Absolute nicest pool-home community near DIS??

[TyWebb]

Planning a spring trip to Disney and we expect to stay in a pool home in one of the area developments. Have stayed in Windsor Hills previously three times. It seemed the area was starting to take a downward turn on our last visit. Doesn't seem to be maintained to the standards it was on our first couple of trips and many of the properties were visually in need of repair.

I am wondering if there are other subdivisions that are nicer than Windsor Hills and have a better overall reputation? I am not looking for cheaper, I am looking for better. Cleaner, better maintained, newer, etc.

Looking for a 3 - 5 bedroom home with a pool and hot tub. Beyond that, just a clean community. Well cared for and with good enforcement of their policies and the maintenance of the common areas.

Any suggestions of places that are better than Windsor Hills that are a reasonable drive to Disney? Thanks in advance.

(I'm open to specific recommendations of properties or management rental companies if you have had very recent good experiences.)

THANKS - TY

 

[asmit4]

Reunion Resort is the best I've found. It's expensive but it's NICE.

 

[Ametista]

Paradise Palms is newer, cleaner, and you could argue that its nicer than WH. Definitely better trash clean-up and fewer bugs. We have stayed there a couple times and really prefer it over anywhere else.

 

[wiigirl]

Paradise Palms is newer, cleaner, and you could argue that its nicer than WH. Definitely better trash clean-up and fewer bugs. We have stayed there a couple times and really prefer it over anywhere else.

 

[Itinkso]

We like Highgrove in Clermont. Very clean and well-kept subdivision. The homes also have game rooms with billiards and foosball. All homes have a pool with most also having a spa.

 

[ParkHopperFan]

Planning a spring trip to Disney and we expect to stay in a pool home in one of the area developments. Have stayed in Windsor Hills previously three times. It seemed the area was starting to take a downward turn on our last visit. Doesn't seem to be maintained to the standards it was on our first couple of trips and many of the properties were visually in need of repair.

I am wondering if there are other subdivisions that are nicer than Windsor Hills and have a better overall reputation? I am not looking for cheaper, I am looking for better. Cleaner, better maintained, newer, etc.

Looking for a 3 - 5 bedroom home with a pool and hot tub. Beyond that, just a clean community. Well cared for and with good enforcement of their policies and the maintenance of the common areas.

Any suggestions of places that are better than Windsor Hills that are a reasonable drive to Disney? Thanks in advance.

(I'm open to specific recommendations of properties or management rental companies if you have had very recent good experiences.)

THANKS - TY

I'm surprised to read a negative review of Windsor Hills. We stay at this resort several times per year and love it. We have always found it to be in excellent condition and well maintained. Hopefully your negative experience was isolated.

We have stayed in Windsor Palms, Indian Ridge and Bella Vida. None have offered the same level of amenities that WH has. Bella Vida was nice but it was a pretty long drive to the parks and the area around the resort was sketchy.

 

[spiceycat]

well if you have the money - you can see if any of the new houses at Golden oak are being rented.

really doubt it - but you might find one.

here the website -
http://www.disneygoldenoak.com/experience/

for rentals would try www.vrbo.com

 

[brownhaired_girl]

We rented a house earlier this year. It was a nice house with a pool and spa. I had contacted the owner before payment because one person who stayed there commented that the hot tub did not get hot. I was assured that the spa would be warm. I have since learned that there is a difference between a hot tub and a spa. A hot tub will heat the water. A spa will just blow bubbles into the water that she spa circulates with the pool. It was a nice house and a wonderful price so I didn't complain, however, I will always be sure to ask before renting.

 

[TyWebb]

I'm surprised to read a negative review of Windsor Hills. We stay at this resort several times per year and love it. We have always found it to be in excellent condition and well maintained. Hopefully your negative experience was isolated.

We have stayed in Windsor Palms, Indian Ridge and Bella Vida. None have offered the same level of amenities that WH has. Bella Vida was nice but it was a pretty long drive to the parks and the area around the resort was sketchy.

Ulitmately, I don't find Windsor Hills that bad but compared to the first time we stayed there six or seven years ago, the area doesn't seem as well maintained. I have also noticed that the area seems to have people living in the area rather than just renters. On our last trip there was a house that had three run down vehicles that never moved during our entire stay. All were 15 year old vehicles that were rusty, dirty, and two seemed to be leaking oil in the drive and roadway respectively.

I have also read more than one review on VRBO and other rental sites of people having the home broken into during their stay in Windsor Hills.

Two years ago we were in Windsor Hills in the townhomes and there were lots of them in dire need of repair and listed for sale. I would guess there were several being foreclosed on. Some of the original villas also seemed to need some repairs to the roof shingles that were not being done. Noticed several pools that had screens that were broken out and flapping in the breeze.

I generally gather when owners aren't making repairs and keeping up appearances, the management company isn't enforcing the HOA rules and codes.

Thus my desire to see if there are any developments that are better options than Windsor Hills.

I would prefer a gated community and one that has strict HOA.

The other part of the whole puzzle is how well an owner takes care of their property. I have found that dealing directly with the owner is the best option. They are more responsive and generally see that the home is well cared for.

