Off site? Please read. :)

[Mom23WildBoys]

I'm mystified as to how you could have gotten so lost. It was super easy to get from Windsor Hills to WDW, although I will admit, I got confused trying to find the AAA parking at AK, and had to circle around and back. That's as lost as I got. Did you not take the sneak route (Sherberth Road)? It's also possible to rent car seats--that's what we did, a regular car seat as well as a booster.


My DH is horrible about getting turned around, and then doesn't want to cause an accident by suddenly turning, slowing down to really read the signs, etc. The night he tried to drive the 3 miles to Target he almost ended up in Tampa on I-4!!! Apparently the main road toward WH wasn't marked from that direction, so he missed it. And we didn't know about Sherberth Road. No one told us there was a faster way to the parks. That stinks, b/c it sure would've helped!

Also, my boys are in Britax Frontiers (high-back, 5 point boosters) and a Britax Boulevard. We aren't comfortable with regular booster seats, so we chose to bring our own seats that we knew our boys would be pretty safe in. Next time we'll just use the ME busses that we saw as we were hauling the big plat full of luggage and car seats to our rental car.

 

[jennyjinx3]

We just went to Disney World for the first time (13 days in January/beginning of Feb.) and stayed at Windsor Hills off-site. We thought that since we'd be there so long, and because our boys are so young (6, 4 and 2) that we'd definitely need to be able to separate them for sleeping and that it wouldn't be too bad to drive back for naps, etc.. The FIRST night there we regretted that decision, especially for our very first trip. We got lost the first three nights/days b/c Florida's street signs are wacky (to us anyway!). It took WAY longer than we thought to actually get into & out of the parks every day, even though our condo was one exit from the main road into Disney. It was such a pain to get all the way back out of the parks, to the rental car (which was a pain in itself...car rental, flying with car seats, re-installing car seats, etc.) that we never left in the middle of the day for naps and the boys were tired and difficult. We didn't know until we arrived that the a/c units in Windsor Hills condos aren't supposed to be turned down less than 75 degrees without risking freezing the unit and incurring at least a $100 fee or more if the unit was damaged. It was in the 80's and very humid during half of our stay, and impossible for us to sleep without some cooler air blowing, so we risked it and turned on the a/c anyway, but I wish we had known about that rule before booking!
All in all, we had a great trip, but it was sad that we were wishing every day that we could just walk or ride back to somewhere on-site easily. Our next family trip will be much better b/c we booked a 1 bedroom villa at Bay Lake Tower, which will give us basically one "room" for the kids to sleep in, a washer and dryer, kitchen, and we'll actually be able to walk to MK and quickly ride to EP, and my boys love busses, so the trips to AK and HS won't be an issue. We're super excited to go back and hopefully have a more relaxing trip next time!!!
Good luck with your decision!

This was exactly our situation!! The first time we went to WDW, we stayed offsite. What a chore it was to get the car, find the office to pick up house keys, stop at walmart, find house, and FINALLY get there and unpack.

I was less than thrilled with the house, clean enough but I felt I was in someone's grandma's house. Had a problem with bugs (cockroaches coming out of tub drains at night), and like you found it an incredible task to get into and out of the parks. We did not go back to house for breaks due to this, and left early most days.

I felt truly depressed after getting back in the car to leave. Kid were crying because they were so tired. Also I did way too much cooking and while we were there. We also spent just as much money as on site.

We vowed never again!! Our next trip was so much better. Onsite, awesome transportation, just getting out of the parks and on monorail was another adventure. We are going back on site for our September trip and HIGHLY recommend it! Just my opinion though....

 

[BuzznBelle'smom]

I'm mystified as to how you could have gotten so lost. It was super easy to get from Windsor Hills to WDW, although I will admit, I got confused trying to find the AAA parking at AK, and had to circle around and back. That's as lost as I got. Did you not take the sneak route (Sherberth Road)? It's also possible to rent car seats--that's what we did, a regular car seat as well as a booster.


My DH is horrible about getting turned around, and then doesn't want to cause an accident by suddenly turning, slowing down to really read the signs, etc. The night he tried to drive the 3 miles to Target he almost ended up in Tampa on I-4!!! Apparently the main road toward WH wasn't marked from that direction, so he missed it. And we didn't know about Sherberth Road. No one told us there was a faster way to the parks. That stinks, b/c it sure would've helped!

Also, my boys are in Britax Frontiers (high-back, 5 point boosters) and a Britax Boulevard. We aren't comfortable with regular booster seats, so we chose to bring our own seats that we knew our boys would be pretty safe in. Next time we'll just use the ME busses that we saw as we were hauling the big plat full of luggage and car seats to our rental car.

Well, if you didn't know about the sneak route, I can totally see how you could get lost and confused! I absolutely HATED driving along I-4 any more than I had to.

Just FTR, for you or anyone else who might consider staying at Windsor Hills:

Turn left onto 192 from Old Lake Wilson Road. Be in the right-hand left turn lane. At the next light, take a right--that's Sherberth Road. Follow it a mile or so to the next light--if you go left, it's AKL. Turn right, and it's everything else.

