Which one would you choose?

[sersee05]

Ha..I was just about to sign my papers to book my Paradise Palm unit. I had inquired here about splash pools and if I should heat it(thanks simpatico!). IM just curious what you all would do...
http://www.floridascandi.com/vacation-rental-home.asp?PageDataID=82003&ad=11/30/2013&dd=12/28/2013
The pluses are that it seems to have a "resort" feel and the inside looks upscale.


But then this one got sent to me. It looks nice too and its in Windsor Hills. The pluses are that everyone seems to love Windsor hills..It's one hundred more than paradise palms. Does have a bigger pool...although we have one at home so pools are not as big of a deal.

http://www.homeaway.com/vacation-re...id_text_o_loth&utm_campaign=HAUSOwnerInquiry


The Windsor hills one is run by Global Resort home and the other is Florida Scandi.

 

[ParkHopperFan]

For me, there is no comparison. I must first state that I am very partial to Windsor Hills.

The WH is beautiful and has a full size pool and hot tub. The game room is a huge bonus for the kids as well.

WH will be much closer to the parks and restaurants and has nicer resort facilities.

All in all, the $100 difference is worth the cost.

The WH looks like it is managed by Sun Kissed Vacation Rentals..

Good Luck!

 

[Hasil72]

Sersee, we scoped out the location of Paradise Palms and it's definitely going to have more traffic. Nothing crazy but when you add up an extra 10 minutes back and forth if you're taking mid day breaks it might be a hassle. The unit looks beautiful! Also, Palms is a townhome so you'll have neighbors on both sides compared to the WH house.

Good luck whichever you choose!

 

[sympatico]

Definitely Windsor Hills out of the two.

 

[TamaraQT]

I have never stayed at either one. However, my choice would be Windsor Hills. For one, it comes highly recommended by many here on the boards. Also, I am familiar with it's location since its right next door to Westgate Town Center where I have stayed. So I know the location is GREAT.

 

[sersee05]

Lol parkhopper ..was that a general good luck or good luck because its sunkissed rentals. ..which it is..but managed by global resorts.
Anyone have experience with sunkissed?


Hasil....really bad traffic? I won't take mid day breaks due to my kids being older...too the parks until closing..lol

 

[ParkHopperFan]

Lol parkhopper ..was that a general good luck or good luck because its sunkissed rentals. ..which it is..but managed by global resorts.
Anyone have experience with sunkissed?


Hasil....really bad traffic? I won't take mid day breaks due to my kids being older...too the parks until closing..lol

It was a general "good luck." I have never had any experience with Sunkissed but the reviews on the Homeaway link were all quite good for the WH home. Also, you can see that a lot of time, money and effort went into that villa and the photos are professionally done. Definitely not a fly by night operation.

Hasil is right regarding the traffic. At high points of the day, the traffic on 192 is pretty heavy and going ten miles can take you 20 minutes. After a long day at the parks, being in the car for that long can be a bummer..

 

[sersee05]

I think Paradise Palms looks like it has a very nice pool and tiki bar...so I think the resort amenities is a wash between the two. Although some had Said at pp..its nicer then wh due to it being a central Location.

But the traffic is a good point . I know ny husband will not want to wait in traffic. That really could be a dealbreaker if its that bad.

Another thing for wh was the fact it was a house versus townhome. No noise and privacy.

Good point also about wh being loved on this board. Most people have had good experiences. However, I have also been told that its getting rundown and the area is a little sketchy??? This was why I started being pushed into the pp/reunion direction.

The wh house has a bigger pool with hot tub..love the hot tub. I wasn't crazy about a splash pool..because i didnt understand it. It just looks like you can just stand in it. However at wh...it looks like its so open and I can see what everyone is doing and they can see us . I like privacy. Actually that was one if the biggest negatives for me.
Also do you get nervous if reviews aren't current? Wh has wonderful reviews from 2012. But nothing from 2013. Now pp doesn't have any reviews at all. It is newer
So maybe that's why..


Lol I'm working through it as I type...trying to figure out my decision!

 

[ParkHopperFan]

The area around WH is not sketchy at all. As I mentioned prior, the sketchy area is well East of WH. With WH, you are literally minutes from the parks and restaurants and I-4 which will take you to all of the other attractions in the area.

For reviews or feedback on a property or management company, I would search the Disboards and TripAdvisor.

 

[daytondisney]

OP, my family (2 kids, wife and I, her parents) did a 3BR townhome in WH about 4 years ago and loved it. It looks like the townhome you're looking at in PP.

However, this October we (same group) did a 4BR pool house in WH and it blew away the townhome.

For starters, the pool is a real pool - not a splash pool. We could actually swim, jump, pass things, float around in sun. We also got a patio with a table and chairs for outside dining, as well as chaise lounges for relaxing.

Secondly, my boys (11 & 7) loved the game room. Ours had billiards, foosball and a dual basket "pop-a-shot" basketball game with about 8 basketballs.

