First timer off site, need advice please

[lilasmom]

Ok, we've been to WDW and have always stayed on site. We fly in and with the ME and onsite transportation it always seemed the best way to visit. We have stayed at the Poly, BLT, BC and YC. I loved immersing myself in Disney, but feel the $ for the rooms were outrageous, even with a 40% discount. Now with the monorail hours of operation changing, I am reconsidering staying onsite.

I am not sure if renting a home (Windsor?) is better than staying at say Bonnet ? If we rented a home, I would like a private pool.
Which do you guys recommend ? We have 4 in our family, DH, DS6, DD2 and myself.

How much should I expect to pay for a rental car at MCO for a week ? Do they come with car seats for toddlers ?

What are the pros and cons to offsite ? We don't go to EMH anyway, we always avoid those parks. We do plan to go to MNSSHP.

I'm open to any and all advice. Thanks!

 

[newmouse2008]

Check out this link. It might help you get started with off site hotels.


http://www.wdwinfo.com/orlando-hotel-vacation.htm

 

[Brian Noble]

I am not sure if renting a home (Windsor?) is better than staying at say Bonnet ? If we rented a home, I would like a private pool.

It really depends on the "vibe" you are looking for in your vacation. A pool home is like staying at your very nice uncle's very nice house that just happens to be a stone's throw from WDW property. Very private, and it's particularly nice to have your very own pool out your living room patio---you know that any annoying children are your own. A timeshare resort like Bonnet, on the other hand, is more "resort-y"---it's not as private and self-contained an experience, but there are more common amenities available. For example a couple bar/counter service-like places, etc. etc. It feels more like a resort than a community.

We happen to like the "resort" feeling more than the "private community" feeling, but we have enjoyed both Bonnet Creek and Windsor Hills. Others prefer the increased privacy and convenience of a private pool.

 

[4forMe]

Ok, we've been to WDW and have always stayed on site. We fly in and with the ME and onsite transportation it always seemed the best way to visit. We have stayed at the Poly, BLT, BC and YC. I loved immersing myself in Disney, but feel the $ for the rooms were outrageous, even with a 40% discount. Now with the monorail hours of operation changing, I am reconsidering staying onsite.

I am not sure if renting a home (Windsor?) is better than staying at say Bonnet ? If we rented a home, I would like a private pool.
Which do you guys recommend ? We have 4 in our family, DH, DS6, DD2 and myself.

How much should I expect to pay for a rental car at MCO for a week ? Do they come with car seats for toddlers ?

What are the pros and cons to offsite ? We don't go to EMH anyway, we always avoid those parks. We do plan to go to MNSSHP.

I'm open to any and all advice. Thanks!

If you want a private pool, then you would need to rent a 3 BR townhouse at Windsor Hills. The townhomes have a small splash pool. If you look on vrbo, you will find rates starting at anywhere from $85-$115 in low season. If you want a larger pool with a spa attached, then you would need to rent a 4 BR home at Windsor Hills. Rates start at $150 in low season on vrbo. We usually rent a 4 BR home and travel with 6-7 people.

Bonnet Creek sounds very nice, but we have never stayed there. I think it would probably be cheaper to stay in a 2 BR at Bonnet Creek than at a townhouse/private home in Windsor Hills.

I would suggest you look at the transportation sub forum on this board to get codes for a rental car. You should be able to get a car for under $200 per week. Also, check www.mousesavers.com as they often have the latest codes posted for rental cars. I'm not sure about the car seat issue - you may be able to rent one from the car rental agency but I don't know how much that would cost.

Personally, I don't find any cons to staying off-site. We have friends that stayed at Pop over Memorial Day weekend and complained when they got home since they had to wait over 40 minutes for the buses on several occasions. We are ususally back at Windsor Hills from the parking lot within 15 minutes (within 30 from Magic Kingdom).

Here is a thread that explains why so many people on this forum prefer to stay offsite:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2736231&highlight=offsite

Good luck with whatever you choose. They are both very nice places to stay.

 

[Dan1]

Hi lilasmom,

We have owned at Sheraton Vistana for about 18 years and can highly recommend that resort. It is sufficiently close to WDW yet when you are at this resort you are very much away from Disney.

We have gone there many times over the years but not so much now that the kids are grown up and my wife has no interest.

I have tended to rent out the weekds the past few years to a bunch of 'regulars' if you will and they quite enjoy it. (no, I have no weeks to rent, sorry).

Actually through a variety of circumstances we are using two weeks at Silver Lakes Resort next April / May and hear it is very nice and has a 'back entrance' to WDW which is why I and my special needs daughter are staying there vs Vistana.

We would rather stay in WDW but cannot exchange there any more due DVC prohibiting such exchanges with Orlando area resorts. I don't know any DVC member with whom to exchange so we are staying at Silver Lakes Resort (even though with just myself and my special needs daughter it would be much easier to stay on property as we did 2 years ago just the 2 of us).

I hope this helps,
Dan

 

[Tink415]

We just returned from a nice, long, vacation that included several WDW resorts and Wyndam Bonnet Creek 1 br condo and Windsor Hills 3 br townhouse. It was our 2nd time at WBC and 1st time at WH.

I agree with Brian Noble, it depends on the "vibe" you prefer and he described each perfectly. WBC units are decorated nicely and very comfortable IMO. The townhouses at WH are going to vary as each is individually owned; the one I stayed at was beautifully decorated but I didn't find the furniture or king bed all that comfortable (it was me).

For most of this vacation it was just me and my teen dd, and the way we vacationed for the most part was to sleep very late, lounge around during the day, then go out for dinner / to a park for a few hours. We LOVED the private splash pool at the townhouse and didn't bother going to the resort pool except to attempt it one night at 10:30 when my dd was going to go to the gym, but the gym was closed so we went back to the townhouse. I think the pool was closed/closing too, not sure. For some reason we didn't feel the need to swim while at WBC, but the pools there are great, especially for kids, and there are many.

As much as I liked the townhouse, I think I'd prefer WBC if I could get away with a 2br. I prefer the resort feel, and the surrounding area (Disney resort vs 192) is nicer

The 1br at WBC (Orbitz) was slightly more than the 3br at WH (AllStar vacation rentals).

Have fun deciding!