Windsor Hill questions

[Aiko]

We currently have a suite booked at ASMU but due to some budget changes we're looking at staying off site to save some money. I was looking at some of the townhomes in Windsor Hills and they all seem very nice and it seems that they're very close to Disney, which is important because we will need to take our 3 year old back for a nap during the day. Is it easier to get back during the day for a nap staying off site than it is when you stay on site? This is our first trip so I have no idea how long anything takes.

Anyway, while reading through some of the listings I saw where most of them seemed to say no smoking in the home. Does anyone know if there are any that would allow smoking outside? My DH smokes but never in the house because of our son so he has no problem with going outside.

We would need a 3 bedroom townhome because my MIL is going with us. Any recommendations??

Thanks in advance!!

 

[Princess_Michelle]

We just got back. Getting to the parks takes no time at all, same time, or usually less, than you would spend on the bus. We have a 3yr. old and took him back almost everyday. Here is my trip report.....

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1611826

We don't smoke, but it looks like if you had a townhome, your DH would have plenty of space to step outside. You may want to ask for a townhome on the end though.....no offense, but if I were outside enjoying my splash pool, and cigarette smoke was invading my air space, I'd be pretty upset, so just something to keep in mind. Not being snarky or anything.

 

[gqchicago]

Most homes won't mind if you smoke outside or by the pool, just ask!

 

[mareed]

Most homes won't mind if you smoke outside or by the pool, just ask!

I hope that smoking would not be allowed outside by the screened in splash pool. That would make the next door neighbor's pool unusable for non-smokers. We had smokers in our group one trip where we rented a house with screened in pool, and I specifically asked and was told that smoking was not allowed in the screened in area. So our smokers went out front to the driveway. No chance of bothering neighbors there because people just don't hang out in the front of the homes our townhomes!

No offense meant, and it sounds like your DH is a considerate smoker with going outside, but I just wanted to mention that you should specifically ask whether it's OK to smoke by the pool - and hopefully he won't smoke there even if it's allowed!

Have a great trip! The townhomes are great - especially when travelling with extended family like MIL.

 

[mepperson]

Getting back for breaks is VERY easy - if you have a car. We went back almost every day. We don't nap, but just need to "chill" in the pool or sit and "veg" for a while.

About the smoking - I doubt it is allowed in the screened-in area, but that doesn't stop people. We had smokers next to us last time and we had to go inside while they were outside smoking in their lanai area. Blech. DD kept saying "it stinks out here - can we go inside?" That lasted only a couple of days, thankfully, then they checked out. I would think that out FRONT would be fine - nobody hangs out there.

 

[Lawyer72]

Thanks for the info! 1st timer here also!

 

[PoppyAnna]

We stayed in a Windsor Hills town house for the first time last month. The community is lovely and quiet and has a fab location - we have a 4 and a 2 year old and going back was easy. There is a "short-cut" via Sherberth Road which makes it even quicker in my opinion - particularly if visiting AK. Makes you feel like Animal Kingdom is just on your door step. We did it in less than ten minutes one day.
We did early starts in parks, home by late afternoon for sleep or pool and most night back out for a meal or fireworks!
The families either side of us had smokers and they were out front smoking occasionally but we NEVER noticed it. To be honest, when at WDW you don't spend too much time at your accomodation, do you?

 

[mareed]

The families either side of us had smokers and they were out front smoking occasionally but we NEVER noticed it. To be honest, when at WDW you don't spend too much time at your accomodation, do you?

My kids did spend a significant amount of time in the splash pool, and that time would have been ruined by smokers outside next door. As you pointed out, smokers out front would not affect anyone because the only time people are out front of their towhome is loading or unloading their car. Walking by a smoker next door in that situation is no trouble (even to me, and I'm sensitive to smoke!). But out back on the patio by the splash pool is very different because many times we do spend time lingering here. I will say that when we'ver rented townhomes three times before, we've never had a problem with smokers. I do think that most smokers would be sensitive to this, and would smoke out front.

 

[Aiko]

Thank you for all the responses. We figured out that we could stay at one of the townhomes for less than half of what we're going to pay at ASMu Family Suites. Plus we'll have 3 seperate bedrooms and the pool and we'll be able to cook our meals and save even more money. The one thing that had concerned us was the drive back and forth but it seems as though it's just as fast if not faster than waiting for a bus.

Also I think my MIL will appreciate having her own room to escape from our two DS's.

I've had quotes sent to me from many different places and we've narrowed it down to one. The general response concering smoking seems to be that they don't have a problem with it either out front or on the lanai as long as it's kept neat and tidy. So that will make DH happy, now if I can convince him to quit before we go we won't have to worry about it at all.

 

[2xDisneyDad]

I would not worry about the drive, in many cases by using the short cut from WH to Disney the commute can be less then staying onsite.

We just got back to our WH townhome from the Boardwalk in 9 minutes flat!

 

[MotherOf2Princesses]

This will be my first off site stay and I am really excited.
You mentioned takining a mid day break. I have been to Disney with my girls several times and we found that instead of going back and forth to your resort it's easier to just call it a day after several hours.
And since you're staying off site there are several restaurants around WH that you can do take out and not have to cook. And still spend less than staying on site. After several hours at the park I am too tired to cook and clean. So take out at dinner time is something you might want to consider.