Benefits of renting a vacation home

[BrerMama]

I would really love to rent a vacation home for our trip next year, but my husband has his heart set on the Nick Hotel (yes, he's a 12 year old at heart).

I'd love to hear your experiences with renting a townhome (we're looking at Windsor Hills, if that helps) and what you love about it. We'll be talking tonight, and I'd like to have a list of positives for a townhome.

For me... well, I'm a kindergarten/1st grade special ed teacher, and we leave 2 days after school gets out for the year (May 28-June 9 are our dates). I think the Nick Hotel just sounds an awful lot like work, and not at all relaxing.

Any experiences and advice you can relate would be wonderful! Thanks so much!

Also, I've asked before, but if anyone has any experiences with buying vacation insurance in combination with renting a vacation home, those would be wonderful. My husband has a huge fear that we'll have an emergency just before leaving, making vacation insurance necessary if we go with the vacation home. We've been vacationing 2-3 times a year for 7 years and have yet to have that emergency happen, but that's why there's insurance, right?

 

[merekc]

We are just about to leave for an Orlando trip where we are renting a home. We have not done this in Orlando before, but we have done it in other cities. The benefits we see are:
1. Cost - We often travel with my parents and my sister's family (total of 10 people). The house we have rented for our upcoming trip is costing each family $245 for the week. We couldn't stay at Motel 6 for that.
2. Room - Lots more space for the money.
3. Quieter - no people running and shouting at 2 am in the motel halls.
4. Kitchen - we have the resources to cook, which is especially nice (and budget friendly) even if you just do breakfasts in, you'll save a bundle.
5. Pool - you can often rent homes with a private pool.
6. Privacy - we have little kids who go to bed at 8. In a shared motel room, this doesn't leave the adults much to do.
7. Transportation - this does mean you will probably want to rent a car, which increases your costs, however, we planned on doing this anyway as we will be visiting non-Disney sights. I've seen some negative posts about transportation between the parks and hotels, so this might not be a bad thing.

Hope this helps.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

We've rented private pool homes 4 times. It's great. Lots of space and privacy more than make up for the minor negatives. We've had 9 people in a 4BR, 3Bath home and didn't feel the least bit crowded. We can be together or alone as needed. Usually there's a tv in every bedroom so we don't end up watching cartoons all week. Some homes even have video games or the garage converted to a game room w/ air hockey and billiards, all free. You can cook to save money or not, it's your choice. Same thing with laundry, you may wish to pack really light (we only pack 2-3 outfits for a 7nt stay) or you may think like my mom who believe's it's a crime to do laundry on vacation. We like to eat breakfast at the house and eat out for lunch and dinner. Also since the pool is right there, I can sit and eat my cereal while kids have a quick swim, no trek to the pool. Having a kitchen also makes it easy to microwave some popcorn, make a pitcher of iced tea or keep a box of popsicles without going to a store for everything and paying $3 a piece.

We've used villadirect.com the last 3 times but their prices have gone up a lot since the last time. Still a good website to get ideas of what the homes look like. (They have virtual tours and slideshows.)
The neighborhoods closer to WDW are:
Windsor Hills
Windsor Palms
Formosa Gardens
Rolling Hills
Indian Creek
Emerald Island

Some other neighborhoods are over 10 miles away so be careful of location and don't rent thru Families First. They have no concept of customer service.

It may not be for everyone. Your bed doesn't get made unless you do it yourself and you have to take your own trash out just like home. If you like room service this may not be for you. We'll always choose the extra space over these minor inconveniences.
Good luck and have a great trip!

 

[Keacc]

You didn't mention if you have children or not. If it is just the two of you, I recommend getting a 1 bdrm condo at a place like Cypress Point Grand Villas. It gives you lots of room and a kitchen. You also have several pools. It is right outside of DTD. If you have children, get a 2 bdrm condo/townhome in a place like Windsor Hills or Emerald Island. If you need 3 or more bdrms, get a pool home in one of those developments. We used to rent 3 bdrm condos but fond pool homes for about the same price. It is sure nice having a private pool and hot tub at the end of the day.

