Windsor Hills Resort

[carolsnot]

After much research and investigating we have decided to stay off site at Windsor Hills Resort in a 3 bedroom condo. I tried very hard to stay on site but I just couldn't see 4 adults cramped into a studio room onsite for 8 days for much more of a cost than staying 2 miles away from Disney in a 3 bedroom condo. Has anyone stayed at the Windsor Hills Resort?? Can you give me encouragement that we made the right decision?

 

[nala-h]

having stayed in cramped hotel rooms all over the globe i can assure you will not be disappointed in your choice, in fact you will probably think to yourself why on earth didn't we do this long ago, this is the way we felt when we first decided to opt for a villa instead of an hotel as usual, and loved it so much that after a couple times decided to buy our own, so of course my opinion here is very biased.

happy holidays
allan.

 

[Cruz91]

Just scroll down this board and you'll see TONS of WH threads. All good. There are various (though few) folks with negative comments about specific OWNERS, but in general, you'll never see anything bad about WH.

We rented there last Thanksgiving, and we leave SIX WEEKS FROM TODAY to go back!

 

[sympatico]

We've stayed at WH twice in two different townhouses and we're going back in Nov and staying in a 6 bedroom pool home. It's a very nice resort with lots of amenities for those that stay there. How owners decorated their homes and the amenities each provide will be different. The first time we stayed the townhouse had lots of extras but the second time it was very basic. The second trip was last minute in Mar. and there's wasn't much available to choose from.
From WH you have easy access to Disney if you use Sherberth Rd or even World Dr. You're close enough to return home early afternoon and rest and return to the parks later in the day. There's also lots of restaurants along 192 within a few minutes. There's a SuperWalmart about 10min away at the west end of 192 and 27 north exit and a Publix about 5 min away.
We love staying in vacation homes for the extra space, privacy, and having your own kitchen, washer/dryer and no maid service to wait around for or to interrupt your day. After we first did this about 15 years ago we've never gone back to a hotel room for a long term stay.

 

[kathie859]

At the end of the month (Oh, GOODNESS, I LOVE saying that!!) we'll be at WH in a 3 bedroom condo. We stayed offsite in March in Bonnet Creek resort area but I read so many good things about WH we decided to give it a try. I like how convenient it seems between the WH and WDW via Sherberth Road and the price is certainly reasonable. We'll be 4 adults and two children so the need to "spread out" is really important. I alway say that I'll do a trip report but somehow never do! But this trip, I will really make the effort. We're doing a few meals we haven't done before, i.e., Akershus for the Princesses and a few that are "must do's" for our family, i.e., Prime Time Cafe and Boma.

We've stayed onsite (ok if it's just the two of us) and offsite (my preference if we have a few generations traveling together.) I really like having all the space.

Have a great trip

 

[carolsnot]

I would love to hear about how your trip went and how it is at the Windsor Hill Resort. WE can hardly wait for March to get here. Does anyone know what the weather is like at Disney for the first week of March?

 

[sympatico]

We were there the first week of Mar this year and the weather was great. There was about a day and a half that it was a little cool but that was it. It was mid 70s to low 80s the rest of the time. Definitely shorts weather. But that was this year, next year may be a different story.

 

[carolsnot]

Does anyone know if you can order food for take out at the restaurant in Fort Wilderness?

 

[Lisa BC]

Carolsnot,

Sure you can get food to go at Ft. Wilderness at Trails End, although it wouldn't be all the convenient - parking isn't all the easy at Ft. Wilderness, and then you'd have about 15 min drive back to your house.

If you're looking for fried chicken, ribs, baked beans, and that type of food, I'm sure you can do better at one of the offsite BBQ restaurants or at the Publix deli.

btw, I'm sure you'll be much happier at WH then in a single room at WDW with 4 adults. I'd never stay more than one night with 4 adults in one room, and even then I'd have to be completely desperate.

 

[carolsnot]

I've heard that it is a beautiful view of some (not sure which ones) fireworks from the beach at Fort Wilderness. Thinking of maybe getting take out from Trails End and eating on blanket on the beach watching or waiting for fireworks.

 

[Lisa BC]

I'm actually not sure which resort beach offers the best fireworks view... I've never tried it.

You could post that question over on the WDW resorts board, I'm sure the experts over there would have some good ideas. All of the deluxe resorts around MK are going to have a counter service restaurant where you could grab something and head to the beach.

Enjoy your trip!

Lisa

 

[Mainebound]

We have been there the first week of March for 5 years running. The weather is warm to very warm (low 70s to low 80s), little rain, good for swimming, may need a jacket in the morning and sometimes at night.

Once we had a very cold rainy day (but we were some of the only people on Main Street watching the MK parade, if you can believe it, and my sons got more character attention than all our other parades combined that day!).

Once or twice we had unseasonably hot days.

We think the weather the 1st week of March is perfect for park touring.

