Had to do it...

[Cruz91]

On our last trip (March for spring break), we spent a week at WBC in a 2BR presidential suite. It was AMAZING (despite the fact of how we got there - which was a whole other story). Anyway, I thought it might have spoiled us for other places...

Well, I started looking into a quick surprise return trip in June, and the guy we rent from frequently at WH is giving us 7 days in his 3 BR, 2 BA condo for.... wait for it.... $533 total with tax and cleaning included! Holy crap! WBC would probably be double that.

This should be a relatively cheap trip for us. We're driving (so no airfair or car rental), the condo is reasonable, we have AP's - so no ticket cost, and we're staying in the condo with a great kitchen (so we can eat breakfasts in and pack lunches most days). We may actually do the trip for under $1,000! Sweet!

 

[mommy23]

Who do you rent from? Can you give us a link to the condo? We have 2 rooms reserved at Pop, but I have been looking offsite hoping to find something cheaper. Thanks.

 

[darrius1st]

Your wrong look on ebay alot of week in June for around $500 and then,

http://www.sunorsnowvacationrentals.com/Inventory.aspx

Has the first week in June for $875. You can get WBC cheat just have to wait a little. Then try Redweek.

 

[Cruz91]

We coulda' tried to get a WBC, but I love WH too. We'll probably bounce back and forth between those two places. Can you do WBC for a mid-week to mid-week, or just Sat to Sat?

The place we rent from is linked below. Keep in mind the price we got isn't his normal price! We got it for cheap because we've rented from him so much and sent so many people his way.

http://www.vrbo.com/83238

 

[Jenny-momof3]

Awesome! Great deal on the condo!

Now I'm dying to know if you have a super fuel efficient car or if you have some awesome money saving tips for food to keep the trip under $1,000. We drive from Dayton, Ohio. Our spring break trip cost us roughly $390 in gas and with today's prices we'll be at $415 for gas for our summer trip in our 2008 minivan.

$533 for the condo, roughly $400 for gas...how do you eat on $67 for a week?

 

[kathy884]

Please post after you get back regarding your thoughts on Wyndam Bonnet Creek vs. Windsor Hills. I think you'll have a fabulous time.

We stayed in a beautiful house with a pool once in the area (Don't remember where it was // was house my husband's company had rented for the year -- available for employee sign up). On our own, though, we've usually stuck to renting the highly rated timeshare resorts (which Wyndam Bonnet Creek is one of in the area). These for us have more of a resort feel (something we really like) than the lovely gated community that we stayed in, in Orlando. In home rentals (not just this one in Orlando specifically but other resort areas too where we've rented houses too), we've usually felt a little more isolated than we do at the timeshare resorts. Timeshare rentals are a wonderful deal, especially renting from timeshare owners and have consistent updates from home owners associations (decorating tastes typically quite tasteful -- no risks of princess / pirate rooms, etc.). Plus I can read detailed reviews about timeshares all over with my membership on TUG2.net (really have a good feel of what I'm getting) // have propably done about a dozen timeshare rentals to date. In Orlando, though, WH rentals are probably on average less expensive. I ususally go with a two or three bedroom timeshare rental vs. home rental unless I have a large group and want us to all stay together // sometimes have done two condos too. I've heard so many raves about WH, though, and wonder if it has that same resort feel as the great condo resorts in the area, WBC, Vistana, Marriott properties, etc. Siounds like it may and would love to get your take.

 

[Jenny-momof3]

Kathy~ We've stayed in both. Twice at Windsor Hills....3 bedroom condo and 5 bedroom pool home. 2 bedroom unit at Bonnet Creek. We've switched over to Bonnet Creek because like you said...it has that resort feel. WH does not IMO. But it is a nice complex and you can get some good deals. We prefer to stay onsite and do that for the majority of our trips.

 

[swilshire]

how do you eat on $67 for a week?

You have to feed the family even if you're at home. The only food expense I count as a "vacation cost" is money I wouldn't have spent if I had been at home. For example, if I spend more on groceries than normal or eat out more, that would be an added cost. Restaurants on the road for the drive down are vacation expense because we wouldn't have been eating out if we had stayed home. The normal grocery bill I'm going to pay wherever I am.

Sheila

 

[kathy884]

Kathy~ We've stayed in both. Twice at Windsor Hills....3 bedroom condo and 5 bedroom pool home. 2 bedroom unit at Bonnet Creek. We've switched over to Bonnet Creek because like you said...it has that resort feel. WH does not IMO. But it is a nice complex and you can get some good deals. We prefer to stay onsite and do that for the majority of our trips.

Thanks Jenny. Really appreciate your input on that.

 

[Cruz91]

Yeah, good point about fuel. We do have a ton of Giant Eagle fuel points that will help. Probably will end up around $300 to gas. I also did figure food was a wash because we have to eat no matter where we are (and in fact will grocery shop for all non-perishables here and take them down with us). Having been 12 times in under 6 years, we don't buy many souvenirs or anything. We also pack lunches most days and will eat out maybe 1 meal a day. So in reality we will go over a grand by just a bit - but shouldn't by too much...

As for WH or WBC, we too preferred WBC on our one trip there, but we were in a presidential sweet. Are all the rooms so nice? Regardless, the pools at WBC are clearly a cut above WH. For me, the location (drive to the parks) was about a wash. WBC is just a tad closer, but not much. What we like about WH is that it never gets as crowded as what we experienced at WBC. There are times at WH that we'll be one of four cars in the whole building of however many condos. We'll go the whole week without seeing anyone in the building. We're not a bunch of recluses or anything, but sometimes nice to have the peace and quiet.