Any recent reviews of vacationcentralflorida properties?

[CSI007]

Thinking of renting a condo with them and wanted to get some recent input.

Thank you

 

[kmacht]

We stayed in one of their 2 bedroom condos about this time last year, and a 3 bedroom condo 3 years ago. Absolutely loved it. What you see on their website is exactly what you get. We are renting a 3 bedroom townhouse again this year from them in May. If you have specific questions on the rental I can probably answer them for you.

Keith

 

[CSI007]

We stayed in one of their 2 bedroom condos about this time last year, and a 3 bedroom condo 3 years ago. Absolutely loved it. What you see on their website is exactly what you get. We are renting a 3 bedroom townhouse again this year from them in May. If you have specific questions on the rental I can probably answer them for you.

Keith

Thanks Keith,

Are the properties clean and well kept?

 

[kmacht]

Absolutely they were clean. We wouldn't have gone back if they weren't. They hire a cleaning crew to scrub the place down and wash everything in between stays. You will see some old reviews where they used to ask you to put the sheets in the washer and set off a load before you leave but they haven't done that in a few years now. You just leave it and the cleaning crew washes the sheets and towels. Like I said earlier, what you see on the website is what you get. The pictures and videos weren't taken years ago. They are all fairly recent. The condos look exactly like what is in the pictures including the condition of the place.

Keith

 

[CSI007]

Thanks again for your input.

I am concerned by the lack of posts about condos that used to be quite popular though.

My main concern about cleanliness came from a few threads over the past two years I read regarding these properties. Some more input is welcome.

 

[100AcreWood]

I haven't stayed there but I'm also considering booking with them for October. The rates are so good for the 3 br condos! And I read a lot of reviews on the DIS and the only person who had a problem with him had the issue resolved (Dave gave him a refund for the full week). Of all the options I've considered, I'm feeling the best about this one.

 

[UndercoverMama]

I stayed at 304 September 2011

I thought the condo looked clean, only issues on the cleanliness front were
a - finding a partially used tube of toothpaste under one of the kid beds and
b - the fact that although on the website it says you are NOT required to wash the towels, over the washer machine it says you are so if the towels being clean were the responsibility of the last guest... are they clean...

The transaction itself was easy, Dave responds at the speed of light. This nit actually belongs to another family and they were also super helpful and responsive.

My husbands complaint was that the pool / hot tub area would often be closed before it was time, but that is not a vacationcentralflorida specific problem, just windsor hills.

 

[Beccabunny]

Some people have complained of extra charges. Here's a thread from last year where one person said there was an extra charge of $39 if you wanted the hot water heater set at 120. Otherwise, according to that poster, it would be set at 108. http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2637015&highlight=water+heater People have posted here about the extra charges and the requirement to wash the towels, and then the policy would change, so I suspect Dave reads these threads. I can't find the thread where someone said there was an extra fee for townhomes with a south facing pool. I believe there is still a cleaning fee. Just be sure you know what you are paying. I had considered staying there once, but when I added in the cleaning fee there wasn't much of a savings. After reading about the constantly changing charges and policies, I wouldn't even consider staying there now, but a lot of other people seem to be happy with them.

 

[KerCar]

I just booked one of their townhouses. The whole process couldn't have been easier! All of their policies (laundry, water heat, cleanliness guarantee, etc.) are spelled out in the "All Questions Answered" section of their site. I really liked that Dave included a copy of the rental agreement there so I was able to review it before moving forward with my booking. There are NO hidden charges. When you do a booking (or mock booking) all taxes and fees are itemized so you know exactly how much you are going to be charged. Even with the cleaning fee and optional pool heat (townhouses only) their prices were still significantly lower than most of the other places I looked at. And way cheaper than staying on-site!

Has anyone stayed in any of their townhouses recently? Like the OP, I'd like to hear some recent feedback! Thanks in advance!

 

[100AcreWood]

For the condos, when it says "304" does that mean it's on the 3rd floor?

 

[CSI007]

We stayed here in 2008 and really liked our condo. There were a few issues but none bad enough to warrant a complaint to the home owner. The AC did not work great and when we arrived the bed spread on the master bed was damp. Probably pulled from the drier to quickly. Other than that it was great.

Reason I am asking is because a lot can change in 3 years. The Condos are a oot older now.

 

[KerCar]

For the condos, when it says "304" does that mean it's on the 3rd floor?

Taken from their site...

