Closest to Disney

[nkjzmom]

I'm sorry if this has been discussed before but I don't have time to research all the old posts...can anyone let me know which vacation homes are closest to WDW? Are there any that anyone would suggest to definitely/definitely NOT stay in? I am researching a family trip for 2004 and need to come up with a plan to present to everyone (about 20 of us). We are discussing the FW cabins which would be wonderful, I know, but there's an issue of cost which we are hung up on.

Any info would be much appreciated!

 

[tednvon]

Hi...the two very closest are Formosa Gardens and Emerald Island with Rolling Hills being a close 3rd....EI is all new and very very nice....Formosa Gardens is very upscale and a more expensive as a rule....EI and FG are gated, not sure about Rolling Hills.....EIsland has a great clubhouse with computers, beautiful pool, and exercise room...it also has a very quiet secluded nature trail....Good luck..any of these would be a very short drive to disney and very very short drive to grocery, pharmacy, and many restaurants...good luck.....Ted

 

[nkjzmom]

Thanks so much for the info....I've looked up your suggested places on the internet and they look great. Does anyone have any advice/suggestions on how to choose one...I'm going into this blindly. Any information would be wonderful. When I was planning on staying in the FW cabins I found a fellow Alabamian's website (Jeff Spencer). I am wondering if anyone has a site about the vacation homes.

 

[tednvon]

not really a site about vaction homes that I am aware of....I am sure you would not go wrong in EIsland for the price and location. Try familiesfirst.com, or floridaleisure.com for people who will help you rent.....to go directly to the owner go to vrbo.com to Florida to "Disney Area" to Emerald Island or whatever location you want and check the homes, it is a lot of fun and you can see a lot of pictures....You will not go wrong in one of these close developements....Ted

 

[Robinrs]

Here is a location map that might be helpful....Click here

 

[tednvon]

Hi...just a funny little comment about the map and a lot of other maps you see that focus on the rental housing market....It is really out of proportion as to how far hwy 27 and all the developements on 27 are from Disney....It is a pretty long drive out 192 to get to 27, about 5 miles, and then it can be another 2 to 20 miles to some of the developements....just FYI....Ted

 

[Robinrs]

I agree, Ted. Most of maps are marketing tools so to show the distance from Disney is not a plus. Thanks for pointing that out.

 

[nkjzmom]

I just got an email from Florida Leisure. They do not give out the information on where a house is located. How do I make sure I'm getting a house in the location I want?

 

[tednvon]

HI..I would think that they could be specific about a developement...I would understand that they have x number of 4 bedroom homes in Rolling Hills or Emerald Island or Hampton Lakes, but Hampton Lakes is a lot longer drive to Disney and if you wanted closer they should be able to give you the developement you want....don't get discouraged....have you tried vrbo.com and focus on Emerald Island, Rolling Hills, Formosa Gardens or Lindfields which about two miles farther out than the others above....there are many very nice places and if you say CLOSE to Disney, these are what you want..good luck...Ted

 

[Robinrs]

Originally posted by nkjzmom
I just got an email from Florida Leisure. They do not give out the information on where a house is located. How do I make sure I'm getting a house in the location I want?

Funny, when I was booking with them I called their office and asked where the house I was interested in was and always got an answer. Is this something new?

 

[UKDEB]

Indian Creek, Oak Island and Windsor Palms are also in the same region as those developments tednvon mentions (all off Formosa Gardens Boulevard). Sunset Lakes, Grand Palms and Mango Key are just a little further west towards Lindfields. All these developments are within spitting distance of one another and a <i>genuine</i> 10 minute drive from WDW property.

We are very taken with Formosa Gardens at the moment and just about to stay there for the third time. We can be at AK in 5 minutes! You will find that most of the villas on Lindfields are considerably older, although of course many will have been refurbished. Do you all want to stay in one villa? There are some 7,8 & 9 bedroom properties on Formosa Gardens.

I know Florida Leisure don't advertise the location of the individual villas on their website (they claim for security reasons), but I don't see why you couldn't request a particular sub-division. If you're familiar with the communities you can work out where they are from the photos. They have villas on Sunset Lakes, Indian Creek, Rolling Hills and Lindfields (amongst others), but not any of the others we have mentioned to my knowledge.

