Check out this 2-bedroom villa near Walt Disney World
There are so many family-friendly resorts in the Orlando area, it’s hard to choose just one! On our first trip to the area, beach weather was iffy, so we chose to stay in Central Florida and center ourselves around all of the major attractions like Universal Studios and Disney World. The Sheraton Vistana Resort Villas checked off every single one of our requirements.
With comfortable rooms, multiple pool areas, and full kitchens, the Sheraton Vistana Resort is a great place for families to unwind after a long day in Disney parks.
Location – close to Disney World
The biggest draw to the Sheraton Vstana Resort is its location. The Sheraton Vistana Resort is located just a stone’s throw from Walt Disney World. It took us less than 10 minutes to drive to Disney theme parks. Universal Orlando is about 15 minutes away! Seaworld Orlando is a 4.5-mile drive from the resort. The Orlando International Airport (MCO) is the nearest airport. MCO is 17 miles away, approximately a 22-minute drive.
**FYI: How much did we spend to go to Disney World?**
Two-bedroom villas
According to the Sheraton website, the two-bedroom units are 1,025 square feet. It felt so spacious and never cramped, even with three (and four) kids! Honestly, if the washer and dryer were full-sized, I would move right in! The two-bedroom villas offer a washer/dryer combo, 2 bedrooms, 2 full bathrooms, a dining room table with room for 6, and a screened-in porch. The living room has a sofa bed. In the townhouse suites, there are two living areas with a sofa bed.
Resort villas have flat-screen TVs and free wi-fi.
Another thing we found handy in the villa is that the kitchen is a full kitchen. There is a full-sized fridge, stove, and dishwasher. You don’t need to downsize on food and drinks so that you can stay here. Throughout the property are gas grills for guests to use. One night we made steak, baked potatoes, and roasted vegetables! We had a gourmet dinner for pennies on the dollar of what we would have paid eating out.
One-Bedroom Villas
There are two one-bedroom villas – one is called the “smaller” villa and one is considered standard. The smaller villa has a smaller kitchen, about the size of a kitchenette. Some of the smaller villas do not have a balcony. Both villas have dining tables and king beds in the master bedroom. We have not stayed in a one-bedroom villa, but they are more affordable for those with a smaller family. The sofa bed allows the one-bedroom villas to sleep 4.
Sheraton Vistana Resort amenities
The Sheraton Vistana Resort has so much to offer for the whole family. Our family had a great time playing mini-golf, swimming in the resort pools, and hitting balls on the tennis courts. In each area of villas, there is also an adjacent playground. We have requested both times to stay in the “Courts” area because we like the playground and the “Falls” pool. On our second trip, our kids fell in love with the “Cascades” pool, and my husband and I appreciated the connected Tiki Bar.
Map of the Sheraton Vistana Resort
At the beginning of our stay, we received a pamphlet showing what events would be taking place each night! Make sure you check this list of daily activities as there were a lot of money-saving events- such as happy hours and mini-golf specials.
If there is rain or inclement weather, the game room is a fun spot for kids to burn off some energy.
I also appreciated that the resort has its own store – The Market Place. This is the place to pick up a quick dinner, a bottle of wine, or some forgotten sunscreen. It’s a convenient place to pop in for a cup of coffee.
My Review of the Sheraton Vistana Resort Villas
Overall, our family loved our stay at the Sheraton Vistana Resort – so much we visited again in 2020 after our first trip in 2018 (CHECK RATES NOW). The kids adored the water slides, outdoor pools, and playground. My husband and I found solace on the screened-in porch and our quiet master bedroom.
I will say, with young children, I prefer the two-bedroom villa over the two-bedroom townhouse. The townhouse has wooden stairs that are so slippery, that younger siblings or toddlers may try to climb them or be hurt. I also didn’t feel comfortable with the open loft. The townhouses are very spacious, but what you gain in space you may lose in worry. Lol. The 2-bedroom villa that was one-story also had a much more spacious master bedroom.
Because this is a Vacation Club time-share resort, the timeshare pitch is annoying and (most likely) unavoidable. At check-in, I was told I need to go to another desk to get my “parking pass.” Really all this was setting me up to fuss with a sales rep who offered me $100 to come to the next day’s Vacation Club demonstration. Since this was meant to be the relaxing part of our trip, I opted out, but the lady persevered. I found this to be very obnoxious, I had a husband and three kids waiting in the car wondering why mom was taking AGES to check-in.
Honestly, we were not in the villa that often, but each night when we’d return there would be at least one voicemail about how we too could be a part of the Sheraton Vacation Club.
Other than the strong timeshare pitch, we found the resort to be worth every penny and tons of fun for our family. We would definitely stay here again, armed with the knowledge to tell the parking pass lady to hand over the pass and leave us alone (KIDDING, kinda. ;)).
(Update: When we visited in 2020 they asked if we had visited before and I said YES- They didn’t give the timeshare pitch! I can’t endorse lying, but it may save you 20 minutes).
Why stay at the Sheraton Vistana Resort?
The Sheraton Vistana Resort is minutes away from International Drive, but much more affordable than comparable Walt Disney World resort hotels. For example, I did a generic search for 7 nights in May of 2022. To stay at the Boardwalk Resort at Disney, within walking distance to Epcot, no dining, no tickets, and no kitchen in the room – the price was $4646.26. To stay at the Sheraton Vistana in a 2-bedroom villa, the cost with tax was $1897.88. This is a massive saving!! No matter the cost of parking at Disney World, I think staying at the Sheraton Vistana Resort is totally worth it.
Spacious villas allow families to spread out and relax after enjoying the area attractions. The Sheraton Vistana Resort is the type of place that you’ll want to visit year after year and enjoy countless family memories. We plan to return time and again.
The Sheraton Vistana Resort Villas are located at:
8800 Vistana Centre Drive, Orlando, Florida 32821
Make sure you do not get this resort confused with the Sheraton Vistana Villages Resort Villas- that is a different timeshare resort in a different location.
For more family-friendly resorts in Florida, check out this list of the best kid-friendly Florida resorts.
Have you been to Central Florida?? Where do you like to stay?
CHECK RATES AT THE SHERATON VISTANA RESORT IN LAKE BUENA VISTA.
Before you go: My Ultimate Florida Packing List
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Our time shares lists the Fountain Villas separate, have you stayed in that area?
We have not stayed in the Fountains, we stay in the Courts section. I don’t think the amenities are any different, but I’d call the resort to check!