What Floor are your units on?
-Townhouses are all on ground level with an upstairs
-202, 202C, 203, 204, 204B, and 205 are on the 2nd Floor
-301, 302 and 304 are on the 3rd Floor
-402, 402C and 404 are on the 4th Floor

 

[KerCar]

We stayed here in 2008 and really liked our condo. There were a few issues but none bad enough to warrant a complaint to the home owner. The AC did not work great and when we arrived the bed spread on the master bed was damp. Probably pulled from the drier to quickly. Other than that it was great.

Reason I am asking is because a lot can change in 3 years. The Condos are a oot older now.

Looks like someone just started a live from thread. You might be able to get some good info!

ETA: Won't let me post the link b/c I don't have enough posts yet, but it's on this board. "At Windsor Hills now - vacationcentralflorida.com 402C"

 

[Goofy_Disney_Dad]

My wife and I stayed in the 7682 townhouse just a few months ago and couldn't be happier with the whole experience. We've rented it for our trip in March of this year as well and will continue to rent from Dave whenever our need for extra space exists.

I recommend them a great deal as the unit was outstanding and the customer service Dave and his team provided was absolutely great.

 

[pjtjm]

My wife and I stayed in the 7682 townhouse just a few months ago and couldn't be happier with the whole experience. We've rented it for our trip in March of this year as well and will continue to rent from Dave whenever our need for extra space exists.

I recommend them a great deal as the unit was outstanding and the customer service Dave and his team provided was absolutely great.

Hi Goofy Dad,

Great to hear your feedback. I'm wondering about the towel policy thing. So was there a sign that asked you to wash/dry the towels? I don't think it would even bother me too much to have to do this, but I know on his "answers" section on the website he states that he lives right there, is always checking up, etc... but then he says that:
"If there is a SIGN inside the unit which says wash or clean anything, DISREGARD IT, that just has not been removed yet, it is from the previous Management company." ----- So, why not just take down the sign? And maybe they did - the comment just struck me as weird.

 

[UndercoverMama]

Hi Goofy Dad,


"If there is a SIGN inside the unit which says wash or clean anything, DISREGARD IT, that just has not been removed yet, it is from the previous Management company." ----- So, why not just take down the sign? And maybe they did - the comment just struck me as weird.

That is weird My only problem was the fact that there was no laundry detergent to wash the towels with and I only brought 3 purex sheets with me so I wasn't willing to share

 

[Goofy_Disney_Dad]

I know my wife and I did start a load of towels when we left, but I honestly don't remember if there was a sign requesting it or not. I do remember the thread concerning the washing of items but I thought it had to do with bed linens. I think they used to ask people to start bed linens but I could be completely wrong on that and am confusing it with another rental.

Sorry, I know it's not much help but I don't remember a sign asking for us to wash the towels. If there was it would have been inside the book that is inside each unit. If you are concerned just email Dave at his site and ask him. I know he'll give you a quick answer with all the info you need.

 

[UndercoverMama]

Sorry, I know it's not much help but I don't remember a sign asking for us to wash the towels.

Then there probably wasn't one, this one was hanging right over the washer machine.

More things I wanted to add for the OP

The details there and decorating were much cute in person than they were on the website. They looked cute on the website don't get me wrong but they got more "oohs" and "aaahs" from the kids in person.

 

[100AcreWood]

His website is so full of details I can't think of any questions to ask. I think I'm going to book our trip. It looks like I can cancel up to 60 days before the trip (which I don't expect to do).

 

[KerCar]

Here's their current policy on laundry (c&p from their site)...

Do I have to wash anything before I leave?
No - ABSOLUTELY NOT. We do NOT supply Detergent. That is your responsibility in the event you want to do YOUR personal laundry. But for items like Towels, sheets, etc., You have paid a cleaning fee and we hire Professional cleaners to wash all towels, linens, etc. between every guest stay. Remember, you are NOT required to have to wash anything that belongs to the condo. On checkout day, if you start a load of towels, they will be re-washed anyway to ensure they are sparkling clean and this will simply mean the towels are getting DOUBLE washed that day, however you are responsible for NO CLEANING and NO WASHING upon checkout. Again, this applies to EVERY VacationCentralFlorida unit and is covered in your cleaning fee. It would not be fair of us to REQUIRE you to buy detergent, or do any washing or cleaning before you leave - you have already paid a cleaning fee and that covers all cleaning.