We also swim every day and do not feel cold when exiting the pool and drying off.

It may not be as hot as some like it for laying around by the pool.

 

[PBJ's Mom]

WH gets my vote. We stayed there last year for Thanksgiving with my DH's family and we usually stay at the Polynesian and I was worried but we loved it. We could put the kids down at night and still have time for us to unwind. There was 17 of us!!!!!! You really will LOVE IT

 

[Frothy]

Been there once and just didn't like it. We like something a little bit more refined and upscale and this didn't fit our needs I'm afraid. There were too many people, it felt too cramped and at times not that safe.

Many people love it though so each to their own.

 

[Lisa P.]

The beach at Ft. Wilderness has an okay view of the MK fireworks but it's better, clearer, from the beach at the Polynesian. Capt. Cook's at the Poly has counter service grill food... you could get some there and go out to the beach to watch, which is usually pretty empty. The fireworks are seen above the castle, from there. From Ft. Wilderness, the fireworks are only seen above the trees and the Contemporary.

Another option is to eat at the counter service food shop in the Contemporary Resort (main floor, near the back, left off lobby). Then, take the elevator to the top floor. Next to the California Grill restaurant, there's a bar/lounge. Go through it and exit to the observation deck. The fireworks view is great out there, quite close up, and they usually pipe out the music as well!

 

[can]

We had the same problem and decision to make as you for our Spring Break trip. We are so used to staying on resort property, but couldn't see spending more money for a studio somewhere for four of us. We have rented at WH for the very first time too. Have gotten a 3 BDRM, 3 BA townhouse for less than a studio or hotel room with 2 double beds. Did a ton of research and have seen little or no negative comments about WH (just the occasional problem with a specific property/owner). Have looked at many pictures of the different condos and townhouses and they all look absolutely gorgeous.

Yes, we will miss the perks of staying on Disney property, but would rather miss the perks than not go down at all. Good luck with your trip and have a great time!

 

[work2play]

We are going to be giving WH a try for the first time in Feb 2008. We are in the process of selecting one of the 3 BR units. I am currently going through the emails from the owner's and trying to pick a good unit. How are the others of you deciding which unit to rent? I see prices anywhere from $89 to $129 a night, so I am guessing that furnishings and location are the key drivers. Anyone have good suggestions on which to choose? Quieter 1st floor location in Bldg 5 or 2, or pool view in building 8? I am also considering a unit in building 8, but it is on the back side of the building and does not face the pool. Thoughts on ground floor vs. upper floors?

 

[Mainebound]

I see prices anywhere from $89 to $129 a night, so I am guessing that furnishings and location are the key drivers.

Also, some owners may include taxes and/or pool heat and cleaning fee while others do not, so be sure you are comparing apples to apples.

Some price differences have no merit. Setting prices is not a completely rational process, or, rather, the reasons can encompass more than the market value fo the unit.

 

[mareed]

Some price differences have no merit. Setting prices is not a completely rational process, or, rather, the reasons can encompass more than the market value fo the unit.

I absolutely agree with this! We've stayed offsite in individually-owned homes/condos/townhomes many times. It seems like each trip, I'll get a few high-priced outliers that are easy to discard. Another group will be bunched around a mid-level price. And usually, best of all, there are several at the lower end that are also quite nice looking and suit our needs perfectly. So, I've always been able to find a place to stay at a great price at Spring Break, Thanksgiving, and XMAS.

I just completed a search for 4 bedroom homes in the Windsor Palms, Emerald Island, Indian Creek area for XMAS 2008 and had a price variance of $190 between the low and high price per night. That's a huge difference! Anywhere from $110 to $300 per night. I did try to submit an inquiry at the Windsor Hills website, even though I expected the prices there to be higher than we want to pay (because it's the newest of the areas I'd consider), but apparently the inquiry submission didn't work. I think the one that came in at the lowest price (& who we chose) gave a substantial discount for our 2 week stay booked so far ahead of time. I think the owner is really trying to fill up the dates for his home.

Sorry if I got off-topic, but I'll say that we LOVE staying in a place like Windsor Hills!

 

[QT Pooh]

We have stayed at Windsor Hills the past two years and have enjoyed the facilities both times. I just wanted to point out with the price variances in the 3 BR condo units - it could be a matter of furnishings, linens, maintenance, and/or condo size. The first year we paid $99/night and stayed in a very nicely furnished unit that was a little over 1400 sq ft. The second year we paid $80/night (both the same week, same building - different floor) and stayed in a unit that was about 1100 sq ft and the furnishings and kitchen amenities were noticeably different (not bad but definitely of a lesser quality). Even though we paid more the first year, we enjoyed that condo more. We would have stayed at WH again in 2008, but I just got a deal at Cypress Pointe Grande Villas for $490 week...so we're going to try that instead.

You will enjoy your stay there. Have a great trip!