Did I Get Ripped Off?

[lbklyn]

My family and I have rented a very nice 5 bedroom house with pool at Windsor Hills for early Nov. (not high season) for about $1,750.00. That is with tax and pool heating. Put down a $260.00 deposit. This is for a week. I keep seeing all these sites talking about how much cheaper they have paid, and for more days! Most of the time they are talking about condos and townhomes and I factor that in but it still seems like most are paying alot less than me. Even the 5 & 6 bedrooms seem to be less. Again, it looks like a very beautiful house but do you think I was overcharged?

 

[asmit4]

I think that 250 a night during November is high, unless the house has:
pool
hot tub
high end bathrooms with huge walkin showers, jacuzzi
large bedrooms
high end kitchen (convection oven, stainless appliances, granite)
large bedrooms with king/queen beds

I've seen some rates for Windsor hills 5brd. for around 150 a night or less depending on time of year if I am remembering correctly.

 

[bradk]

you didn't say how long you're staying, but we rented a similar off site vacation home for a week and i think it was more like $1200 or so. that was back in 2005 during christmas week.

 

[Darcy03231]

I didn't rent in WH, but I did rent a very nice 5 bdrm/3 bath w/pool home last August for $700/wk, which included all taxes and fees (we rented for two weeks and got a discount). It wasn't fancy, but it was clean and comfortable and convenient to restaurants and shopping. It took us about 15 min to get to WDW. You can view it at: www.vacationrentals.com/vacation-rentals/16388.html

 

[snickerboo]

At that same time, we're paying $85 or 90 per night for a 3bdrm condo. However, I did notice when researching WH that the nicer they're decorated, and the closer to the clubhouse and pool, the more you pay. You mention that the one you booked is 'very nice' so maybe that's why it seems a little high. The one I booked is nice enough but fairly basic and in one of the buildings back from the pool. A nicer condo right by the pool, I was quoted $130/night.

 

[Sandy Fisher]

Honestly, I wouldn't pay that. But there are probably folks who will. If we had 3 or 4 couples going together and needed the space, splitting the cost, maybe. But just for a family group, no.
Of course we never went to the high end Disney resorts either. So that could make a difference. If you want a place where you can fix meals (if you're so inclined) and use a nice pool, have your privacy, etc., it might make sense. I just wouldn't spend that much. Hope it turns out really nice for you.

 

[lbklyn]

Thank you all! Well, I would lose the deposit if I cancelled now so I guess it is a go. It has the lake view in the back and the rooms do look very nice (I hope that they are that nice when we get there). Supposedly it is closer to the clubhouse than alot of others (Dauby Street). It is #4 on the Windsorhillsrent site under the 5 bedrooms. We had more people going when i booked it so the cost would have been lower. A couple of people had to cancel. Thanks again for the responses!

 

[neilsalop]

It looks like we've got a bargain then. 4bed. 2 bath. pool, hot-tub for £350 ($700) plus pool heating, a week in the two weeks to Christmas, total price £850 ($1700) inclusive. And it's only 10 minutes to the car park .

 

[cheerful chickadee]

We rented a vacation house in thousand oaks (Davenport, FL, about 10 - 15 min from WDW) and it was about $1200 including taxes for 10 nights, it had 3 bedrooms 2 with queens and one with 2 twins, 3 bathrooms, a huge living room and kitchen, pool, laundry, etc. My parents, my sis and her family and my family all split it and it was about $400 for each group, pretty good deal for 10 nights. I think the closer to WDW you are the higher the price and any high end amenities will up the anty.

 

[Goofy'slady]

Holy WHO-HA's Batman! That's a lot of money, but perhaps like everyone else has said you're paying for being so close to the club house and fancier furnishings and maybe even that time of year.

We rent homes but we've never rented WH homes and never have gone that time of year, considered it for next year but hubby says he likes going in early May to much to change. We just have a family of 4 + BFF who tags along on all of our trips; so all we needed was a 3bdroom-it had 2baths and private pool and spa too. The home was very nice for the price and I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for property off-site and affordable. For 8nights I think we paid about 1,000.00. This was the house we stayed at this year.

http://www.awardpoolhomes.com/Houses/OrangeTree/Hale/orange_view.htm

T.

 

[rwdavis2]

That price doesn't sound too bad. I checked at All Star and that's the low-end rate for a 5 BR house in that area.
Bob

 

[Chelley00]

We're renting a 4 BR villa in Oct-Nov for $925/week including pool heat and hot tub, not in Windsor Hills but in the same area. I think you could have done better in Windsor Hills, but being that close to the clubhouse will be nice if you actually use the ammenities there

You'll love the area. Such an easy drive to WDW!

 

[tinytink22]

We went in Feb and stayed at Emerald Island it cost us $1700 but it had 7 bedrooms with teir own bathrooms, a pool and hot tub and it also had a games room and it was only 5 minutes away from Disney

 

[Cool-Beans]

We got 8 nights for under $1000 (3 bedrooms, including taxes and crap) here: http://www.dreamsvillas.com/ If I get a chance, I'd go back. It was nice and big and clean and a really happy place to stay. And unless we'd slept in the clubhouse, we couldn't have been much closer. So, I think $1750 seems kind of high. But I don't know.

We did pay a deposit, I think it was $300. But it gets refunded when you don't set the place on fire or punch holes in the walls or whatever they're worried about.

 

[disnut8]

I had to add that this is why you never tell people how much you paid for your home or your car or any other major purchase. Because someone will always say "but you could have done better *here* or with *this product* or by using *this* sale". There's always going to be a better deal out there. And there is also going to be a worse one.

 

[jbhall]

This seems high to me.

I know you can't change but for future reference and for houses all over the world this is a great site. There are literally thousands of listings for the Orlando area.

vrbo.com

 

[CanadianGuy]

Vacation homes recommendations and discussion are held over on the Orlando Area Attractions & Hotels Board here on the DIS. I'll be moving this one over there.

Thanks!

KNox

 

[sympatico]

My family and I have rented a very nice 5 bedroom house with pool at Windsor Hills for early Nov. (not high season) for about $1,750.00. That is with tax and pool heating. Put down a $260.00 deposit. This is for a week. I keep seeing all these sites talking about how much cheaper they have paid, and for more days! Most of the time they are talking about condos and townhomes and I factor that in but it still seems like most are paying alot less than me. Even the 5 & 6 bedrooms seem to be less. Again, it looks like a very beautiful house but do you think I was overcharged?

I don't think you got ripped off. WH is fairly expensive anyway. You're paying for a new manned gated community with fabulous pool, clubhouse and lots of amenities.
Dauby Street is only one of two streets that have homes with lake views. You'll have 5 bedrooms with kids themeing and 5 bathrooms and games room and the house does look great. That's about $1350. before pool heat and taxes. Sometimes when people give out their deals it's before taxes and pool heat. I know you can get better deals at other places but you may not be getting the same quality. Make sure you're comparing apples with apples.
We stayed in Indian Creek in March for $800./wk. The house was ok but it was older and some areas of it showed wear and tear. Indian Creek isn't gated nor does it have community facilities. We had stayed in a brand new 6 bedroom in WH in Nov and really missed the newness and extras. So I guess it's whatever rocks your boat. I think you'll be very happy with your choice.

 

[Brian Noble]

You didn't get the best deal in the world, but you didn't get ripped off either. It's a fair price for a well-decorated home that backs up to the conservation pond.

I checked at All Star and that's the low-end rate for a 5 BR house in that area.

My experience has been that All Star carries a premium compared to booking directly with an owner----that's probably just AS's cut on the deal.