First Timer in a Villa

[merlin307]

Hi

Just booked the next trip to Orlando and we are trying out a villa for the first time.
Flights were amazing direct from Glasgow with Virgin on 12th April (are Virgin flights any good - never flown with them - economy seats)
We have booked a villa in the Pinewood Country Estates area for 6 of us (5 adults and 1 child)
Does any one have any advice/hints/tips for a first time villa (er) in Orlando. Car hire has been arranged and its pur 6th trip to Disney so we are fine with everything else.
Any help would be appreciated

Oh and I almost forgot - woooohoooooo I am going back home!!!!!!!!

 

[Jakey Rowling]

Hi

Just booked the next trip to Orlando and we are trying out a villa for the first time.
Flights were amazing direct from Glasgow with Virgin on 12th April (are Virgin flights any good - never flown with them - economy seats)
We have booked a villa in the Pinewood Country Estates area for 6 of us (5 adults and 1 child)
Does any one have any advice/hints/tips for a first time villa (er) in Orlando. Car hire has been arranged and its pur 6th trip to Disney so we are fine with everything else.
Any help would be appreciated

Oh and I almost forgot - woooohoooooo I am going back home!!!!!!!!

Never stayed there before.

Don't take too many clothes, the washing machine is a great bonus, take a bit of decent string and pegs, use this in the garage, clothes dry overnight.
I honestly get by with a few teeshirts and shorts for during the day.

There's a video/dvd shop about 10 mins away which is OK for rentals, don't have the details to hand just now.

The fresh bread and deli at Publix is good in my opinion, use this for cheap lunches if you are staying in the villa some days.
Assuming you know your way about I'd suspect you'll use the publix at championsgate.
Posner park at the junction of I4 and US27 should be open, it might be good for shopping and eating. Not sure if there is much else nearby I'm afraid.

There will be yellow pages for a few counties if you want to get takeaway delivered. The Chinese at CG had a good rep but I've not used it.

Apart from that, we don't take anything for the villa, buy everything over there that we need.
Just turn up and make yourself at home.

Oh and don't overload the car with bud on your first trip to Publix

 

[Dimplenose]

I wish I'd taken a few bin bags with me. I may have been looking in the wrong place but we could only buy them in enormous packs - the same with dishwasher tablets.

Libby

 

[merlin307]

Never stayed there before.

Don't take too many clothes, the washing machine is a great bonus, take a bit of decent string and pegs, use this in the garage, clothes dry overnight.
I honestly get by with a few teeshirts and shorts for during the day.

There's a video/dvd shop about 10 mins away which is OK for rentals, don't have the details to hand just now.

The fresh bread and deli at Publix is good in my opinion, use this for cheap lunches if you are staying in the villa some days.
Assuming you know your way about I'd suspect you'll use the publix at championsgate.
Posner park at the junction of I4 and US27 should be open, it might be good for shopping and eating. Not sure if there is much else nearby I'm afraid.

There will be yellow pages for a few counties if you want to get takeaway delivered. The Chinese at CG had a good rep but I've not used it.

Apart from that, we don't take anything for the villa, buy everything over there that we need.
Just turn up and make yourself at home.

Oh and don't overload the car with bud on your first trip to Publix

Wow thanks, didnt even consider about being able to do laundry ourselves

The Publix at CG looks the best bet as it seems quite easy to find.

Been on Google earth and had a look about and there's not much in the immediate area but seems close enough to Disney and the main I4 corridor........
and thanks for the tip about the Bud.............it will probably be Bud Ice though

 

[merlin307]

I wish I'd taken a few bin bags with me. I may have been looking in the wrong place but we could only buy them in enormous packs - the same with dishwasher tablets.

Libby

another thing I didnt even consider - thanks for the tips

 

[Alibaba]

Hi
Sorry for butting in on thread, that was a really good tip about dishwasher tablets, would you take things like teatowels?
Thanks
Ali

 

[Mrs Doubtfire]

Villas should provide all towels/bed linen etc. Pool towels are normally included too.

The only things I take are a pack of flash wipes, a couple of sponges or cloths for wiping round and sometimes a few washing tablets just to get started.

The owners should provide a list of everything at the villa.

 

[merlin307]

Thanks ....keep them coming ...........I need as much advice and I can get

 

[Astrid]

We've stayed at a villa the last two times we've visited Orlando and we love it!! I'm racking my brains to think of any hints and tips for you.

We always take tea bags but apart from that I can't think of anything else we specifically take, however, taking dishwasher tablets is a really good idea.

We hit Walmart or Publix as soon as we arrive and stock up on food etc and we also always but a selection of balls and blow ups for the pool.

Check your villa has things like hairdryers - most do, and I seem to recall that not all villas have an electric kettle so that might we worthwhile checking out as well. If I think of anything else I'll post again.

