Story Time Villas at Windsor Hills??

[two*little*birds]

Thanks cinderella73, perhaps you are right about the pool not being clean - but it certainly looked clean (no dirt, bugs, etc.) and we were there for 12 nights last year. The splash pool was great for the kids last year, and yes our family of 4 all fit in it comfortably, but now that the kids are a bit older and swimming better we're looking forward to the larger pool (and home).

We always take some R&R time to enjoy our surroundings, besides my kids can't last a full day at the parks.

[cinderella73]

Originally Posted by two*little*birds

Thanks cinderella73, perhaps you are right about the pool not being clean - but it certainly looked clean (no dirt, bugs, etc.) and we were there for 12 nights last year. The splash pool was great for the kids last year, and yes our family of 4 all fit in it comfortably, but now that the kids are a bit older and swimming better we're looking forward to the larger pool (and home).

We always take some R&R time to enjoy our surroundings, besides my kids can't last a full day at the parks.

The big home is really nice. Its hard to get my kids to go back to anything else. Honestly the kids wanted to play in the game room and swim more than parks most days.

Have a great trip!

[mom2prettyprincess]

We just booked with Storytime homes in the Castle Villa. This will be our 1st trip to WDW & had orginally booked 2 family suites @ ASMu. And this is going to be so much nicer and easier on the pocket book even though we are giving up our free dining. The more we thought about it, we are going to keep our 1900 Park Fare reservation and I believe one of our breakfast ressies, we just don't want to be tied down to dining at certain times especially taking a 2 & 4 year old.

[cinderella73]

Originally Posted by mom2prettyprincess

We just booked with Storytime homes in the Castle Villa. This will be our 1st trip to WDW & had orginally booked 2 family suites @ ASMu. And this is going to be so much nicer and easier on the pocket book even though we are giving up our free dining. The more we thought about it, we are going to keep our 1900 Park Fare reservation and I believe one of our breakfast ressies, we just don't want to be tied down to dining at certain times especially taking a 2 & 4 year old.

We made the same choice. By the time you do the math its a no brainer really. Stay at a budget resort ( we were looking at the same resort at you in a family suite) at WDW with free dining but we have to plan everything around our meals and order a certain way etc. . Or stay in a beautiful 3 bedroom home closer to the parks than we would have been at a Disney value resort anyway. Plus no stress with the meals and we can do things our way. And save a bit of money in the end.

I think you made a excellent choice. I doubt you will ever want to stay on site again. This will be our 3rd time with ST homes.

[two*little*birds]

Yes, we feel the same way as well. We'll still book a few ADR's, but for the most part we'll eat off site whenever/wherever we want. No stress, and no big deal if we don't happen to get a certain ADR.

This will be our second stay with Story Time, and hopefully everything will be as perfect (if not better) than the first time.

[littlbugmom]

I have a few more questions----

I'm looking at ST3 and ST4-----it looks like ST3 has a townhome on both sides of it and ST4 is a corner unit. Looking at the pool, it appears that the side of ST4 faces the street. There is no privacy wall?? Is it still "south facing"? (south facing seems to be important??)


Where can I find a location map? I know I've seen one but can't remember where Storytime properties are and can't remember where I saw the map.


Can someone tell me where the utility room is located in the townhomes? Washers and dryers are listed but I don't see the "utility room" in the floor plan.


Has anyone used the theatre in the Clubhouse? Do they have a schedule of movies to show or can you pick?


Storytime website says Disney fireworks can be seen from the resort. Do they mean from the townhouses, villas or from a specific place at the resort?


I think we've decided to try the townhouse for our next trip. Once DH and I started talking about it, it was hard to justify paying twice as much for space we don't need. So, we've decided to try the townhouse for our Fall trip and then book the 6bdrm for the trip after (we'll be sharing with my sister's family).

Regarding ADR's----It's difficult for me to plan when we have a lot of ADR's to get to. We really enjoy being able to grab meals at "home" instead of working around so many reservations. Of course, we want a few ADR's but the majority of meals are simple meals we fix ourselves.


Again, thank you all for so much advice and information.

[cinderella73]

Originally Posted by littlbugmom

I have a few more questions----

I'm looking at ST3 and ST4-----it looks like ST3 has a townhome on both sides of it and ST4 is a corner unit. Looking at the pool, it appears that the side of ST4 faces the street. There is no privacy wall?? Is it still "south facing"? (south facing seems to be important??)


Where can I find a location map? I know I've seen one but can't remember where Storytime properties are and can't remember where I saw the map.


Can someone tell me where the utility room is located in the townhomes? Washers and dryers are listed but I don't see the "utility room" in the floor plan.




Has anyone used the theatre in the Clubhouse? Do they have a schedule of movies to show or can you pick?


Storytime website says Disney fireworks can be seen from the resort. Do they mean from the townhouses, villas or from a specific place at the resort?


I think we've decided to try the townhouse for our next trip. Once DH and I started talking about it, it was hard to justify paying twice as much for space we don't need. So, we've decided to try the townhouse for our Fall trip and then book the 6bdrm for the trip after (we'll be sharing with my sister's family).

Regarding ADR's----It's difficult for me to plan when we have a lot of ADR's to get to. We really enjoy being able to grab meals at "home" instead of working around so many reservations. Of course, we want a few ADR's but the majority of meals are simple meals we fix ourselves.


Again, thank you all for so much advice and information.

ST 3 faces a open field area and is the most directly gets the sun of the townhomes as its south facing.

ST4 has some upgrades ( granite countertops) and gets a lot of the sun as well as it faces sideways ( not quite as much as 3 but more than 2) and is open on one side. It faces the side of the other townhomes and the side view is that of a road but its only a small part of the road you see ( there are some plants that block some of it) and its a quiet road that is only for people in the townhomes. Not a lot of traffic.

By utility rooms I am assuming you mean where the mop and broom and stroller are ? It would be downstairs in the area under the stairwell. Its like a walk-in closet size.

The washer and dryer and stacking and located upstairs in the hall.

The clubhouse theater plays a dvd that you pick out . Then they give you a time you can watch it and they have a small theatre room. ( I would imagine you could watch it right away if it was free)

You can also get stuff for the pool table , ping pong tables , tennis stuff , etc. at the register in the small store they have. I think you give them something like 5.00 to borrow the stuff and you get it back when you bring your money back.

There is also a small gym there and a bathroom with showers .

A word of warning . Once you stay in a townhome you will never go back onsite. And once you stay at a big home its hard to ever go back to the townhome. You will have a great time.

[Madzac]

Anyone know how far in advance they typically book out? We have a LONG time until we get to go back, but fighting my post disney blues has me choosing where to stay next. DH had said 4 years but with showing him how much more cheaply we can manage staying offsite he is sold on 2011!!!

[MississippiMom]

I had just started looking over the Storytime website last night, and was wondering if it was as good as it looked. After reading this thread, I'm pretty sold on trying to book one of the townhomes, if we can really get it all together to go for the children's Spring Break.

For those of you that book these or any other townhomes, do you purchase any kind of travel insurance?