Advice re.staying off-site

[PChef]

Hi

I'm in the early planning stages of a trip to WDW, probably first 2 weeks in Feb 2007. We are a family of 4, two boys who will be 8 and 5. It is our first time to Orlando, although DH has been to the States on business and is OK about driving whilst there.

I am considering a villa or townhouse or an apartment at one of the resorts such as Sheraton Vistana villas. Any opinions on any of these? Being February will it be too cold to swim outside? I guess I'm a bit worried about feeling isolated in a villa, and about having to drive everywhere to get basic supplies. Do any of the villa 'enclaves' have shops or bar/restaurant facilities?

The main reason for not staying in a hotel is the space issue. Staying in one room for a fortnight sounds rather stressful! We also want to chill out , relax, go shopping and not spend every day at the parks.

Any advice appreciated. I have so enjoyed reading all your trippies, so thanks for those.

Michelle

 

[JohnnySharp2]

Hi Michelle,

We always stay in a villa these days. Love the extra room/cooking facilities/private pool and just everything we could not get in a hotel.
Especially with Joshua being generally an early riser.
To be honest we would never go back to a hotel again.

We too have considered the likes of Sheraton, but although you can get 2 bedroomed apartments there just isn't the same amount of freedom - although having bars/restaurants on-site as it were is very appealing.

The advantages of a private home though are just too great for us, we find it really helps us to relax a lot more and having your own pool is a major plus for us.

If there is a downside to a villa, like you say, it is the fact that you have to drive everywhere, although if you choose the right location you could be less than 5 minutes from restaurants and supermarkets.
The only time we struggle is in the evening when often I want to go out but Josh is tired after a hectic day, quite often he just wants to play in the pool or watch a video etc

There are not many villa developments that have their own bars/restaurants, I think possibly Windsor Palms and Terre Verde are 2 that have something like a 'clubhouse' but not sure if they have restaurants etc

In February the weather can be unpredictable, we went last March and we had nice sunny days/days where it rained all day/days where it was pretty cold...so it is difficult, you could well have nice weather but you cannot guarantee it.

 

[Soprano]

I can only help with the weather here as I have never considered staying in a villa. I don't like the idea of cooking or keeping the place overly tidy! And we spend most of the time outside only using the hotel to crash out!

I have been in Feb twice and both times have had good weather. A few mornings were cool but no real cold days. Maybe one day with jeans. It was very dry and rained once on each trip. We did swim a few times, but not too much as were usually tired after a day where ever we were. A few people mention Feb/March can have cooler weather, but we have been lucky so far. I like it very warm, but not hot.

Not sure what I will do when the kids are in big school and August is the only option! Hopefully by then the school calendar will be changed and the year split up more evenly!

 

[UKPhil]

We went in Feb. several years ago. The weather was changeable to say the least. I distinctly remember one day in the Magic Kingdom having to go back to the hotel for warmer clothes. There were a couple of rainy days, a couple of windy days and quite a few hot and sunny ones. Basically it was all over the place !

One thing to watch out for in February is Presidents Day. I can't remember exacly when it is but the week around it is very busy and worth avoiding if you can as the rest of February is quiet in the parks and its very easy to get everything done.

Don't know the resort you mention but since we've had a family we always rent a villa or an apartment and wouldn't do it any other way. I can thoroughly recommend Windsor Palms and Windsor Hills resorts as being ideally situated for getting quickly to the Disney parks. There are also several other developments in the same subdivision which I'm sure are just as nice but those ones do have apartments which cost a lot less than a villa (if that is a consideration for you) and are more than big enough for a family of 4 as long as you're happy with a communal resort pool rather than the private pool a villa would give you. Like Johnny says, there are no restaurants on site at these resorts but each has a general store, gym, cinema, games room, pool, childrens playgrounds etc. Plently of restaurants and shops within 5 minutes drive.

In February you will need a heated pool and most (all?) resorts will have their pool heated, but if you rent a villa you will usually be charged extra for it.

 

[SimonY]

When we went with the children at that age we booked 2 hotel rooms and requested them to be adjoining with a connecting door. It meant that we had more room, we could get the kids in bed a bit earlier but stay up ourselves, more bathroom/toilet facilities etc. It worked out really well.

The children are now older and bigger and so we have booked a villa this year.

 

[JohnnySharp2]

I agree with what Phil says and can only echo my earlier post, the weather in the early months of the year is very unpredictable.

One of the developments near Windsor Palms, right next door in fact, is Indian Creek where we generally stay, whilst having no facilities as such on site the location villa wise is excellent, the majority of homes around IC & WC are ideally places for good access to restaurants/supermarkets etc

 

[jna]

February can offer from the twenties centigrade to less than ten centigrade - the latter caused if the weather is coming down from the north.

Take yesterday, when after the heavy snow in New York etc. the BBC weather page forecast for Orlando a day high of no more than ten centigrade and down to freezing(!) at night. By the middle of the week they say back to the mid-twenties again.

