Best place to rent a pool home?

[DreadpiratK]

We are going in September with 8 people, DW and I, 4 our our kids (4,6,16,18) and my parents, so with such a large group it does not seem economical to stay on property. Plus, having vacationed with my parents for several years we know that we get along very well, but only when we have our own space to spread out into at times. Anyway, I'm looking for websites to rent a pool home near Disney. Has anyone done this, and what was your experience? Things to look out for? but mostly where are the best rates? So far the best rates I've found are actually on the Orlando Craigs List. Any better places? Thanks in advance.

 

[Luvchefmic]

We are going in September with 8 people, DW and I, 4 our our kids (4,6,16,18) and my parents, so with such a large group it does not seem economical to stay on property. Plus, having vacationed with my parents for several years we know that we get along very well, but only when we have our own space to spread out into at times. Anyway, I'm looking for websites to rent a pool home near Disney. Has anyone done this, and what was your experience? Things to look out for? but mostly where are the best rates? So far the best rates I've found are actually on the Orlando Craigs List. Any better places? Thanks in advance.

I would NOT use Craigs List for something like this...too many stories re-Craigs List..any Tom Dick or Harry can post on Craigs List....I trust someone will tell me I'm wrong but that's how I feel. I have used www.vrbo.com in the past & have been extrememly happy. I found a 4bdrm pool home in the Kissimmee area (Indian Ridge) through that site and it was minutes from WDW. The site also has a rental guarantee:
Don't leave anything to chance
While most vacations go as planned, life is full of surprises. The Carefree Rental Guarantee from HomeAway protects you up to $10,000 if:

The home has been foreclosed or is in bankruptcy
The owner inadvertently double-books the property
The owner wrongfully withholds your security deposit
The property is misrepresented








Others will come along and give other sites that are trusted too I'm sure. Good Luck

 

[polkadotsuitcase]

I don't know if they still do it, but a few years ago we rented (twice!) a great home with a pool through Best Western. It was a new program then, and I don't know if it "took" or not, but it couldn't have been easier or a better experience. I'll dig back through my files and see if I have contact info.

Good luck!

 

[DreadpiratK]

Thanks! I actually thought I posted this on the budget board, oops!

Most of the Craigs List listing are really just adds for real estate web sites, but I know what you mean about the possibility of scams. It seems to me that 5 years ago when we went there were far more adds around for pool homes then I can find now. We rented one off of some web site, can't remember which directly from the owners, and almost as soon as we sent the deposit they canceled on us. They did send back the deposit and a sincere apology, they had changed their plans and were going to use it that week.

I'll keep looking, we have 4 months yet to go. That brings up another question, when is the best time to rent? Way ahead, or last minute? In September I can't imagine that we risk not being able to find a home to rent even if we don't get some kind of last minute special.

 

[Luvchefmic]

Thanks! I actually thought I posted this on the budget board, oops!

Most of the Craigs List listing are really just adds for real estate web sites, but I know what you mean about the possibility of scams. It seems to me that 5 years ago when we went there were far more adds around for pool homes then I can find now. We rented one off of some web site, can't remember which directly from the owners, and almost as soon as we sent the deposit they canceled on us. They did send back the deposit and a sincere apology, they had changed their plans and were going to use it that week.

I'll keep looking, we have 4 months yet to go. That brings up another question, when is the best time to rent? Way ahead, or last minute? In September I can't imagine that we risk not being able to find a home to rent even if we don't get some kind of last minute special.

I would start looking NOW....you'd be surprised how fast they book up, I'm not pushing the web site I told you about I have no vested interest but just for laughs go there and play pretend, alot of the houses will have a calendar with open dates and you'll see what I mean some homes are now starting to book August dates.... Best of Luck

 

[ireland_nicole]

we have booked a home in windsor hills from www.themagicorlandorental.com We read good reviews, and so far they have been great to work with. We are also a largish 3 generation family, and need the pool and space to get away from each other a little.

