mini golf, cool pool for $100 - family of 5

[pocohontas2004]

For January or February 2004, we're looking for a suite for a family of 5 with heated pool, maybe mini golf, fun stuff for kids. Of course, we want a reasonable rate - around $100. A villa is OK if it is affordable. A hotel suite is OK. Suggestions? Off-site is our choice and we would have a rental car.

 

[RamseyTrio]

Hi - We stayed at Doubletree Villas Maingate in May - 3 bedroom villa cost us $99/night thru Dreams Unlimited. The pool wasn't anything great (really clean, just not themed or with slides, etc...). There was a nice mini golf right out in front that had 2 courses, you won prizes if you found the clues along the way and they had some 'gators you could feed and stuff. Rooms were nice enough too - again, nothing fancy but at least clean and with plenty of room (upstairs/downstairs)

 

[Beejayjay]

Would a condo be of interest ?

We have booked a fully equipped 3 bed condo at the Windsor Palms Resort for 16 nights from Boxing day, for approximately $1600 inc. taxes, a rate of $100 a night. (We are paying in British pounds, so this might vary very slightly). You may find that out of the Christmas peak season, the rates are probably lower still.

There is an olympic size heated pool on the complex , and it all looks very nice - I've seen some very good reviews of the resort on here, that's why we booked it. Lots of very happy visitors who said they'd gladly go again.

I dont think there is mini-golf on the resort, but I know for a fact there are a couple of courses within a couple of minutes drive of the resort's gates.

Here are a couple of links, the first to the resort's website which has info on and links to individual properties available. The second is to the website of the owner of the condo we have booked.

Windsor Palms Resort

Luxury 3 Bed Condo, Windsor Palms Resort

The owner is a British lady. We spoke directly to her, she couldn't have been more helpful

Hope this is of help to you !

 

[disneysteve]

I second Beejayjay's advice. Rent a house or condo. We'll be at Windsor Palms ourselves in a few days. We've also rented pool homes in the Lindfields subdivision several times.

Check the Windsor Palms site given. Also, check vrbo.com central florida page.

Steve

 

[lorilori]

Hi. We just got back from Wyndham Palms and I think www.hotelkingdom.com still has the 2 bedroom for approx. $90/night. It had a king in the master with jacuzzi and 2 QUEEN beds in the 2nd bedroom. They had free minigolf and a small playground as well as some scheduled activities for kids such as sidewalk chalk, etc. The pools were not heated last week but the front desk did tell me they can heat them when the weather gets cooler. It was a really nice place, right off 192 and only took us about 12 minutes to Magic Kingdom, a little less for MGM and Epcot.

 

[zaxmom]

You might look at the Amerisuites or Country Inn and Suites at Calypso Cay. Go to www.calypsocay.com They have an 18 hole mini golf and a water slide at the pool. It is a zero-depth pool, but not huge. You can probably find rates from $50 to $75 a night. Try hotelkingdom.com or valuetrips.com. This include a deluxe continental breakfast. They have cereal, fruit, pastries, waffles and boiled eggs, etc. We stayed there last year and thought it was a good value. This December we are staying at the Wyndham Palms in a 2 BR villa for $89 a night. They have putt-putt and zero-depth pools, but no water slide. We won't swim in December anyway. We are southerners and too wimpy. Wyndham Palms looks like the best deal out there these days. If only there was a slide.

 

[jx3smom]

Country Inn and Suites at Calypso Cay is a really nice hotel. Three pools, minigolf, basketball, playground and a very nice continental breakfast that you can eat on the porch or inside.

 

[FLeisure]

In January you should be able to get a 3 bed pool home for around $89 a night and a 4 bed at $99. February is a little different as it is a busy month in this part of the world and rates will be slightly higher.

 

[cinamin27]

when renting a private home with a pool like FLeisure suggests tho, dont forget that basically EVERY home (at least every home I've checked prices on) tacks on an additional fee to heat the pool, I've seen from $25-40 PER DAY to heat the pool. I understand pool heat is expensive but I dont know that it would actually cost $40 daily! Just remember to figure that additional pool heat fee in to the daily rate when doing your budget.

Also, if you dont plan to stay the minimum amount of days set by the owner or management company, you will be charged an end of stay cleaning fee ranging from what I've seen from $50-75 flat for your stay. another charge to figure into your budget.

 

[FLeisure]

cinamin27 raises a very good point. Pool heat should be in the range of $20 a day if it is an electric heater and slightly more if gas. $ 40 a day seems expensive to me as well.

If you are staying only a few days, then do expect a cleaning fee to be applied. Even after you figure in these costs, you'll still work out cheaper than a hotel and at least you'll be able to swim in the pool as it is heated !

Pool heat is pretty much essential from Nov - March. This October has been warmer than normal and pool heat is only just becoming necessary. Also, it usually takes a couple of days for a pool to become warm. There is a large volume of water to be heated so you might like to ask whoever you book with to turn it on a day early and if you want to save money, get them to turn it off the day before you leave. Make sure there is a pool blanket........without it you'll lose 90% of any heat generated overnight and the pool will be cold the morning after.

 

[threeboysmom]

I own at Sheraton Vistana Resort and have a week in 2004 that we will not be using and would like to rent out. If you are interested at all, please pm me for details. The cost would definately be within your budget. Check this board for reviews of Sheraton. It is beautiful!! It has mini-golf, activities every day planned for the kids, and 5 themed pools (that I know of - maybe more).

Kimberly

 

[pocohontas2004]

Thanks for the responses. Though we might check pricing in a month on the Wyndham Palms, we're thinking we'll go with Doubletree Villas. If anyone has stayed there - what are the laundry options? Is there coin laundry on-site? Someone mentioned a minigolf near the hotel? Is it within walking distance? Any chance it has go-karts, too? Is there a grocery nearby?

Thanks!