Am i Thinking About This All Wrong?

[FayeW]

We are planning our trip Nov 30-Dec 9th. We always stay offsite in a 2 bdrm condo, but have been giving some thought to renting a 3 bdrm townhouse or condo at either Regal Palms or Windsor Hills ( will have rental car so distance is not relevant to our choice). Our main reason for considering these properties are the pool facilities. We really want to spend more time relaxing around the pool. Having said that, I'm looking at the dates we are going and thinking that maybe I'm being too optimistic about the weather. It would suck to choose a place primarily to enjoy the pool, and then find it is too cold to do so. We went in Dec 2.5 years ago, and only used the pool 2-3 times, but that was largely due to time constraints.


So what I am asking all you experienced folks is if I should be looking for accomodations that have more to offer in terms of activities in case it is too cold to swim, and if you could make some recommendations on where you would stay. We prefer min. 2 bdrm units, but I am willing to compromise. I'm thinking a little about the Nick hotel (DD 12 & DS 10 would enjoy that), but I'm also thinking this might be a good time to try renting points for DVC for part of our stay (never stayed onsite). We have 9 full days, and plan on the parks 6-7 days max. (2 of those will be US/IOA, and one day will be MVMVP). We really want to slow down and enjoy our resort this time.

 

[tednvon]

Hi..very good question and interesting problem.
We have stayed many times in both condos and homes. Two very basic and common sense questions jump out at me during cooler weather season.
1. How "heated" is heated in the pool and
2. How far from the pool to a warm shower. If the pool is nice and warm but the air is cool, it is very very cold running from a condo pool to the condo.

Therefore I would recommend getting a 3 bedroom pool home with heated pool. Make the sure the heat is at 85 degrees which is pretty standard and very warm especially when the air is cool. Now, I would further recommend that you look for a home with gas heat that does not shut off when it is below 55 degrees.
We are familiar with Indian Ridge which is just a mile south of Winsdor Hills just off Old Lake Wilson Rd. We lived there for 3 months this winter. Homes are little older but very nice and the pools are all heated with gas.
One home we were in ( and I get no commission) is

http://www.myflrental.com/wst_page3.html

Very nice home for about 100 to $125 night. Could be negotiated as you are there at a low season time.

IMHO, the pool can be used all the time if you only need to run 12 feet to the pool bathroom and a warm shower...

Another site with lots of Indian Ridge homes is

http://www.floridathesunshinestatevillas.com/villas.asp

I am sure you could find a good price here.

If you really want the condo, I have heard Windor Hills is very nice...I would ask on this board how warm the pool is, however...a cold pool may be beautiful but empty if too cold.

Good luck..Ted

 

[isla bonita]

Like Ted mentioned most pool homes keep thee pool heat at 85. The weather can be iffy but we have been down the last 2 Feb and we have days we swim and days we wear a light jacket. As long as the pool is heated you can swim on the warmer days and spend the cooler days indoors.

 

[FayeW]

I'm not really interested in a pool home. I was looking at RP & WH because of the poolslides, lazy river, etc. I'd love to stay at Horizons by Marriott but as I said, I'm starting to wonder about the wisdom of choosing a resort that we do plan to spend some time enjoying, simply for the pool areas.

We have given some thought to buying into DVC, but realized that would be stupid, since we've never even stayed onsite! I always justify not buying in because for the cost of 2 yrs worth of maintenance fees, we could rent points every 2 yrs, and not have to make the financial investment, but then, we never rent the points because I'm too cheap to spend $1500 for 5 nights in a 2 bdrm when I can get a great deal offsite for our whole 9 nights, and considerably less money. I'm thinking that since most of our tickets will be free (through rewards points from my job), and we have $240 in airline credit, I should just "get off my wallet" and pay to stay onsite and then at least I will know what I'm missing.

 

[tednvon]

Good Luck...sounds like you will have a great time, no matter what...

FYI, I agree that unless you have lots of money to burn any type of time share or vacation club is a lot of $$$ for what you get, and the hidden fees and interest are a killer...

all the best...Ted

 

[Local_Girl]

We've been a couple of times in early-mid Dec. and while we managed to find a couple of days that warmed up enough to swim on each trip, I wouldn't choose a condo/resort primarily on the pool amenities at that time of year. Just my own opinion...

 

[spiceycat]

if you stay in OKW for 5 days (sun-thurs) points would be 110 - so between $1,110 and $1,540 for a 2-bedroom - depending upon who you rent from.

then I would suggest Royal Pacific at Us - for the FOLA.

or go find something on
www.skyauction.com - a little early for Dec - but you can look...

or if you II better
www.condodirect.com - again a little early to be renting.

the thing about timeshares is they generally have activities to do. just renting a condo does not always have activities...

for direct owner rentals of timeshares

http://www.tug1.org/tugads/1-1sposted1.html

at 45 days of less
http://www.tugbbs.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=16

also you can try this one
http://www.myresortnetwork.com/Florida/Condo-Rentals/

 

[FayeW]

Thanks for the links, spiceycat. I won't stay onsite at US, I won't really need FOTL at that time of year (at least we didn't in Dec '03, and for that matter, didn't need them this past Oct, either).

IF we decide on the DVC stay, we will stay elsewhere for the first 3 nights, and do US/IOA then. Check in to DVC Sun-Thurs, and either cut our trip back by a day and head home Friday, or really throw caution to the wind and stay at POP for the last night. Part of my grand plan would be to pick up some groceries for the 5 days, check in and then turn in our rental car. Just do the WDW parks for the rest of the trip using Disney transport. If we decide to stay at a value, they can move our luggage for us, and then we could take ME back to the airport. I'm leaning towards OKW, and I hear that it has the best bus service on property. I would like to try the dining plan as well, and if we budget our credits properly, we would have enough left for our check out day (which would be our day at POP).

If my "inner cheapskate" stages a revolt and I decide to rent a one bedroom, can you rent a roll-away cot at OKW, or should I just bring an airmattress for one of the kids? (They don't get along well enough to sleep together anymore, even on vacation!)

 

[spiceycat]

OKW has not have cots....

so bring the air mattress...

or you can take the sofa's pillows plus the love seats - and just make a bed. you will need to bring sheets and pillows - DVC will only provide for their beds....

the 1-bedroom is 16 points - so $800 to $1,120 for the 5 days (sun-thurs). of course I would do 2 studios (same price as a 1-bedroom) - but lots of people aren't willing to do that - because you and your husband would have separate units... (one person in each unit must be 18 or older)

OKW has 2 queen beds in each studio.

OKW has nice bus tranportation - but I think Pop has the best transportation.... we only waited around 5 to 10 minutes at Pop.... at OKW we miss one bus going to the MK took it 40 minutes to come back... but most of the time our wait was around 10 minutes or less.

now when you come up to the Pop bus depost - you will think you are in for a long wait - there are that many people staying at this resort. but if the bus driver can't hold everyone there is generally another bus before that one leaves....

Pop has 2 double beds in each room.

 

[spiceycat]

oh forgot - their is the new family suites at All star music (will be at all the all stars before the end of this year)

here is a description and cost
http://allearsnet.com/acc/faq_asm.htm