TY

 

[ParkHopperFan]

Ulitmately, I don't find Windsor Hills that bad but compared to the first time we stayed there six or seven years ago, the area doesn't seem as well maintained. I have also noticed that the area seems to have people living in the area rather than just renters. On our last trip there was a house that had three run down vehicles that never moved during our entire stay. All were 15 year old vehicles that were rusty, dirty, and two seemed to be leaking oil in the drive and roadway respectively.

I have also read more than one review on VRBO and other rental sites of people having the home broken into during their stay in Windsor Hills.

Two years ago we were in Windsor Hills in the townhomes and there were lots of them in dire need of repair and listed for sale. I would guess there were several being foreclosed on. Some of the original villas also seemed to need some repairs to the roof shingles that were not being done. Noticed several pools that had screens that were broken out and flapping in the breeze.

I generally gather when owners aren't making repairs and keeping up appearances, the management company isn't enforcing the HOA rules and codes.

Thus my desire to see if there are any developments that are better options than Windsor Hills.

I would prefer a gated community and one that has strict HOA.

The other part of the whole puzzle is how well an owner takes care of their property. I have found that dealing directly with the owner is the best option. They are more responsive and generally see that the home is well cared for.

TY

We spent 10 days in WH in May and didn't notice any of the blight that you're describing. In fact, I recall quite a bit of activity with landscapers, and maintenance vehicles throughout the resort. We are going back in November. I will have to pay better attention and see if I can observe any of the issues that you mentioned.

I also agree with you that dealing with the owner is the best route. The villa that we rent a few times per year is maintained to a very high standard. The family that owns it uses a small management company. I'm sure that goes a long way in keeping the property in good condition.

 

[TyWebb]

It has been about 16 months since we were last there. Maybe things are turning around. That would be a good thing....
I like dealing directly with owners and I like owners that either manage/service their own or use smaller local service management companies.
ParkHopperFan... you mind sharing the villa you use? VRBO #?

 

[ParkHopperFan]

It has been about 16 months since we were last there. Maybe things are turning around. That would be a good thing....
I like dealing directly with owners and I like owners that either manage/service their own or use smaller local service management companies.
ParkHopperFan... you mind sharing the villa you use? VRBO #?

I don't mind giving my endorsement

www.villaparklane.com

Not sure about VRBO#, I found them on WindsorHillsRent.com

 

[Itinkso]

I'm renting this villa the beginning of December. $83/night includes tax and cleaning...

http://www.vrbo.com/482487ha

 

[4kids4karen]

Planning a spring trip to Disney and we expect to stay in a pool home in one of the area developments. Have stayed in Windsor Hills previously three times. It seemed the area was starting to take a downward turn on our last visit. Doesn't seem to be maintained to the standards it was on our first couple of trips and many of the properties were visually in need of repair.

I am wondering if there are other subdivisions that are nicer than Windsor Hills and have a better overall reputation? I am not looking for cheaper, I am looking for better. Cleaner, better maintained, newer, etc.

Looking for a 3 - 5 bedroom home with a pool and hot tub. Beyond that, just a clean community. Well cared for and with good enforcement of their policies and the maintenance of the common areas.

Any suggestions of places that are better than Windsor Hills that are a reasonable drive to Disney? Thanks in advance.

(I'm open to specific recommendations of properties or management rental companies if you have had very recent good experiences.)

THANKS - TY

I hear Tiger is renting his house out these days.

But seriously, if you want the absolute best, then there is only Golden Oak for your consideration.
http://www.disneygoldenoak.com/?CMP...|luxury homes sale|33433172989|b|1540z3x14027

 

[Ametista]

Does anybody have a price range for those Golden Oak homes? Do they get Disney transportation? Where are they located?

 

[TyWebb]

Does anybody have a price range for those Golden Oak homes? Do they get Disney transportation? Where are they located?

Good question... Are there even any that are available for a week or short term rental?

 

[TyWebb]

As an addition to this topic, does anyone have any local management/cleaning companies that they have had serious issues with? Any companies that seemed to be especially helpful and responsive?

I personally like to deal with owners for the rental directly but almost none of them are local so they need someone to keep them running and cared for.

 

[mayday51]

We own a vacation home in Highgate Park, which is a gated community in the back of Legacy Park. We found, while house hunting, that a lot of neighborhoods where locals live do seem to be more run down. And it's not like the people who live there don't care...it's just that there's a difference between owners and vacationers.
We love Highgate Park, it suits all of our vacation home needs. We had 5 things on our Would Love To Have It list. And we got them all! We wanted a hot tub, no rear neighbors, a bathroom accesible from the pool, a master bedroom with a sliding door to the pool, and an open floorplan. I never thought we'd find it all but we did.
We looked in a lot of n'hoods and liked Highgate Park the best. It's in Davenport.
good luck!
Mayday51
Edit to add: our management company is ipg florida. We love them, they're great...but it doesn't seem to depend as much on which company it is, versus the specific management team assigned to your desired neighborhood or property. Our managers also manage abut 20 other homes in HP so they are ALWAYS around to have needs addressed. Hope that helps.

 

[4kids4karen]

Good question... Are there even any that are available for a week or short term rental?

There use to be an entire thread dedicated to Golden Oaks and what came "with it."

 

[E-P-C-O-T]

You really should look into renting at Reunion Resort, it is an upscale resort community with apartments, townhouses, 3-5 bedroom houses and mansions. It is beautifully mantained and has 10 pools, golf course, hotel and waterpark. We have found great rates on vrbo.com. http://www.reunionresort.com/overview/