Condo's close to Disney

[yecats]

Which condo's are closest to Disney property. I know that there is one which is really close to Animal Kingdom but I do not know the name of it. The condo is on that road that you pass AK like your heading to AKL but would turn left at the red light and proceed up about a 1/4 of a mile? It looked pretty new when I last toured that area two years ago (stayed offsite that vacation). Anyway, I am considering a condo stay for part of my next trip but want someplace nice with pool/hottub and close to Disney property. Any suggestions? How did you book, what did you pay? Thanks for all your help.

 

[disneysteve]

We rented a 3-bedroom 2-bath 1400 sq. ft. condo at Windsor Palms in November. It was wonderful and I'd certainly recommend them. We rented through this site:
http://www.windsor-palms-resort.com/

We paid $90/nite. Since then, some fellow DISers pointed me toward http://www.closesttodisney.com which offers same condos for less.

Nice community pool and hot tub. Very clean and well-maintained complex. Lots of positive comments on the boards if you search around.

Steve

 

[Lisa P.]

Perhaps the place you mean is Silver Lake Resort. We've stayed there and enjoyed it a lot. Here's my review of our stay. It was a week we traded via RCI (timeshare exchange company). Occasionally, this resort has been seen on SkyAuction for weekly rentals. The back of this resort runs along Sherberth Road, which ends at the traffic light between AK park and AKL. HTH.

 

[spiceycat]

you can also rent points to get a reservation from a DVC member on this site

just go to
dvc rental/trade site

now DVC (Disney Vacation Club) is expensive - even renting from a member - most of the other places are much,much cheaper.

but you are staying on site.

if the off season a studio at OKW will be 8 Points so $80 a night - a 1-bedroom will be 16 points so $160 a night, and a 2-bedroom will be 22 points so $220 a night - this is a Sun-thurs stay only - Fri/sat are much more expensive.

this is off season - January, Sept, and the first two weeks of Dec.

for the studio only it includes Oct, much of Nov, and some more in Dec. - the 1 and 2 bedroom are higher during this time.

 

[yecats]

Thank you for your responses.

Hi Spiceycat - I have considered renting DVC points and am still considering same but do have reservations regarding staying on site. My next trip is for my mom and I. We last went on an extended vacation to WDW in Dec. 2003. To keep basic cost down, I used priceline and stayed at a 3* hotel in Kissimmee next to Sherbeth Road. Easy access and very convenient to Disney. It was a nice vacation (also included days at US as well). However, a few problems came up between my mom and I when it came down to sleeping in one room.

These are the problems that we have:

Mom is a light sleeper and can't sleep with any lights, tv on, etc. She also doesn't sleep well in unfamiliar places.

I can sleep through anything and generally fall asleep watching tv, then will wake up an 1 1/2 later and turn the tv off. I am not one of those people who even after walking the parks a full day comes back and concks out, I wind down. Sometimes I go swimming late and then find my mom is fussy when I return to the room because she is tired but can't sleep.

There is also a cost issue as my mom doesn't believe in paying double for something (just because it is on property) and would go on about the cost putting a damper on the trip. My mom loves Disney, but only to a point.

Staying on property is wonderful and very convenient but cost and the fact that we are back in the same room brings back the same problem. We can easily rent a 2 bedroom condo offsite for less than half the cost of a 1 bedroom DVC onsite thereby ending all problems with exception of slightly longer drive. I am still considering it but believe I will be tempted to have my own room to wind down. There is also the possibility that I may not rent the condo a whole week and check into a moderate or deluxe the last 3 days of the trip thereby limiting the # of days spent in one room. Still weighing the options.

To Lisa P. - Silver Lake is the one that I passed daily. You really had a great review and comparison of the other offsite resorts you stayed at. Will keep this as an option.

To Disneysteve, closesttodisney seems like a good site with really great prices. I will have to keep my ears open to see what others have to say about dealing with them.

