windsor hills

[muffyn]

I see a lot of posts about Windsor hills
just what is so special about this home community?

 

[Goofy'slady]

I've been wondering the same thing. I've looked at some of the homes and they're are some pretty nice ones but you can find really nice ones if not better ones for the same price if not cheaper. I know because last year we rented a extremly nice 5bd/3full bath, private screen in pool house last year for as little as 89 dollars a night.

Is there something really speacial about this community that I'm just not seeing?

 

[Brian Noble]

I think for most people, it's location. It's hard to be closer unless you are on Disney property, though there are a few exceptions (Bonnet Creek and Silver Lake come to mind.)

Secondarily, the pool area is really quite nice---comparable in some ways to the Disney pools. Plus, there are several amenities right there that many private home communities don't have. They're not a big deal, but they are nice.

Windsor Hills was the place we perferred to stay before we got into timesharing. It's not the least expensive, but it's still very affordable, and it's got a resort feel to it, rather than feeling strictly like a subdivision.

But, really, it's the Hot Place To Stay here in the off-property corner of DIS, just as, say Le Cellier is the Hot Place To Eat over in the restaurant forum. Objectively, both are probably more popular than they "should be."

 

[skmommy]

I agree with the previous post that location is a very big part of WH's popularity. I think the other part is that the "resort" amenities are fantastic at a very reasonable price. It is likely to be more expensive than comparable homes in other neighborhoods, but it has them beat in location and perks so it was very hard to compare "apples to apples". It also helps that so many Dis'ers have stayed there since that gives a certain comfort level in booking a home based on a website description and photo.

 

[mareed]

I think it's just that it's the newest in the area that's generally called "Formosa Gardens". I'd say there are others that are essentially the same as far as location, but they're older (perhaps 5-10 years old at this point). Windsor Hills is more likely to have newer things like flat screen tv's and wireless internet standard. Other properties in that area may have these amenities if they've been upgraded, but they likely weren't the standard when the places were built. It's also the only one in that area with a slide at the resort pool.

I like that it's there because I think it's helped to keep prices a bit lower at the other places where I like to stay like Windsor Palms!

 

[ALnRYSmom]

I agree with other posters. The location is great, the resort amenities look awesome and in our case it seems like the best fit for my family. It's also nice that we do not have to worry about 'resort fees' like you run into in some condo resorts. I hate when someplace charges you a rate then adds on $10 per night resort fee. I am known amongst my friends as 'The Researcher' and believe me I researched every community that does rentals. This one had the best reviews and were the newest ones in our price range.

 

[kathie859]

I've stayed in 3 different condo complexes and WH is my favorite due to it's great location and the Sherberth Rd "shortcut". WH is very clean and quiet with a lovely pool area. WAH!!! I want to go back NOW

 

[emmsmama]

The reasons I went with WH:

-close to WDW
-gated
-great pool area with slide
-clean according to reviews
-the fact that it had tonnes of positive reviews from others
-super cool-looking castle playground
-nice clubhouse
-found a good deal on a townhouse

We are spending two weeks there and we are not going to be at WDW every day, so I wanted somewhere where my kids would have lots of things to keep them occupied on non-park days. My kids are also very social and whenever we have been on vacation before they have loved making friends at the campsite or even in the amusement parks. One time dd and this girl who had just met went on several rides together and were very sad when we told them we had to go seperate ways now lol. So I liked how Windsor Hills seemed to have a good amount of people bustling about at the pool and playground for my kids to play with possibly.

 

[cinderella73]

Well frankly its quiet , clean, close to WDW , has a nice playground and very nice pool , new and updated homes , and you get more for your buck.

To stay at a WDW home away from home villa you would pay upwards of 500 for something you can get for 115 at WH. Plus its even newer and cleaner. Yes its not Disney. Thats true. But thats the ONLY bad thing I have to say about it.
If Disney could lower their prices for the same amenities I would go there. But thats not going to happen. And the full kitchen is really a huge save for my family for financial reasons as well as health ones.

