Allstar Vacation Homes - time to parks?

[lklasing]

I am planning ahead for a trip I expect we will be making in March 2012. There will be up to 16 or so of us - several families of siblings, cousins, grandparents, etc. We always have stayed on-site, generally at FW cabins and campsites, but this time there may be some families that can't go if it will be that expensive. So, I'm trying to think creatively.

I've looked at several homes with Allstar Vacation Homes and they look very nice. I think the layout of the bigger homes would probably work for us. I'm wondering, though, how long it would take to get to the parks each day. I know that would depend in part on which neighborhood our particular house is in, but would love to get a general idea. Also, has anyone stayed in one of these? Are they as nice as they look online?

Finally, for people who have always stayed onsite, I'd love to hear any thoughts on adjusting to off-property. I can't imagine not staying onsite, but I'd far rather everyone get to go and stay offsite than segments of the family not get to go due to prices.

Thanks for any thoughts!

Leslie

 

[lklasing]

Anyone with any thoughts? Y'all let me know if I should ask somewhere else - I'm new to the world of staying offsite.

Thanks!

 

[wdwmouse]

If you choose a home in Windsor Hills, travel to the parking lots of the Disney Parks is about :
Animal Kingdom 5 min.
Hollywood Studios 5-7 min.
Epcot 6-7 min.
Magic Kingdom 10-12 min.

Depending on traffic, times could be off a little, but it's a very easy drive from Windsor Hills. These times are to the parking lots, then you will take trams or the monorail to the gates, so leave a little time for that.

Have a great trip!

 

[KayR]

Allstar mainly offer homes in the Formosa Area. Driving times to the parks should be the same. 7-10 minutes to AK, 10-15 to EPCOT and DHS, Perhaps 15-20 mins to MK. (Parking lots). It is often faster to drive to the parks from here than to get Disney buses from some of their on-site hotels.

This timing would be from Windsor Hills, Windsor Palms, Emerald Island, Formosa Gardens, Arcadia Estates (and other communities in the same area - but these are the main ones that Allstar deal with).

HTH

-Kay

 

[tednvon]

Good Morning, WDWmouse is right on with times. No matter what is going on traffic wise or in terms of the parks, if you stay in the Formosa Gardens area that includes Windsor Hills, Formosa Gardens, Acadia, Emerald Island, Windsor Palms, Indian Creek, Rolling Hills, your time to the parks will be less than waiting for Disney buses, and much more under your control. Money saved renting home vs. on site will easily make up for the parking costs. If you take several cars to the parks, some folks can leave early, head back to the home, relax, while the others stay in the parks.

I do have a few thoughts for you. Very few people with a group this large do not love staying off site. Pvt pool, large kitchen, coffee/drinks on the deck at your leisure while the kids swim or play in the game room are really relaxing.

I believe the key to making this truly fun is to look at just a few details that, in my opinion, make all the difference. If you have 16, all of you can stay in a 7 bedroom home but it will be a bit crowded. If you look at a single home, I would recommend minimum of 5/6 bathrooms with 3/4 master suites with 2 open bathrooms for the younger crowd. For grandma and grandpa and most adult couples private bathrooms make all the difference when staying with a large family group.
If the home you look at has 4 or fewer baths it was converted to a 7 bedroom and will feel small. So DO NOT cut corners on bathrooms.
The "living area" in these large homes will not be huge as bedrooms will take up much of the sq. feet. So a big deck with lots of chairs and a nice size table all expand the living area. A game room is common and fun for the kids.

Look for a few amenities that make everyone more comfortable...like King beds instead of queens if that is what the couples are used to..TV in all bedrooms, hot tub along with the pool.

A second thought that might be a little more expensive: two side by side 4-5 bedroom homes in the $120 to $150/night range. This would give you minimum 6 baths, up to 5 master suites with private bath and would be right next door to each other. If you google "side by side disney rental homes" you will find plenty of options. Even if you find a nice deal outside of Formosa Gardens area, parks are still plenty close.

So, FYI here are links to some high end single homes in Formasa Gardens. FG is the most high end weekly rentals in the area. These are the most expensive in the area at well over $300/nite...but split several ways gets very reasonable.

http://www.*********************/084.html
(This home is about as high end as you can find in Formosa Gardens. If you want spend $350+/night.