 

[mbb]

I would really love to rent a vacation home for our trip next year, but my husband has his heart set on the Nick Hotel (yes, he's a 12 year old at heart). .......

Do you have time to do both?

That way, spend your first block of time at the townhome/condo/pool home/...you get to relax a little after the school year ends, and then head over to the Nick Hotel for a night or two...

Or do the reverse, and relax at the end

HTH! Let us know what you decide

 

[buzz2400]

this is a kind of dumb question but when you rent a house/condo do you have to bring your own towels and linens. If they are already in the house, how do you know they are clean when you get there. Like what are the requirements, do the people who rent the house/condo come in after you leave and wash everything?

 

[FLParadisevilla]

this is a kind of dumb question but when you rent a house/condo do you have to bring your own towels and linens. If they are already in the house, how do you know they are clean when you get there. Like what are the requirements, do the people who rent the house/condo come in after you leave and wash everything?

When renting a home you do not have to bring your own towels or linens. We own a home in Indian Creek, and we have a large amount of towels and linens, wth a washer and dryer. The only thing we ask is that you strip the sheets off the beds and put all the dirty laundry in the garage by the washer and dryer, and start one load for us. The Managment company and the cleaners will finish the laundry and put them away.

The space is a big upside to renting a home as well as some homeowners have Disney themed rooms, as supply of movies and play station or x box game sets with some games. They also have internet access, BBQ grills.
I think if you look at some homes you would be quite surprised at how nice all the homes are.

The pools in the homes are also screened in, so there is the benifit of lounging by the pool with out the bugs..

You can look at homes on www.onlinefloridavillas.com, www.vrbo.com, you can do some searches online for vacation homes.

 

[sympatico]

We're renting a townhouse in Windsor Hills and will be there this weekend, 22nd. I'll let you know what I think of the resort. As far as renting a home or townhouse then I can tell you it's the only way to go. We've done this for a number of years, sometimes just the two of us and sometimes with kids and grandkids and I don't mind giving up maid service for the privacy, convenience and lots of space. And who cares if you don't make your bed everyday just pull up the bedding and you're on your way. We stayed in a 5 bedroom house with pool and spa last March and there was just my husband and myself. It was a little bit of overkill but the price was too good to resist. It was great.

 

[sympatico]

Oh, about cancellation insurance. We did ours online with Blue Cross but you have to get it within 72 hours of renting. But we're from Canada so I don't know if you can do it in states or not but you could check the website. Had all the paperwork mailed to me within a week.

 

[isla bonita]

A rental home is really a home away from home. You are given the basics in all homes such as linens, towels, cookware, usually a first roll of tissue, papertowels dish soap, hand soap small bar soap and that trash bag.

After that just like your home you have to provide what is needed for your stay. All people vacation differently and there needs vary considerably. Some cook all meals in the home. etc...

Some homes along with general items have additional items to make your stay more enjoyable. Personally I would love a cook and nanny but they are not in the home I stay in. I ask every year but they are not available as of yet. These items could be from TV's in all rooms, vcr's, Dvd players. movies, toys, pool toys my own kids favorites, games room, internet etc...

There are also homes that are in communities that offer some amenities that while you are there you have full use of. There are many homes to choose from just like there are many ways to vacation.

Do the Nick route then a short time at the rental home and you can see both and decide what would best fit your vacation for next time. You know you will be returning it is just when. LOL

Have a great vacation what ever you choose.

 

[atisikitabasket]

We have rented on our last 3 trips. We loved it. Went in May and enjoyed going back for an afternoon swim and the 3 yr old took a nap. We packed snacks up and ate 2 meals at the house. We rented it for $600.00 for 6 nights and it had a awesome pool with a lake behind it and it was huge. formal dining, formal living, a eat in kitchen and a family room plus 2 large bedrooms and a huge master suite with king bed. We will be staying at this one again. It was my dream home I couldn't afford to buy it but boy I sure felt like I owned it while I was there.

It was stocked with all the utinsels and towels you could want.