1st time staying off disney

[micheypl]

HI all ... We are going on our Disney trip in December and it's our first time staying off Disney... I'm terrified!!! There are so many resorts to choose from ... When I think I 'm ready to book I stumble on some bad reviews... I am looking at the sheraton vistana resort right now. There are lots of great reviews but also some bad ones .. I know not everyone will be please with every resort... I just need a spacious and very clean room for six of us that is close to Disney. Any help and suggestions would be helpful and greatly appreciated

 

[Dave1234]

If you would consider a short term rental resort suggest checking out Windsor Hills (condo would be a good value for money):
http://www.windsorhillsprivaterentals .com/condos/

 

[sympatico]

We usually stay in a private pool home that we find through vrbo.com or homeaway.com . Places like Windsor Hills, Emerald Island, Windsor Palms, Indian Creek etc. are all close to the Animal Kingdom side of Disney. Windsor Hills has its own listing site too: windsorhillsrent.com
If you're interested in Vistanna Resort here's a review from Gina that gives you good info. They were so impressed that they bought a timeshare there.
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3167818
Another thread about it: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3148502

Here's a map to show you where things are with respect to Disney. Windsor Hills is #1 and the blue markers to the left are the other subdivisions in that area. Vistanna Resort is #114 . Disney markers are pink.
https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=...1.608849&spn=0.068335,0.11055&z=13&dg=feature

 

[Brian Noble]

There are lots of great reviews but also some bad ones

This is true of all of the Disney resorts, as well!

 

[disneyfan55]

We stayed off site last October at Caribe Royale. It was wonderful. We had a villa with full kitchen/washer/dryer/living room/2 full baths and whirpool bath. It also had no resort/parking fee. We got a $30/night food credit as well. We were VERY happy. The drive was about the distance as the value resorts and so much more room! Very happy. Not much said on these boards about the resort. We found the special on Mousesavers. They had one just recently as well. Up to 8 in that villa as well with room to spare.

 

[disneyfan55]

Caribe Royale also has included shuttle service. We didn't use it though.

 

[Portugal1000]

Without a doubt Wyndham Bonnet Creek. 6th visit coming up and can honestly say that not had a bad day there. Stayed 22 nights last summer and could have stayed another 22 without wanting to go home.
Great resort. Huge suites, we stay in a 2 bedroom. 5 pools, 2 lazy rivers. I have stayed at SSR 3 times and prefer Bonnet Creek ( helps that it costs a third of the price for a room that's double the size). Very close to the parks, especially Hollywood Studios.
I always book with
www.vacationupgrades.com

You'll find lots if recommendations for Bonnet Creek on here.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

We adore the Vistana Resort. We stayed for the first time last August and simply fell in love . Its peaceful and the grounds are gorgeous. The villas a super big, all redone (right down to the studs) within the last few years, have wonderfully high-end finishings (think granite countertops in the kitchen, ceramic tile in the baths, etc.), and all the conveniences of home (full kitchen with dishwasher, washer and dryer, screened in balcony or patio, flat screen TV's, free parking, free internet, jacuzzi tub in the master, etc.).

Location is excellent....just around the corner from DTD. Tons of offsite restaurants within a stone's throw. Super easy to get to all the parks including Disney, SeaWorld and Universal.

The resort itself offers 7 pools (each with its own special feature...two with waterfalls, one with a slide, one with splash fountains, one that shows dive-in movies, several which feature poolside karaoke and evening entertainment, etc.), 6 hot tubs, 2 basketball courts, sand volleyball courts, 13 tennis courts, a "Fishpipe" ride, onsite mini golf, and a whole host of daily scheduled activities (bingo, wine tastings, farmers market, pool parties, resort photo sessions, ....).

This is a great, current thread on the Sheraton Vistana Resort:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3148502

We prefer the resort style properties to Windsor Hills, which has a more "community" feel than a resort feel. But, that's a personal preference only and you might feel differently.

We loved the Vistana so much, we bought two annual weeks there (resale, of course ) once we arrived home. I think you would love it! Our family can't imagine staying anywhere else.

