Windsor Hills vs Disney Deluxe

[5mins2disney]

The site run by owners is www.windsorhillsrent.com - suggest you try there first. As a newbie, not sure if we can advertise specific homes?

You cannot!

We're here in Windsor Hills as I write this actually, incredible, just a gorgeous place!

Came back from MK this afternoon around 2:30pm when it got super crowded, and we went swimming in our pool most of the afternoon. It's still pretty cold and windy...72 degrees and windy, so good thing we had the pool heat on.

 

[mbb]

I'm gonna add up everyone's 2 cents, and book me a vacation!

Yuck.
I hate winter!
Especially when it's supposed to be SPRING!!

Ok...rant over

No, no advertising deejay-55
It really is great to have owners posting here, and greatly value their tips, help and advice on renting vacation villas.

If you've rented a property for your own personal vacation, and would like to post a review, please feel free to do so up on the Review Board
You can include a link to the property there...as long as it's not your own home!!

Back OT:

That's the great thing about Orlando (said it before, and I'll drag it out again )...there truly is something for everyone.

Enjoy your vacations all!

 

[Mainebound]

It's still pretty cold and windy...72 degrees and windy, so good thing we had the pool heat on.

George -- on behalf of all of the suffering Northeastern US and Canada folks on this board, I am going to preted I did not just see you refer to "72 degrees" as "cold".

 

[5mins2disney]

George -- on behalf of all of the suffering Northeastern US and Canada folks on this board, I am going to preted I did not just see you refer to "72 degrees" as "cold".

Brrrrr....I had to break out my windbreaker! Windy too! Oh....and I turned the pool heat up about 5-10 degrees too.... /shiver....

It's down to high 40's low 50's at night though...kind of cold!

I hear it's going to snow like mad in Orlando tomorrow...something about a Nor'Easter...

 

[sympatico]

George, I'll have to agree with Mainebound about the 72degrees. It's in the 30s in Nova Scotia and what you're calling windy can in no way compare to the 60 - 70 mph. winds and rains that we've had for 2 days.
Oh, to be in Florida right now.

 

[isla bonita]

My 2$

Our kids are on Spring break. They have been in the house because of the storms, to add insult to injury they were needed to pick up the debris from the storm. We have limbs and branches all over the yard.

So wish we were in Florida. To add some icing on the cake I at around 5:00pm will be picking up our neighbors who have been staying in our home. I do hope they had a wonderful time I just so wish it would have been us.

Forcast today, flood warnings, rain and high winds and it is 39 degrees. Gotta love that.

 

[snowbunny]

I am totally up for staying in Windsor Hills this year. But the downside is, of course, that it's not like dealing with CRO where you put a deposit on a credit card and show up.

I am already having problems with my owner - after extensive emails back and forth last week about a booking for this summer, I mailed him a check (his request) for the deposit in the middle of last week. Heard nothing more and emailed him this morning to confirm he got the deposit, to which he replied that he wasn't aware that I actually wanted to book (despite my specific email to that effect) and hasn't received a check.

I'm giving him 48 hours before I put a stop payment on the check so that I can book elsewhere.

 

[Lisa BC]

We are planning a stay at Formosa Gardens in November, and I wondered also about cab fare, so that we don't have to rent 3 cars...

Mears Transportation has a link that you can use to estimate fares:

http://www.mearstransportation.com/TaxiFareEstimator.asp

Mears operates all the yellow colored cabs in the Disney area, and they are metered. Do not take one of the unmetered cabs, they cost much more.

Using the estimator, a cab fare from Epcot to Formosa Gardens was $19.

If you were only traveling back and forth once per day, it is actually cost effective to take a cab both ways rather than renting a car, since you avoid the $10 parking fee, and you get dropped near the park entrance.

 

[*disgal*]

But, there is absolutely no way that taking a car from an off-site location is quicker than taking a bus from an on-site hotel, unless the bus is having issues. Also, you then have to pay $10/day to park.

The OP asked about her FIRST trip. For ease, convenience, on-site benefits, etc. the Deluxes or DVC properties cannot be beat for a first experience.

Disagree with the first part, agree with the last.

We have stayed at every level at WDW but not a monorail resort. We have also stayed at 2 bedroom condos in the Lake buena vista area, acutally 1 mile to DTD. In our experience, MK is the ONLY park that the buses are an advantage. But even for MK, if we are headed back in the afternoon to stay for the night's parade/fireworks, I'd much rather drive. We have done the buses so many times at night for MK........only a few times it's been a nightmare.........but last August I think was the last time for us not driving to the park. When we went back another night we drove. Yes, you need the boat or monorail and then a tram, but at least my family (with three kids) is sitting down. I just can't stand there for 15 minutes or more after a day at the parks and then not be guaranteed a seat on the bus(only once did we get a seat). I thought my 6 year old was going to cry.

We also had AP's ..........if you have AP's you don't pay for parking.

We couldn't believe how quick it was to EPCOT, MGM and even AK. And the really nice part at the condo was, we parked right outside our front door. This past August we stayed at POR.......love the resort but we walked for 10 minutes, including a flight, of stairs to get to our door. Ouch! You wouldn't have that with deluxes though.

