5 days to go..nervous about staying off-site - The DIS Discussion Forums

luvdisney01 · 02-03-2013, 10:08 PM

My family heads out for Disney in 5 days and we are so excited. We booked accommodations off-site, for the first time, at Windsor Hills. I have spent a lot of time reading boards about Windsor Hills and felt really good about our accomodations. I very much appreciate everyone's entries on the boards! Of course, now that we are only a few days out I am very nervous about renting from an owner.

We rented a 3 bedroom condo in the building closest to the Pool. We are renting from Laza Properties. They have been timely in their responses to my inquiries and references look good. I would LOVE to know if anyone has rented from them!

I am keeping my fingers crossed that everything will be OK and we will enjoy the condo and the resort. Is there anything I should know regarding renting from an owner? I hope we enjoy staying off-site.

shopn24seven · 02-03-2013, 10:46 PM

Have a great time.

4kids4karen · 02-03-2013, 10:52 PM

Everything will be fine. If there are little bumps, just keep smiling. It's rare for anything to go perfect in life. But in the big picture, if there are bumps, look for solutions and not dwell on what went wrong.

Have fun!

ibob52 · 02-03-2013, 11:08 PM

yeah ... stop trip planning ~ mode

and commence relaxation process ~ enjoy your vacation

softballmom3 · 02-04-2013, 07:15 AM

Hi! Windsor hills will be fine. We've stayed before. Beautiful place. Do come back and let us know how it went. I'm considering planning a non-Disney trip in the fall and this is one of the properties I've been looking at

.

sympatico · 02-04-2013, 07:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by luvdisney01

Is there anything I should know regarding renting from an owner? I hope we enjoy staying off-site.

If you don't already know this, you'll have to buy your own toilet paper, dish soap, garbage bags etc. Some people don't realize this and sometimes it sounds like it ruins their whole vacation. Just know going in that you live like you do at home except you're not at home, you're in Florida and going to Disney. Just don't expect perfection and be disappointed that you don't get it. Nobody's home is perfect, mine surely isn't so don't let a few scuff marks or a burned out light bulb ruin your vacation. You're not buying the property, you're just staying there for a few days. We've stayed in a lot of different homes over the years and even though we've run into a few small problems even in the nicest ones, it didn't ruin our vacation.
Hope you have a wonderful vacation and "don't sweat the small stuff".

blessedby3 · 02-04-2013, 09:09 AM

Have a great time and be sure to come back and post on your experience! We are looking at WH for our June 2014 trip.

jeff968 · 02-04-2013, 09:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sympatico

If you don't already know this, you'll have to buy your own toilet paper, dish soap, garbage bags etc.

Not if you stay at a Marriott or a Hilton Villa. All that is supplied. The only think we bring is laundry detergent and we purchase our food in Florida. I never stayed (or heard of) Windsor hills so i can't say about them.

Good luck with your trip.

sympatico · 02-04-2013, 11:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeff968

Not if you stay at a Marriott or a Hilton Villa. All that is supplied. The only think we bring is laundry detergent and we purchase our food in Florida. I never stayed (or heard of) Windsor hills so i can't say about them.

Good luck with your trip.

Marriott and Hilton are timeshare resorts which do supply those things but Windsor Hills and other similar subdivisions are made up of privately completely owned homes ( not timeshares ). These homes are termed self-catering. They have enough supplies to get you started but you replenish what you need when you run out.

woodyrn · 02-04-2013, 12:17 PM

We stayed at Windsor Hills and did not need to bring TP. Everything was supplied.We rented from a private owner, and had a great time. Closer than staying at some hotels in the park!

jeff968 · 02-04-2013, 02:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sympatico

Marriott and Hilton are timeshare resorts which do supply those things but Windsor Hills and other similar subdivisions are made up of privately completely owned homes ( not timeshares ). These homes are termed self-catering. They have enough supplies to get you started but you replenish what you need when you run out.

Thanks, interesting, do you get anything other then a place to stay at these locations?

At the TS resorts we are provided:

All those supplies mentioned above
Bathroom supplies, soaps, shampoo, ect
Resort staff to take care of anything that needs attention
Resort staff that runs events throughout the day, most for free
Resort staff that runs a kid center
Entertainment (music provided poolside)
Restaurant
Bar
Marketplace
Pools/Hot tubs
Towels
Fitness room
Sanna+

sympatico · 02-04-2013, 03:14 PM

Most of the vacation rental subdivisions just have vacation homes with private pools. Those that have condos and townhouses have community facilities also which may include community pools, clubhouses with fitness rooms, mini theatres, store, tiki bar, sports equipment to use on volleyball, tennis and putting areas. Some have a few organized activities but mostly it's do-it-yourself for activities. Each owner has a management company that looks after things for them.
We usually stay in a pool home especially when the whole family goes. You can get a 6 to 8 bedroom pool home for a great price which you can divide up between a couple of families.

