Condos/Villas Back in the Day

[my 3 princesses]

This has been driving me nuts. When I was a kid and we went to DW we used to stay at either a condo or villa (I don't remember which it was) that was on a golf course. It was the easiest way to accomodate our family of 8. I believe it was on Disney grounds, near the Treehouse Villas but it wasn't one of those. We used to rent golf carts and drive them all over I believe even to DTD somehow where we could plug them in and recharge while we ate/shopped etc.

Does anyone know where we used to stay or if they still have golf cart paths? I have no intentions to do this as we stay at my parents vacation home when we're in FL, I was just wondering if anyone has ever heard of this (the condo/villa/golf car thing) and if it still exists. It's a nostalgia think I guess.

 

[GrumpySue]

The Disney Villas.....we stayed there back in the early 80's, they are not there anymore. I believe they were located about where Saratoga Springs is now, I remember you could walk to the Disney Marketplace, which was the only thing there then (no Pleasure Island or West Side).


They were very nice and roomy, I wish they had something like that now.

 

[LowesChevy]

Yes, they were the Disney & Fairway villas that existed in the land where SSR is now. Before they were taken down to begin SSR, this area was known as the Disney Institute. It offered educational & recreational programs to guests like cooking classes, rock climbing, art classes etc.

The villas were spacious, we had stayed there in a two bedroom villa. There was a living room, kitchen, bathroom and laundry downstairs and upstairs a bdr with a king bed, a bdr with 2 twin beds and bathroom. They were pretty nice, but built in the 70s they were old and in need of repair.

They kept the "town style" buildings and stage from the Institute, but the villas were all demolished to begin construction on SSR.

 

[HappyDznyCamper]

Depending on how far back you go, I think they were called Club Lake villas at Lake Buena Vista. This was long before SSR or even the Disney Institute.

 

[ElizabethB]

Yes, they pre-dated the Disney Institute.

 

[dshouse4]

Thank you for that info. We honeymooned in the Villas at Lake Buena Vista 28 years ago. I was just wondering what had happened to them. We are now planning a first trip to Disney for our grandsons. Also taking our DD and SIL . Youngest daughter also going. Great Memories!

 

[my 3 princesses]

Thanks for the info everyone. Maybe I shouldn't have asked. I seriously feel as though I could cry. There were just so many happy memories for our family there that it saddens me to think of them being bulldozed to the ground. C'est la vie. At least we have photos and videos to keep the memories alive.