 

[ford family]

Take a small torch in your handluggage in case you need to find/open a strange lock in the dark.
Personal washing items, i.e. flannels, are not usually supplied, for obvious reasons!
Foodstuffs that kids can't live without like Marmite are often hard to find or expensive to buy there.
American teabags seem to taste differently to your favourite brand at home so are worth packing. Coffee is usually okay.
Not all homes have a kettle or teapot.


ford family

 

[mungo]

we never take string, just use the dryer in the laundry.

We also buy sandwiches alot from the subways that are dotted about for lunch if staying in, much tastier than my own sandwiches or am I just lazy

 

[renkadima]

We normally stay in a villa, but have decided to stay on I-drive this time; because the biggest drawback to being in a villa is that you have to drive everywhere and someone has to be the designated driver if alcohol is likely to be consumed.

Actually, that's about the only drawback. You should have a great time, but these are my tips:

1) Make sure you sit down and read through the rules and regs. There are usually some very strict rules for putting rubbish out, etc.
2) Make sure you understand how the alarm-system and air-con works, and if you are allowed to adjust it (often not).
3) Write down the name and telephone number of the maintenance company. You might just need it if you lock yourself out.

One other drawback to having a villa - you will have to get used to telemarketers phoning to ask if you are interested in their long-distance call packages!

 

[JANNYANS]

"One other drawback to having a villa - you will have to get used to telemarketers phoning to ask if you are interested in their long-distance call packages!"

If you have booked direct with the owner and this happens -tell the owner as they can have their number added to the do not call list to stop these calls.

 

[keshforever]

There is some useful advice on here, we are looking at booking a villa for our November holiday.
I think taking refuse bags is a good idea as well as washing tablets.

I have read on older threads that you may have to buy items such as washing up liquid, kitchen towel etc

I have found some older posts but I cannot put the links in, JohnnySharp2 seems to offer some good advice , I was going to send him a message but i cannot do that. i hope he posts on here so i can ask him.

I think there are Publix stores close to most of the villa areas, is that the best place to buy grocery's?

 

[Jakey Rowling]

There is some useful advice on here, we are looking at booking a villa for our November holiday.
I think taking refuse bags is a good idea as well as washing tablets.

I have read on older threads that you may have to buy items such as washing up liquid, kitchen towel etc

I have found some older posts but I cannot put the links in, JohnnySharp2 seems to offer some good advice , I was going to send him a message but i cannot do that. i hope he posts on here so i can ask him.

I think there are Publix stores close to most of the villa areas, is that the best place to buy grocery's?

Personally I wouldn't bother with refuse bags, just buy them over there.
Washing tablets can be useful as there's often no direct equivalent.
Tea as well seems popular to take.

Expect to have to buy wahing up liquid, dishwasher power, Kitchen roll, surface cleaners etc.
Sometimes there is stuff left from the previous renters, sometimes there is nothing.
Personally I think it depends on the cleaners.

You won't be far from a Publix in Orlando that's for sure and a Walmart as well.
Personally for food stuff I prefer Publix to Walmart, especially for fresh stuff.
It's marginally dearer but I find the quality better and the queues less.

 

[UKDEB]

It's worth writing a shopping list before you leave home because you're bound to forget some things. Our MO is to drop off the luggage and take a quick tour of the villa (whilst squealing with delight and congratulating ourselves on choosing such a magnificent place to stay ). We do a recce of the place for those items which are sometimes provided, but often not:

• Toilet rolls (there are always at least enough for immediate use);
• Soap (there will often be guest soaps in each of the bathrooms);
• Refuse sacks (as Dimplenose says, it's only possible to buy refuse sacks in huge quantities, so if that's going to bother you, it may be worth taking a few. Failing that, you could save the carrier bags from your supermarket trip and use those);
• Coffee filters (all villas will have an automatic coffee maker);
• Washing-up liquid (there is sometimes a mini-size bottle provided and that may well be enough - we don't use much);
• Dishwasher tablets (you'll sometimes find a starter park, but rarely sufficient for an entire stay);
• Cleaning fluid (unless you don't mind wiping down with water);
• Pool toys (rubber rings, balls, noodles, etc. Often you'll find previous renters have left some behind - check the garage).

