I'm going to give Treehouse Villas a tentative thumbs down

[bookwormde]

Great report,

thanks

bookwormde

 

[supersuperwendy]

The problem with the Grandstand's mug filling station is not only it's short hours, but the BEES! When we stayed there my kids were too scared to go near it because of the bees. Also, when the little bar closed, the refill station closed.

 

[edk35]

I thought there were mug refill stations at the grandstand pool, but when I went by there, it was closed. The bar at the grandstands was closed also, and the sign that indicated the operating hours was blank. I asked a couple at the pool, and they said they had not seen it open for the 3 days they had been there. I thought it was a little odd, could it possibly have been closed the week I was there?

As for leaving things in the car, I agree that it is safe, my husband is just a little on the crazy side He doesn't like leaving ANYTHING in the car.

I didn't want to leave the stroller under the villa because I was afraid of spiders crawling in where I couldn't see them and then biting my poor baby. I used to work as an archaeologist in Florida, and did plenty of work in the wetlands of Central Florida. There are some mean creepy crawlies out there, and I know they are lurking all around the Treehouse villas. I'm wasn't worried about frogs or lizards, although a lizard bit my brother hard enough to draw blood once, that certainly taught him to leave them alone!

I'm sure we'll probably revisit the treehouse villas when Everett gets bigger, I just wanted to write a report based on the drawbacks of traveling with an infant, just to give a different perspective for folks considering their next DVC accommodations.

How far is it to the Grandstand Pool from the TH?

 

[edk35]

I believe you have to catch a bus to SSR and then transfer to another bus designated for the parks. They don't offer any direct bus transportation to the parks from the Treehouses....


I think the treehouses LOOK really cool & and I think that 3 bedrooms for the price of 2 is a great option...BUT we don't normally rent a car so I think we'd be really hating life at Disney after the first day.

(PS) OP you must have a Cadillac stroller to be afraid someone would break into your car to steal it. I think they'd have to want it pretty darned bad to do that. It's not like it's something they can hide under their shirts once they steal it. But perhaps you could just throw an old sheet in your van that you can toss over it when you leave it unattended?! That way nobody would case the joint and see it and think they've hit the stroller jackpot!?

LeeAnn I think I could only enjoy staying there in the colder months......and maybe if we brought the Van. I guess we will see how this ROAD TRIP GOES in July. I might try the THV for a split maybe but not for an entire stay.

 

[twinklebug]

Thanks for the review. The more I hear about the THV the more similar they sound to the Ft W. Cabins with the double buses, open air deck and other little things that we don't usually consider until we experience them. That said, I love the cabins, but to share a THV with my sister and her 2 little ones might be more of a challenge.

 

[dsneygirl]

The other issue was with the stairs, we are newbie parents, and didn't really think about how exhausting hauling the stroller up the stairs every night would be. We didn't want to leave it outside because of bugs and possible rain, and eventually left it in the car at night, even though my husband doesn't like to do that (afraid of theft). My baby is only 14 lbs, and it was tiring to carry him up the stairs after a full theme park day, I can imagine it would be even worse with a toddler.

I was a newbie parent at WDW once and our DS is now about to go on his 12th trip. You will develop arms of steel! You will also be able to not only carry a sleeping 35lb toddler but also fold and lift your stroller onto a bus with one arm tied behind your back.

All kidding aside. I liked your balanced review not every resort works for every family.

 

[La2kw]

Sounds like it wasn't too great with a baby in the party. We always preferred OKW when our kids were small. It felt like a neighborhood with plenty of places to explore and nice, safe, sidewalks! When we had strollers with us, we always requested a ground floor room. Plus, the units are huge and offered plenty of space.

 

[dallastxcpa]

Thank you for the great review. My DSis and her baby (2 years) are joining us in July and we opted not to stay in the THV because of the extra work with getting the baby and her stuff up and down the stairs. Plus it would be a worry for her to be on the patio. She has stairs at home but the are gated off.

 

[TeresaNJ]

Thanks for the report. We'll be staying in the THV for the first time this May. It will be my husband and I, my brother and his wife, and their college age son and daughter. Since this trip is on my brother's points, he and his wife will have the master BR, my DH and I will have the bedroom with the full bed, my niece the bunk room, and my nephew will sleep on the pull-out couch. We'll see how it goes. We checked it out on our last trip, and it did seem kind of remote to me, but my brother really, really wants to stay there, and as I said, his points, his choice. When we all go together again next May it will be my points, my choice, and my choice will be the Beach Club Villas! I'll definitely report back on what I thought of it.