We found the easiest way to get back to Windsor Hills from anywhere in WDW was to follow the "Animal Kingdom" signs. Obviously, we wouldn't turn into the AK parking lot, just head on past and to the light where we would pick up Sherberth Road again. This might not have been the shortest route, but totally worth the lower blood pressure, versus the 4-lane madness that is the main exits.

But, hey--I'm not trying to talk you out of staying onsite next time, if you really want to. We used to only stay onsite, until we tried a house rental. Now, my family will ONLY stay in a house with a private pool. Mine are DD16, DS14, DD8, and DS6-on-Sunday. They all have things that are important to them that we go on vacation. Also, they hate eating out and value relaxation time.

 

[Spunky946]

We stayed at the Hilton grand vacation club near sea world and loved it. We had a one bedroom suite with a living room, dining room, huge bathroom and a washer and dryer. We did not mind driving in and parking. We even did rope drop, left for a break and went back a couple of nights.

 

[colinsdad]

We didint have the dining plan and going back to the condo to cook everytime the kids got hungry was a pain in the butt.

I realize that there are off-site issues and you posted your opinion (which is exactly how you should respond to a post), and I do agree with many of your off-site issues, but I just had to ask. Did you really go back to your condo every time the kids got hungry?

I'm just thinking about all that wasted time. Kids say there hungry at the Magic Kingdom so you leave. You take a monorail or boat to the TTC, a tram to your car, drive back to your condo, and then you have to cook? Would you do it all in reverse to get back to the parks afterwards?

Honestly, I don't think anyone could enjoy a trip like that. (And from your post you clearly didn't)

I don't think anyone should flame you here for giving an honest opinion. They should thank you for your post, take the lesson you learned and shared, and not repeat it.

 

[bumbershoot]

She was asking for opinions. I just gave mine and pointed some cons for MY family. Because we were there for so long the parking cost became expensive and eating in the park for 10 days with 7 ppl was too expensive. Its a personal opinion and experience. There is no wrong or right OPINION.

No one has said anything bad against your opinion, but have offered other ideas. With 10 days in the parks at $12 per day, looking into upgrading one person to an AP might have been something to think about, both for the parking being included, and some discounts on food. (and the opportunity to buy the TIW to get discounts on way more places)

And they were noting that paying for parking isn't every time you go in and out; the way you put it it made it sound like you were hopping parks and paying again, or going home for lunch, coming back, and paying again. It is not like that; you pay once per day and then show your receipt. You don't have to pay more than once per day for parking.

I was less than thrilled with the house, clean enough but I felt I was in someone's grandma's house. Had a problem with bugs (cockroaches coming out of tub drains at night)...

Just as a FWIW, that simply happens in Florida. Just a few months ago there were posts about cockroaches in the bathrooms at night at Animal Kingdom Lodge. It's a Southern thing, a Florida thing, NOT a cleanliness issue. When my mom lived in Miami, she was just as neat and CLEAN as she was living elsewhere, but they had roaches (the big nasty palmetto bugs that FLY, and would come out at night when her west coast based daughter was up for hours and hours, not wanting to get on east coast time for a short college break). Roaches can be *everywhere* down there, so don't think that it was a house issue.

 

[kalc12345]

We have stayed on-site a good bit, everything from Saratoga Springs to Pop. I am probably in the minority here, but I prefer off-site. Our last trip to WDW in December we stayed at Bonnet Creek Resort and LOVED it!!! Oh my, what a wonderful resort!! There are so many different pools to choose from, lazy rivers, etc. They have activities all through the day for kids and adults. Bonnet Creek has so much to offer, and you are on Disney property. We could even see the Epcot fireworks from our room.

We were able to get a really good deal. We paid $65 a night for a two bedroom condo with kitchen, washer/dryer, etc. I enjoy that so much better than all 4 of us being crammed in a hotel room. Bonnet Creek is now our place to stay when we go to WDW

 

[chloelovesdisney]

With two young kids I would stay on site. I like off site for trips with extended family, for families with 4 or more kids, or older teenagers that want more privacy.

 

[jennyjinx3]

No one has said anything bad against your opinion, but have offered other ideas. With 10 days in the parks at $12 per day, looking into upgrading one person to an AP might have been something to think about, both for the parking being included, and some discounts on food. (and the opportunity to buy the TIW to get discounts on way more places)

And they were noting that paying for parking isn't every time you go in and out; the way you put it it made it sound like you were hopping parks and paying again, or going home for lunch, coming back, and paying again. It is not like that; you pay once per day and then show your receipt. You don't have to pay more than once per day for parking.





Just as a FWIW, that simply happens in Florida. Just a few months ago there were posts about cockroaches in the bathrooms at night at Animal Kingdom Lodge. It's a Southern thing, a Florida thing, NOT a cleanliness issue. When my mom lived in Miami, she was just as neat and CLEAN as she was living elsewhere, but they had roaches (the big nasty palmetto bugs that FLY, and would come out at night when her west coast based daughter was up for hours and hours, not wanting to get on east coast time for a short college break). Roaches can be *everywhere* down there, so don't think that it was a house issue.

You will notice I did say the house WAS clean enough! I thought the OP was asking for opinions . I just gave a description of our own experience, doesn't mean every house or condo will be the same as our own.