Other items which are invariably on our list:

• Beer and wine (we like to take the opportunity to buy the stuff we can't get at home. This trip we were drinking a lot of Modela which is a Mexican beer similar to Corona. Last week we found it at Sainsburys );
• Woolite (liquid washing detergent - I find that most American detergents contain too much bleach and fade clothes quite quickly);
• Tumble dryer sheets;
• Beer;
• Milk (other than whole milk, they have fat free which is equivalent to our skimmed, and 2% and 1% varieties - our semi-skimmed is somewhere between the two);
• Cereal (there are k-zillions of cereal varieties - whole aisles dedicated to breakfast items. Most are way too sweet for my taste. There's a good range of organic cereals, though, many of which are less sweet, although you still need to check the ingredients list.);
• Fruit juice;
• Beer;
• Bread (for toast and for sandwiches. Their mass-produced white bread is nothing like your typical sliced loaf at home. It's often very sweet and a completely different consistency - much less dense than ours. There is a huge range of types available, though - rye, wholemeal, oat to name but a few. The in-store bakeries all produce some really nice bread);
• Butter (much of it is whipped, which is strange if you're not used to it. The Land O'Lakes brand includes "proper" butter in its range. Publix also stocks Lurpak);
• Beer;
• Coffee (you can even grind your own, if you feel inclined. We rarely drink tea, so tea bags aren't on our list. As others have already mentioned, you may prefer to bring them from home);
• Bagels (you'll find them both on the bread shelf and in the chiller cabinet . We tend to buy them from the chiller cabinet);
• Cream cheese (for said bagels. We don't often have them at home, but they've become a breakfast favourite whilst we're in the States);
• Bottled water (not essential as all the villas we've stayed at have the huge American fridges with water/ice dispensers. Cheaper than buying it at the parks, though, if you don't want to use the water fountains);
• Peanut butter (American peanut butter used to be a real treat, but it's not quite got the same thrill-factor now that Skippy is readily available here);
• Items for sandwiches and salads (we always find we have several days where we feel we've over-indulged and it's nice to eat something simple at "home". We buy a selection of cooked meats and cheeses from the deli, dill pickles, tomatoes, lettuce, cooked prawns, tomato ketchup, mayo, mustard...);
• Snacks and other junk food we wouldn't normally allow ourselves, but it's OK because we're on holiday (crisps, nuts, peanut butter M&Ms, Reeses Cups, Reeses Nutrageous, peanut butter Snickers, peanut butter Twix )
• Oh, and I almost forgot - beer.

Hmm, all my hints and tips seem to revolve around eating and drinking What else can I think of?

We always pay to have the pool heated no matter what time of year we go. One of the first things we do when we arrive is to make sure we know how to work the pool/spa and check the settings and timings. Many are set up to come on and off at times which don't suit us at all. On the face of it, it may seem that you can't alter either the timings or the settings, but there are always ways around it. Just be considerate to the owners who have to pay for the heating by making sure you switch it off when you don't need it and before you leave.

Find whether or not you have to collect keys from an agent. This advice is a bit late given that you've already booked the villa, but it can add on a huge amount of time to your arrival and departure journeys. Most of those we've stayed at have had a keypad entry system (the owner will provide the combination shortly before you leave home), but one time we had to travel miles out of our way to pick up keys. Actually I can think of quite a few things I might have mentioned if you hadn't already booked, but it's not going to add any benefit now.

The Publix at Champions Gate is right off exit 58 of the I-4. There's also a Walgreens, a couple of gas stations (BP and 7 Eleven), some banks with drive-through ATMs, and a few fast food places including McD's and Chilis. There are some nice restaurants at the Omni ChampionsGate.

 

[merlin307]

It's worth writing a shopping list before you leave home because you're bound to forget some things. Our MO is to drop off the luggage and take a quick tour of the villa (whilst squealing with delight and congratulating ourselves on choosing such a magnificent place to stay ). We do a recce of the place for those items which are sometimes provided, but often not:

• Toilet rolls (there are always at least enough for immediate use);
• Soap (there will often be guest soaps in each of the bathrooms);
• Refuse sacks (as Dimplenose says, it's only possible to buy refuse sacks in huge quantities, so if that's going to bother you, it may be worth taking a few. Failing that, you could save the carrier bags from your supermarket trip and use those);
• Coffee filters (all villas will have an automatic coffee maker);
• Washing-up liquid (there is sometimes a mini-size bottle provided and that may well be enough - we don't use much);
• Dishwasher tablets (you'll sometimes find a starter park, but rarely sufficient for an entire stay);
• Cleaning fluid (unless you don't mind wiping down with water);
• Pool toys (rubber rings, balls, noodles, etc. Often you'll find previous renters have left some behind - check the garage).

