Any suggestions for a LARGE vacation home?

[MateasMom]

We'll be going to WDW as a family in January 04. I'm trying to choose a vacation home and am VERY overwhelmed to say the least. I would guess that we will end up in Formosa Gardens since that's where all the large homes are, but beyond that there's just too many options!!! I was hoping someone here might have a suggestion for a home, company, or owner. Thanks

Here's the line up

9 adults (4 couples and a single)
2 seven year olds
2 five year olds
1 three year old
2 two year old
1 one year old

With the exception of my parents, all the 'adults' are in their late 20's or early 30's. We'd probably like a game room and maybe a BBQ and other 'hanging out' type activities that we can do at the house after the kids are in bed for the night. While it would be wonderful if all the adults had gueen/king beds, full or even 2 twins would work as well. The kids can share beds or sleep on the floor, but the more kiddy beds the better

Thanks for any suggestions

 

[FLeisure]

Just be careful of renting these large 8 and 9 bed homes on Formosa. As far as I know they aren't licensed and will not be licensed until they get their homes upto hotel code.

You can find 6 and 7 bedroom homes on a lot of communities these days. Some that I know, have 3 master bedrooms with ensuite facilities.

Does the one year old still sleep in a crib / cot ?

 

[ellie&mattys mom]

Well our group isn't as large but we are 9 maybe 11

4 adults
and 5 kids

We thought about a house but I don't want to be that far away...

We are considering Doubletree Maingate Villas 3 bedroom for $100.00 with their special

Holiday inn Family Suites for 82.00 entertainment rate each 3 bedroom suite sleeps 6 includes free breakfast and eat free at dinner all I read is great reviews

Embassy Suites LBV free breakfast and cocktails 95.00 I believe...

we are planning for November

 

[FLeisure]

When you say that far away, what do you mean....some of these homes are within 5 mins of Disney? Personally I'd rather have a home where everyone has their own room and plenty of living space not to mention a private swimming pool than some hotel room !

 

[ellie&mattys mom]

I agree about 5 minutes away...a house has its advantages and diadvantages I am sure...

I am not sure if I want to worry about every meal...

pool would be great but I think that I would miss the kiddie pool..

let me know what you decide upon...

its frustrating finding the ideal spot...

 

[CDisney]

MateasMom

I've booked vacation homes with Florida Leisure twice and enjoyed both stays.

We only booked four bedrooms, but the company does have a seven bedroom that may work for you. Here's the link:
7-bedroom.

You'd have to e-mail them to find out what neighborhood it's in. But, it looks like it would have the right bedding for your needs including four queen/full type beds, four twins, a set of bunk beds, and probably a pull out couch. It also has a nice lanai.

What we found when we booked a house was the youngest kids used the spa as the kiddie pool.

We didn't really cook when we stayed in a house. We bought lots of snacks, fruit, sandwich makings, breakfast foods, beer and daquiri mix! With so many kids, its nice to have their favorites handy. Many times our kids were too excited to eat when we were in the parks, but as soon as we got back to the house they wanted a ham sandwich.

Oh, I forgot to add why I liked Florida Leisure among the different booking companies. The keys were available at the house in a lock box, so I could go directly to the house. It was less expensive than the other company that I used and I knew what house I was getting before I arrived. With many companies you cannot preselect your exact house. They assign you one, sight unseen.

 

[FLeisure]

The one that CDisney refers to is on Cumbrian Lakes. A new development next to Eagle Pointe and Indian Point on Poinciana Blvd. Multiple choices of how to get to Disney, either along US 192 to main Disney entrance or go up SR 535 and either along a) Osceola Parkway or Crossroads entrance.

 

[JANNYANS]

I thought we wern't supposed to advertise our homes on this board



As Fleisure has had the decency to remove his statement -so have I

 

[FLeisure]

Have removed the offending sentence.....sorry all.

 

[MateasMom]

Thanks everyone!

A house is definatly the way to go for us. We did it in 99 when there were less kids and 1 less spouse. We had a 5 bedroom 3 bath which was nice (maybe 1700 square feet) but we are looking for somthing larger this time around. We'd like 7 bedrooms, but could deal with 6 (single person said she'd sleep on the couch) and would like as many bathrooms as humanly possible . Would most of the 7 bedroom or less homes be licensed in Formosa Gardens? -- Is there another area we could look at that would have homes this size and the convience of being close by? My parents have stayed in Indian Springs a few times (2 bedrooms) and I got the impression from them that Formosa Gardens was in the same general area.

Anyways, if anyone would like to suggest the name of a home, company, or community I should look up or would like to mention or PM me with a web site, I'd more than appreciate it.

Thanks

 

[horseshowmom]

May I add a couple of suggestions?

With the number of people that you're talking about, be sure to ask specifically about the size of the pool. Many of the homes have what is now called standard size pools, and they are very small (especially with more than one family).

Houses that have privacy fences or are backed up to a lake or wooded area provide much more privacy (some of these houses are backed up very close to each other).

Some houses do have gamerooms with pool tables, ping pong tables, dart board, etc., but some have much less, so you may want to ask exactly what they mean when they say "gameroom".

Florida Leisure has been around for quite awhile and has received excellent reviews, but I haven't personally stayed with them. You can also check www.vrbo.com (Vacation Rentals By Owner) for many, many options. That site has also received good reviews (I haven't used it either). I've always rented from Hayes Vacation Rentals, but they don't have houses that large.

Have a great trip!

 

[Mr D]

Our family trip is such a big affair as getting from Alaska to Orlando is usually a 12 hour ordeal, plus our stay last time was two weeks and our upcoming visit next january is for 4 weeks.
We rented a very nice perfect home from Families First, excellant for privacy and cleanliness, the next trip I booked a home or villa as the Brits call it from Orlando Villas
These homes are available in all sizes, I am not a homeowner or a service pitching my opinion on the DIS boards.
I deal directly with the owner, very nice people.