Thanks for your replies. We are looking to go either Nov./Dec. and I am still churning the variations around in my head. I would love to stay onsite but realistically feel like keeping my sanity would be to have my own space with a nice place. While I sit here typing this, I have a memory of having to lie in bed trying to fall asleep knowing hat my mom would wake up if I moved.

 

[bearzabout]

I love Silver Lake Resort because of its proximity to Disney. There is less traffic on the west side of the property so I prefer the location over the resorts Crossroads (Cypress Pointe, Vistana Resort). It is only about a 5 minute drive to Animal Kingdom.

I stayed there 5 weeks last year. If you book at Silver Lake, try to get a two bedroom unit. The units facing away from the room are very quiet. They seem to be well built and fairly well maintainted. Some of the one bedroom units are lockoffs with a small whirlpool in the room.

The two bedroom units in the new, tall building have a great second bedroom suite. The bedroom is large and the unit has a small (but quiet) refrigerator and its own microwave, coffee pot and good sized bathroom. You can shut the double lockoff doors between the units and virtually soundproof one side from the other.

You can look at the floorplans at http://www.silverlake.net/villas.htm. The units are not as fancy as some, but to me, the location is more important.

Call first to check on the construction progress. They are adding a few new buildings and you don't want to be there during the day if noisy construction is going on.

I book using Skyauction for around $260 per week. We have annual passes so parking at the parks is free. I have learned that I prefer 6 weeks a year at Disney on a budget instead of 2 weeks on site.

Have a great time!

 

[yecats]

Wow Bearzabout, you can't beat that price for a week and I certainly agree, the proximity to Disney can't be beat and for that price. Wow!!!! $260 a week for a 2 bedroom unit. How far ahead have you booked your vacation using Skyauction? Any hidden cost with Skyauction? How is the pool area, hottub? Wow. This is a great offer to get for a weeks stay. It would be very hard to pass something like that up.

 

[bearzabout]

I have booked condos as much at 6 months ahead of time. During slow times, they will come up early. During busier times, they show up on the Ready Set Go auctions about 6 weeks out.

There are no hidden fees that I am aware of. I usually win at around $50 plus $195 service charge plus a $15 processing fee. No resort has ever charged me anything extra.

I never used the pool at Silver Lake, but it looks nice. Check out the pictures on the website I listed. I prefer the water parks at Disney. The units have huge whirlpool tubs, which are fabulous after a long day on your feet. Every unit has a washer and dryer so you don't have to pack as much clothing. You can also dry towels after each use.

They offer a trip on the Sterling Lines Casino ship out of Port Canaveral for only $5.00 including transportation. It is a fun, cheap way (as long as you don't gamble much) to cruise on the ocean in the evening.

Remember, the units are nice enough but the atmosphere is nothing like Disney. As a cheap bedroom, its hard to beat. I hope you like it.

 

[spiceycat]

definitely check out

www.skyauction.com

I have also used it....

It is really great for last minute - 2 weeks or less - because it is such a short time - you can generally find some good deals

the Sheraton VIstana and Orange Lake on the whole are not good backs (in my opinion) they will generally run around $400 to $600 without adding the $195 and $15 fee.

If you have doubts about any of the resorts - just ask here.

Also look for the 7 days - the hotels generally listed as 1 -14 days are not a good buy.

you can also find a bargin here - if you don't want to go through an auction

www.hotelkingdom.com

http://www.hotelmartusa.com/index.cfm

both occasionally have condo

 

[TiffJ]

I 2nd the vote for Windsor Palms Resort. Couldnt be in a more convenient location and a great property. We stayed in a 3br condo twice last year & have it booked again for Sept.

 

[Straitlover]

Hey, bearzabout, who offers the cruise, Silver Lake of SkyAuction? I am staying at SL in May (courtesy of SkyAution of course! ), and my sis and I would love to do this! It would be a way for us to decide if we want to go on a "real" cruise!