First Time Staying Offsite at Windsor Hills - Advice

[cantwaitforwdw]

We rented a house in Windsor Hills and have never stayed offsite before. Any suggestions/tips? Are there grocery stores nearby? Which is best? Also any restaurants nearby you would suggest? Any advice would be appreciated there are 11 of us in a 6 bedroom house and we have two minivans rented. How far to Disney parks and Universal?

 

[Kanda]

I am also looking at a rental house in the Windsor Hills community, through all star vacations. I'll follow this post with you to see if you get any helpful advice or tips.

 

[yasuern]

You are closer in some cases to the parks than if you have stayed onsite

AK - 5 minutes away
DHS & EPcot 10minutes tops away and
MK is tops 15 minutes away
SW is about 20 minutes away and
US/IOA is the furthest at approx 25minutes tops.

There are numerous restaurants on Rt 192(which WH is less than 2 miles from)
I believe every chain is represented and there is an option for EVERY budget.

There are MANY supermarkets near WH - we had gone to a Publix right on 192 about 5miles from WH -- also if you are coming in from the airport on the way to WH you will see a Super Walmart and Winn Dixies - Believe me if you miss one there will be another.


One of our favorite restaurants is a chain called Logans Roadhouse - gd food and descent prices its made to look "Messy" w/peanutshells on the floors - And they do serve whole peanuts in their shells on the tables. But it really it is a nice place to eat. And there is a Publix (newer) diectly behind Logans in a plaza.



Enjoy your trip

 

[cantwaitforwdw]

Thanks for all of the great info.!

 

[Brian Noble]

The closest Publix is just north of US-192, on East Orange Lake.

 

[H.E. Pennypacker]

Also near the Publix, there is a brand new Super Target that's just about to open, I think in March. As for restaurants, there are a few places we head a few miles east on 192 to get to - Longhorn Steakhouse (kind of like a Lone Star or Outback, pretty consistently good), Macaroni Grill (good moderately priced Italian, way better than Olive Garden), Pizzeria Uno (good Chicago-style deep-dish. For breakfast, there's a Bob Evans just east of Old Lake Wilson Rd. (the road you'll take to get to Windsor Hills.) Also a Cracker Barrel a little bit to the west past Old Lake Wilson.

As a pp said, you're really close to Disney. Couple options for getting there. Either head east on 192 to World Drive and head north (just follow the signs) or you can take a less popular back way in by heading west on 192 from Old Lake Wilson Rd. and turn right onto Sherberth and head north. That brings you out onto Osceola Parkway, right by AK. Take a right and it's really quick for getting to the AK parking lot.

We just got back from staying at Windsor Hills and absolutely loved it. Booked again already with the same owners for this November. Hope you enjoy the location and amenities as much as we did!

And if you like orchids, keep heading south a bit past Windsor Hills and make a stop at the World of Orchids on your left-hand side. Be sure to check out the tropical garden they have in the back. It's a nice little diversion from the hustle and bustle of WDW.

 

[CheeseburgerParadise]

Hi,

There's a heap of info on these boards on WH, its proximity to Orlando attractions and about and the shops/restaurants that are in the immediate area. A brief search will bring up all the info,

I just wanted to mention a restaurant chain that my kids and I loved but that isn't mentioned very often: Bob Evans.

There's one very close to WH. Google 'em to see what kind of food they have and prices!

Gave a great time.

 

[sympatico]

Here's a map of the area. Windsor Hills is #1 and the shortcut to Disney is line #1 red.
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=U...8.272032,-81.608849&spn=0.068335,0.11055&z=13

 

[Tiffa]

We love Windsor Hills/Rolling Hills area, the grocery store is just down the street and the back way into Disney World is awsome! The back way is great even if you are not going to Animal Kingdom, you miss the highway traffic when going to any park.....I can't wait till june ........................
I'AM GOING TO DISNEY WORLD!!!

 

[talulabelle]

We are planning a trip for June too, and I am still weighing all options. I can't decide between a Windor Hills condo, a nice resort off site but close to the parks or on site.

What I am trying to figure out is the parking situation at the parks if you stay off site. We have only stayed onsite before and only used the bus tranportation system at Disney. So, how does it work? Will we have to drive to the the main parking lot at the monorail (what is this called?) and from there go to the parks and water parks? Or does each park have it's own parking lot? I am especially wondering bout he water parks because I don't want to have to be doing the buses and things in bathingsuits and cover-ups.

 

[CheeseburgerParadise]

Hi talulabelle,

Each Disney park and each water park has it's own parking lot. It costs $12 per vehicle per day which means that the parking ticket is valid for all parks during the course of the day and you do not have to pay again if you decide to go to more than one park during that day.

The vast parking lots are adjacent to the parks and water parks with the exception of the Magic Kingdom parking lot which is across the lake from the park itself. All this means is that whereas in all the other parks you have the option of taking a tram from the parking lot to the entrance or of walking if your car is not far away, at the Magic Kingdom you must first get from your car to the Transportation Centre (either by tram or foot) and then also take the monorail or the ferry to the MK entrance. No big deal really.

In any case, re. your primary concerns: the parking lots ARE adjacent to the water parks.

 

[sjanus]

There is also a new Publix, easy to get to, no main highways involved and one stop light right at the store. It is a great store.

Make a right out of Windsor Hills on Old Lake Wilson Road, go straight for 5.8 miles. You will come to a stop light, cross highway, on the right. There is also a Pappa John's Pizza in the shopping plaza so a great place to pick up a pizza!