Townhouse or Villa Windsor Hills

[lilack]

Last time we were at WDW in Feb 2007 we booked a package with VH. It was a truly fantastic holiday and we were allocated a beautiful 4 bed villa on Highlands Reserve. We had only booked a 3 bed & there were only 4 of us so we had loads of space!

We had a lovely pool which we paid to have heated but due due to the weather it was still a bit cool for me to swim in - although the kids loved it.

This time looking to arrange a DIY trip in Feb 2008. Have some FC miles so can get a pretty good miles&money deal.

I've been looking at Windsor Hills due to it's close proximity to the parks. Highlands Reserve was great but it is a bit far out to allow you to pop back during the day. But can't decide whether to go for a villa with pool or a townhouse with splash pool?

What do you think?

[Helenr]

Last time we were at WDW in Feb 2007 we booked a package with VH. It was a truly fantastic holiday and we were allocated a beautiful 4 bed villa on Highlands Reserve. We had only booked a 3 bed & there were only 4 of us so we had loads of space!

We had a lovely pool which we paid to have heated but due due to the weather it was still a bit cool for me to swim in - although the kids loved it.

This time looking to arrange a DIY trip in Feb 2008. Have some FC miles so can get a pretty good miles&money deal.

I've been looking at Windsor Hills due to it's close proximity to the parks. Highlands Reserve was great but it is a bit far out to allow you to pop back during the day. But can't decide whether to go for a villa with pool or a townhouse with splash pool?

What do you think?

Well personally I'd go for the splash option.

We've stayed in Villas twice and I haven't really bothered with the pool - I prefer to be out and about - so for me it's all in the location.

Guess if you have children they may prefer a pool though

[curlywurly]

I would say it depends on the size of the party? We were in a 3 bed townhouse on Windsor Hills last year with 2 adults and 3 teenage children and there was ample space for all of us. The bedrooms are really good sizes, each with its own en-suite bathroom. The living area had 2 sofa's - a 3 seater & a 2 seater and a formal dining table (only seated 4 though) and 3 stools at a breakfast bar. The splash pool is quite nice if you want a quick 'dip' rather than a swim and the two boys tended to just chill in the pool area seats!!

I think the villas would be great if you need lots of space and you are a bigger group.

Hope this helps :smile:

[Ninny]

We stayed in a villa at Windsor Hills Jan 08 it was wonderful!! However i think either villa or townhouse is fine, as the communal pool area at Windsor Hills is lovely, so if you want more of a swim you can go there. There is also a great playground for kids. I loved the fact that the development is gated so adding that extra level of security and peace of mind. Have booked again for Feb 2008 - can't wait!!!

[digdisney]

I had exactly the same decision last week. I had some great quotes for both, and we were slightly edging towards the Town house with splash pool purely because it was so much cheaper. But the thing that made my mind up was how close your are to your neighbours in the Townhouse, I live in a terraced house here and feel like im on top of my neighbours ( I need a neighbour break). So we decided on a lovely villa at Tuscan Hills . Would have liked a windsor hills villa but all the ones I liked were booked :(

[lilack]

Thanks for your replies. We are only 2 adults and 2 children so a huge villa does seem to be a bit over the top - although we managed to spread out very well in our 4 bed this year!

I'm just trying to work through the pros and cons of both options. A larger villa pool would be nice but also takes a lot of heating - do you think a splash pool would stay warmer. I'm prepared to pay for the heating but this year it didn't seem to make loads of difference.

Would a townhome be noisier? I presume you're joined on to other houses. My kids aren't that quiet and I wouldn't want to disturb others (or be disturbed by them!).

The communal pool at Windsor Hills looks great and in some ways I think my kids will prefer to be somewhere where there are slides etc and others to play with.

[georgemac]

I have also been looking at windsor hills and agree the townhouses look lovely, and are very good value but the splash pools look very small to me, enough to be virtually no use?

The villas look superb but the prices are very high compared to what you can get in other areas.

I would not be too concerned about being on top of the neighbours in a townhouse, would be more concerened in a condo to be honest.

Tuscan Hills also have some villas which adjoin other villas, built in blocks of 3, so the middle one has 2 adjoining villas.

