The Sands

Comfortable and stocked room. Pools were heated which was a big plus

The big pool was great a nice half of the border is shallow so the little ones have a place to play. When you reserve the vista cottages you are technically on a different portion of the resort. They only provide 2 garbage bags, 2 dishwasher pods and 1 laundry pouch for 1 load. They do not provide any additional even though you are staying so many days. So please pack those. The shuttle system they participate in is an outside company. It’s one of the cheaper ones. The shuttle is used by like 4-5 hotels so some nights it took 2 hours to get back. The shuttle did not have many options for universal. The Disney one had enough pickups. Ranging from 5:30p, 7:30, 9:30. The guy dropped off in the evening at the bottom of the hill unfortunately he drove the evening bus everyday. Definitely harder after a long day at the parks. The valet doesn’t mind picking you up from the bottom so please remember to call them. The valet was so helpful and informative. They gave us the best places to go. The hotel lets the timeshare at the front door so your greated with sales not hellos. The hotel did Not provide an airport shuttle. I still have the place a 4 because my family enjoyed ourselves we just wish we knew these things prior to booking.