Windsor Hills vs. Vista Cay..PLEASE HELP, have to decide soon!

[Dylan_&_Blake's_mom]

We were all set to stay in a townhouse at Windsor Hills when I got a quote from someone at Vista Cay. The quote is $50 cheaper so not a huge difference but the place looks really nice. They both look gorgeous, the vista cay looks bigger, the windsor hills has a splash pool. I'm just not sure. Has anyone ever stayed at both? Stayed at one and have an opinion?? I don't think we will have time to enjoy the pool/other ammenities at the resorts so that isn't really a factor, just the places in general i.e. how nice they are, security and so on. If anyone can help I would greatly appreciate it...I really need to make my decision fast.Thanks

 

[disneyohbear]

I've only stayed at Windsor Hills so I'm not sure how much help this will be. One of the people I talked to when booking for our trip this June told me that Windsor Hills and Vista Cay were built by the same people. The amenties are different at the resorts though. Vista Cay is much closer to Sea World\Universal than Windsor Hills and Windsor Hills is really close to WDW. Maybe that will help make up your mind.

Our trip this time is to Sea World and Discovery Cove but we chose Windsor Hills so we could enjoy the pool and because the price made the drive not a factor for us. If Vista Cay had been $50 more or less than Windsor Hills we probably would have gone with Vista Cave just for the closeness factor.

I think from Vista Cay to the WDW exits you are looking at 15 minutes or so then factor in getting thru the parking gates, parked, out of the car and up to the disney gates...that could add some time especially to MK. I wouldn't want to do Vista Cay if I was going to WDW. Windsor Hills was great for that.

Hope that helps some.

 

[dayrewerts]

I've stayed at both Windsor Hills (2007) and Vista Cay (2008). This year we are returning to Windsor Hills. Really, you cannot go wrong with either resort. They are both very nice.

Windsor Hills is much, much closer to WDW. It takes about 20-25 minutes (without traffic) to get to WDW from Vista Cay. From Windsor Hills, it's only about 5-10 minutes. Vista Cay is right next to Sea World and closer to Universal than Windsor Hills.

Both resorts have gated access, though Windsor Hills has actual guards at the gates. Vista Cay doesn't, you access the property by entering a code at the gate. Windsor Hills also has a much nicer pool. The Windsor Hills pool is larger, has a great water slide, and has the fountains for kids. Vista Cay has a nice pool, but none of the extras. It's just a pool. The club house might be a little nicer at Vista Cay, but the one at WH is nice, too. Windsor Hills also has a great playground for kids, though that might not matter if you visit in the summer. When we stayed at WH 2 years ago in June, it was much too hot to play at the playground. Vista Cay is newer than Windsor Hills, in fact there was still quite a bit of construction going on when we were there in March, 2008.

Bottom line, they are both very nice. If the pool doesn't matter to you (it does to us ), then I would make the location the deciding factor. Windsor Hills is so much closer to WDW. Vista Cay is a lot closer to Sea World, Universal, and I-Drive. Either way, you should have a great stay!

 

[dayrewerts]

Just thought I'd add that we also stayed in a townhouse while at Windsor Hills. We couldn't actually use our splash pool, the water was freezing, even in June. With young boys, though, that might not matter.

The condo at Vista Cay was definitely bigger than the townhouse at Windsor Hills. With 3 kids, that extra room might be nice. The VC condo was, of course, all on one floor, with 2 bedrooms sharing a bathroom on one side of the living room, and the third master bedroom and bathroom on the other side of the living room. The WH townhouse had 2 bedrooms upstairs, and one bedroom downstairs. All bedrooms had their own bathroom. The washer/dryer were also upstairs at WH. The common area (kitchen, living room, dining area) was bigger at Vista Cay. It just felt more spread out, with more room for the kids to roam. There is also a larger foyer area when you walk in to the condos at Vista Cay, with plenty of room to leave shoes, bags, etc.

So I guess maybe I didn't make your decision any easier. Sorry! WH is closer to WDW, has actual guards at the gate, and has a nicer community pool. Vista Cay is closer to Universal/Sea World/I-Drive and the condos are roomier. I guess it just depends what's more important to you - room for the family to spread out or proximity to Disney.

Good luck, and let us know what you decide!