Considering a 2011 trip...not on property

[sherabby]

Just got back and we're already thinking of what to do next year. After 5 trips in the last 4 years I'm thinking of something different. I'd love to take my son to Sea World for a day. He loves to swim (even though he cannot swim yet!) and he loved the water slide at Coronado Springs and the Contemporary.

Does anyone know of any other offsite locations that have water slides (more shallow 3 or 4 ft water) and a nice pool? Should we just book a room on site at Disney like Coronado and visit the other things that Orlando has to offer?

 

[sherabby]

Does anyone have any suggestions in the Florida or even Orlando area for an all inclusive type resort?

 

[Detailor]

Does anyone have any suggestions in the Florida or even Orlando area for an all inclusive type resort?

I'll at least start the list of all-inclusives...

Amelia Island Plantation on Amelia Island north of Jacksonville near the Georgia border
Club Med Sandpiper near Palm Beach
Little Palm Island Resort & Spa on Little Torch Key in the Florida Keys

Dick Taylor

 

[Brian Noble]

I'm not sure where you'll find a water slide with a shallow splash pool. My kids are all older, so I've never paid attention. The slide at Windsor Hills has a height requirement (so that's probably out.) I want to say that the slide at Bonnet is in relatively deep water, but am not sure.

 

[spiceycat]

first - only Disney has lifeguards.

the others do NOT have lifeguards.

there are several timeshares around w/slides
Cypress Pointe
Sheraton Vistana
Hilton Grand Vacation CLub
holiday inn club vacations at Orange Lake -river island
holiday inn club vacations at orange lake - east village

kids have been know to slide into other kids w/o lifeguard.

teens generally have the run of the pool (which can be bad for little ones) - when there is no lifeguard to stop them.

 

[Brian Noble]

the others do NOT have lifeguards.

This is not necessarily the case. At least one pool at Bonnet Creek (the one that had a slide) had a lifeguard when we were there.

The Disney quiet pools do not have lifeguards, and the feature pools at Disney also sometimes "feature" teenagers running amok as well.

 

[sherabby]

first - only Disney has lifeguards.

the others do NOT have lifeguards.

there are several timeshares around w/slides
Cypress Pointe
Sheraton Vistana
Hilton Grand Vacation CLub
holiday inn club vacations at Orange Lake -river island
holiday inn club vacations at orange lake - east village

kids have been know to slide into other kids w/o lifeguard.

teens generally have the run of the pool (which can be bad for little ones) - when there is no lifeguard to stop them.

Thank you! That is very good advice. It might be worth it just to stay on Disney property even though we might not want to visit the parks. We usually rent a car.

 

[sherabby]

I'm not sure where you'll find a water slide with a shallow splash pool. My kids are all older, so I've never paid attention. The slide at Windsor Hills has a height requirement (so that's probably out.) I want to say that the slide at Bonnet is in relatively deep water, but am not sure.

Some of the Disney pool slides let out in 3ft deep water...not shallow but enough that my son doesn't go under. He has ear problems and we try to keep him above as much as possible. Coronado Springs was fine for him and the Contemporary as well as the one at POFQ.

 

[sherabby]

Does Sea World offer any hotel deals that has the water park included?

 

[Disney grandma]

Does Sea World offer any hotel deals that has the water park included?

Check their website, there are numerous hotel packages that include the water park. Also, the individual hotels offer packages, we had one through the Renaissance Hotel across the street from SW

 

[sherabby]

Check their website, there are numerous hotel packages that include the water park. Also, the individual hotels offer packages, we had one through the Renaissance Hotel across the street from SW

We you satisfied with your stay there and how did it compare to Disney resorts?

 

[Disney grandma]

We you satisfied with your stay there and how did it compare to Disney resorts?

We loved the Renaissance. The rooms were huge and bright. I had originally booked through SW but was able to get a less expensive package directly through the hotel. I kept watching for discounts and was able to get a lower rate than I had originally booked and the hotel applied the lower rate to our package. The front desk was very pleasant, the pool area was nice and being able to walk back and forth to SW with two little grandchildren was wonderful.

