Recommendations needed desperately!

[scrapbookjulie]

Please help! I'm giving myself a headache reading through all the reviews here and on other websites, trying to find a hotel that will be a good choice for our January 09 vacation. I'm hoping some of the experts here will have good advice for me!

I wanted to stay in the Contemporary tower, but the only thing available is a $2000+/night suite. I don't necessarily need to scrimp, but that rate is a little ridiculous since we don't spend much time in the room beside sleeping! I thought I was booking early enough since January is supposedly a low crowd season, but I guess I wasn't nearly early enough.

We've stayed at the all-star resorts and found them unacceptably filthy, and the decor was awful. We upgraded to CSR this year, and while it was a tad bit better, it wasn't all that much better for the increased price. Those rooms were incredibly ugly, too. We thought we'd give Disney one more chance and upgrade to a deluxe, but I'm thinking we might be able to get something equally nice or nicer off-property for less.

I'm looking for something CLEAN, possibly recently renovated (newer carpeting, bedding, etc.), with pleasing, not tacky, decor (something neutral would be great). We will have our own car, so transportation to the parks is not a factor, but we don't want to be too too far away from the parks.

There will be 5 of us including my parents. We could take 2 separate rooms or we'd consider a suite.

So does this description sound like any hotel you've stayed at recently? Please give me any recommendations!

Thanks!
Julie

 

[conniehar90]

I agree with you about the All-Stars. It was our one and only on site stay - very disappointing.

Anyway, why not try an offsite condo rental? You get tons of room for about the same as a hotel room. We have stayed 3 times with www.disneyneighbor.com in their Windsor Palms and Windsor Hills units. Impeccably clean, great rates and close to Disney.

I will never stay on site again now that I have discovered the condo rental!

 

[sympatico]

Gaylord Palms Resort is pretty close to Disney. It's on the banner above.
Could also try a townhouse at WH. This one is very nice: Wishes:
http://www.5mins2disney.com/
or any of the others.

 

[Freaky]

As already mentioned, for 5 people you may be better with a condo or townhome. There are many new developments like Coral Cay and Bellavida or there will also be homes on longer established resorts that have been newly refurbished.

 

[karibritt01]

We stayed at Vistana and liked it... but that was over 10 yrs ago, so maybe someone can say if it is still nice. I think we were +/- 5 min from MK.

 

[scrapbookjulie]

Thanks so much for the Windsor Hills tip! I filled out the info form and within a couple hours I had a dozen emails from different owners. Some of the condos look very nice. And the price for the whole stay is less than one night at the deluxe Disney hotels!

I'll check into the other suggestions, too, but I'm thinking this Windsor Hills thing might be what we need.

Thanks for all the responses!
Julie

 

[bigmamimia29]

find out info on the DVC and then try to rent the points from a member at a fraction of the cost of renting it yourself!! You can do it right from this website and it is all perfectly legal. Nothing wrong with it!!

 

[mikeandsydsmom]

Please look into Bonnet Creek, it isn't a Disney Resort, but it is inside the Disney Gates. We just stayed there in February and are going back in December we were so impressed, this place is beautiful inside and out, it's a Wyndham timeshare. They have free shuttle service to all the Disney parks, the buses run day and night, we never had to wait too long to catch one of the buses. We rented from a Bonnet Creek timeshare owner and got a GREAT deal, 2 large bedrooms, king bed in master suite, 2 queen beds in the second bedroom, 2 full baths, living room, dinning room, a full kitchen and the most beautiful decor. Being at a Disney resort has it's perks, but in my opinion this place wins hands down. We rented off a timeshare rental website called REDWEEK.com, Bonnet Creek is listed under Lake Buena Vista, please check out the pics, you will not be disappointed. It's much nicer than what you have been looking at. Good luck.

 

[Princess_Michelle]

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[mtaaja]

We have stayed at both Windsor Hills and Reunion Resort which is just down the road. Although a bit more expensive, the amenities at Reunion Resort are MUCH nicer.

 

[momadis66]

We just got back from the Holiday Inn Express LBV on Palm Parkway We had an awesome room. There are 5 of us and let me tell you...with a rollaway we still had tons of room to move around. The hotel was recently updated 2 years ago and is extremely nice!!!! Very clean, comfy beds and great free breakfast included in your rate!! Another plus is that the beds are 2 queen size, not double beds. Location is great also, close to everything. Nice pool...not extremely large but has a really cool waterslide with a waterfall. I will definitely be returning there..also free internet access Hope this helps a little..enjoy your trip!

 

[Princess_Michelle]

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[CruisinEars]

Princess Michelle, I just read your tr and it was wonderful. We usually stay offsite and will this next trip in 3 weeks. We are staying at the Residence Inn since it won't cost us a penny, but for next time I am telling my dh that we need to look into the WH condos or similar. Thanks so much for your honest comparison and review.

 

[Princess_Michelle]

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[mtaaja]

We rented directly from an owner--VRBO #98273 and would very much recommend this unit and owner. You can rent directly from the resort which is more expensive but you get daily maid service and access to all of the amenities. If you rent directly from an owner, then make sure that you'll have access to the waterpark if that is important to you. Our 4 year old twins and their cousins loved the waterpark as much as going to disney.

Reunion Resort is a full service, private resort with three signature golf courses, a multi-level water park with slides and a lazy river, a spa and a kid's club. There are restaurants and lounges on-site which is why we liked it better than Windsor Hills. It is located just down Old Lake Wilson Rd from Windsor Hills or an exit farther on I-4.

 

[Princess_Michelle]

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