Lastly, inside was just much bigger. Townhome's living/dining room shared same place, meaning that from the LR you usually look over the dining table to watch TV mounted on wall. Pool home had dedicated LR, dedicated DR (that included seating for 8 + 12'X12' of unused space), eat in kitchen.

We're pretty sold on WH.

 

[daytondisney]

However, I have also been told that its getting rundown and the area is a little sketchy??? This was why I started being pushed into the pp/reunion direction.

My opinion.

4 years ago I thought the dining and retail area around WH was a little "sketchy." It was my only negative feeling about WH.

What a difference 4 years makes. This past trip we were blown away by how well the area around and west of WH has developed. It has a newer feel than east on 192. Lots of national chain restaurants and retailers, intelligently laid out shopping centers. The nice local restaurants survived, the sketchy ones didn't. No need to venture 10-15 east toward Kissimmee.

Old Lake Wilson Road has now been expanded to 4 lanes and all of my shortcuts are still intact.

As for WH property, they have installed new automated gates with UPC type readers. Gates still manned 24/7 and I noticed mobile security vehicles. Very secure feeling.

I thought the grass was tall when we got there. Maybe because it had been dry and that's what they do in FL. I live in a nice subdivision with HOA provided lawn care to common areas so maybe I'm spoiled. And on my first WH visit I didn't have occasion to get into the area where the houses were since our townhome was literally the first building inside the gate, so maybe this is just natural.

Grass was cut while we were there.

I'm more committed to WH than before.

 

[sersee05]

you guys have been so helpful! I was pretty shocked that you all went wh! I sent it to my parents too and they both said..go for the house.

Maybe the pp fancy granite bathrooms swayed me ..I don't know...lol

But your info has been invaluable. The management company for this particular home is global..which I did research and have heard good things. I guess they are quite well known.

I have been so nervous to go through this process because I was so afraid i would get a dirty buggy unit...which would ruin my vacation. I don't deal well with dirty. I have been stressing out over this decision...I was going to go for Reunion for a long time because I just felt it looked very nice and upscale...clean. But they were only three bedrooms ....so then I finally settled on the pp property. My kids liked it .

But then this came up..lol My kids are too old for themed bedrooms. So my concern was that my son would hate the star wars bedroom. He was "ok" with it.

You guys have really helped me!!

 

[sersee05]

Btw.. ..I finally chose!! I went with Windsor hills thanks to you all. Now I'm holding you all responsible...haha
So far ..been great. Global called me and I paid.. spoke to owner a couple of times with a couple questions. He was very nice and helpful.

So excited. Nothing like last minute!!!! We leave tomorrow.

 

[Hasil72]

Have a fabulous time! I think this is the best week ever to visit. Do you have the Sherberth Road shortcut directions? You will love Windsor Hills.

 

[sersee05]

No. I don't. My husband was just asking me how to get to all the parks

 

[sympatico]

Sherberth Rd shortcut from WH is marked with the red line on the map. If you click it directions will come up. It's quicker to get to HS by going the regular way via 192 and World Dr.
https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=...8.272032,-81.608849&spn=0.068335,0.11055&z=13
When coming back to WH from Disney follow the directions for AK and when you get closer the stay to the left for AK Lodge and turn left onto Sherberth Rd at the lights and follow it back the same way you came.

 

[sersee05]

Thank you so much!!

Btw..we got here about ,9:30. The house is beautiful!!! It is clean! I will see it better tomorrow....

 

[ParkHopperFan]

We will be in WH next week. I'll probably be sitting next to you at the pool!

Have fun!

 

[sympatico]

Thank you so much!!

Btw..we got here about ,9:30. The house is beautiful!!! It is clean! I will see it better tomorrow....

Are you saying that you just booked this house this week and are there now for your vacation ? For some reason I thought you weren't going until spring, must have got you mixed up with someone else.
We've waited till the last minute before, like 3 weeks out, but not this close.
Glad everything seems to be good with the house, hope you have a great vacation.

 

[sersee05]

Haha..yes. I Signed the dotted line on the home Wednesday afternoon and we left at 3am Thursday. I had all my tickets everything. It was just taking me awhile to find a place. We originally were staying onsite with free dining. But that ended up costing us close to $6000 since we are a family of five. So I came to this board and started researching options.

I was back and forth . A lot was booked. I was leaning toward reunion because it looked so nice but was only 3 beds.. I then was leaning toward pp because it was also nice with 4 beds. This house in Windsor came across last minute. Owner was nice and was willing to be at my paradise palm price. I came here and you all leaned toward wh. So I went with it.

So basically this board and a lot of you here really helped me. I was so nervous . The house is gorgeous. It is clean. I couldn't be happier. We got here in the dark..so couldn't really see the area. I will def. Write a review of the house to help others.

Thank you !!!!