 

[PoppyAnna]

I've stayed in 3 different condo complexes and WH is my favorite due to it's great location and the Sherberth Rd "shortcut". WH is very clean and quiet with a lovely pool area. WAH!!! I want to go back NOW

Agree, the location is fantastic - WH gates to AK in 10 mins via Sherberth road.
I want to go back too!

The reasons I went with WH:

-close to WDW
-gated
-great pool area with slide
-clean according to reviews
-the fact that it had tonnes of positive reviews from others
-super cool-looking castle playground
-nice clubhouse
-found a good deal on a townhouse

We are spending two weeks there and we are not going to be at WDW every day, so I wanted somewhere where my kids would have lots of things to keep them occupied on non-park days. My kids are also very social and whenever we have been on vacation before they have loved making friends at the campsite or even in the amusement parks. One time dd and this girl who had just met went on several rides together and were very sad when we told them we had to go seperate ways now lol. So I liked how Windsor Hills seemed to have a good amount of people bustling about at the pool and playground for my kids to play with possibly.

I think for a small family like ours (parents and two pinks ) it's nice to get a townhouse and a pool of our own without having to pay mega bucks for a huge villa.
WH rocks!

 

[liveforthemagic]

We'll be staying there in Dec....how did you find out about Sherberth Rd shortcut? Can you tell me about it?

 

[gqchicago]

We'll be staying there in Dec....how did you find out about Sherberth Rd shortcut? Can you tell me about it?

I posted the directions and the map here on the DIS on this forum, just search for the thread, it's all here!

 

[mrsklamc]

Well, we haven't stayed anywhere else so I can't comment on that, but it was truly close and we LOVED it.

We've had an unexpected April trip come up and have been offered a fantastic deal on a townhome in another resort, but...

I WANNA GO TO WH!!! Yes, I'm pouting. There are very few places available in WH and the ONLY townhouse I have found so far would be more than double the price as the same size house at the other resort.

 

[mrswh]

Well, we haven't stayed anywhere else so I can't comment on that, but it was truly close and we LOVED it.

We've had an unexpected April trip come up and have been offered a fantastic deal on a townhome in another resort, but...

I WANNA GO TO WH!!! Yes, I'm pouting. There are very few places available in WH and the ONLY townhouse I have found so far would be more than double the price as the same size house at the other resort.

Have you checked http://www.vacationcentralflorida.com/? THey have a new 3 bedroom townhouse that they just started taking reservations for, so maybe they still have some availability. I feel the same way about WH!

 

[mrsklamc]

Wow, thanks for the link!

 

[stepnut]

I loved WH as well, but I had one issue that may be a deal breaker for me. The walk from my car to our 3rd floor unit was pretty long! The location of the parking spots, entry doors, walkways, stairwell, shrubery and elevators made a short trip unnecessarily long. I thought it was poorly thought out. I felt like I was running a maze. A minor inconvenience, but when I get out to my car, and find that I forgot a little item, I'm ticked that I have the long walk back to the unit!

I think I prefer a townhome or home where my car is just outside my door, right in front of the unit, or down a single flight of stairs.

I wouldn't do well in a Disney resort. From what I read, there's a lot of distance to walk from some units to bus, food or pool.

 

[mareed]

I loved WH as well, but I had one issue that may be a deal breaker for me. The walk from my car to our 3rd floor unit was pretty long! The location of the parking spots, entry doors, walkways, stairwell, shrubery and elevators made a short trip unnecessarily long. I thought it was poorly thought out. I felt like I was running a maze. A minor inconvenience, but when I get out to my car, and find that I forgot a little item, I'm ticked that I have the long walk back to the unit!

I think I prefer a townhome or home where my car is just outside my door, right in front of the unit, or down a single flight of stairs.

I wouldn't do well in a Disney resort. From what I read, there's a lot of distance to walk from some units to bus, food or pool.

I absolutely agree with you! We started out in the condos at Windsor Palms and have moved to the townhomes or homes on more recent trips, and the ability to park right outside and just walk in is one of the reasons (in addition to bigger master bathroom and our own pool.) What is it with the tiny master bathroom sink & counter in the condos?! They really should have added some more space in that are if you ask me.