ICF · 02-04-2013, 06:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sympatico

If you don't already know this, you'll have to buy your own toilet paper, dish soap, garbage bags etc.

I've stayed at windsor hills and never had to purchase any of those things....

sympatico · 02-04-2013, 06:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ICF

I've stayed at windsor hills and never had to purchase any of those things....

Each owner is different. Some may supply those things and some don't. It doesn't hurt to ask just so you'll know.

Ali · 02-04-2013, 08:04 PM

I stayed at wh once and there was part of a roll of toilet paper in one bathroom. We went to the store quickly.

02-03-2013, 10:08 PM	#1
luvdisney01 Earning My Ears Join Date: Jul 2012 Posts: 17	5 days to go..nervous about staying off-site My family heads out for Disney in 5 days and we are so excited. We booked accommodations off-site, for the first time, at Windsor Hills. I have spent a lot of time reading boards about Windsor Hills and felt really good about our accomodations. I very much appreciate everyone's entries on the boards! Of course, now that we are only a few days out I am very nervous about renting from an owner. We rented a 3 bedroom condo in the building closest to the Pool. We are renting from Laza Properties. They have been timely in their responses to my inquiries and references look good. I would LOVE to know if anyone has rented from them! I am keeping my fingers crossed that everything will be OK and we will enjoy the condo and the resort. Is there anything I should know regarding renting from an owner? I hope we enjoy staying off-site.

02-03-2013, 10:46 PM	#2
shopn24seven DIS Veteran Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: 08004 Posts: 1,452	Have a great time. __________________

02-03-2013, 11:08 PM	#4
ibob52 Original Mickey Mouse Club ... Mouseketeer Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: San Diego Posts: 215	yeah ... stop trip planning ~ mode and commence relaxation process ~ enjoy your vacation __________________ It's a Dog eat Dog ~ World out there ... Disney is my Happy ~ Place *please excuse me if I miss the point*

02-04-2013, 07:15 AM	#5
softballmom3 DIS Veteran Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: KY Posts: 1,288	Hi! Windsor hills will be fine. We've stayed before. Beautiful place. Do come back and let us know how it went. I'm considering planning a non-Disney trip in the fall and this is one of the properties I've been looking at . __________________ Always planning another trip...... 1977 Heck...I don't remember, I was 4 . 2002 Holiday Inn Family Suites (Nick hotel now) 2007 Pop Century 2010 Windsor Hills 2011 POR 2013 Wilderness Lodge --finally decided!!

02-04-2013, 09:09 AM	#7
blessedby3 Actually Blessedby4 now, but cant change my username :) Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Blue Ridge, Virginia Posts: 7,274	Have a great time and be sure to come back and post on your experience! We are looking at WH for our June 2014 trip. __________________ 8/87-Disneymoon, offsite 7/92-DD's 1st trip 2/94-Land/Sea, Dixie Landings 10/99-offsite 4/03-CR tower MK view 11/05-POP 12/06-WL 1/08-POP, DD's Grad Trip 3/09-Poly 5/10-BLT, 1BR 6/11-POP 10/12 Bonnet Creek DH(46) Me(45) DD(23)DSIL (23) DS(17) DD(14) DD(5) Check out my May2010 trip report: Welcome Gurley Family....you are FAMILY OF THE DAY!!

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02-03-2013, 10:52 PM	#3
4kids4karen Mouseketeer Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 442	Everything will be fine. If there are little bumps, just keep smiling. It's rare for anything to go perfect in life. But in the big picture, if there are bumps, look for solutions and not dwell on what went wrong. Have fun!

02-04-2013, 12:17 PM	#10
woodyrn Earning My Ears Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 18	We stayed at Windsor Hills and did not need to bring TP. Everything was supplied.We rented from a private owner, and had a great time. Closer than staying at some hotels in the park!

02-04-2013, 03:14 PM	#12
sympatico DIS Veteran Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: NS Canada Posts: 2,819	Most of the vacation rental subdivisions just have vacation homes with private pools. Those that have condos and townhouses have community facilities also which may include community pools, clubhouses with fitness rooms, mini theatres, store, tiki bar, sports equipment to use on volleyball, tennis and putting areas. Some have a few organized activities but mostly it's do-it-yourself for activities. Each owner has a management company that looks after things for them. We usually stay in a pool home especially when the whole family goes. You can get a 6 to 8 bedroom pool home for a great price which you can divide up between a couple of families. __________________ Wanda Love vacation homes Places we've stayed since 1997 : Lindfields: twice, Lake Davenport, Oak Plantation, Wyndham Cypress Palms, Liki Tiki Village, Grand Reserve, Windsor Hills: 4 times, Indian Creek (twice), Emerald Island (4 times), Reunion Resort (twice) Sunset Lakes

02-04-2013, 08:04 PM	#15
Ali DIS Veteran Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Palm Bay, FL Posts: 1,001	I stayed at wh once and there was part of a roll of toilet paper in one bathroom. We went to the store quickly.

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