I have enjoyed the February half-term period and would go to Orlando again at that time of year. Overall our family is prepared to risk a brief cold spell rather than endure the constant humidity of the summer.

A good alternative to a villa is the Hilton Homewood Suites. Two sleeping areas and breakfast thrown in.

http://homewoodsuites.hilton.com

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Re..._Drive_Convention_Center-Orlando_Florida.html

John

 

[UKDEB]

I don't think you'd regret renting a villa, especially as you've already identified the potential stress factor in spending 2 weeks together in one hotel room! I've never felt isolated, although you are right in suggesting that you would need to drive to the supermarket and restaurants. Having said that, there is a supermarket about every 1/2 mile in Kissimmee and you can't move for restaurants.

We like the best of both worlds. We love the space and privacy of a villa(not to mention the pleasure of having our own pool/spa and the huge advantage of not having to queue for laundry facilities), but we also enjoy being able to stroll down from our room to the hotel bar, and walk to the parks (if we're staying onsite). We've tended to book a villa for the duration of the trip and then take a day or two out to stay onsite - either at Universal or WDW. It's great being able to pack an overnight bag and not having to worry about who's turn it is to drive. Of course it does mean that, unless you are going to do it either at the start or the end of your holiday, you will be paying for accommodation for a night or two that you're not using. We prefer to do it mid-trip, so it's a cost we just factor in.

As others have said, the weather can be upredictable, but you will definitely be able to swim outside as long as you pay for the pool to be heated.

 

[PChef]

Thanks so much for all your ideas and advice. I will certainly be checking out the places you recommend.

I think overall we are willing to take the risk with the weather, as going at other quiet times of the year involve more time off school. Once we have 'done' some of the parks we would be happier to go in summer on a later trip.

The suggestion of a night in a Disney Hotel sounds appealing too. How would I book that from the UK? I was considering a trip to the coast with an overnight stay, but I think the weather may be too unpredictable.

Michelle

 

[Miffy2003]

Hi Michelle,

If you fancied one night in a Disney hotel you could book through www.Disney.co.uk or through www.Disney.com ?

I always look at both and go for whichever is cheapest (believe it or not there is usually a difference!)

 

[PChef]

I am presuming all villas etc. will have heating as well as air con? If temps could go down as low as freezing then I will need the heating on (and not just for the pool!!!)?

Re. pool heating. This seems to be quite expensive at c.£85 per week. Not sure if this is worth it if we're only going to use the pool a couple of times. As has been pointed out, communal pools should be heated... decisions, decisions!

Michelle

 

[Miffy2003]

I would definitely heat the pool in February unless you are really sure you won't use it much

I think it would be hard to get my children to go over to the communal pool if they had one ready and waiting in the villa but yours may be different!

The air con will also heat you up if needs be (sorry that's not very technical but I hope you will know what I mean )

 

[UKDEB]

The cost of heating the pool probably seems expensive, but, when they were younger, our girls enjoyed their time in the pool as much, if not more, than their time in the parks.

 

[JohnnySharp2]

I am presuming all villas etc. will have heating as well as air con? If temps could go down as low as freezing then I will need the heating on (and not just for the pool!!!)?

Re. pool heating. This seems to be quite expensive at c.£85 per week. Not sure if this is worth it if we're only going to use the pool a couple of times. As has been pointed out, communal pools should be heated... decisions, decisions!

Michelle

You will definitely need pool heating in February, however as for the air-con , at villas they tend to be more regulated and not like at the hotels where a blast can feel icy cold.
You should be ok I think but yoiu may wish to check with the owners as normally they do not like anyone adjusting the internal temperature settings at all.

 

[Queenie]

We stay at Summer Bay on Hwy 192, Scott's parents own timeshare there but I know you can book 2 weeks in either the 2 bedroom apartments or the homes that come with private pools. There is a clubhouse with a gym, a tiki bar, 2 pools (one just for kids) and an outdoor jacuzzi by the pools. There are also watersports on the lake, fishing, cycle trails and loads of other activities including supervised children's activities. I don't know about the houses but the apartments get cleaned once a week whilst you are out. I cannot recommend the place highly enough to you! I never feel isolated there as the supermarket is literally next door, there is a Denny's on site and you are no more than a 5/10 minute drive from all the restaurants on the 192.

 

[primera786]

I would recomend Cypress Pointe. Having stayed twice in a villa you get the same benefits but no private pool,this is more than made up for with tennis courts putting and great locn . we syayed at Cypress pointe 2 years ago and loved it ensuite bathroom with a spa bath

 

[PChef]

Thanks for your input. I will certainly be checking out your recommendations.

Looks like I've got a lot of research to do ...but that's half the fun!!!

Michelle

 

[Scottish-Helen]

We stayed at Sheraton Vistana Villages and loved it. I really liked the location at the southern end of International Drive as it is a short drive to Disney but also Universal and Seaworld,plus restaurants and shops . I was really impressed with the quality of the apartment and the complex overall.