Regal Palms Review or recommendations

[MaMa3Princess]

Hi,

It is time to start planning for our trip in April. We normally stay at Emerald Island but are wanting to do something different this year.

I am wondering what are your experiences and recommendations for Regal Palms. We are wanting to go with more ammenities this year because we won't be park hopping as much.

Thanks for any info

 

[HeatherC]

We've stayed here several times and while the resort is nice, the service is terrible.

My suggestion would be to do a search on this forum...I've written about this place several times.

If you do stay here, rent through a private owner and not the resort itself. The units are nice and large but very basic...definitely not high end furnishings. But the pool area is great with a lazy river, hot tub and one other pool.

Hope this helps you.

HeatherC

 

[grammynelliebelle]

We have never stayed there, but I have it earmarked for Trip Advisor as I was considering it last winter. Check it out for yourself. It seems like it may be just so-so according to recent reports there. Grammy

 

[MaMa3Princess]

HeatherC

Can you describe the ameneties and the surrounding areas. We are very modest people and go to Disney on a budget each year. The last two years we stayed in EI in a nice,simple pool home. It was not the higher end but it met all of our needs.

We simply want to be in a townhome for the amenities of the property this time around. Do you think that it will hold the interest or provide enough for my 4 young kids.

I have read the reviews on Trip Advisor but I trust my Disers more KWIM

We would love to stay in Windsor Hill but we have not found any in our budget range.

Thanks for all the input

 

[jdybnsn]

We stayed there in Feb 2006 and our family really enjoyed it.

We had stayed at Disney PORS the previous trip, but found this place far superior and cheaper !
The kids particularly enjoyed the pool & lazy river, and we enjoyed having all the space of a townhouse having previously been couped up in a small hotel room. The town houses are pleasantly furnished - pretty neutral furnishings ,well equipped, light & bright... which is how we like it.

It was handy having the Publix next door (and a huge Walmart just 10mins away up the 27) and we found we got to the Disney property in just over 20 mins most days, using the Sherbeth Rd route.

Two things I would agree on is first; book through a private owner, and second; yes, we found the service to be slow too - especially when meals at the club house.

The reason we are not rebooking is that we never like to stay the same place twice, and because we are splashing out on staying on Reunion Resort this time since, we are getting married on our next trip.

I would recommend this place as long as you are not expecting hotel service.

 

[dougsmom98]

We stayed there in February and we really liked it there and would stay there again for the right price. We got a town home for $600 including taxes. Since that time the owner has increased their price by $100 and the resort now charges a $10/day fee per unit. I am not sure if I would stay here again for that price. The pool complex was fabulous for my children who were 7,6,6, and 1 years old. Even the 1 year old went down the water slide with my DH and I. The lazy river was fun too for the kids. We spent 4 out of 6 days at the pool relaxing. This year we are going to try a pool home. I do agree with others that the service was lacking and inconsistent. Pool towels were hard to come by and you never knew if someone would be taking food and drink orders by the pool. The town homes are very basic, but adequate. I have also written a few reviews for this place on some old threads, so you may want to do a search. If you are expecting a resort you might not like this place, but if you don't mind basic accomodations and a fun pool then you should be ok.

 

[HeatherC]

MAMA3PRINCESS: I think your kids would love the pool area. Mine have so much fun there that they don't even want to go to the parks. Windsor Hills is great, but the pool area IMO is much more fun for kids at Regal Palms.

As an example, my sister went in March with her dh and 2 kids. My bil's sister was staying at Regal Palms the same week. My sister missed Regal Palms pool area so much that they went to visit her sil every day to use the pool.

The units are large and great for families. If you rent a 4 bedroom, there is a master suite downstairs with full bath, kitchen, another half bath and living area. Upstairs there is a washer/dryer, another master suite with full bath, one more full bath and two other bedrooms with twin beds.
The 3 bedrooms are definitely more cramped downstairs...but still much better than a hotel room.

Depending on the unit you get, there may be different amenities. For example, one time we rented there was not even a clock in the unit. Yet other owners had more amenities in their units. Things like nicer pots and pans. Not that it's a big deal, but I hate those frying pans that are so cheap you can't even fry an egg in it. Silly things like that which certainly wouldn't make me not stay there.

If you do rent there through a private owner, don't worry about how far you are from the pool. A lot of them use this as a selling point. But...we went in June and I rented from an owner who's price was half the others...because I had to walk further from the pool. Really not a big deal at all. And I saved over $800!! Figured the extra steps burns a few more calories.

You can check out cyberrentals.com and vrbo.com.

One owner we have used several times is:
www.435.regalpalmsrental.com. His name is Simon and he has been mentioned on TripAdvisor. Tell him Heather from MA sent you. He has a great website and is terrific to deal with. Unfortunately, last time his rates were higher and I used someone else.

Hope this helps you.

HeatherC

 

[MaMa3Princess]

Thanks so much Diser's! I feel much more confident in choosing Regal Palms. I love the website that you posted HeatherC.

I am glad that you all consistantly stated to rent through owners, because we were looking to book thru hotelkingdom but I have found so great deals through the owner sites you have posted.

We are strictly booking here because like you all posted this time around we want to stay were they have activities/resort style amenities.

Now to choose from all the regalpalm owners!!

 

[jdybnsn]

This is the property we stayed in - it was a very short walk (5mins max) to the pool area and an end terrace property, which I believes makes it less vunerable to neighbour noisy (not that we had any).

http://www.vrbo.com/global/siteFrame.asp?mainurl=http://www.regalpalmsusa.com/&returnurl=/56146
(tell them Judy from Cheshire-UK, recommended them)

I should add that in selecting a villa, you should, at all costs avoid those properties situated along the Sand Mine Road fence (outer perimeter of the resort) - because of the heavy plant traffic that runs constantly up & down the Sand Mine Road...... these are extremely dusty/dirty /noisy properties since the sand blows off the trucks as the sand is being transported.

I'm sure your kids (and you) will enjoy their stay - we had the same problem as a previous poster though - the kids didn't want to leave the pool to go to the parks !!!

 

[heatherbelle]

We too have stayed in one of Simon's houses. I think it was heather C who recommended him to me.

As you can see I am in the UK. Simon is from the UK. I did find someone else who can beat his rate. Also two UK holiday companies now use the resort, so it is becoming more popular. We are thinking of staying there again next year. But I am toying with the idea of staying on-site to try that, as the free dinning plan is running next summer.

 

[HeatherC]

Heatherbelle - I may have to ask Simon to give me a commission. I have referred a ton of people to him. But he's such a nice guy that you feel good doing business with him.

HeatherC

 

[MaMa3Princess]

Heatherbelle - I may have to ask Simon to give me a commission. I have referred a ton of people to him. But he's such a nice guy that you feel good doing business with him.

HeatherC

We dont ask for it but the owner that we used in Emerald Island gives us the original rate that he quoted us every year. We recommend his home ALOT and it is very nice when you have that referal connection. I was going to email Simon about the layout of the townhome.