TRIP REPORT - The OtHeR SiDe of OrlanDo -lodging at WINDSOR HILLS

[mikkiwikki]

Ok so let me backup....(from the lovely WH condo pictures)

When we arrived in Orlando on JetBlue it was 11:30am. We had a bit of time to kill because checkin to our condo was at 3pm. We picked up our luggage from the caroselle, and headed to National Emerald Green Isle to pick up our rental car. Let me just say that I will never rent with another car company. The experience was so flawless...just walk out to the garage and pick out a car with the keys already in it....then at the gate give your drivers license and you are OFF..off to your condo! This was such a blessing with two cranky kids...I just loved it. I had used Avis in the past and the waiting at the counter thing with Cranky kids can be tough.

Therefore we were on the road with our GPS which I brought in my carryon..and punched in the coordinates to Windsor HIlls.

We made a quick trip to make sure we could find the condo. Once we had our bearings we decided that everyone was starving and we were off to find a place to eat. We ended up at PERKINS >http://www.perkinsrestaurants.com/
Perkins Restaurant & Bakery‎ 6813 W Sand Lake Rd Orlando, FL 32819

Salad - huge and fresh...tasty

My Chicken sandwich..This was ok but the bun had a sweet taste to it that didnt appeal to me...I ended up finishing all of my salad tho.

DH Club sandwich.. Everything was fresh and tasty..Hubby finished all of this.

DS burger..humongeous and he loved it
DD had a similar burger and loved it. Also both kids got a "free crazy cookie" which was 1/2 Chocolate Chip and 1/2 chocolate cookie.. DD liked it so much she immediately made a request to return to Perkins. We will be back! Service was awesome and very prompt

We finished the 'killing time til checkin' episode by doing some mini golf on IDrive...it was very HOT...we all were in inappropriate clothing for the heat...but nevertheless we all had a blast.

Notice hubby's cheery disposition..he was wearing fleece lined jeans and it was over 73+ (love ya honey dont wear fleece lined jeans flying into Orlando in the future kay?) He pulled it together tho and had fun

After golf it was near 3pm so we traveled back to our condo.
When we arrived all I reported before and also a gift basket and sweet letter greeted us. The place was spotless and I would stay here again in a second. Unit 304

Tomorrow is 12/25 and we brunch at the Peabody with the ducks and a FABULOUS brunch. I highly recommend this if you can swallow the price (180.00! for 4) Lots of pics to come

 

[lotus14]

Awesome gift basket. What was in it? We are staying in a Vacation Central Florida townhouse in August and I'm wondering if this is something they normally do or if it was just for Christmas? What a nice gesture either way.

 

[ddluvsdisney]

Looks like a really nice place. We are now staying at the Sheraton Vistana in April.
Can't wait to hear more about your trip!

 

[leanne11]

wow..yr family is exactly like ours..we need that perkins, we dont have 1 here in pa..and were doing WH..and how close was that mini golf??. did u buy any groceries??looking for cheapo flip flops and hats and disny stuff but before the we go to the parks.. and cheaper than the parks. any more pool pix??

 

[mikkiwikki]

Awesome gift basket. What was in it? We are staying in a Vacation Central Florida townhouse in August and I'm wondering if this is something they normally do or if it was just for Christmas? What a nice gesture either way.

I DON'T think that was typical. It is totally up to your condo owner...and I think it was a gift because it was the holidays...(we arrived on Christmas Eve).
Cheese, crackers, olives and cookies. Very nice touch!

 

[mikkiwikki]

wow..yr family is exactly like ours..we need that perkins, we dont have 1 here in pa..and were doing WH..and how close was that mini golf??. did u buy any groceries??looking for cheapo flip flops and hats and disny stuff but before the we go to the parks.. and cheaper than the parks. any more pool pix??

More pool pics coming...IM actually trying to hunt down more PEABODY brunch pics...at the moment I can find 5...I thought I took more...

