We had an unexpected extended stay at **Sheraton Vistana Resort Villas** after a snowstorm delayed our flight back to NYC from Monday to Friday — and honestly, it turned out to be such a blessing.
We booked a two-bedroom villa last minute for under $1,000 for four nights, and the layout was perfect for our family. My husband was able to work privately in one bedroom while the kids and I cooked, ate, and relaxed in the living and dining area. Having two bathrooms made everything seamless. The in-unit washer/dryer and full kitchen with cookware saved us, especially with kids.
A special thank you to Noe at the reception desk for exceptional customer service. Checkout is 10am, but my husband needed to work until at least 3pm on Friday. Guest services initially told us via text there was nothing they could do — no late checkout, no private room option. When I spoke with Noe in person and asked if there were *any* creative solutions, he thought critically and offered the perfect one. As someone who oversees quality for a Fortune 500 company, I truly appreciated that mindset. Instead of “sorry, nothing we can do,” he found a way. That kind of service makes a difference.
The resort itself is fantastic for families and conveniently located about 20–25 minutes from **Orlando International Airport**, **Walt Disney World**, and many attractions. There are multiple pools, playgrounds, basketball courts, ponds with ducks, and a jacuzzi tub in our master bedroom (which both I and the kids loved at the end of long days). Some activities like mini golf, tennis, ping pong, and arts & crafts have small additional fees.
The property is huge — we stayed in the Fountains II section — so at first we relied on the free resort shuttle since we didn’t rent a car. Once we got our bearings, we realized we could walk about 12 minutes to **Chick-fil-A**, **McDonald's**, and **Walgreens** for quick meals or essentials. We also had **Amazon Fresh** deliver groceries right to our door, which helped us save on breakfasts and snacks. Uber/Lyft pickup is easy if you include your building area and room number in the instructions.
For dining, **Sushi Misono** (all-you-can-eat) across the street was a hit. Since my kids were “theme-parked out,” we explored nearby spots like **SEA LIFE Orlando Aquarium**, **Museum of Illusions Orlando**, and the arcades in the area — all easy and fun alternatives. At the resort, the kids especially loved the soda refill game at the Springs Arcade and redeeming generous prizes at the recreation center near Azzula restaurant.
You can use the text message system for almost anything, which is convenient (even though in our case, speaking to someone in person made all the difference). Just expect a 5 min response time and 15 mins for shuttle to arrive.
Overall, Sheraton Vistana is an excellent value for families who want space, flexibility, and on-site amenities. We came because of a snowstorm — but we’d absolutely come back the next time we are in Orlando.
