Crossing over to the dark side.....Emerald Island info

[HeatherFeather]

After numerous trips to WDW staying onsite, we are coming down with my parents the first week of January and they want a full kitchen, so we decided to rent a villa. We are renting a townhome in Emerald Island Resort. Can any of you tell me how long of a drive it REALLY is to the parks from there? Also, is there a Publix or other grocery store closeby?

Thank you all in advance!

 

[Keacc]

We have stayed in homes at Emerald Island on several occasions. It is a great location. You can make it by car to the front gate of any park as fast or faster than any of the non-monorail resorts. There is a Publix just west of EI on 192. There are also many good restaurants in the area.

 

[5mins2disney]

Here's a section from our website where we list some helpful information for guests, we're in Windsor Hills which is just down the road a tad from EI... I believe gardengrocer delivers to EI as well. Have a great time, once you've been there once you will never want to go back to a hotel room ever again!!


Where can I pick up any extra sundry items I need?

Our home is located just minutes from US 192 where numerous supermarkets and superstores are found. There is a Publix supermarket located 2 miles West of Old Lake Wilson Road on highway 192, an upscale Goodings market at Water Tower Place in Celebration, just about 5 minutes East on 192, and a Winn-Dixie at Formosa Gardens Plaza, just West of Old Lake Wilson Road on highway 192. There are also 3 Wal-Marts and a Super Target within a short driving distance, well as numerous convenience stores located on US 192. Also nearby are stores such as Walgreen's, Wal-Mart, Target, and many others, so obtaining nearly anything you should need while vacationing should be quite easy, and a whole lot less expensive than staying on the Disney properties and eating out all the time with no kitchen!



Here is a map of US-192 and all the stores on it:
http://www.kissimmee-us192.com/map/ushwy192mapindex.htm

Windsor Hills is on section 2, the "shortcut" road to WDW is on this map also, Sherberth.



Here's another great idea...don't feel like spending time at the grocery store when you arrive? Pre-order it all and have it delivered right to your vacation home from http://www.gardengrocer.com/ !! This company is like what we call "Peapod" here in Chicago. You can pre-order all of your groceries online and have them delivered anywhere in the Disney Resort area whenever you would like!! The groceries cost the same as going to the store yourself, and are of high quality, and they charge you only $10 for delivery... if you spend over $200 then delivery is free! It'd be cool to do all your "shopping" online before you ever even leave so you're not wasting time at the store when you arrive!

 

[spiceycat]

I like this map a little better
http://www.thedibb.co.uk/villa/map.htm

publix is located between - see AKL above this OL and LW (different side of the road) - it is on OL side.

there is a winnie dixie closer - but I prefer publix.

 

[isla bonita]

I think you will be quite pleased with the location and I think you will also love the resort. It is very easy on the eyes.

 

[HeatherFeather]

Dang...you all are some of the nicest, most helpful DISers I have encountered. Thank you for all your help!

 

[isla bonita]

Here is the official EI website and another website with just EI homes. I know you have a home already but these sites have pics of the grounds and clubhouse of EI might be interesting to check out.

http://www.emeraldislandhoa.org/

http://emeraldislandresortvacationhomes.com/

If there are any questions you have please feel free we spend a little time atour home there and know it pretty well.

 

[grammynelliebelle]

We stayed in EI last Nov. It was a Great location! I didn't know about the grocery ordering. Sounds like a really good idea. Have a great trip. Grammy

 

[allyn]

there's a shortcut to disney world if you turn on sherberth road (the next road past formosa gardens). the shortcut makes it very fast to get to animal kingdom and animal kingdom lodge, and we used it most of the time for all disney world destinations (except pleasure island, we took the freeway for that).

 

[disneysteve]

an upscale Goodings market at Water Tower Place in Celebration, just about 5 minutes East on 192

That Goodings is no longer there. We drove through that center last week and the store was vacant.

 

[jen54321]

I bookmarked the shortcuts that fellow DISers already posted that will take you to Disney from the WH and EI area. Here they are:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1256441

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1246812&page=1&pp=15

Cheers!

 

[mbb]

Just had to chuckle at your thread title...hee hee

Call me to the Dark Side any day, we love villa vacationing!