Other items which are invariably on our list:

• Beer and wine (we like to take the opportunity to buy the stuff we can't get at home. This trip we were drinking a lot of Modela which is a Mexican beer similar to Corona. Last week we found it at Sainsburys );
• Woolite (liquid washing detergent - I find that most American detergents contain too much bleach and fade clothes quite quickly);
• Tumble dryer sheets;
• Beer;
• Milk (other than whole milk, they have fat free which is equivalent to our skimmed, and 2% and 1% varieties - our semi-skimmed is somewhere between the two);
• Cereal (there are k-zillions of cereal varieties - whole aisles dedicated to breakfast items. Most are way too sweet for my taste. There's a good range of organic cereals, though, many of which are less sweet, although you still need to check the ingredients list.);
• Fruit juice;
• Beer;
• Bread (for toast and for sandwiches. Their mass-produced white bread is nothing like your typical sliced loaf at home. It's often very sweet and a completely different consistency - much less dense than ours. There is a huge range of types available, though - rye, wholemeal, oat to name but a few. The in-store bakeries all produce some really nice bread);
• Butter (much of it is whipped, which is strange if you're not used to it. The Land O'Lakes brand includes "proper" butter in its range. Publix also stocks Lurpak);
• Beer;
• Coffee (you can even grind your own, if you feel inclined. We rarely drink tea, so tea bags aren't on our list. As others have already mentioned, you may prefer to bring them from home);
• Bagels (you'll find them both on the bread shelf and in the chiller cabinet . We tend to buy them from the chiller cabinet);
• Cream cheese (for said bagels. We don't often have them at home, but they've become a breakfast favourite whilst we're in the States);
• Bottled water (not essential as all the villas we've stayed at have the huge American fridges with water/ice dispensers. Cheaper than buying it at the parks, though, if you don't want to use the water fountains);
• Peanut butter (American peanut butter used to be a real treat, but it's not quite got the same thrill-factor now that Skippy is readily available here);
• Items for sandwiches and salads (we always find we have several days where we feel we've over-indulged and it's nice to eat something simple at "home". We buy a selection of cooked meats and cheeses from the deli, dill pickles, tomatoes, lettuce, cooked prawns, tomato ketchup, mayo, mustard...);
• Snacks and other junk food we wouldn't normally allow ourselves, but it's OK because we're on holiday (crisps, nuts, peanut butter M&Ms, Reeses Cups, Reeses Nutrageous, peanut butter Snickers, peanut butter Twix )
• Oh, and I almost forgot - beer.

Hmm, all my hints and tips seem to revolve around eating and drinking What else can I think of?

We always pay to have the pool heated no matter what time of year we go. One of the first things we do when we arrive is to make sure we know how to work the pool/spa and check the settings and timings. Many are set up to come on and off at times which don't suit us at all. On the face of it, it may seem that you can't alter either the timings or the settings, but there are always ways around it. Just be considerate to the owners who have to pay for the heating by making sure you switch it off when you don't need it and before you leave.

Find whether or not you have to collect keys from an agent. This advice is a bit late given that you've already booked the villa, but it can add on a huge amount of time to your arrival and departure journeys. Most of those we've stayed at have had a keypad entry system (the owner will provide the combination shortly before you leave home), but one time we had to travel miles out of our way to pick up keys. Actually I can think of quite a few things I might have mentioned if you hadn't already booked, but it's not going to add any benefit now.

The Publix at Champions Gate is right off exit 58 of the I-4. There's also a Walgreens, a couple of gas stations (BP and 7 Eleven), some banks with drive-through ATMs, and a few fast food places including McD's and Chilis. There are some nice restaurants at the Omni ChampionsGate.

Wow Debs, thanks for all of this....but one small thing...is it worth stocking up on beer when we get there?

 

[Mrs Dazzle]

Deb - doesn't look as though you've thought about beer

Tea bags are an absolute must wherever you're staying in the States - they just don't make 'em strong enough over there (and I drink weak tea).

We always stock up on sports-top water bottles, put loads in the freezer ready to take to the parks each morning - they slowly melt giving you lovely cold water

We tend to stay in a hotel overnight before our flight out and take only enough toiletries for this and our first night in the US. We then hit Publix to stock up on shower creams, shampoos, conditioners, toothpastes etc. It's really good fun to shop for these things and good value for money.

Like others have said, there's loads of things, but can't think of anything else at the mo

Happy planning

 

[ford family]

We always pay to have the pool heated no matter what time of year we go. One of the first things we do when we arrive is to make sure we know how to work the pool/spa and check the settings and timings. Many are set up to come on and off at times which don't suit us at all. On the face of it, it may seem that you can't alter either the timings or the settings, but there are always ways around it. Just be considerate to the owners who have to pay for the heating by making sure you switch it off when you don't need it and before you leave.

I think most owners would be happier if you simply asked them or their management company to effect the changes you need.

ford family

 

[renkadima]

You'll find that most of the major supermarkets have a small section for the desperate Brit - Yorkshire tea, HP Sauce; that sort of thing. Pricey, but handy if you have a panic attack coming on.

Also, check that the villa you're staying at has a kettle (not guaranteed). Tea in a coffee maker just ain't the same.