Have you stayed at both Windsor Hills and WBC?

[BadgerGirl84]

We stayed at WBC on our Fall 2012 trip and we are planning another extended family trip for this fall. I'm still waiting on a final headcount of who's "in" but it will be between 5 and 9 adults, plus a baby.

We absolutely loved WBC the last time we stayed there. We had a pool view room in Tower 6 and we couldn't say enough nice things about the pools, lazy rivers, room--everything. We got a 3 bedroom for 120/night with Ken Price so I thought it was a good value.

However, I was doing some browsing, and it looks like you can get the 3 bedroom townhouses with private pool for about $600 or less all-in in Windsor Hills. And it looks like the 4 bedroom homes are significantly less than the $250/night I was quoted for a 4 Bedroom WBC room.

Has anyone stayed at both? Which did you decide to return to? Windsor Hills looks like a great value on paper, but I worry I would miss that "resort" feel that WBC has.

 

[wendamjb]

I can help with the Windsor Hills part...but not the BC part, yet.

You and I are in the opposite positions. We have stayed at Windsor Hills twice, once in a 6 bd pool home, and once in a condo in bldg. 8. But for our next trip we have booked a 2 bd presidential at BC.

You will love Windsor Hills! Windsor Hills is so clean, the facilities are great and I love the location. We loved having our own pool when we were in the house...but you pay for the pool heat. When we were in the condo, we loved the community pool, too. Not quite as easy as stepping out your back door, but about a 1 minute walk and you don't pay for pool heat. The only reason I booked BC for this Nov. is I thought my girls would love the lazy river.

I should say that the reason we haven't stayed in a townhome was the fact that the pool isn't full sized and you still have to pay for pool heat. Its just a little splash pool, and personally we like something a little bigger.

So, I cant report on BC yet, but if you book Windsor Hills, you can't go wrong!

 

[Brian Noble]

Windsor Hills looks like a great value on paper, but I worry I would miss that "resort" feel that WBC has.

That is a difference. WH is like staying at your uncle's (very nice!) vacation home that happens to be a stone's throw away from WDW. There are some common amenities but it doesn't have that "resort feel" that you mention in the same way that BC does.

On the other hand, if you go with a home that has a full-sized pool (rather than the plunge pool) it is awfully nice to have one parent take the kids outside while the other parent mixes drinks...

 

[BadgerGirl84]

Well, I showed my family some videos of the 3 bedroom townhouses with splash pools from the Vacation Central Florida website and I expected them to hate it. The loved it and seemed excited to stay there. So I will definitely be considering Windsor Hills!

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[cammie810]

After many many stays at Windsor Hills, we stayed for the first time at WBC. Windsor Hills is really really nice. That said WBC is spectacular! Definitely more of a high end feel as far as the furnishings and decorations in the condos. The outside with all of the different pools and lazy rivers and mini golf gives it a completely resort feel that Windsor Hills just doesnt have. I got a great last minute deal on WBC. I dont know if it would be worth spending the extra $$$.

 

[ready2vacation]

We haven't stayed at WBC, but we have in a townhome at WH. The splash pool is VERY small. Kind of like a warm oversized bathtub. We did not care for it, but I know some folks love it.

Pool heat may be included, depending on who you rent from.

We didn't use it, but the community pool is very nice at WH and the other amenities looked nice as well. Our daughter was only 10 months at the time, so we didn't venture too far.

This year we are rending a home in WH with private pool, but will stay onsite at WL for a few days at the beginning.

I hope you have a fabulous stay at either location! I know both are very nice!

 

[dtum]

Don't want to add to the confusion, but if you want 4 bedrooms look at this house at Emerald Island. Same distance to WDW, just on the other side of Sherbeth Rd. We had the best time there and the game room is to die for. Wonderful owners, extremely clean and no up charge for pool heat or using the propane grill.


http://www.puffsvacationhome.com/

Well, I showed my family some videos of the 3 bedroom townhouses with splash pools from the Vacation Central Florida website and I expected them to hate it. The loved it and seemed excited to stay there. So I will definitely be considering Windsor Hills!

