Windsor Hills-Questions

[traciedee]

Just looking for folks who have stayed in one of the condos at Windsor Hills. We have rented a condo by the pool #103 for June. Curious if anyone else has stayed there or if there was someone who could answer a few questions about the resort for me.

I have read the slide is only open when lifeguard is there. Do the lifeguards have limited hours?

Our unit does not have internet access. Is there somewhere in the club house that I could take my laptop and have access?

Is there a grocery store to stop at on the way from the airport? We get in late and I would like to stop on the way to the condo to get milk for my morning coffee on my screened in patio overlooking the pool. You know those important things one must worry about......

What hours is the little store on site open. Does it have all sorts of basics? Also I had heard you could rent dvds.

Would you go back?

Thanks

 

[MayMom]

Welcome to the DIS! I unfortunately don't have any information, but we are booked at Windsor Hills also (June17-24). I am looking forward to what everyone has to say!

 

[QT Pooh]

Hi, we're here at Windsor Hills right now - in the second building from the pool. We love it! The lifeguard situation is hard to figure out. We've been at the pool in the afternoons only. Sometimes she's there; sometimes she's not. There are no posted hours. My 11 and 12 year old both thought the slide 'hurt' and I didn't see most of the kids going up and down numerous times. (It was in the high '60s that day and it just might have been warmer to stay in the water). There is a grocery store right at the entrance to Old Lake Wilson Road, but I do not have the hours. There are also lots of 7-11 type convenience stores along Rte. 192 and some are open 24 hours. The sundry shop is open from 8 am-10 pm. You can rent equipment (ping pong paddles, pool sticks - refundable deposit) or DVDs from them. I don't know about internet access in the clubhouse. You'll also need to rent a 'prox' card to use the facilities. It costs $6 which is refundable when you return it. I don't know about internet access in the clubhouse. The direct phone number for the resort is 407-787-4255 if you have questions.

We would most definitely come back. It is extremely convenient to the parks and it provides us with so much more room than with a 'suite-style' hotel room. It is also very quiet (but it's still January) - no highway noise, no people being boisterous in the hallway, three TVs, everyone in separate bedrooms. One thing I would do differently is get a unit on the bottom floor. We're on the top floor, and although we have a view of the fireworks at night, when you go grocery shopping, it's much more convenient not to have to lug groceries up 4 floors. There is an elevator in the center of the building though, which is great coming home from the parks with tired legs/feet.

If you think of any more questions, I'd be happy to try to answer.

 

[sweetpeakaris]

I would like to know what Restaurants are nearby?

 

[Maria395712]

I was looking for a condo by the pool would like to know any good builings facing pool area
maria

 

[traciedee]

Maymom thanks for the answers. Very happy you love the place. We go in June and I'm with you at being thrilled that everyone will have their own room. Yiippee. So if we are driving from the airport you think we will see a market of some sort before we get there. That's great. I just wanted to get some basics for the next morning. Especially milk for my coffee!

Maria- I can answer that your question. The only building facing the pool is building 8. We have rented 2 condos on the bottom floor facing the pool for June and I am happy with the location and the price. I wanted to be right by the pool so my teens could just come and go. Maymom is in building 7 which is also very close.

Any suggestions on what to bring or not bring? Is it easy to get to the disney parks from the resort and is it close enough to go for half a day come back for a break and go back. How long does it actually take to get to the parks? Have you gone to the waterparks?

Thanks I'm happy to run in to someone who's actually there!

 

[traciedee]

One more question- how far is the airport?

 

[BonnieA]

You'll also need to rent a 'prox' card to use the facilities. It costs $6 which is refundable when you return it.

QT Pooh:
Where do you rent this card? What facilities are you referring to, the fitness room? Do you need it to go in the pool/hot tub?

 

[traciedee]

The card is just a pass/card key to unlock the doors to get into the pool area, club house, pool tables, tennis courts, etc. You just give them a $6 deposit and they give you an access card. You get the $6 back when you return the cards. Also, if you want to borrow ping pong paddles, balls for pool table etc. you give them a $5 deposit which they return to you when you bring back the equipment. Can't wait.

 

[QT Pooh]

I'll try to answer all questions. The airport is about 25 minutes away - but I'm sure that depends on what time of day you come and which route you take. We took Rte. 417 to the Osceola Parkway, down Sherbeth Rd and Rte. 192 for one exit. There were hardly any stoplights that way, but speed limits were lower than going down Rte. 4. There was also no traffic, but we came in at 10 pm too. We're staying in Building 7 facing toward Animal Kingdom and we're the second condo complex. The other side does not have a view of the pool. The only view of the pool would be from the other building closer to the clubhouse (bldg. 8).

The prox card is purchased at the sales office in the clubhouse - right next to the sundry shop. You will need it to use everything - including the pool, spa, fitness center and clubhouse.

There are tons of restaurants around but you'll need a car to get to them - same with grocery stores. You have the basic McDonald's and Burger King, Carabbas and Red Lobster also a lot of buffet places like Ponderosa and Shoney's on 192W, but really you can't drive 100 feet down the road without seeing some place to eat. There's not much on Old Lake Wilson (also known as 545) except other developments.

Also, the shuttle service sounds like it's not very good. You have to call an outside company and tell them you would like to reserve space on their shuttle to the Disney parks. I think the departure time is something like 10 a.m. but I don't know what the return is. It's also $10 per person round trip.

I hope this helps!

 

[traciedee]

Thanks QT-- appreciate the info. Have you had any problems with those large bugs everyone talks about? I hear they can be the size of small children. haha. How far away are the different parks?

 

[QT Pooh]

No, no palmetto bugs. Haven't even see one. They like humidity so right now we're good. The parks are really simple to get to. Animal Kingdom is 5 minutes away. Magic Kingdom is 12 minutes and Epcot was about the same as that. Haven't been to MGM yet but that will be about the same.