[nattyk]

we have just booked a 5 bed villa in Windsor hills - we looked at the townhouse with the splash pool but with 2 adults and 3 kids (plus bil who will join us for a few days) just not big enough - am looking forward to using the main pool as well and the kids play areas looks really nice - we have stayed in Formosa Gardens and Rolling Hills so it is the best location to be as so near to the Disney Parks - and am really looking forward to staying in Windsor Hills next year...

Nat

[lilack]

Those of you who have stayed at Windsor Hills - is it as close to Disney as it seems? Will I be able to take a break during the day without it taking too long?

From what I've read it is closer than some of the Disney on sites but I would like to hear from someone who has really done it.

Also, any info on the communal facilities. Is it close enough to walk to the pool from the villas with little ones?

[curlywurly]

Yes it is very very close to Disney...you can be at most of the parks within 10 mins...AK in 5 depending on traffic on the 192!!!

The villas are situated further back in the resort than the townhouses....and that would depend on if you are in the first block so to speak. This may seem daft but a lot of people drive to the reception area to go to the pool...we didnt but our townhouse was really quite close (well until me & hubby decided to take what we thought was a short cut back after being swimming one evening and ended up on the wrong street completely...lol) :d:

The houses do seem close together but we never heard any noise or thought we were on top of each other (mind you we were in an end one) - it was owned by a lovely lady in the UK..PM me if you would like her details :smile:

[Serendipity]

I would say it really depends on how you and your family feel about the pool. Both the villas and townhouses are lovely, but you know better if your family would make use of a pool more. We tend to find our repeat guests spend much more time at the villas than their previous visit so they really make use of the pool. Others though, like Helenr, don't make that much use of their pool so I guess it's down to personal preference.
There could possibly have been a problem with your pool heater last time you visited - unless you were there during an usually cold spell, the water should have been plenty warm enough for you to use.
The location is great and you can easily nip back during the afternoons, just make sure you use the Sherbeth road route, it's much quicker for you than using the US-192.

[dazjo]

We have booked a Windsor Hill 4 bed 4 bath villa for our Oct hol. I e-mailed all the owners via the Windsor hills website with the dates etc and got back what we think is a great deal £1100 for 2 wks from 7th-21st Oct with free pool heat. She hasnt got a lot of dates left for this year but if anyone wants the details please pm me.
Cheers

[Serendipity]

Have a look at http://www.thedibb.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=129612
They are Dibb owners who have a fabulous home in Windsor Hills - there may be other Dibb owners there too, just put a request in the villa section and any with availability will get back to you.
Dibb Villa owners all have quality homes and have all of you to answer to so you are guaranteed we will provide exactly what we promise.

[deejay]

We love having a pool and spa for our own use - the pools are large enough to swim in, and having your own private spa is so nice. Also the villas are more spacious. If you intend to spend some time relaxing after a day at Disney then you will enjoy a villa with pool and spa - it all depends what you want from your holiday.

[lilack]

I think I'm going towards a villa based on what you've all said! Just finding it hard to justify a massive villa for only 4 of us. I'm trying to persuade my sister in law and her family to come too so maybe that is the answer!

On the pool heat - it was quite cold when we were there. We were turing up to opening with shorts & fleeces for first thing but there were people with woolly hats and gloves! I suppose it depends what you're used to. Also, it probably would have been okay in the middle of the day but we were going in after we'd been to the parks in late afternoon.

[Serendipity]

It sounds like you must have been there during the cold spell. It also depends what kind of pool heater you have. Electric heaters work better above a certain air temperature, but gas heaters work no matter what the weather. Gas heaters are a little more expensive though. It's not very often it's that cold though so hopefully it won't happen to you next time. Pool blankets are also a big help to keep the temperature up.

Enjoy the space of a villa - you can all spread out!

Have a great time.

[donrobo]

Hi Am Interested In Booking A 3 Bedroomed Townhouse On Windsor Hills In January.is There Anyone You Would Recomend Me? Have Looked Through {removed - please refer to forum guidelines regarding the posting of villa websites} And Can Get One For £266 A Week.