Windsor Hills - realistic driving time

[crgfsu1]

I am considering a stay at Windsor Hills for our upcoming trip in February 2009, but I wanted to get some real driving times from those of you who have stayed there before. I see on their sites that it is "2 minutes to the WDW main gate", but really how long does it take to travel to the parks in the morning and then how is it going back? Also, how about Sea World driving time too?

Then finally, they photos look nice, the review seem wonderful, but really...are they as nice as they seem? The prices I am getting are amazing and I am just wanting to make sure it's not too good to be true.

Thanks!
Cathy

 

[Stewy]

We are here right now. It is very nice, the pool is smaller than it looks in the pictures but still nice size.

About driving - to AK it is about 5 minutes to the parking lot. MY DH went to Typhoon and it took him 15 minutes. To MK, about 15 minutes. It is certainly no longer than waiting for a bus on property. Overall, we are very happy here with the space (each DS has his own room and so do we ) and being able to cook our own food. The price can't be beat either. We don't think we will go back onsite anytime soon.

 

[allie_to_you]

The drive isn't bad at all, but the 2 minutes is definitely a stretch...maybe to the closet entrance sign it's 2 minutes, but to get to any of the parks or downtown disney, it's at least 10 - 15 minutes driving time..still though, like the previous poster said, it's no worse than waiting for a bus and Windsor Hills is a beautiful place to stay!

 

[loriandmatt]

we were at WH mid june this year. it took only 2-5 min to get to AK and less than 10 to get to any other park. (given that is to get to the TTC at MK, the wait and monorail/boat can add to that.)

honestly i was expecting it to be far less easy than everyone was letting on and was so very pleasantly suprised that it was just very quick and easy. this was our first off site stay (other than with friends who live in Clermont) and i was used to the time it took either on busses or with our car getting from WDW resorts to the parks. it was just as quick or quicker to get to/from WH as it was a WDW resort, if not quicker.

i am editing to add the short cut(s) that make this 2-5 min time to WDW property possible.

1.) Hop on Old Lake Wilson Road and head toward 192. Look for a left turn lane that says WESTGATE BLVD...It is hard to see the 1st time as the sign for Westgate faces North...turn onto Wesgate Blvd and go a short ways. You will come to a small round drive at the entrance to Westgate. Turn on to the circle and immediately turn right before the guard gate. You are now on ENTRY POINT ROAD. Simply go straight until you come to the stop light on 192. Stay in the middle lane and go straight across and you are now on Sherberth Road...once you hit the long straight stretch of Sherberth look to the right and you will see Everest...look straight down the road and the top of the tree that is a different color green is The Tree of Life.

Take a couple of curves and come to a stop light that says Osceola Parkway...turn RIGHT and follow the signs...AKingdom will come up quickly on your left and the all the other parks will be after a left turn at the next stop light....

To exit Disney, follow the signs to Animal Kingdom. You will have to take couple of quick right turns off the main roads in Disney so stay alert for the turns...As you approach Animal Kingdom notice the big sign that direct you to stay in the left land to Animal Kingdom LODGE. the trick is to follow the signs for Animal Kingdom Lodge (not AK)....you will go over a hill/bridge....when you're by the AK....as soon as you go over the hill there will be a traffic light...go left. It comes up fast and isn't really well marked
It will take you back to Sherberth...Turn left...straight across 192 at the light...to the round circle drive...this time go all the way around past the guard house and turn right to WESTGATE BLVD and then right on Old Lake Wilson and you are home...

I know it sounds a little complex but after the 1st time you will be a Disney driving expert!!!


2.) Shortcut to Disney
To take the shortcut to Disney, take Old Lake Wilson Road back towards 192, but take a left on Morgan-Wilson. Take the next left onto Funie Steed .( if you go straight by mistake..and it turns into a dirt road, you've gone the wrong way!)
At the stop sign take a right on Entry Point/Sherbath road. Take Sherbath over 192 and continue on into Disney (you make a right cause the road ends into a guard shack though). It will only take you about 3-5 minutes to get there this way.

On the way back from Disney follow the signs for the Animal Kingdom Lodge. At the traffic lights before the lodge (it comes up fast) take a left onto Sherbath. You will also see the sign for 192.
this route has you just crossing 192, not driving on it

 

[dissy_dee]

Thanks for the detailed directions. This will be my first trip with a car.

I have booked a hotel but am switching to WH with a cheaper rate and much larger accomadations.

 

[mommy2paris]

Do you guys mind sharing the properties you are staying in ? I am still on a massive search for our accomodations in December, and I am having a terrible time making a decision!!
Thanks!

 

[sympatico]

I am considering a stay at Windsor Hills for our upcoming trip in February 2009, but I wanted to get some real driving times from those of you who have stayed there before. I see on their sites that it is "2 minutes to the WDW main gate", but really how long does it take to travel to the parks in the morning and then how is it going back? Also, how about Sea World driving time too?

Then finally, they photos look nice, the review seem wonderful, but really...are they as nice as they seem? The prices I am getting are amazing and I am just wanting to make sure it's not too good to be true.