Here is the location of the mini golf - right around the corner...take a drive down teascone drive...left and a left...and jungle golf on the left

Jungle GOLF Here is the website>>http://mightyjunglegolfgroups.com/

This was DDs idea...as we were driving by...begged us to go really...It was like 28$! for all 4 of us to play....but the kids had fun. Worth an hour 1/2 diversion.

We did all our shopping here
WinnDixie Really liked it over a Super Target...they had tons of flip flops sunglasses etc type of stuff. Even had inflatable aligators...which were were able to use at Windsor HIlls...(can't do that at disney!)

 

[preschoolmom]

We're going to Gatorland on our next trip, I can't wait to read the rest of your report!

 

[JenSinMA]

Great trip report! Can't wait to read more. We're going this April and I'm still considering staying at WH (tho I have a back up ressie elsewhere.) I'm curious to know how long it actually took to drive to Universal from WH. And did your condo feel private enough? Noise from surrounding units?
Thanks for the great pix and details!
Jen

 

[mikkiwikki]

After opening a few presents in the condo on Christmas morning, we drove to the Peabody Hotel, and arrived at 11:30am with a 12:00 Christmas Brunch reservation at Capriccio Grill - Peabody Hotel Orlando
9801 International Drive Orlando, FL 32819

waiting for the ducks....

You can see my DD at the end of the red carpet here...looking for the ducks coming off the elevator...the staff saw her cute Christmas dress and asked if she wanted to be 'Duck chauffeure' - and handed her a cane..

My daughter was picked as the 'Duck Chauffere' & given a cane to guide the ducks to the fountain...

After guiding the ducks down the red carpet, they had their snacks... here is a picture of her with the ducks..(you can't tell from this picture but actually it was QUITE crowded when the ducks came down the red carpet...I waited for everyone to disperse to take this shot)

The staff that gave DD the cane asked if we wanted to see the Duck Condo (100,000 dollar I'm told)

I did not take a video but essentially this is what we experienced...Kids loved it
Peabody ducks

After our duck adventure we were off to Capriccio Grill...
The ducks run down the red carpet twice a day ...11:00am and 4pm so we timed our brunch ressie just right.

The brunch was astonishing...every kind of food imaginable was present...
I'll totally do it a disservice trying to describe them all ..but here goes..

Kids section included...peanut butter & small jelley petit fours, chicken nuggets, mac & cheese. many little petit fours of various types..ham and cheese, peanut butter and banana...and other tiny meat sandwiches..the kids were thilled

Then so many adult food items.....there were all kinds of meats, smoked turkey, marinated mussels in a tomatoe basil marinade, smoked salmon, honey basted chicken, Prime Rib & Honey Ham - with a chef on service to carve it...

I swore I took more pictures but here is what I can find...
my breakfast entree - Poached Eggs with Smoked Salmon and Hollandaise Sauce - - Perfect loved it

There was a 'cold' buffet' section and a 'hot' buffet section where they had chefs serving up omelets and such.

The service was impeccable, and the waiter Joseph kept the Mimosas coming..faster than I could drink them. He got a big 25% tip.

I also got a second plate of prime rib and salmon with cream cheese and a bagel with lox..Hubby went back many times.

Desert plate

Let's just say...we will be going back again next year....

 

[leanne11]

oh my.looks great..were doing didn't Parks and gatorland..how close were they..where is the Peabody afraid it might be to fancy for us..great pic.u used the alligator in big pol.pic??

 

[ddluvsdisney]

Do you know the back story behind the ducks at the Peabody??
How did you hear about the restaurant?

 

[momlee4]

I'm watching your trip report! Please post more sooner than later, can't wait to hear about your experience with Gatorland. We're going to WDW in October and may or may not do Gatorland - might depend on your report!

 

[Mum from oz]

How cool, being the duck chauffer! I am really enjoying your TR. We stayed at WH and loved it, we are headed back there soon. That brunch looks amazing!

