hours later we were still there. We eventually decided on "No" because we were being asked to invest a minimum of $25k on the spot even though we had been told numerous times that this was a no pressure situation. We also asked numerous times for any sales collateral we could take home with us so that if we did decide to move forward we would have something to refer to. They would leave NO information with us. Our 2 yr old started screaming because she needed lunch and a nap. The 4 mo old was also not happy. Before we could leave and collect the $100 and coupon (which at this point really didn't matter because both babies were crying), we had to tell the rep's manager we weren't interested who was trying to sell us further and did not understand why we wouldn't make that type of decision "today"! I finally left with the screaming children and then they threatened to not give my husband the money and coupon because I was not there with him. He finally had to ask to speak to a manager who eventually dealt with the matter. The rep also never thanked us for our time, shook our hands, or even said goodbye for that matter. Lesson.....JUST ENJOY THE HOTEL...DO NOT GIVE INTO THE PRESENTATION!!!!!!!!!!!!! We would stay here again but ignore all phone calls that come directly to the room.

The rooms and grounds are quite nice, but the quality of your stay will vary radically from building to building. If you want a quiet stay, do not accept a room in the older buildings around the large pool - stay in the newer Key West or Amelia areas. We had a 1 bedroom in Key West - half price with a special offer from Expedia - which was very nice, newer and exceedingly quiet - except for the noise from next door - yes, the walls are paper thin. We checked in at 2pm - just in time....long line by 2:30. They first put us in Building 1, in their smallest size 1 bedroom, and it REEKED of smoke. I called the manager (Jeff - very nice) and he moved us to a similarly small, yet clean and unsmelly, 1 bedroom in Key West, Building 12. The front desk person essentially told me what others have said here - you get their smallest, worst accomodations if you are not a timeshare member. The older unit in Building 1 did have a full-size refrigerator/freezer and a small oven. The Key West unit has only a micro/convection oven that does bake, but takes forever. Also, only a small micro refrigerator with a one-shelf freezer section, and 2 tiny ice trays. There are no ice machines on the premises, so I don't know what you are supposed to do for ice. I called the front desk and they brought over a bag of ice, but I gave up after that - too much trouble. The kitchenette was nicely stocked with everything you'd need - even a ceramic teapot, a juicer, etc. Also papertowels, dish soap, etc. Nice washer/dryer. Had to ask for a blanket for the pull-out sofa, which is as you'd expect not too comfy. Pretty nice king size bed in the master, and we liked the screened-in porch (not all units have them). All of the buildings around the large pool (drive around yourself to get oriented before going to check in) are incredibly noisy from the blaring music that blasts constantly from the pool- you hear the bass notes through the closed glass doors. All the suites back up to the pool. Oh, and don't forget the DJ who yammers on forever. They also allow smoking at the pool - why? - and I saw people with glass beer bottles, even though they aren't allowed. Also a weird thing - you have to take a pool towel card to the activities desk to trade in for a towel, and if you don't turn in your towel card at the end of your stay they charge you $20. I also could not get extra towels from the front desk, without an additional fee. (However I got some from the maid.) There is a nice smaller pool in the Key West area, and also a smaller "quiet pool" - no floaties - adjacent to the big pool (although you still hear the noise there). Nice new playground for the children, near the big pool. The whirlpools needed a good scrub to get the dirt line off the walls. They need to think more about security and facilities overall. Just a few notes: There's no pedestrian striping on the roads between buildings, there were emergency phones in our building with no phone, just hanging wires, the lights weren't working at the kiddie end of the big pool (and they didn't even notice the problem until we informed them - huge safety issue), really poor pool maintenance after a rain - mulch in pool, and not much effort at skimming it out. There is a lot of construction, but as I remember it affected some of the older units more than anything else. Didn't hear it where we were. However, the drive around to the Key West section was very tight due to the construction fence right agains the road. So, fine for our half price rate, but I wouldn't be happy to pay $130 or more, that's for sure!