Anything like windsor hills near universal?

[kty]

we are staying at Windsor Hills right now and are having a BLAST
We will never stay in a hotel room at Disney again -

Next year we will be down in orlando again for a convention, and will be doing mostly universal parks and the convention center. Although windsor hills is not too far - and we might just stay here again, we were wondering if there is anything similiar closer to either of those.

thanks

 

[A&CsMom]

I don't know a lot about it, but I seem to remember it being mentioned that the same developer of Windsor Palms/Hills is building a new development in the location you want called Vista Cay. Good luck and have fun searching!

 

[aquaticmom]

We are staying at Vista Cay Nov 27 - Dec 2nd. It is very close to the convention center. It looks to have all the resort amenities similiar to Windsor Hills, but I am not sure it has the larger homes. I think it may only be condo's and townhouses. I will be glad to post a report once I get there and let you know what I think of Vista Cay.

 

[Mainebound]

FWI, We go to Universal from the 192 area (WH and EMerald Island) at least 3 and often more days per trip (thanks to those 7 day passes for $95!), and always get there easily within 12-15 minutes.

I personally think the 192 area has so much to offer that it is worth the extra few minutes ot get to Universal.

Good luck finding your perfect rental next trip!

 

[kty]

thanks for all your replies - I would be interested in your review of vista cay upon your return aquaticmom!

thank goodness i have a year to make my decision.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

we are staying at Windsor Hills right now and are having a BLAST
We will never stay in a hotel room at Disney again -

Next year we will be down in orlando again for a convention, and will be doing mostly universal parks and the convention center. Although windsor hills is not too far - and we might just stay here again, we were wondering if there is anything similiar closer to either of those.

thanks

We love to stay in houses or condos too but we make Universal the one exception. If you stay at their onsite hotels, you just show your room key to bypass the regular lines. It's like having an unlimited fast pass. Their hotels are all 4* on par w/ Disney's deluxe and are close enough to walk to the parks or you can use their relaxing water taxi. They offer discounts for AAA members and even better discounts if you get an annual pass. Once you try it you will be so spoiled, that key is worth its weight in gold!
Ds's say it's like being a VIP!
You can even just stay one night and get FOTL privileges for 2 full days, the day you check in, even in early am, and the day you check out until park closes.

 

[kty]

ruadisneyfan2-

nice idea. I will check into that as well. do any of the universal hotels have accomodations for 5 and kitchens?

thanks for your suggestion.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

ruadisneyfan2-

nice idea. I will check into that as well. do any of the universal hotels have accomodations for 5 and kitchens?

thanks for your suggestion.

Not sure if you can get kitchens in the deluxe rooms or suites. We've always gotten a standard room and has a coffeemaker and minibar/cooler stocked with milk, juice, beer, wine, etc. (lockable by sep. key)

My neighbor has a family of 5 total and they get 1 room at the Portofino Bay (largest rooms of the 3 hotels) and she gets a standard room (2 queens) and requests a rollaway bed for her youngest. She admits it's tight but that room key makes it so worthwhile. You can also get guaranteed connecting rooms if you want more space and would be nice to have 2 tvs and 2 baths.

We've stayed at all 3 and the Hard Rock Hotel is our favorite. ultra cool and luxurious.

 

[Mainebound]

We love the Universal hotels and the perks are fantastic. But at $300 a night for our March dates plus parking, I am not sure we are going to keep our HRH ressie. We also need two rooms! It is hard to justify when one room at the Hard Rock is more than we pay per night for a 6 bedroom house in WH. And The Royal Pacific is only like $40 a night cheaper.

The last few years we have been doing a mix of buying express passes for 1 or 2 park days (at $15 or $20 a day per person, they are still cheaper than the hotel for a night -- although you obviously don't get unlimited rides as you do with the hotel key) and winging it without the passes. We have had a ball!

 

[Prairie Gal]

We will be staying at Vista Cay for two nights in December also. I got a two bedroom on Hotwire for $130 per night.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

We love the Universal hotels and the perks are fantastic. But at $300 a night for our March dates plus parking, I am not sure we are going to keep our HRH ressie. We also need two rooms! It is hard to justify when one room at the Hard Rock is more than we pay per night for a 6 bedroom house in WH. And The Royal Pacific is only like $40 a night cheaper.

The last few years we have been doing a mix of buying express passes for 1 or 2 park days (at $15 or $20 a day per person, they are still cheaper than the hotel for a night -- although you obviously don't get unlimited rides as you do with the hotel key) and winging it without the passes. We have had a ball!

Yes, you're right. That is a ton of money. We were lucky to be able to go in Sept and Nov. when rates are lower and with AP we only paid $144 for HRH and $169 for Portofino. I don't know that I would be willing to pay $300/nt. not matter what the perks are.
Express passes are a great alternative!