Windsor Hills

[Hasil72]

Recently, we changed plans for our 2007 vacation and decided to rent a villa in Windsor Hills rather than stay on-site. I just can't justify the price. I can rent a 5BR/5BA home for less than a moderate room. I've stayed in different developments in that area, but never in Windsor Hills. Any words of wisdom? We're hoping to go the week prior to memorial day. I can't wait.

Tell me I made the right choice.

Thanks!

Lisa

 

[Brian Noble]

We rented a townhome this past year in WH, and loved it so much we'll be going back to a 5BR with another family for our next trip. I think you'll love the location.

 

[Jackatkc]

I just got back a few weeks ago from staying in a 4 bedroom home there.

Best decision I could have made. If worked perfectly for our family. The first time I went to disney was last year, and we stayed at AKL. The hotel was great, but I hated the transportation. If we just missed the bus, sometimes 20 minutes would pass before another one came. I found myself taking taxi's to the resorts almost as much as using the busses.

This year I decided to try and stay offsite and rent a car. I will never do it any other way. I brought my GPS system, but if you are not going to go anywhere but Disney, you really don't need one. It's only a few turns from Windsor Hills to Disney, and there is no way you should get lost.

It should take you about 10 to 15 minutes to get to most parks. The only park that takes a little more time is MK. You have to park at the transportation place, and than take the monorail or boat to the park. It around 10 to 15 minutes to the parking, and another 10 or 15 min, or so to be at the park.

Some of the things we liked the most staying in a home was the room, pool, washer and dryer, kitchen. We would take a break midway, and the kids would stay in the pool. They loved it. We also would have breakfast in the morning at home. Not so much to save money, more so to save time so we would be at the park when it opened. Wife loved the Washer and Dryer.

Anyway, hope this helps. Please let me know if you would like to know anything else.

Jack

 

[isla bonita]

Jackatkc

That is exactly what we loved about the rental home the first time we rented.

My mom rented a home for her fiftieth b'day and we all went down. I thought it was a potential disaster.

Turned out to be the bomb and decided to purchase one a few years later. I have taken so many friends down with us one was a Vistana lover and thought she was not going to like it at all and loved it.

Keep spreading the word its like free advertising for us owners and you can't beat that. LOL

 

[lmk]

I just booked a home at Windsor Hills for our vacation in January. It looks beautiful and the price is right. My only concern is some posts about ant infestations. Anyone gone recently that can comment on this problem??

 

[Jackatkc]

I have heard about the ant problem too. I guess it's a problem at certain times of the year. I did not see one single ant when I was down there. I don't think you are going to have a problem in Jan.

 

[5mins2disney]

I can comment about the ants with some authority as we own a place there. I called my MC / property management company to discuss it after reading the posts on this board, he said it can be a problem but that pest control on a regular basis usually takes care of the problem.

We were there twice this year so far (in Sept last trip) and didn't see any at all in the townhomes.

As far as how far it is to Disney from Windsor Hills....it's really only 5 minutes if you take the "backdoor" route down Sherberth Road! Maybe 9-10 mins to MK which is the furthest park, AK is the closest, but I did time it in Sept and I made it into the Epcot parking lot door-door in 8 minutes (did catch both of the 2 traffic lights). It's only 2 miles.


Here is a link to the shortcut directions route to get to/from WDW from Windsor Hills, I added a graphic map we give our guests when they arrive to help get them to/from there.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1246812&referrerid=&highlight=windsor+hills+directions

Just remember, when you leave WDW and want to find your way back to WH from anywhere in WDW...follow the signs for Animal Kingdom Lodge , it's as good as if they put Windsor Hills Resort "THIS WAY ---->" signs up all over the place...you just make a left at the traffic light right before you go into AKL and you're back onto Sherberth! It's easy once you do it once or twice, and the little map helps, so print it and bring it along!

Enjoy, it's an incredible resort!

 

[sympatico]

Imk: We stayed in a townhouse in Sept-Oct on Renshaw St. and had no problems with ants. The pest control guys had just been there and sprayed and we only saw a few outside at the beginning of our stay and then none a couple of days later.

 

[crjack]

Ditto to all of the great things about renting a pool home! We stayed in a 6 bdrm. home in Windsor Hills in July and loved it. It was our third time staying in a villa and it's by far our favorite type of accomodations.

We are only a family of four but we will not stay in one hotel room together.....not a happy week for us no matter how nice the room is! Two rooms gets too $$$ and hard to secure during peak times so we are very happy to stay off-site.

We get a car anyway and enjoy trying someplace new on every trip. DH use to agree to go to Disney to keep the kids and I happy but after we stayed in our first pool home he was hooked on the accomodations. He loves when we travel with another family because it means we rent a nice big house somewhere.

Windsor Hills is a great commute to anywhere. I think you'll enjoy your stay.
Have a great time.

 

[Hasil72]

You are the best! Thank you so much for the directions and the map; that was going to be my next question. For as many times as we have rented in OIC and OIH, I never knew about the back way until I read it on the DIS. Has the new beltway had a huge impact on traffic?

I've never heard of the "ant problems" when we've rented before. I'm anxious to see the playground. I've shown DS(7) abd DD(3) the pictures and they're looking forward to that as much as Disney. The house is right on Teasone Blvd. in between the TH's and the side street.

Renting is our best option. DS has an autism spectrum disorder and having the room to spread out without the pressure of going the parks every waking minute is like an insurance policy that DH and I will have a relaxing vacation.

Thanks for all your help.

 

[Not so Dumbo]

thanks for the map. I knew there was a back way but didn't know with certainty what it was.