Now, the second part I can agree with because our first trip was onsite also. I do think that you trade off some things with offsite. The atmosphere on site is great. Not that offsite is bad.......no way. It's just, well, offsite. I think the first trip should be onsite to really get you hooked on coming back to WDW.........then get a bigger place offsite. Just my 2 cents.


I know you'll have a great time either way.

 

[disneydiva2007]

Not sure if this is place to ask this, but a lot of you seem so knowledgeable about WH. We r staying there for first time in October. Actually our first time in a condo.
since we r cleaning up ourselves, is it proper to leave a tip for the person that comes in after you leave to straighten up for next guest?

We stay at rental houses in orlando all the time and we always leave a tip - because they do have to come in and clean up after your last day.

 

[psharrock]

we walked for 10 minutes, including a flight, of stairs to get to our door. Ouch! You wouldn't have that with deluxes though.

Are you sure

Have you tried walking from the bus stop at either AKL or Boardwalk to the furthest rooms, its easily a 10-15 minute walk.

We stayed at AKL in 2004, and were in the 2nd block from the end of the horse shoe, and it took and age to get to the lobby, never mind the bus stop.

 

[*disgal*]

Are you sure

Have you tried walking from the bus stop at either AKL or Boardwalk to the furthest rooms, its easily a 10-15 minute walk.

We stayed at AKL in 2004, and were in the 2nd block from the end of the horse shoe, and it took and age to get to the lobby, never mind the bus stop.

Oh my! You're right! I remember someone telling me about the BC walk to their room......very long. I guess I was thinking about the monorail resorts. But I suppose their rooms can be far away........like the at the Poly.
Edited to add: We stayed at WL twice........we didn't have a long walk there. Disney should build more hotels up like this one instead of wide.

Like I said, that is one nice thing about the offsite condos (at least the ones we have stayed at). You are right at your door. Sure is nice after a long day at the parks.

 

[disneydiva2007]

We are looking for a nice place at Windsor Hills for the end of August/September that also has a pool. Looking to see who can recommend what places for me. Should I just go onto their site and look? I would like comments from those that have stayed at a place. Thanks.

Hi MissLori,

there are lots of sites you go to to find rentals....I've used Aplusvacationhomes.com and villadirect.com ....these sites are cool because they provide pics and tours of the houses online - so you know what you are getting when you book. They also have different resorts you can choose from. These are not the only sites out there - but two that I have dealt with in the past. You should also ask your travel agent as they may have other companies that they deal with!

I hope I haven't broken any rules by posting this - if I have sorry!

 

[5mins2disney]

www.windsorhillsrent.com !!


We're here now actually and just LOVING it! We spent the day today at the resort pool with the kids, they had a ball!

 

[jjnoosh]

Quick question I'm hoping someone can answer. We're staying with my parents at a WH condo. We're flying, but my parents are driving and were hoping to pick us up at the airport. But, they would need to unload their luggage to make room for all of us and our luggage. Our flight arrives at 1pm, but the condo is not available until 4pm. Does WH have an area where you can store luggage for a few hours? If not, I guess we'll have to reformulate our plans. Thanks if anyone knows.

 

[isla bonita]

I would contact the owner and ask if the home would be ready for an earlier arrival.

 

[Epscot]

...Does WH have an area where you can store luggage for a few hours? If not, I guess we'll have to reformulate our plans. Thanks if anyone knows.

We are renting a condo in WH for our Oct trip. Our flight arrives at 10:40 AM, so I suspect we'll be arriving at WH around noon. I asked our condo owner if WH has a luggage room or something similar. She called WH and found out that they do NOT have any place to store luggage.

Our owner was GREAT because she offered to block off the night before we arrive from her rental calendar so that we can check-in early and not have to leave our luggage in the rental car at the park all day.

Now that is customer service.

 

[jjnoosh]

Thanks for the input. Checking with the owner about an early check-in. I'm not so sure he can be helpful in that regard, as I'm not sure if someone is staying there the night before us.

I guess plan B will be we have to take a shuttle from the airport and wait around in the clubhouse a couple of hours with the luggage until we can get into the condo. Kind of inconvenient, but what are you gonna do?

 

[curlyjbs]

Wow! I never even considered having to wait till 4pm to check in. Our flight gets in around noon. We're renting a car so the luggage will be stored but I wonder if we can even get into the development before 4 so that we can wait in/around the clubhouse.

I guess we can kill time with lunch and a little grocery shopping.
~Connie

 

[mexican-mouseketeers]

Thanks for the shuttle schedule Mainebound. I'd imagine the schedule moves based upon park hours, etc, and we figured that 2 or 3 people sharing a cab was probably cheaper than the pp RT shuttle fee and is more "on demand". We probably won't need it, but I just like to have a plan in place should the kids stay late and we choose not to drive over and pick them up.

If your teens stay at the parks and you want to save some $$, have them take an AKL bus and then a taxi form there to WH.