Windsor Hills vs. Emerald Isle vs. Terra Verde...so confused

[snowbunny]

We are booked into CSR for a convention in early July but I am seriously thinking of cancelling it and booking a condo or townhouse. What started as a 4-night trip has ballooned into 7 nights. It looks to me like the cost difference would pay for a rental car, not to mention the savings in food.

My kids have been looking forward to the pool at CSR though. I'd need a development with a really really good pool. The game room at Windsor Hills looks good too. But it's the most expensive development. We're not doing Disney Parks this time, just a day at Discovery Cove after the convention.

Is there a lot of difference between Windsor Hills, Windsor Palms, Emerald Isle, and Terra Verde?

We'll have to drive over and park at CSR most days for the convention. Thanks

 

[MYDISNEYHOUSES]

Emerald Island, Windsor Hills and Windsor Palms are in the same general vicinity.

Terra Verde was built by the same builder as Emerald Island, so they look similar, but Terra Verde is further away.

 

[allyphoe]

We've stayed at Windsor Hills before, and IMHO it doesn't have a "really, really good" pool. We had a 3yo and a 2yo, so we really liked the zero-depth entrance, and that it was shallow enough for them to play independently in a fairly large area. And it has a pop-jet pad. But they liked the Pop Century pools (on a prior trip) better.

 

[deejay-55]

Windsor Hills rates tend to be higher than some other communities because of the location and facilities. We think it offers great value for a family vacation.

 

[5mins2disney]

Also, it's one of the newest and closest resorts to the parks. I'm surprised to hear you didn't think the pool was "really really" good...our guests often comment it's the nicest resort pool and clubhouse they've EVER been to! The clubhouse and pool get just RAVE reviews!

 

[snowbunny]

I'm leaning toward Windsor Hills, it just seems a little more up-upscale than the rest. Internet and playstation are a must, now to figure out whether it's worth an extra $20 a day for a tiny splash pool....

 

[curlyjbs]

snowbunny,
from what I've read the splash pool isn't tiny. 12 X 12 - not too bad to just "splash around/cool off" in without packing up and huffing over to the resort pool (which by the way I've read is FABULOUS).

We are renting there in August. First time so I've been doin the research LOL.

I think you'll love WH.

~Connie

 

[HeatherC]

Maybe you could rent a week from a timeshare owner at the new Bonnet Creek resort. It is next door to the Caribbean Beach Resort and has a fabulous pool area. Your kids would love the lazy river where you float in the inner tubes.

HeatherC

 

[5mins2disney]

I'm leaning toward Windsor Hills, it just seems a little more up-upscale than the rest. Internet and playstation are a must, now to figure out whether it's worth an extra $20 a day for a tiny splash pool....

Actually, our guests usually comment that they were surprised how nice the splash pool is and how much they loved it! I just got off the phone with our guests who are there now and their kids are just having a blast in the splash pool! They just said it's cold in Florida right now though and they wish it was a little warmer outside this week! (Not much I can do about that..sorry!)

 

[snowbunny]

The pool homes are furthest from the clubhouse, right? It is walkable in the heat of July?

I'm waffling between:
- 3BR top floor condo with a view of the MK fireworks from the lanai (supposedly), free wireless, regular TVs
- 3BR townhouse with splash pool ($50 more than the above for my dates), free dialup, large flat screen TV in the living room

I thought of Bonnet Creek too, but I think it's going to be more expensive than Windsor Hills (correct?)...and WH is still pretty close to CSR for the convention.

I don't normally care about the TVs but since we're not doing much park time, we'll probably have it on here and there.

 

[isla bonita]

We would have to go with the pool if it was up to us. Our kids are part fish so the pool gets more use then the anything in the home.

 

[KerriMc]

Snowbunny ... if you are basing it on the fireworks being seen (from WH), I don't know if I would do that. We were on the fourth floor of building one this past March break and we could see some of them that came up high, but not all of it. I had never seen the fireworks at WDW this year and we did happen to stay at Magic Kingdom on the day we went to watch them with the girls and I was amazed at how beautiful they were (I was such a sap ... almost shed a tear thinking "how perfect is this holiday right now???" ... ) Anyways, the balcony didn't do it justice AT ALL ... and we really enjoyed our condo ... just the fireworks weren't that awesome to watch IMO.

Kerri

 

[5mins2disney]

The pool homes are furthest from the clubhouse, right? It is walkable in the heat of July?