 

[leanne11]

we've. done gatorland every time we go..we love it..its tourism at its best..i say as long as u know..you'll have fun..buy the hot dogs to fed them.they jump super high.bring swimsuit the have a little water area and if you don't want to be picked to volunteer raise your hand..i didn't volunteer at all and ended up with a snake around me..

 

[ddluvsdisney]

we've. done gatorland every time we go..we love it..its tourism at its best..i say as long as u know..you'll have fun..buy the hot dogs to fed them.they jump super high.bring swimsuit the have a little water area and if you don't want to be picked to volunteer raise your hand..i didn't volunteer at all and ended up with a snake around me..

That sounds a little scary !!! Can you tell me more about that?
TIA

 

[leanne11]

after about the third show we got the hint that they want everyone to participate ..it really is Fun to see someone unexpectedly picked to come up front..mine was fun and we got great pic..also for a couple of bucks.u can sit on alligator. mouth taped great photo op.

 

[mikkiwikki]

Great trip report! Can't wait to read more. We're going this April and I'm still considering staying at WH (tho I have a back up ressie elsewhere.) I'm curious to know how long it actually took to drive to Universal from WH. And did your condo feel private enough? Noise from surrounding units? Thanks for the great pix and details!
Jen

Hi JenSinMA!

The trip to Universal was literally 24 mins...BUT I have to say we seemed to hit traffic consistently on the way back from universal...on the 3 days we went...each time... so it put the trip back around 35-40 mins. However we didn't mind as we were just ready to swim at that point. Kids entertained with DS's and mom and dad had a chance to chat.

Here is my MAP
CONDO definitely felt private. Never heard neighbors along side of us...but I will admit there were two occasions where we could hear people tromping around upstairs. But it was nothing that would prevent us from going there again.

Another big post coming tonight ...work has gotten really busy for me...so many apologies..

 

[mikkiwikki]

Do you know the back story behind the ducks at the Peabody??

Here is the official story:

Each morning, promptly at 11 a.m., the hotel's atrium lobby is the scene of a remarkable ritual. In a special elevator, the five North American mallard ducks, four hens and one drake, comprising The Peabody Ducks, descend from their $100,000 penthouse Royal Duck Palace.

When the elevator doors open, The Peabody Ducks, accompanied by their crimson-and-gold- braid-jacketed Duck Master™, take up their positions on a plush red carpet and begin The March of The Peabody Orlando Ducks to the strident tones of John Philip Sousa's King Cotton March.

They waddle their way in formation through the hotel's marble halls, and when they reach the magnificent, orchid-crowned fountain, which takes center stage in the Atrium Lobby, the ducks mount three red-carpeted steps and splash into the fountain's waters. Tumultuous applause reverberates through the lofty, foliage-draped lobby, and standing ovations are the order of the day by the hundreds of onlookers who daily crowd into the hotel to see one of the greatest shows on earth.

At 5 p.m., the procession is reversed, The Peabody Orlando Ducks marching back to their special elevator, then to their Royal Duck Palace for dinner and a quiet evening together."

How did you hear about the restaurant?

To be honest - not sure where I read about it...but thought it would be fun, and glad we did it!
Here is a video that explains the history video
AND shows the penthouse that the ducks live in!

 

[mikkiwikki]

That sounds a little scary !!! Can you tell me more about that?
TIA

When you arrive there is a booth that sells hotdogs.
This was fun albeit gross...lol BUT If I had to do again..I would bring a plastic bag...they hand you the hotdogs in some thin wax paper that disintegrates rather quickly...read..your hands will smell like hotdogs for a while...

BUT the great reactions from kids and hubby watching the gators eat up the dogs...man...OK I have to post my Gatorland report! Darnit...not until 12/30 in this report UGH..

Next up 12/26 coming up UNIVERSAL First day

 

[ddluvsdisney]

Thanks for info.
Does look really cute!