Encore Resort at Reunion and Windsor Hills solve the same Disney-family problem: one hotel room simply isn’t enough. Both offer vacation homes with kitchens, multiple bedrooms and private pools. After that, the experiences split, and for a Disney-first trip, Windsor Hills’ closer location and simpler setup usually come out ahead.
Location: closer to the parks
Windsor Hills sits just off Old Lake Wilson Road, immediately south of Walt Disney World and about 2–4 miles from the Disney entrances. Most families are parked at a park roughly 10 minutes after leaving their driveway (see how close Windsor Hills is to Disney). Encore sits farther southwest near Reunion, off I-4, which puts more highway between your rental and the parks every day of the trip.
A shuttle vs. your own schedule
Encore offers theme-park transportation, which can appeal to travelers who don’t want to drive. But a scheduled resort shuttle sets its own times and pickup points, and it isn’t the same as Disney’s continuous on-site transportation, so check the current schedule before counting on it.
Windsor Hills doesn’t run a theme-park shuttle, and most guests prefer it that way. With a car or rideshare and about 10 minutes to the parks, you can leave at noon for naps, head back for fireworks and never wait at a pickup point.
Resort amenities: a simple setup vs. an extra layer
Encore puts a lot of emphasis on its resort recreation complex and guest services. That can be fun for groups planning resort days, but it’s a layer you may barely use on a park-heavy trip, and depending on the rental, Encore may charge guests a separate resort or amenity fee.
Windsor Hills keeps it simple: the heated zero-entry lagoon pool and hot tub, Sir Windsor’s AquaVenture water park with its slides and splash zone, and a clubhouse with a games room, movie theater, fitness center and the Marketplace & Grill. Townhouses have private splash pools and many larger homes have private pools, so a quick swim doesn’t have to become a trip across the resort.
Home sizes for every group
Encore’s inventory leans toward very large homes, which suits big groups. Windsor Hills covers the sizes most Disney families actually book: 2- and 3-bedroom condos, 3-bedroom townhouses with private splash pools, and 4- to 6-bedroom homes and villas with private pools, each with a full kitchen and laundry. You pay for the space you’ll use, not the biggest house available.
Which is better for value?
Individual homes and dates vary, so compare total costs. Encore wraps the stay in a broader resort-and-service package. Windsor Hills puts your budget into what Disney families use: bedrooms, a full kitchen and laundry, private outdoor space, and a resort pool and water park minutes from the parks. Booking direct with a Windsor Hills owner can also help you skip extra platform fees.
The Disney-family verdict
Encore can work for very large groups who want the resort to share top billing with Disney. If your vacation plan has more theme-park days than resort days, Windsor Hills is the cleaner fit: closer, more flexible and sized to your group. See Windsor Hills’ large-family rentals to compare.
