Recommendations for Offsite in December

[disnerdiest]

Hey DISBoards!

My family (2 adults + 2 kids - 5 & 8) are coming to the World for 5 nights right before Christmas. We've been doing vast amounts of research on offsite options so much so that are now inundated with information. I'm looking to get your opinions on how all of you would book lodging to get some additional insights:

Some criteria:

- we plan on being at the parks pretty much every day, so pool area (combined with December weather) probably doesn't matter much
- we'll have a rental car
- hotel must have a full kitchen (wife has VERY restrictive diet - has to cook own meals)
- budget for lodging can be between $1000 - $1200
- reasonably close to parks (less than 10 min drive) and shuttle to parks wouldn't hurt

We've looked into Blue Heron, Hilton GV (on International Drive), Vistana (both locations), and Grand Cypress Villas. We've also researched some VRBO / HomeAway options (mostly at Wyndham Bonnet Creek).

So far our top candidate seems to be Hilton GV, for the money we get a decent cancellation policy and the grounds seem very nice (although we probably won't be using the pool much in December as prior history shows). TripAdvisor has this as #19 spot with semi-decent reviews.

Wyndham Bonnet Creek seems nice but I'm hearing a lot about the time share nagging that is putting me off. Also it has a much lower rating (#89) in TripAdvisor.

Is there a resort I'm missing here that I should be looking into? Any ideas are more than welcome.

 

[momof2n2]

why not a condo or town house in Windsor Hills or Reunion? No timeshare garbage, and just as close (if not easier) to get onto WDW property. The traffic around Buena Vista can be congested (in MY experience only - not a blanket statement), yet coming up from Windsor Hills area it is lovely.

We normally rent homes and I prefer them a bit further out (less expensive and we go for 2 weeks). By further out I mean 20-25 minutes from driveway to parking lot as opposed to 10 minutes.

But we have rented a townhouse in Windsor Hills once when we only went for a week and the proximity to WDW is amazing. (Unofficial Guide reports drive times closer from there to parks than some of the resort properties!!!)

Anyway - although this site is cumbersome - this is the best one I have found for Windsor Hills. http://**************************/

Basically - after you pick one you want to look at - click on it - and a new window opens. About half-way down on the left another link to the owners' websites comes up.

Alternatively, I love the vacationhomerentals.com website. It goes beyond Windsor Hills, though. And reunion is GORGEOUS!

 

[disnerdiest]

Thanks so much for the info, will look into Windsor Hills.

Anyway - although this site is cumbersome - this is the best one I have found for Windsor Hills. http://**************************/

Any chance you could tell me what the URL is? Didn't seem to post for some reason (bunch of asterisks).

 

[momof2n2]

I've never had them block one of my sites before! I hope I don't get in trouble. I wonder if because it is considered competition for the dreams unlimited people. Boy, I really did not mean to do something wrong!

Yes. I am on my phone right now. But when I get back to my computer I can p.m. you the information.

Sorry!!!!!

 

[momof2n2]

... Nvm

 

[disnerdiest]

I managed to see the site before it was removed (really strange about the removal). Just out of curiosity - was it the competition thing or is there something nefarious with that site in terms of how they do business? Thanks again and PM if not available to tell publicly (mods as well?).

 

[momof2n2]

I removed it because I really don't want to get in trouble.

That site is an information finding site. I've rented every time from emails/ paypal.
I think it was the cut and paste piece that made it asterisk out. Because the other site www.vacationhomerentals.com did not asterisk out.

I've used the latter site the last two times. Sent inquiry to owner, etc.

Some rentals are cross listed multiple places, others seem to be harder to find. I will say I invest a lot of time seeking rentals because they aren't apples-to-apples like a hotel is. I need baby gear. I like a certain bedroom set up. (King bed, room for two sons, a room for 4 daughters.) we also always go for a longer stay, so I want a master bathroom with a soaker bathtub. (I don't have one at home.). We normally look for a fantastic pool and lanai.

I think you will have a much easier time finding one. If you're not worrying too much about the swimming set up, and you are just looking for accommodations for smaller family, you should find something fantastic very quickly.

 

[JustPeachy2014]

i am going during a crazy busy time in december. i ended up booking a two bedroom villa at caribe royal. i am excited! it looks great.

 

[HoosierDaddy71]

You might want to check out Silver Lake Resort. It is a nice resort and a great location by AKL. We stayed their last October and loved it. You may have to call them directly to book but if the cost is comparable, I would recommend.

 

[NinaBella]

AirBnB is a good site to find rental homes and condos.

 

[kathy884]

We rent timeshares all the time and never go to the presentations. If asked to attend a presentation, just say "no thank you." If you are asked to go to a welcome desk to pick up a coupon book, know head of time that this is just a gimmick to ask you to attend a timeshare presentation. I skip it. If you are asked to signup for a resort tour so you know your way around, just say no -- it's really not a tour at all, but a timeshare presentation.

Windsor Hills would avoid all of this.

I don't think it's that big a deal, though. The routine is pretty standard at all the lovely timeshare resort, and there are so many great ones in Orlando: One request to pick up a welcome package at check in. One phone message that we didn't pick up or welcome packet, and one phone call offering up $150 or so to attend a presentation later in the week. I just say no thank you once at check in, and delete two messages, one on day two about not picking up the packet and one at the end of the stay about attending a presentation. If you expect this, it's really no big deal. That's as much pressure as you get. Renting from an owner you are under no obligation whatsoever to attend, and I wouldn't waste your precious vacation time. If you ever do want to buy a timeshare, do it on the resale market.

 

[i*heart*minniemouse]

We rent timeshares all the time and never go to the presentations. If asked to attend a presentation, just say "no thank you." If you are asked to go to a welcome desk to pick up a coupon book, know head of time that this is just a gimmick to ask you to attend a timeshare presentation. I skip it. If you are asked to signup for a resort tour so you know your way around, just say no -- it's really not a tour at all, but a timeshare presentation.

Windsor Hills would avoid all of this.

I don't think it's that big a deal, though. The routine is pretty standard at all the lovely timeshare resort, and there are so many great ones in Orlando: One request to pick up a welcome package at check in. One phone message that we didn't pick up or welcome packet, and one phone call offering up $150 or so to attend a presentation later in the week. I just say no thank you once at check in, and delete two messages, one on day two about not picking up the packet and one at the end of the stay about attending a presentation. If you expect this, it's really no big deal. That's as much pressure as you get. Renting from an owner you are under no obligation whatsoever to attend, and I wouldn't waste your precious vacation time. If you ever do want to buy a timeshare, do it on the resale market.

We skip the TS meetings also. Like you said, just say no thank you. We always trade out of our VA timeshare for Orlando. Just booked Orange Lake for the second time in 4 years. DVC is our other timeshare...we never trade that one!
Sheraton Vistana is a very nice resort also. Almost all of them are a quick drive to Disney. Just remember to figure parking in your budget if you do not have annual passes.

Barb