Emeral Island Resort

[Koda]

Has anyone stayed here? Any input would be great!

Thanks!

 

[mtmbyck]

We stayed here last year. In the past we have also stayed in Windsor Hills, Lake Berkely, INdian Ridge Oaks.....

My opinion - nowhere near as nice as Windsor Hills. Clubhouse and common pool are very small and not much going on. The home we had was older and it backed on to the greenspace which in hindsight was awful as there are trees that drop these long vines all over the screened in pool so the sun coulnd't get in as much as we liked.

Overall, I didn't hate it - if you have a deal (which we did) then go for it but it was not as nice as others. It IS, HOwever, just as close as Windosr Hills and Palms to the Disney Parks. I thought Indian Creek and Formosa Gardens looked nice - right next door!

 

[dizneyluv]

We had a very nice 6 bedroom there our first trip. The neighborhood was well kept. We never explored the facilities as we used the pool with the house. We also lived in the parks open/close so had no time! It was very close to the parks, never encountered traffic going in on Sherberth (sp?) road.

 

[Koda]

Thanks for your input. I found a great deal here on a 4 bedroom townhouse, and am wondering if it is "too good to be true". The property is called "Mickey's Emerald Castle". The pictures look great, but you just never know. This is our first time staying off-site, and the options are a bit overwhelming!

 

[Mom2OandElle]

My family stayed in Emerald Island last year and I have to say we were a bit dissapointed. Previously we had stayed in Formosa Gardens which we felt was nicer; newer homes, bigger plots of land. In Emerald Island I was struck by how very close together all of the houses were. However, if I got a great deal, I would definately go back to Emerald Island; we certainly had no problems there.

 

[KayR]

Emerald Island is newer than Formosa Gardens, but is in line with all the newer developments (Windsor Hills, Windsor Palms etc) in terms of minimum lot space.

That said, on Emerald Island, there is the Enclave area with larger homes on larger lots. Those homes tend to be larger (6 and 7 bedrooms).

When I have stayed at Emerald Island, I hardly visited the clubhouse - we were either in the home or at the parks. Pretty much all we needed.

To the OP - base your decision on the house and getting what you feel you need from the home. You will spend more time at the home than any community facilities (unless you just plan to spend all your time at the facilities ) Each community is different and has different offerings, same as each home is different.

-Kay

 

[davinakb]

Last February we stayed in a townhouse at the front part of the community, it was very nice, well kept, close to WDW. Both areas of EI have small but serviceable pools and hot tubs for community use. We really did not go past the main clubhouse area (small sauna, workout area) but it did look like a nice community of private pool homes, similar to Windsor Palms. I agree with the last poster that the home and its amenities will have more impact for you. If the deal is that good, keep searching boards like this one, to find someone who has stayed there before, help reassure you. FWIW.

 

[mareed]

Last February we stayed in a townhouse at the front part of the community, it was very nice, well kept, close to WDW. Both areas of EI have small but serviceable pools and hot tubs for community use. We really did not go past the main clubhouse area (small sauna, workout area) but it did look like a nice community of private pool homes, similar to Windsor Palms. I agree with the last poster that the home and its amenities will have more impact for you. If the deal is that good, keep searching boards like this one, to find someone who has stayed there before, help reassure you. FWIW.

Did you have to take your trash to a dumpster or was there a bench or something to place it in outside your townhome door where it was picked up? When we stayed in an Emerald Island townhome in Dec 2006 we had to take trash to the dumpster and it was an extremely unpleasant chore! Enough so that we said we wouldn't stay there again until they changed the trash pickup to be better for the townhomes.

 

[KayR]

As far as I am aware the Emerald Island townhomes now have valet trash again. I remember seeing pallets of benches the last time I was there.

-Kay

 

[Koda]

Well, I went for it! I rented a 4 bedroom, 3 bath town home in Emerald Island for $99/ night +tax and cleaning fee (a little under $130/night total), 12/27-1/01 . We are saving over $200/night by not staying at a WDW resort for those nights. We plan on transferring to a suite or 2 rooms at ASMu on 1/01/09 (hopefully with a discount code).

Thanks for all of your advice! I will be sure to write a review when we get back.