 

[Shardeblil]

Hello to you all

I don't know if I can say this but.......
I have a 4 bed villa at Oak Island Cove (couldn't buy part of Disney so got the closest thing to it), I would just like to say that we have timed our selves from our home to Disney Main Gate and it took 8 minutes and that was when all the building work was going on at Splendid China entrance and 192, so I am sure that it would be alot quicker now.
Before we bought we stayed in Rolling Hills, which is just behind Formosa gardens, and the villa we stayed in was luxurious, the villa's at Formosa Gardens are much larger and would accomodate all 20 of you (if you all wanted to share the house and split the cost!)
Hope this helps, I am not advertising my house to you as we can only sleep 10 (not big enough for you) I just wanted to say truthfully that we actually timed ourselves from our front door to the main gate.
Hope this helps.
All the homes that have been mentioned are very close to Disney, all within 10 - 13 minutes.
Shardeblil

 

[tednvon]

Hi...legally there cannot be 9 bedroom home and 8 bedroom homes are going to have to meet more stringent requirements....It is not legal for 20 people to stay in a home. I believe 16 is max possibly 18 at the very most....Ted

 

[nkjzmom]

Florida Leisure would not reply to my email with the exact location of the homes, but, yes, I can call and ask. I just thought it would have been much easier to weed out the houses in the locations I don't want and then call them and get more specific information. So far it looks like we will be wanting a 6 bedroom in either the Formosa Gardens, Rolling Hills area...somewhere in that location.

 

[tednvon]

Hi one more time...for a good tour of some of the areas try villadirect.com and take the tours of the developements...Istill love Emerald Island for location, great clubhouse and pool, and really neat nature trail..good luck...Ted

 

[nkjzmom]

I really appreciate all of your responses! Another question that's stumping me. I've seen the name Windsor Palms...AND Wyndham Palms. Are they the same?????

 

[nkjzmom]

Nevermind....I called someone at Allstar homes and she told me that they changed their name from Wyndham to Windsor....

Has anyone ever rented from Allstar Homes? I saw their ad on Deb Will's site. I've found her information very helpful, so I assume that this is a good company or she would not feature them on her site.

 

[FLeisure]

Hi !
Just wanted to clear things up in regard to addresses. As you know, we do have 15-25 pictures plus a video tour of each house but we cannot give the number of that home out until it is booked. We will, however, inform you of the sub-division the home is on if you call or email us. We have taken a long look at how we can give more information to you on a particular home but by placing the name of the sub-division on the web site we do create a security problem.

Over the last three years there have been quite a few instances of homes being burgled. We are pleased to say that none of our homes have been affected and this we attribute to two factors; a) security alarms in most of the homes and b) by not advertising the home number. Obviously nothing is perfect in today's age but we must do everything we can to protect each homeowner and each guest.

Once we have received a booking, we do of course inform you of the actual address and phone number of the home in your confirmation letter.

Hope you understand.
Thanks
Nigel

 

[FLeisure]

nkjzmom,
Let me try and clear the Wyndham issue up :

The Wyndham Hotel and Spa is in downtown Disney owned by the Wyndham Hotel nationwide hotel chain. Then there is the Wyndham Palms condo/villa/homes resort west of the Animal Kingdom This has been renamed Windsor Palms because the Wyndham Hotel chain has sued them for wrongful name.

tednvon,
In regard to the 8 & 9 bed homes. Your comments are not quite right in regard to these homes. This is an issue that has been going on for quite a while now and my understanding is that the DBPR (the people who license the homes) have stated that these homes are in fact, hotels, and that until they meet hotel building code they won't be issued with a license to rent. As far as I know, the homeowners concerned have literally ignored the DBPR and face action.

Moving on and into Polk County, there was an ordinance in place that stated that no more than 12 guests were allowed in an individual home. Unfortunately a Court has ruled that Polk County's ordinance is illegal and the whole issue is back up in the air ! In Osceola County, where Formosa Gdns is located there really isn't a maximum number allowed although the DBPR have stated that 7 bedroom homes are the maximum size they will license. A 7 bed can sleep upto 16 people.

The simplest advice I have to everyone is make sure the home you are staying in is licensed. Further, don't get so hung up on the actual location as long as it is within a 10-15 minute drive of Disney. There are a lot of very good sub-divisions to suit all tastes.

There is a lot of talk here about the west side of Disney but don't rule out the east side of Disney. This side always used to be the more popular and for good reason. It is closer to the Outlet Malls, Universal and to a bigger choice of restaurants. The travel time to Disney is approximately the same and subdivisions such as Cumbrian Lakes, Eagle Pointe and Indian Point are great locations.

 

[nkjzmom]

Fleisure,

Thanks for the info...I had emailed your company and was told I had to call to find out where a house was located. I totally understand the safety issue. I had just hoped to be able to narrow the search down to a few areas and then start looking at prices and options. If I call and let you know that I'm looking for a 6 bedroom, can you tell me which ones are in the subdivisions I'm interested in? Or do I have to ask for a specific home?