I'm waffling between:
- 3BR top floor condo with a view of the MK fireworks from the lanai (supposedly), free wireless, regular TVs
- 3BR townhouse with splash pool ($50 more than the above for my dates), free dialup, large flat screen TV in the living room

I thought of Bonnet Creek too, but I think it's going to be more expensive than Windsor Hills (correct?)...and WH is still pretty close to CSR for the convention.

I don't normally care about the TVs but since we're not doing much park time, we'll probably have it on here and there.

Well I can tell you the townhomes are ALL within walking distance to the clubhouse, if you feel it's too far though you can always drive the 2 blocks and park there, not a big deal. I think the fireworks views are overrated, Wishes just isn't the same / as good if you're not there up close with the music playing and all, I'd personally rather have a pool to swim in every day / night! (Not that the condos aren't nice or anything, but if you're basing your decision on that alone, I wouldn't).

 

[snowbunny]

Ok, thanks, I'm taking the fireworks out of it. But having just read the townhome ant thread I'm still on the fence...

 

[5mins2disney]

Honestly, we own and run 3 townhomes, and we've never had ants in any of them. I have been in dozens and dozens of townhomes, and never seen ants in any of them. It is Florida though, ANY property can get bugs or ants, it's Florida! The land of bugs and critters! What's important, is that the home has regular pest control (EVERYONE in FL has this!)...and they have a good MC in case you have any issues or problems during your visit. Everyone has small issues from time-time...you have them at home ...right? It's what you do about it that counts...and it will be the MC taking care of any issues that may come up! This is true if you irregardless of if you stay in a hotel, condo, townhome, or pool home!

 

[isla bonita]

Owning a home in Florida you need both indoor and outdoor pest control. Ask the owner if they do then you should be ok. We have not had any one mentioning ants at WH in some time.

 

[Mainebound]

We just returned from a pool home in WH 2 weeks ago. I think you can walk to the main pool from any of the homes, distance wise, but it would be brutal in July, as there is no shade. We often drove to the clubhouse due to being with elderly grandparents and always found a very close parking spot.

As for the splash pool, we did walk by these and they are big enough to use and have fun with, for sure. They are only about 2 feet less wide than the pool at the homes, and half as long (pool homes pool are about 14 x 28, although some owners may have larger, not sure).

As for the main pool at WH being a good pool, it rivals pools at the deluxe WDW resorts we have stayed at, in terms of size, warmth, zero depth entry, slide (actually it has a much higher and longer slide), water jets spraying across the pool in the deep end, and splash area wih jets for toddlers. Also plenty of loungers and shade. In 2 ways it is not as good as WDW pools at deluxe resorts, namely the theming (pool slide disguised to look like a mountain or kopje, for example) and the lack of a poolside bar. But neither of those are really present at Pop either, so I also am confused at the comparison.

Good luck choosing!

 

[snowbunny]

In my calculations, I didn't take into account the cost to heat the splash pool...is there any reason to do this in July??

 

[curlyjbs]

In my calculations, I didn't take into account the cost to heat the splash pool...is there any reason to do this in July??

Nope.

Connie

 

[tuzanne]

We are booked into CSR for a convention in early July but I am seriously thinking of cancelling it and booking a condo or townhouse. What started as a 4-night trip has ballooned into 7 nights. It looks to me like the cost difference would pay for a rental car, not to mention the savings in food.

My kids have been looking forward to the pool at CSR though. I'd need a development with a really really good pool. The game room at Windsor Hills looks good too. But it's the most expensive development. We're not doing Disney Parks this time, just a day at Discovery Cove after the convention.

Is there a lot of difference between Windsor Hills, Windsor Palms, Emerald Isle, and Terra Verde?

We'll have to drive over and park at CSR most days for the convention. Thanks

I think you have made a good decision to book a villa while attending a conference. We have had several bookings from people doing just that. They find that they can pool the costs by booking a 4 bed place and also have somewhere to invite people back for a drink after a long day at conference. We have a place on terra verde which is about 15 mins drive from the large conference centre. Both the other resorts you mentioned at very good too. Emerald Isle was built by the same people as Terra Verde so the homes are exactly the same and they have a similar clubhouse. From what I have heard Windsor Hills is very near Disney and popular for that reason.

I am sure that you will find staying in any of these resorts ideal.

Anyone going to a conference please consider a villa for your accommodation.