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[Momma2PrinceNPrinces]

We've stayed at both WH and WBC. WH in a 3 bedroom for our May 2011 trip and WBC for our recent trip (June 2013). They both have their pros and cons. I'll start with WBC....(and sorry in advance for the novel!!!)

The biggest pro for WBC is location. It is literally a couple minutes to downtown disney and the parks. It was super nice (and convenient) to be able to hop in the car, drive less than 5 minutes and be there before rope drop. Granted this of course can be done staying at WH if you time it properly. The grounds are really nice, loved all the pools. It was great having smaller pools where my 2 year old could swim but being close enough to a bigger pool that my more experienced 6 year old could go down the water slides. A few days I was without DH while he was at a conference and the pools were a HUGE bonus. Ok, the cons. My DH was not a fan of the whole resort thing. Being that we were in a 2 bedroom DD and I took the twin beds, while DH and DS shared the king. And with DH gone during the day 3 of the days we were there, the kids and I tried not to stay in the room so we didn't bother our neighbors. The room was overall quiet, but there were times when we heard the kids next door jumping on their beds, or a couple fighting on the balcony. And every night we heard the music from the pool below us. The only other "con" I can think of is price. It was quite a bit more to stay at WBC over WH. Granted, we were at WBC during the high season but we paid $168/night for a 2 bedroom. Even at their lower seasons it's around $110/120 per night. This was a LOT more than we paid at WH ($85/night).

Now onto WH. Yes it is a bit further than WBC. But really, it was maybe 8-10 minutes longer of a drive. We liked having the privacy and not having to keep the kids super duper quiet at all times. They had space to be kids Like I said before the price was right. It was incredible to spend so little for so much space! I think now the going rate for a 3 bedroom is closer to $100/105? Maybe less depending on the owner. Overall, DH liked WH better and wants to stay there our next vacation.

 

[BadgerGirl84]

We've stayed at both WH and WBC. WH in a 3 bedroom for our May 2011 trip and WBC for our recent trip (June 2013). They both have their pros and cons.

Thank you for your detailed response! Did you stay in a three bedroom town home at WH?

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[akadada]

We stayed at WBC on our Fall 2012 trip and we are planning another extended family trip for this fall. I'm still waiting on a final headcount of who's "in" but it will be between 5 and 9 adults, plus a baby.

We absolutely loved WBC the last time we stayed there. We had a pool view room in Tower 6 and we couldn't say enough nice things about the pools, lazy rivers, room--everything. We got a 3 bedroom for 120/night with Ken Price so I thought it was a good value.

However, I was doing some browsing, and it looks like you can get the 3 bedroom townhouses with private pool for about $600 or less all-in in Windsor Hills. And it looks like the 4 bedroom homes are significantly less than the $250/night I was quoted for a 4 Bedroom WBC room.

Has anyone stayed at both? Which did you decide to return to? Windsor Hills looks like a great value on paper, but I worry I would miss that "resort" feel that WBC has.

To answer your question: we've stayed at both...Windsor has no resort feel whatsoever; possibly the most boring place we've ever stayed. Value and relative quality of lodging is a certainty there, but it's monotonous and a total downer if your goal is "resort" feel. Our family would likely never stay again, especially over WBC or other offsites, like Floridays or Cypress, etc.

Hope that helps.

 

[Jenny-momof3]

We've stayed at both multiple times.

WH~ We've stayed in a 3 bedroom condo, 3 bedroom townhouse and 6 bedroom home with private pool. Although the condo and townhouse were VERY nice...I wouldn't stay at either again. I don't much care for their community pool. The slide is rickety and the pool just isn't big enough...and closes at 10pm. The big house I would stay in again if I was traveling with people who didn't really like resorts. But the property itself is BORING! I like to walk around late at night and get ice cream for the kids, maybe play a little putt putt or a game or 2. And it's just plain boring.

WBC~ A little more expensive than WH...but compared to Disney resorts ( where we usually stay) it's a steal! Units are all very nice and I just love the resort feel! We liked making the loop around all the pools, playing putt putt and sand volleyball, grilling out while the kids swam,etc. Friends of ours joined us the last time we stayed there. We spent a lot of time at the parks, but they want to go back just to stay at WBC!

Won't hesitate to stay at WBC again. But really have no desire to stay at WH.