Windsor Hills or Wyndam Bonnet Creek experience? Please help

[nolarookie]

I'd like to stay in a 2 or 3 bedroom at either Windsor Hills or Wyndam Bonnet Creek for our upcoming trip in February (9-16, week before President's week). It'll just be our family of 4 and maybe a wild card grandma or aunt (this is not likely). We have APs, so I believe we can park at the parks for free, and we will have our car with us. Originally I was going to hold out to see what kind of discounts I could get at a value, or hold out for perhaps a free dining promotion, but the deals off-site seem too good. (all that extra space with energetic kids and a full kitchen would make the vacation a lot more relaxing).

I feel like I'm just taking shots in the dark emailing owners on vrbo.com. Does anyone have any experiences or recommendations they can share with me? I would really appreciate any tips or advice. Thanks!

[2princesses3pirates]

We stayed at a windsor hills townhouse last fall with 3 kids and grandma. We loved it. The extra space was so nice and having the small private pool was a life saver! The kids would hop in the pool with dad as I cooked dinner. They would even hop in sometimes in the am when I was packing everything to get ready for the parks! It was so nice that they could take a quick dip without lugging everything to a resort pool and back. We used http://www.floridasunvacationhomes.com/ Our experience with them was great, place was clean, etc. Since then, I have discovered that we could have gotten a slightly better deal by going directly through an owner. At the time (our first time going to WDW) we wanted the security of a real company to avoid any problems. Good luck!

[butchie30d]

I'd like to stay in a 2 or 3 bedroom at either Windsor Hills or Wyndam Bonnet Creek for our upcoming trip in February (9-16, week before President's week). It'll just be our family of 4 and maybe a wild card grandma or aunt (this is not likely). We have APs, so I believe we can park at the parks for free, and we will have our car with us. Originally I was going to hold out to see what kind of discounts I could get at a value, or hold out for perhaps a free dining promotion, but the deals off-site seem too good. (all that extra space with energetic kids and a full kitchen would make the vacation a lot more relaxing).

I feel like I'm just taking shots in the dark emailing owners on vrbo.com. Does anyone have any experiences or recommendations they can share with me? I would really appreciate any tips or advice. Thanks!
We're staying at Bonnet Creek this coming August for a part of our stay. We visited the place in April. The place seemed very nice. Since you'll have a car (and yes you get to park for free with your AP) you won't need the buses which is a plus.
All in all it was a very nice room, actually much fancier than my house. Lots of room, the location is very close to CBR so you're close to Disney parks and are "technically" on property. Given the choice I'd prefer the extra space over even a deluxe room at this point. Seeing that space made us finally take the plunge and buy DVC resale.
As far as which to choose I've only seen Bonnet. It's a huge place with 6 very tall buildings. I'd say go with the best deal. I'll post a TR when we get there. Good luck.

[JulieC]

We stayed at Windsor Hills last week, in a 3 bdrm/3 bath townhouse; these all have their own plunge pool. The plunge pool was deeper than it needed to be in our opinion ... 4.5' at the deeper side ... but one of us always went with the girls and kept a close eye on them. It was very nice, it was affordable, it wasn't that far to drive to the parks. That said, I did get a little jealous driving past the Bonnet Creek sign a few times when headed to DTD, just for the reduced distance. Honestly, it wasn't that big of a time delta. We saved a lot of money by buying groceries and eating in a lot, despite me going to the wrong grocery store (Winn Dixie Marketplace = tourist trap prices, which didn't register until I had half a cart full already).

This is the link to the exact unit we stayed in: http://luxurydisneyvacationhomes.com/ethans-little-disney/. It was nice, the owners were easy to deal with, we didn't have any problems except the towel bar in the princess room fell out of the wall on one end. I could tell it shouldn't have been installed the way it was, it was meant to be inset into a tile wall, not inset into a hole in the drywall, but all the towel bars in the place were like that. It's possible that our girls were hanging on it, but it was also possible that it was like that before we got there. That was our biggest problem. I will say the ceilings on the first floor are quite high (10' I think), so there are a few extra steps to the second floor. The laundry was on the second floor if that is an issue.

[mccollsk]

We're staying at Windsor Hills in just 36 days with a home we rented through RomancingTheMouse. We've used their property before (at Windsor Palms) and loved the service. I'll repeat what many have said here: you'll enjoy not having to wait for Disney transportation and can save a good deal of money by buying groceries as opposed to eating all your meals in the parks!

[2princesses3pirates]

OOOH! The other thing I loved about staying at WH- you park right outside your door! THat was wonderful in the am's packing the stroller and lunches, etc. And it was even nicer at the end of the day when my little one was too tired to walk. It was also nice b/c the kids could run around in the little "yard" while we packed up to go. I was debating staying on-site for our next trip, but I think I just talked myself out of it! :RpS_biggrin:

[mccollsk]

Our favorite thing to do is pack our lunch and take it in and then return "home" for naps and dinner. I understand that for some people it isn't a vacation unless they eat every meal on property - and God bless them for it - but to me it isn't a vacation if I know I could have saved $1,300 for my family of five by staying in a wonderful house that has a private heated pool and hot tub!

