Families First Vacation Homes

[mom2my2princesses]

anyone used them? any info on what is provided (towels, soap, etc??) thanks so much
betsy

 

[JANNYANS]

Try doing a search on this company I have a feeling they were in a bit of bother last year .

 

[TheRatPack]

We used this company one year and had the best time, it was AWESOME! We had the nicest home, 3 bedroom and it was brand new and in a GREAT location. So naturally we booked the same way the next year. We arrived early for check in and waited about an hour for them to have a home ready (they said the cleaning crews were still out and hadn't brought back the keys yet). So when we finally got our key, we drove to the home they assigned us which we first noticed was a lot further than the house had been the previous year. Then we noticed that we had to drive through a few seedy parts of town to get to the home, it was an older home with a horrible musty smell. There was no Jacuzzi as we'd paid for, and the whole house seemed dated and dirty. The backyard faced a doublewide trailer, and there was a pipe that drained in to the backyard, making it impossible (not to mention unsanitary) for my kids to play back there. The pool area was completely shaded, what is the point in sunbathing when there is no sun? The security system for the home didn't work either. We drove straight back to the rental place only to be told that they didn't have any more homes for us, everything was booked (or so they said). They of course had already charged our full rental 3 days before arriving and it would take approximately that long to get a refund from them. We wrote the BBB about it when we got home and whoever is in charge of Families First customer care sent them a completely falsified explanation of the situation. Saying we stayed in the house for one full night and complained the next day that we didn't want to rent it and that we were completely hysterical about the whole ordeal. I was the most calm person I've ever been, mad yes but never said 2 words to them......I think I was just in shock. But my mother lives in the town over from Orlando so we got her to call around and we finally found other accommodations, even though it was a holiday week and we couldn't really bargain on where or how much we wanted to pay. I've never been so disappointed in a company though, if they'd apologized or atleast given us a discount for a future trip, or maybe changed our housing later in the week when someone else moved out we would have been happy.....but to do nothing and then lie to the BBB about what happened I am totally turned off by this company! I have complete documentation of all of this if anyone wants proof to stay away....stay far far away from this company.

 

[BrittnTylersMom]

Ugh!! Sorry you had such a horrible experience, Ratpack!

I shudder to think of the fact that I actually considered them before I came across the MUCH better rental home sites that I have!

They owe you a refund!!!

 

[TheRatPack]

Originally posted by BrittnTylersMom
Ugh!! Sorry you had such a horrible experience, Ratpack!

I shudder to think of the fact that I actually considered them before I came across the MUCH better rental home sites that I have!

They owe you a refund!!!

We got our refund about 2-3 days before we left to come back home.....so we were on a tight budget the whole trip, but we still had a great time and made the best of our circumstances. I think that the reason they get so much business is that they didn't require a security deposit and their reservation cost was so minimal (as in down payment...etc). They really have left a bad taste in our mouths though, we really wanted to rent another villa/home this year but I just can't stop thinking of another horrible experience and being stuck with last minute accommodations so far from home.

 

[tednvon]

Hi...there are many good and reputable companies and thousands of people rent beautiful homes every week for Disney vacations.

1st rule is SEE THE HOME YOU WILL RENT AND KNOW WHERE IT IS.

Sites like www.vrbo.com and www.villadirect.com as well as many others give the home, pictures, and the developement and a map.

Don't give up the comfort and fun a home. Try these sites or others. Your experience with FF was really an isolated incident not the norm. Watch these boards and you will see people who love this or that hotel and others who thought it was awful...
Good Luck....FF is NOT the NORM....Ted