Thanks!
Cathy

A lot depends on if you catch a red light or not at the 192 intersection. It has to be the longest red light in the world.
If you're trying to get to the rope drop at Mk in the morning allow 45 min. It takes about 15 to the MK parking lot then you have the tram and then the monorail or ferryboat then get your bags checked at the gate. We only allowed 30 min and the show had started while we were in the bag check lineup.
It's 10 - 15 min to any parking lot except AK which is 5 min.

 

[crgfsu1]

Thanks for all the replies! One more question, is there a difference between Windsor Hills and Windsor Palms?

Thanks!
Cathy

 

[sympatico]

Thanks for all the replies! One more question, is there a difference between Windsor Hills and Windsor Palms?

Thanks!
Cathy

Yes they are two separate resorts. They have the same builder and similar accommodations but about 1 mile apart as the crow flies. This is a map I created using google maps. It's my first try but it will show you where both places are and the Sherberth Rd shortcut. You can zoom in for a better look.
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=U...d=110562778588256174172.000453baef0290954cc04

 

[KEVD]

In the past we've stayed at the Sheraton Vistana ad Grand Beach and were happy with the driving distance to the parks. We found that it took less than 15 mins to reach the MK TTC and about 10 mins to get to EP. For anyone who has stayed WH as well as Sheraton Vistana or Grand Beach, do you feel the drive time to MK/EP to be about the same as far as time and as well as "ease" of the drive? We are considering WH for our next trip and driveing time to the parks is very important to us.

 

[Stewy]

In the past we've stayed at the Sheraton Vistana ad Grand Beach and were happy with the driving distance to the parks. We found that it took less than 15 mins to reach the MK TTC and about 10 mins to get to EP. For anyone who has stayed WH as well as Sheraton Vistana or Grand Beach, do you feel the drive time to MK/EP to be about the same as far as time and as well as "ease" of the drive? We are considering WH for our next trip and driveing time to the parks is very important to us.

We have stayed in both areas. They are about the same drive time. It would depend on which parks we were doing where we stayed. If we planned on including Universal/Sea World in our trip, the drive time is greater from Windsor Hills. If you are only doing Disney parks, the drive times will be comparable.

 

[deejay-55]

Google Maps is a good way to check out the distance to Disney - go to www.maps.google.com and click “get directions”, then enter start address = 2600 Old Lake Wilson, FL 34747 (This is the exit from Windsor Hills), and end address = 28.343,-81.566 (This will take you to the Disney maingate). You can also get satellite views and street views – great fun!

 

[crgfsu1]

Thanks to everyone to the replies!!!

I have yet one more question...I have found a property at Windsor Hills - the Owners are Peter & Angela Jennings, does anyone have any experience with them? (or does anyone know how I can 'check them out' to make sure they are honest & legit, etc...)

Thanks!
Cathy

 

[3BoysRDisneyFreaks]

I don't know about those owners. We are booked to stay in October for 10 nights at a WH condo.

If you want the link, PM me and I will get you the information.

They have been really great so far with booking and the deposit and such. They list their home address and such. I am looking forward to staying there. You can't beat the price for a 3 bedroom 2 bath condo.


Sarah

 

[sympatico]

Thanks to everyone to the replies!!!

I have yet one more question...I have found a property at Windsor Hills - the Owners are Peter & Angela Jennings, does anyone have any experience with them? (or does anyone know how I can 'check them out' to make sure they are honest & legit, etc...)

Thanks!
Cathy

Where did you find the website? If the property is on Teascone Blvd. and they live in the UK then they've paid their taxes on the tax collectors site.
https://www.osceola.county-taxes.com/tcb/app/pt/main Just put in search for last name.
Usually can go to the tax appraiser site but for some reason it's not coming up tonight.
www.property-appraiser.org
According to the tax records they have 3 properties. One in Windsor Hills and two in Windsor Palms.
The appraiser site is working now and they do own the three properties.

 

[DumboPrincess]

Subscribing for directions!

 

[deejay-55]

Thanks to everyone to the replies!!!
I have yet one more question... does anyone know how I can 'check them out' to make sure they are honest & legit, etc

There are a large number of owners’ homes to choose from, and there is always an element of trust involved - you are trusting the owners to rent you their vacation home, and they are trusting you to treat it with respect. Mostly everything works out fine.

 

[anabella]

Thanks to everyone to the replies!!!

(or does anyone know how I can 'check them out' to make sure they are honest & legit, etc...)

check at www.windsorhillsrent.com the owners with the "verified" icon have proved that they are legit owners

 

[Brian Noble]

On the way home from MK one night, I put the Wishes CD in the player, and was at my Windsor Hills townhome just before the show ended. So, about 12 minutes.

 

[scrappy5]

We just got back and I highly recommend getting a townhouse with a splash pool. It was really nice not to have to go to the clubhouse pool after being at the parks all day.

WH is in an excellent location to all the parks. We even went to Universal and that was 15-20 minutes max.

There are also many restaurants within a 5-10 minute drive.