Amazing House! Windsor at Westside - 8817MD

We had our own backyard pool, which was perfect when we didn’t feel like going to the clubhouse. The poolside bar drinks were strong, and the staff were really friendly. The community felt secure, with gates and security around the clock, and it’s close to the local theme parks. There are lots of amenities around the resort, making it a great family getaway. I’m planning to return.

The house itself was beautiful and spacious, and the resort grounds had lovely scenery. Those were the main reasons I’d give this a 3/10 instead of 0/10. I booked because the online pictures gave a luxury resort impression, especially the lazy river, but what we saw and experienced didn’t match that at all. The clubhouse was supposed to open at 9am. We arrived at 8:53 and were asked to wait ten minutes, then came back at 9:10 and it still wasn’t open. Once the doors finally opened, we had to wait again for access to the pool. The staff at the clubhouse felt lackluster, and so did the lazy river. We love lazy rivers, but there were no floats or other things to float on, which seemed strange after visiting plenty of resorts that provide them. Tiles were missing or coming loose, and the river looked dirty. The pool was okay, though one step for getting out was broken. The hot tub was very nice when it worked. Leaving the pool area was a headache because of the gate, latch, and instructions. The bar and grill weren’t open, and there were no hours posted to say when they would be. I was very disappointed, especially given the luxury impression.

The house I booked, 8930 Sydney Ave, was filthy and infested with roaches. Its vents were dirty, and my feet were black after just three steps inside. The owner changed the pet rules at the last minute, even though I live in another state and couldn’t easily deal with a sudden change. I asked both the owner and Airbnb for a refund, but they denied it. I wish I’d checked the reviews before booking in this community.

I booked an Airbnb here for an Orlando trip, and I own a pest control company, so I inspect places whenever I travel. I found bed bugs and took a couple of pictures before leaving. There were other issues with the unit that I might have overlooked. Management asked me to go back inside and take more photos as proof, which I couldn’t believe. Their pest control company then came in and said they couldn’t find a live bug, but I’m sure they were there. I might not have reviewed this, since I know these things can happen, but they wouldn’t refund me or cancel the reservation.