Off site recommendations for a family of 5?

[sbd78]

We are strongly considering a trip to Disney in late spring/early summer 2018. It's been a few years since we were last there. We've stayed both on and off property in the past, but I think off property will be the right choice this time around. This is the first time we will be going since all 3 kids are over 2 and count towards room occupancy. Also, a standard hotel room is just not enjoyable with 3 kids anyway. Family suites and villas on property are $$$ and more than we want to spend. So with that said, can anyone recommend some great offsite resorts with condo/townhome/home accommodations? So far a townhome at Windsor Hills is the front runner. We like that the townhomes have a private splash pool, many have Disney decor, and the main resort pool looks great. Also, the prices are great! We also got a quote from Vacation Strategy for Wyndham Bonnet Creek (which also looks like a very nice resort) but the quote came in quite a bit higher than Windsor Hills. We will be driving to Orlando so we will have a car to get to the parks. Any great resorts I'm missing? It's been a few years since I've researched a Disney vacation. TIA!

 

[spiceycat]

there are a bunch of timeshares - look at www.redweek.com, www.tug2.net, www.myresortnetwork.com - also
http://www.wdwinfo.com/orlando-hotels-near-disney-world/discounts.htm - this is a sponsor for this site.

 

[erinch]

For years we have rented from owners at the Sheraton Vistana through placing a classified ad on the Timeshare Users Group (tug2.net). I've always been able to get a week from between 750 and 900. 2 bedrooms, full living room and kitchen and 7 pools. We love it, and quick hop to all the parks.

 

[100AcreWood]

I like Windsor Hills. I have vacationed twice there with vacationcentralflorida.com and I recently rented from https://www.windsorhillsfloridarentals.com/parkhopper-properties in June.

Both were good experiences though Park Hopper's condo was nicer. We have three kids as well. Having a 3 bedroom condo was wonderful. We put the oldest in the room with one bed and the two younger kids were in the other room with two beds. It was nice to have space, a kitchen and even a washer and dryer. The pool at Windsor Hills is great too.

 

[Klayfish]

There are SO many options. Use something like VRBO (my favorite) or AirBnB to search. Haven't stayed at Windsor Hills. I've looked into it, and it looks nice, but it doesn't seem like THE place to be offsite, so I don't really buy into the hype around it. We're a family of 5 also, and have stayed in at least 7 or 8 different communities all around WDW. They are all very good, haven't had a bad experience in any of them. Most recently, we stayed in a place called Vista Del Lago. It's a single family home community (manufactured homes). We had a 3 bed/2 bath house, with a private screened patio and a covered car port. Very, very happy with it. But that's just one place of many we've stayed.

 

[mjhtvchick]

We have booked a townhouse at Windsor at Westside for next May. It is brand-new, looks like a lot of really nice amenities (small splash pool at house, larger community pool with splash area and lazy river, etc). We have high hopes! We have stayed at Lake Berkley several times in the past but since we are not planning many "park days" during that part of our stay, we wanted a place with nice amenities on site.

 

[sbd78]

Thanks for the replies everyone. We are tentatively planning to stay 8 nights, spending one day at each of the four parks with rest/pool days in between. So a great pool area is a must! I'm intrigued by Windsor at Westside. It looks gorgeous and the pool area looks amazing. It looks to be a bit pricier than Windsor Hills, though. Anyone know if it is much further from the parks than Windsor Hills? I love that it has a lazy river and kids bucket area, and the townhome splash pool looks bigger than at Windsor Hills.

 

[100AcreWood]

Thanks for the replies everyone. We are tentatively planning to stay 8 nights, spending one day at each of the four parks with rest/pool days in between. So a great pool area is a must! I'm intrigued by Windsor at Westside. It looks gorgeous and the pool area looks amazing. It looks to be a bit pricier than Windsor Hills, though. Anyone know if it is much further from the parks than Windsor Hills? I love that it has a lazy river and kids bucket area, and the townhome splash pool looks bigger than at Windsor Hills.

I believe it adds another 13 minutes or so in travel time to the Magic Kingdom vs. Windsor Hills. If you're not going to the parks every day it's probably not significant enough. We spend all of our time at the parks so the closer the better for us.

Since you're spending time at the pool, did you check out Sheraton Vistana? I have never stayed there but they seem to have more to offer in terms of pools.

 

[ParkHopperFan]

Windsor at Westside is quite a bit further than Windsor Hills. Not only geographically further but considering the additional traffic I would estimate an additional 20 minutes each way. We checked it out when it was being built as a possible place to stay but discounted it because of the distance. The amenities are nice but not worth the added travel time for us as we enjoy a mid day break. Being close to the parks is a bonus.

 

[sbd78]

Thanks for the replies. Even though we won't be going to the parks every day, we would like to be close because my hubby and oldest like to stay at the parks late and I usually take the two younger kids back for bed. So close is good so hubby can drop us off and go back to the parks easily.

I actually stayed at Sheraton Vistana years go. While it was very nice, I like the Windsor Hills idea because I like the idea of having our own private splash pool. I will look into it more though, thanks!

 

[RangerPooh]

We do Wyndham Bonnet Creek because we have time share points there, but our kids often prefer staying there to a Disney Resort. The rooms (studio-2 bedroom, haven't tried a 3) are all really nice and well maintained. The pools are fun and there are also BBQ grills available free to use if you choose to go that route.

 

[ParkHopperFan]

Thanks for the replies. Even though we won't be going to the parks every day, we would like to be close because my hubby and oldest like to stay at the parks late and I usually take the two younger kids back for bed. So close is good so hubby can drop us off and go back to the parks easily.

I actually stayed at Sheraton Vistana years go. While it was very nice, I like the Windsor Hills idea because I like the idea of having our own private splash pool. I will look into it more though, thanks!

I believe that Uber to WH from parks is like $13.00 and there is an Uber lot just outside of the Transportation Center. Just a thought so your husband can stay and you can go back when you want.