 

[LuvMyEAR]

We have had just wonderful luck using vrbo.com

That's a website where you book directly through the owners and I don't think you can beat their prices. We have booked our second stay at a nice 5 bedroom/5 bathroom pool home in our favorite community of Windsor Hills. The decor is plain but the price is great and 10 of us stayed there very comfortably in the past. http://www.vrbo.com/82895

We can't wait to get back there in November. Wherever you stay, don't pay for pool heat in Sept!

 

[LuvMyEAR]

Oops, I forgot to mention that we have found the owner of vrbo.com/#82895 to be very easy to deal with, and extremely helpful. The property, like most, is maintained by an agency in Kissimmee so if there is any kind of problem, someone is right there to take care of things.

Happy House Hunting!

 

[Darcy03231]

We stayed here:

http://www.vacationrentals.com/vacation-rentals/32411.html

and I highly recommend it. I found it took us about 15 minutes to get to WDW's maingate.

We were a family of nine (me, DD (16), DS (14), my sister, her husband, her three girls (12, 9 & 3.5) and my mom). It was perfect for us. Plenty of room for all.

There was shopping (Publix and Super Walmart) within a mile and lots of restaurants.

I would definitely rent it again the next time we go with a large group.

 

[Luvchefmic]

I didn't know if I should post the house I stayed at but since others did here it is http://www.vrbo.com/74833

She & her husband were extremely nice and I would stay there in a heartbeat again if needed , very clean, near a lot of restaurants etc...

 

[okeydokey]

We have stayed a few times in Highland Reserve in Davenport, very nice neighborhood. We always rent through villas2go4.com and have never had a problem.

 

[Bren's Mom]

Winsdor Hills is a complex highly regarded around here, they have some 4, 5, 6 bedroom homes with pools. You can rent through this site as well as on VRBO. In addition to the house pool, Windsor Hills has a complex pool with a water slide, a playground, and a game room:

http://www.windsorhillsrent.com/4beds.html

 

[lawone]

Another vote for Windsor Hills! Loved it there!!! Stayed In #4 and it was heavenly:

http://www.storytimeorlandorental.com/

I highly recommend these homes!

 

[Mandyjg20]

I have stayed at a house from Homes4uu.com. They were fantastic and very cheap. Homes were huge, everything was clean and neat. They upgraded us to a 4 bedroom house from a 3 bedroom house with no extra cost, it was available and so they gave it to us because we arrived a little ealier. Please use my referral code #402. Trust me when I say you will not be disappointed.

I have alost stayed with advantage homes(thinks that is the name) do not stay there! It was dirty, pool was dirty, and they had had some break ins in the community we had stayed at. It was not gated.

 

[4forMe]

We LOVE Windsor Hills! We stayed in a 4 BR, 4 bath home on our last trip. My mother came with and had her own bedroom with a bathroom. We loved the pool and hot tub that came with the home. Also, my kids loved that waterslide at the main pool by the clubhouse area!

There are two management companies that have been recommended on these boards that rent homes in Windsor Hills:

www.floridasunvacationhomes.com - this was our management company
www.allstarvacationhomes.com

You can also rent privately through the following websites:

www.vrbo.com
www.homeaway.com
www.windsorhillsrent.com

I would not be waiting until the last minute as a lot of the nice homes book up rather quickly.

 

[Jill in Chicago]

We have used vrbo.com many times and always with good results.

 

[DreadpiratK]

Thank you all for the web sites and ideas, I"ll have to get busy shopping for a house. It's so much more fun that actually doing my work anyway...

 

[mac4fam]

We are renting directly through an owner at Windsor Hills. PM me if you would like his contact information. It is cheaper than going through the rental companies.

Becca

 

[PrincessBelle39]

We also rented directly through the owner. We found the villa's at www.windsorhillsrent.com.
The actual site for the villa's we rented is www.valhallavillas.com
We have booked with this owner twice now, staying once in each villa. I wouldn't hestitate to book with him again next time.