 

[dclfun]

I have to ask - just what exactly were the "intensive purposes" ???

I think she meant for all intents and purposes. ??? I appreciate the honest review. I went to the open house at THV's and my biggest concern was getting the place cool enough in the summer with all those windows. It also felt small to me, esp. those little bedrooms and even the living space, IMO, wasn't really all that spacious. We've stayed before in a cabin at Ft. Wilderness and it is a hassle transferring busses or having a long hike everywhere. THV's really look like fun though, esp. for a family with children who are old enough to get up/down those stairs independently!---Kathy

 

[FindTheMickeys]

May work with 4 adults and 1-2 kids also, but the 3rd BR is bunk beds so I wouldn't want to stay with more than 4 adults.

Oh I don't know about that. There are 6 of us adult ladies staying in a THV and one of us 50 year olds will gladly sleep on the top bunk. We're all young at heart

 

[dbs1228]

Great review, and as you said there is a dvc resort for each of us! I do think that what does not work now may work for you later down the road. We bought at BLT recently and SSR resale and I am way more excited about THV then staying at BLT. I love my own space, we rent a car, love to grill, and cannot wait to crack a beer and just relax after running thru the parks all day! We think BLT is going to be good when we go with our DD's so they can come and go as they please quite easily.

 

[carlbarry]

I have to ask - just what exactly were the "intensive purposes" ???

A common misuse of "all intents and purposes."

 

[lugnut33]

Probably my biggest problem with the Treehouse Villas was how isolated they are.
.

That was the number one reason why I love the THV's and why we bought more points so we can be sure to stay at them going forward.

I wish there were more bad trip reports for the Tree House Villas so they would be easier to get. They are gettting this really good reputation and are too in demand.

 

[Tara]

OP - most of what you said is why I have no interest in THV. I also don't care for their style in general. I know some think they're terrific, but they're just not for me, just like the modern decor of my beloved BLT isn't right for others.

But I admit I'm a bit puzzled about the park where you don't leave the stroller in the car for fear of theft. Why would anyone take the trouble to break into a car when they could presumably pick and choose from the hundreds upon hundreds of parked, unattended strollers in the parks every day?

In any case, thanks for the review!

 

[kikiq]

This is good information to consider if you are booking multi families into one THV. Someone had 2/3 families but no stroller sized kids and posted that they liked it. Based on your report, I would have second thoughts on the 3 families I was thinking of for our trip 2012 Christmas. My DGD will be 2, it would drive my DD crazy to have to watch her on the deck and I forgot about lugging the wee one up the stairs and the stroller to and from the parks. It's been awhile for us and little ones going to WDW. Thank you for the reminder we are again changing the way we visit WDW. Things to consider when you travel with a little one.

 

[DVCconvert]

Quote:
Originally Posted by DVCconvert
I have to ask - just what exactly were the "intensive purposes" ???

I think she meant for all intents and purposes. ???.... ---Kathy

I had assumed as much. I just had never seen this derivation before - and as it's 'stand alone' it really was quite funny.

In no way did I mean to imply anything negative to (or about) the OP - I've made similar "misteaks" plenty of times!

This is an excellent review and I can understand how it can be very helpful to guests in similar circumstances!

 

[Bouncin-Tigger]

Great review and very helpful for a family of 4 with 2 smalls ones, many issues we deal with and wonder about before we book at a new resort. Keep the reviews coming despite the language experts who feel it is necessary to comb through peoples posts and correct and question their choice of words for no apparent reason but to make themselves feel superior or something.

 

[DVCconvert]

..... Keep the reviews coming despite the language experts who feel it is necessary to comb through peoples posts and correct and question their choice of words for no apparent reason but to make themselves feel superior or something.

This of course is not meant to make oneself feel superior?
I said that I thought it was funny - I'd never seen that before & I was not attacking the OP about it and that I have made mistakes before too. I also said that I thought the OP's review was good and helpful.

 

[melk]

Thanks for the honest review, it's always good to know the pros and cons of a particular resort. Still undecided on whether we will try and get the Treehouses for our next trip, but you've given me some things to think about...thanks!