Which 2 bedroom villa location? Vistana Villages, Caribe Royale or Cypress Harbour?

[barefootMom]

I need to book a condo/villa for a week in August and am wondering which you would all choose. I know everyone seems to really love Wyndham Bonnet Creek but I cannot seem to figure out how to even look up rates there and don't really want to book through ebay or individual owner. I have also read that WBC is very very large and parking can be challenging so that might be a negative for me. We need two bedrooms and would like nice pools and a nice updated villa. Our girls are teens so we do not need much for amenities and will have a car and be going to Disney most days. Which would you choose based on grounds and "resort"?

 

[littlestar]

Of the three you listed I would choose Cypress Harbour or Vistana Villages. A 2 bedroom at Cypress Harbour will have a queen bed and pull out couch in the second bedroom. The grounds are mature and pretty and they have paddle boats across the lake. Vistana Villages dedicated 2 bedroom would have 2 full size beds in the second bedroom. They have a pool slide at one of the feature pools. Google both resorts to get an idea of how the grounds look.

Cypress Harbour sits off Westwood Blvd and Sheraton Vistana Villages off International Drive. Sea World is close by, but Disneyworld resort is an easy drive, too.

 

[Captainkidd76]

I would be willing to bet of the 3 listed, WBC is actually the smallest.

 

[Penmac]

I need to book a condo/villa for a week in August and am wondering which you would all choose. I know everyone seems to really love Wyndham Bonnet Creek but I cannot seem to figure out how to even look up rates there and don't really want to book through ebay or individual owner. I have also read that WBC is very very large and parking can be challenging so that might be a negative for me. We need two bedrooms and would like nice pools and a nice updated villa. Our girls are teens so we do not need much for amenities and will have a car and be going to Disney most days. Which would you choose based on grounds and "resort"?

We have stayed at WBC and did love the pools and overall set up. Although large, it is actually a more compact resort than some of the others because buildings are high rises. I am guessing your teens would like it, especially the lazy river. However, parking can be a headache. It was OK in the AM and during the day, but we really struggled with this late at night when returning from the parks, mostly because we had very small kids who were by then asleep in the car. My husband would have to drop us at the door and go find a spot in the garage, which he reported was awful. Since the set up is like a hotel, I would be dragging them up the elevator and down the long hallways half asleep.

We are also heading back to Disney in August and I have decided to stay at the Sheraton Vistana Lake Buena Vista (not villages). We stayed here once before and enjoyed it. It's very close to the Caribe Royale (I think). It is definitely quieter than the WBC. We didn't explore any other pools than the one near our condo, but I think there are 7 total. I found a great nightly rate through Undercover Tourist. We are paying less than $150/night for a 2 bedroom villa. At WBC, we would likely be paying almost double this price for a 2 bedroom.

I stayed at Caribe when I was in college. It was nice back in 1998, and the pool was lovely. Not sure what it's like now.

Good luck!!!

 

[barefootMom]

I did not know Undercover Tourist had hotel discounts and thanks to the previous poster, I just looked. They have Vistana Villages for at least $100 cheaper per night than what I can find elsewhere...Anyone know if there is a catch or something I am missing? I normally fear booking from someone other than the direct company (in this case Marriott since they now own the Sheratons) but am certainly tempted to book this now...

 

[Penmac]

I did not know Undercover Tourist had hotel discounts and thanks to the previous poster, I just looked. They have Vistana Villages for at least $100 cheaper per night than what I can find elsewhere...Anyone know if there is a catch or something I am missing? I normally fear booking from someone other than the direct company (in this case Marriott since they now own the Sheratons) but am certainly tempted to book this now...

Undercover Tourist is reputable. We always purchase our park tickets through them and they are fastpass enabled, etc. The year we stayed at WBC I had originally booked a Fort Wilderness Cabin through Undercover Tourist. It linked directly to our My Disney Experience account and was totally above board. We ended up cancelling it (free cancellation) because we found a Cheaptickets rate we couldn't pass up for WBC a few weeks before our trip. One of the reasons I booked the Sheraton through UT this time is because it's free cancellation and I think that is a great perk for the nightly price. Mousesavers also offers a great rate for the Vistana properties but they are non-refundable and that worries me. I have booked and cancelled rooms through UT a few times over the past 2 years and have never had any problems at all! Good luck!

 

[barefootMom]

The fact that they have a generous cancellation policy helps a ton...not only are they less expensive than me booking direct but the cancellation policy is way better. The only thing that is making me not pull the trigger is the fact that it all has to be paid upfront instead of just a one night deposit...I may just have to bite the bullet and do it on a credit card since it will save me quite a few dollars... Thanks for the advice Penmac!

 

[Penmac]

The fact that they have a generous cancellation policy helps a ton...not only are they less expensive than me booking direct but the cancellation policy is way better. The only thing that is making me not pull the trigger is the fact that it all has to be paid upfront instead of just a one night deposit...I may just have to bite the bullet and do it on a credit card since it will save me quite a few dollars... Thanks for the advice Penmac!

Yes- paying in full is no easy feat!!! The only saving grace for me is that by the time August rolls around the accommodation bill won't be looming over my head along with all the other associated expenses of a Disney vaca.