 

[sherabby]

We loved the Renaissance. The rooms were huge and bright. I had originally booked through SW but was able to get a less expensive package directly through the hotel. I kept watching for discounts and was able to get a lower rate than I had originally booked and the hotel applied the lower rate to our package. The front desk was very pleasant, the pool area was nice and being able to walk back and forth to SW with two little grandchildren was wonderful.

That sounds great! We're so stuck on Disney and the Disney resorts though it makes it hard to try something else. My co-workers think I'm nuts for going back every summer. We just love it though. The wait to go back is so long and the week just goes by so fast!!!

 

[Disney grandma]

We stayed at the Renaissance for two nights and then on to Disney at BLT. We had rented points and we did love it! We have considered being completely off site for the entire stay but we usually end up getting a decent deal and stay on Disney property. Our 2011 trip we are planning on staying at the Dolphin. We have stayed there before and consider it being "on site". The convenience of Disney transportation is a big plus for us because we do not like to drive once we get there. For us, it is whatever is the best deal at the time we are going and what will be most convenient for us. That's why we stayed at Renaissance, so we could walk to SW and enjoy it without the traffic. We did drive to downtown Disney but it was so close it was no problem at all.

 

[onehotmamma]

Im new to all this. My name is Mandi and I have 4 children, 5 going. My husband and I cant afford to stay on property. This will be our 1st WDW vac but we are going to stay at the Windsor Palms Resort. Ive read great reviews and theres so much to do for free on site. Its 3brm 3bath condo with pool, movie theater, game room, basketball, volleyball, hiking, play ground etc. Its a gated place and 3miles from Disney. The condo we booked for April is only $620!! The includes 7nights, taxes and cleaning fee!!

 

[sherabby]

Im new to all this. My name is Mandi and I have 4 children, 5 going. My husband and I cant afford to stay on property. This will be our 1st WDW vac but we are going to stay at the Windsor Palms Resort. Ive read great reviews and theres so much to do for free on site. Its 3brm 3bath condo with pool, movie theater, game room, basketball, volleyball, hiking, play ground etc. Its a gated place and 3miles from Disney. The condo we booked for April is only $620!! The includes 7nights, taxes and cleaning fee!!

That does sound like a great deal! We've been spoiled by being on Disney property though and when you consider that we rent a car to get around easier we would have to pay for parking. My son also has multiple food allergies and they take such great care of him! I'm always swayed back to a Disney property stay. Once we went to a local Olive Garden and I explained his allergies to the waitress. She turned around and said to me...Why are you dining here? I was then asking for a manager!

 

[onehotmamma]

Yea I totally understand that!! My one year old has allergies to Milk and soy!! Thank goodness hes still young enough for me to pack his stuff!! Thats awful she would say that to you! The Condo we are staying at provides shuttle but probably cost. Do you know Parking amount??

 

[sherabby]

It was $14 to park daily at all parks.

 

[Pembo]

Windsor Hills pool slide is awesome. My 7 yo went down it more times than I can count. There is not a lifeguard BUT there is a person who watches the slide and makes sure that there is only one person at a time. The splash pool wasn't too deep either.

We loved WH!

 

[3kidsfordis]

Just got back and we're already thinking of what to do next year. After 5 trips in the last 4 years I'm thinking of something different. I'd love to take my son to Sea World for a day. He loves to swim (even though he cannot swim yet!) and he loved the water slide at Coronado Springs and the Contemporary.

Does anyone know of any other offsite locations that have water slides (more shallow 3 or 4 ft water) and a nice pool? Should we just book a room on site at Disney like Coronado and visit the other things that Orlando has to offer?

Check out Marriott's Harbour Lakes (formerly Horizons). They have a great pool with a pirate ship that has a couple of slides that empty into about 18" or 2' of water. A different pool has a slide that goes into three feet. There is also a large splash/spray park with dumping buckets of water etc. It is very close to Seaworld. I've only stayed in their two bedroom/two bath condos with full kitchen and washer/dryer but they also have some studios. Lots of great reviews on tripadvisor. I've stayed here three times after two onsite stays (ASMu and Poly). Harbour Lakes wins hands down with our family. It is an awesome place for families. There was someone monitoring the large slide and I believe there were lifeguards-you'd have to call to check for certain!