 

[blessedby3]

We love Bonnet Creek. On property, but off property prices
We also love the resort feel. We looked at Windsor Hills, but felt that we really didn't want to be in a subdivision type set up for vacation.
We stayed at BC in '12 and have 2 weeks booked this June

 

[Luvchefmic]

It is a little scary especially when you live so far away so don't know the area
I love Extended Stay America on Palm Parkway Lake Buena Vista VERY close to DTD also have found great rates many times for other resorts through booking.com including the Wyndham that many mention

 

[LuvMyEAR]

There are amazing places AND prices in resorts so close to WDW that you are actually closer to some of the parks than if you were onsite! We have rented a condo, 4 townhouses, and 2 houses in Windsor Hills and Windsor Palms through the years (and headed back to 4 BR place in Windsor Palms for $99/night in Sept) and have NEVER had a bad experience.

While I have always wanted to stay at a Disney resort, I could never bring myself to spend the $ for a room with no kitchen, laundry facilities, etc. Particularly with children!!! Being able to settle them in their own rooms at night, and relax on our lanai, in our private pool or spa, while our clothes are going through the laundry...priceless! Watching our little "fish" splash about in the pool while we get breakfast ready is a treat. Sometimes we even have breakfast in swimsuits and cool off again starting a warm day in the parks.

These resorts are close enough that we can return midday for a break, in no more time than if we took a Disney bus back to a Disney resort. Best of all, we pull up at OUR FRONT DOOR and never have to schlep (sometimes with a sleeping child) through parking lots, or long hallways. At the end of a day, evry step seems to count.

 

[Bete]

Don't know your dates, but you can always change your dates and Disney is offering a free dining promo now for part of December. The dates are Dec 12 to Dec 23. By the way as long as your check in dates are in this window you get the offer for your whole stay. For example, you can check in on Dec. 23 and have a week stay until Dec. 30 and you are covered for the free dining. If your dates work then I would highly suggest grabbing this discount offer.

If you stay value you get free quick service dining, two meals a day. You can upgrade to the next level of dining and get a table service meal and a quick service meal for $15/per person per day more and still stay at a value. If you go moderate level resort then you can have the table service dining package included for free.

With 6 to your party that is quite a savings even if you need to get two rooms at Disney World. You would get the Disney extra magic hours, earlier fastpass plus reservations and you would be close to the parks. If you haven't experienced a lot of Disney dining this can be a real treat to have free dining. For most of us, this is the best deal that Disney gives you.

I would do the numbers and see the savings. Usually, you can request having two adjoining rooms at the Disney resort. You could get 4 beds and 2 bathrooms in this scenario. Obvious two of the beds would have to sleep two each for this to work. For safety I would advise to have one adult in each room. If every one needs a separate bed I would consider getting two, twin air mattresses and include them in your luggage. We've done this and it's not bad.

I would not pass up free dining.

 

[micheypl]

Thank you for all the great info
We decided to stay at the vistana resort from December 14th until the 21st and then stay onsite at CBR from the 21st until the 26th...we were able to get a two bedroom at the resort for a great price ... But There is construction going on at the restaurant ... I hope this does not bother us too much... Maybe we will not be near that area ... * fingers crossed *

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Thank you for all the great info
We decided to stay at the vistana resort from December 14th until the 21st and then stay onsite at CBR from the 21st until the 26th...we were able to get a two bedroom at the resort for a great price ... But There is construction going on at the restaurant ... I hope this does not bother us too much... Maybe we will not be near that area ... * fingers crossed *

Woohoo! Awesome choice!

I don't think you need to worry much about construction at Zimmies. I am guessing that most of the work that is scheduled to be carried out on that structure is on the interior (its pretty dated inside, but the outside is in excellent shape), so noise should be minimal. And the upgrades are starting in mid-August and concluding sometime in December, so maybe you will miss virtually all of it.

As you know, it is a very large resort, so its quite possible you will be no where near that area. If you are concerned, you could request Lakes or Fountains as they are on the opposite side of SVR from the restaurant.

https://www.mystarcentral.com/CMS/en_US/svo_media/CMSMedia/PDF/resort_maps/svr_resort_map.pdf