[featherface]

Thank you every one for these links and all the info :)

[Jessmela]

I rented at Bonnet Creek once through Ken Price at Vacation Upgrades: http://www.vacationupgrades.com/ We've also stayed there several different times on RCI/WorldMark exchanges. I'm a DVC owner and Bonnet Creek is my first choice when I can't stay at DVC. Plenty of space and it really is even more convenient to some parks than some of the Disney hotels. Ken was great to work with as well, responsive and fair rates.

[nolarookie]

Thanks for all the tips and links guys!

[rellinge]

I'm partial to Windsor Hills as well.

[bnoble]

I've stayed at both. Both are great. Hard to go wrong either way. The easiest way to choose is to decide what sort of vibe you are going for.

WH is like staing at your well-to-do uncle's house that just happens to be within a stone's throw of WDW. Very quiet, very private, your own pool, etc., but a residential neighborhood. There is a convenience store, and a neighborhood pool, etc. Bonnet is a full-blown resort development. So, not nearly as private, but more "going on"---better common pools, mini golf, more active, CS and (in the Wyndham hotel) TS restaurants, etc. When my kids were younger, WH was the right choice. As they got older, the "resort" style of WBC was more appropriate.

But, again, either will be awesome. Enjoy!

[KatM]

I'm another Vacation Upgrades renter whose had a great experiences. For us the pool bar, slides and lazy river outranked having a private pool available so it's all about personal preference.

[loveysbydesign]

Love Windsor Hills and Indian Creek. Would like to stay at WBC sometime just to try it though.

[nolarookie]

Ok, I just booked with VRBO with a private owner for a Windsor Hills condo. It's seems like a really good deal (more than $300 cheaper than a value resort for seven nights). I'm a little nervous about it, but I spoke to the owner on the phone and verified with a management company that this person was the owner. So, I'm good, right???? Paid with a credit card so I can get the charges reversed if I get ripped off. Why am I so freaked by this....

[bnoble]

You are freaked because it is cheap compared to a Disney Value room. But, that's not an unusual price. Enjoy your trip!

[nolarookie]

Thanks, I was fishing for a little reassurance!:RpS_thumbsup:

[Southernswthrt]

I've stayed at BC 3 times now, and have recommended Ken to many family and friends - we've all had wonderful experiences and love BC! Stay once and you'll be hooked!

[ajrallen]

I know this is an old thread, but just some added reassurance... I found a rental at WH in 2009 through VRBO. It is a single condo co-owned by two people. http://destinationdisney.net

It was a fine experience. It was SO CHEAP. There was some cheap theming (Mickey decals in one bedroom, Mickey accessories in the kitchen and one bathroom) but it was all our kids needed. So much space and convenience that we can't ever justify staying onsite now. There were two umbrella strollers there for our use. Heated pool with waterslide. Park right outside the condo. Wonderful to have breakfast in the room (I went to a grocery store the night we got in.) Quick to the theme parks. I stayed onsite at Pop Century once, and I can say that driving to/from all the parks except MK is faster from WH, compared to the Disney buses.

Needless to say, we are staying at the same condo again. Yes, it is more comforting to rent from the same people again. But you will probably be fine.

Enjoy your trip!

[fizboBunny]

I love the idea of these places. I love separate bedrooms and stuff. What drives me to stay onsite, this trip in particular, is I want to get drunk.

[ajrallen]

I love the idea of these places. I love separate bedrooms and stuff. What drives me to stay onsite, this trip in particular, is I want to get drunk.

LOL. OK, well, I admit I hadn't thought of that. Going with 3 kids, we generally just want to get a good night's sleep. If it were just DH and me (and I doubt it ever will be) then I would stay onsite in a heartbeat!

[butchie30d]

Just got back from a Bonnet stay a few weeks ago. Lots of fun and the four bedroom presidential reserve we stayed in was fabulous. Pools were fun but lots of kids were running around crazy doing dangerous stuff unchecked at night. Price you pay for a "resort" as opposed to a private place I guess. If you do decide on Bonnet, rent a cabana if you plan on spending significant time at the pool. Well worth the cost.

[mousehelper]

LOL. OK, well, I admit I hadn't thought of that. Going with 3 kids, we generally just want to get a good night's sleep. If it were just DH and me (and I doubt it ever will be) then I would stay onsite in a heartbeat!

Funny-- DH and I will rent a 4 bedroom house off property -- just to get the private hot tub. And at about $125 a night-- it's still cheaper than a value at Disney!

[bnoble]

What drives me to stay onsite, this trip in particular, is I want to get drunk.
From Bonnet Creek, you can take the shuttle to DTD/Epcot. I wouldn't normally use it, but for this purpose, it will be fine. I'd be most likely to take the shuttle there, but a cab back, so that I would not have to constrain my evening plans to the shuttle schedule.

And, it's worth noting that the drinks at the pool bars at Bonnet are less expensive than they are at Disney, and generally poured well...

[nolarookie]

From Bonnet Creek, you can take the shuttle to DTD/Epcot. I wouldn't normally use it, but for this purpose, it will be fine. I'd be most likely to take the shuttle there, but a cab back, so that I would not have to constrain my evening plans to the shuttle schedule.



good to know! Thanks!