This link is more Formosa Gardens homes:
http://www.vrbo.com/vacation-rentals/usa/florida/central-disney-orlando/kissimmee/central-west#a2542

On vrbo, I would go back to "Kissimmee central west" and shop Emerald Island and "Kissimmee central" and look at Acadia Estates. Each have 7/6 beds and baths.
FYI VRBO is direct from the owner, which many of us on this board feel is the best deal.

So, have fun shopping and let us know if we can help further. This seems a bit daunting at first, but it is hard to go wrong with homes this large. They are well cared for, bring top dollar, and can make your week lots of fun. I guarantee the family will OOOH and AHHHH if you chose one of these big fancy places...and split the rent several ways and you should be under $100/nite easy per family!!

Ted

 

[lklasing]

Wow - that is some great information. Thanks so much!!!

 

[psharrock]

Hi

We spent many years staying onsite, and then switched to staying in a villa in Formosa Gardens Estates.

Travelling by car from Formosa Gardens will be much quicker than Disney transport to all the parks with the possible exception of Magic Kindom due to the Monorail.

You'll have your own private pool, as well as sun loungers that don't require you to get up early just to secure one. You'll more than likely have a spa (remember to check about heating it) so that you can relax.

Also worth noting that if your travelling during the winter, most private pools are heated to a higher temperature than the disney pools.

Its exceptionally rare for us to cook whilst on vacation, as the restaurants within the Formosa Gardens area are great value, and much much cheaper than Disney restaurants.

All Star are a very respected villa rental company, and offer some great homes but as Ted as suggested have a look at VRBO, as many owners rent directly.

Regards
Paul

 

[ClanHarrison]

Wow, that was excellent, on-point information Grandpa Ted (didn't you use to sign off as this ?).

lklasing, our first stay was a home through All Star in the Acadia Estates development. Excellent, excellent service & homes. They are BETTER than the pictures. There were 8 of us in a 5 bed/4 ba villa (2005). It seemed huge to us, as we spent most of our time looking for each other all around the house (I believe the link is still in my signature below). The home has since been modified to a 4 br. They made one of the upstairs br's into a "playroom"--which I'll never understand why since they had a perfectly good air conditioned gameroom .

Our trip last June/July we were a group of 12 & stayed in a 7 bed/7 ba SPECTACULAR lakefront pool home in Formasa Garden (and right across the street from where we stayed at Acadia) & sat front & center on Star Lake (see link in my sig.). This place was even BETTER than the first!!! This home is NOT one of those modified homes Ted accurately spoke of. All the rooms, living areas, balcony & pool deck areas were extremely spacious. Once again...we also spent time running around this place looking for each other too. And this time, there were even MORE places to search. This home was the most luxurious (top of the line furnitings, Egyptian cotton towels-or very close in quality, hand soap & lotion provided in EACH bathroom, laundry detergent etc.), completely outfitted (2 laundry rooms -one upstairs & one downstairs), most hi-tech home I've ever seen (security systems, closed circuit t.v., wall panels in each room to operate EVERYTHING from the pool fountain to whole house sound system). We all fell in love with this house & can't wait to be able to go back.

The home (& price) is built for multiple families and it NEVER felt like 12 people were staying there...never. I've never stayed on Disney property before, but for those that do, I can't imagine them not enjoying a villa stay with a large group, as long as you choose the right accomodation for your group's size. And the location can't be beat. We enjoyed venturing out on 192 & the surrounding areas & looked forward to it since it was so easy to navigate around there.

Hope that helps.

Hi Paul .

 

[lklasing]

Thanks so much, everyone! I've printed all this out for planning purposes for our next trip!

 

[tednvon]

Hi Paul, nope, I never used one of those cute little icons!

Sounds like you had a great time. We owned a 7 bedroom/6 bath in Emerald Island from 03 to 07 and sold it. That experience is where we picked up some of the street smarts about renting big homes.

Especially if this is a "trip of a lifetime" spending a little extra divided 3-4 ways between families can give them one incredible place to stay for a week. They should know that rental prices have not increased at all the last several years and in many cases have gone down as the competition increases and the economy has slowed travel.

Have a great Holiday...
Peace...Ted

 

[Frothy]

We've always stayed with Florida Leisure Vacation Homes and always rented a larger 6 bed home. Initially we stayed on Sunset Lakes and we could get to Disney inside 5 minutes. Now we prefer the newer sub-division they manage homes on and the homes are fabulous...and about a 10 minute drive to Disney.

 

[psharrock]

Hi Paul .

Hi Kim

I hope you and all your family are all well

Happy Holidays