Help with Rental Homes!!

[rileyroosmom]

Looking at renting my first house. Tried the Windsor Palm website and when I found a few I liked and e-mailed them, different responses from owner(I think) that I didn't contact responded. Or, I inquired about 1 house and got info on another. I contacted Alexander Holiday Homes, and the man gave me the names of houses I would like, scattered around.
From what I have found, people on these boards are reccomending Windsor Palms, Emerald Island, and Formosa Gardens.
The man I spoke to today, recommended Indian Ridge, Indian Creek, Oak Island, Sunset lakes
Does anyone have any thoughts or can tell me how to directly get in touch with the owner of a house I see.?
Sorry this is so long, it's very confusing and I"m beginning to see why I've always stayed on site in the past....it is much easier!!!!

 

[kilee]

Here are some great sites to rental a condo or pool home from.

www.vrbo.com
www.orlandovillas.com
www.onlinefloridavillas.com

I would start by checking them out and getting some price quotes. Emerald Gardens, Formosa Gardens, and Windsor Palms are some of the closest communities. It doesn't mean though they are the only ones to look at.

Here is a link to a map that shows where the different communities are located.
http://www.thedibb.co.uk/villa/map.htm


This should help get you started.

 

[torismom]

Kilee gave you some great sites to check. You will deal with the owner direct.

Sunset Lakes is a wonderful community. Windsor Palms, Emerald Island,Susnet Lakes, Oak Island, Formosa Gardens, Rolling Hills, Acadia Estates and Indian Creek are all right there together and are the closet communities to WDW.

 

[rileyroosmom]

Thanks to both of you! I'll start my search tonight!

 

[rileyroosmom]

Anyone know anything about this community?
Thanks

 

[minnie29uk]

There are some lovely new villa communities and staying in a villa really offers so much more than a hotel room - private pool and spa,you each have your own bedroom for private space and quiet time.Many homes ,like mine,offer extras like Internet,free phonecalls and Games rooms.

Enjoy your holiday,
Lynn

 

[JANNYANS]

I know about Lake Davenport Estates -what ever you want to know just ask .

 

[rijaka]

Just new to this site and trying to decide if we should pay more to stay onsite or save, but have more room and a kitchen in a villa. I've looked into the green orange villas. They are west of wdw and our family of 5 (inc teenagers) would all have their own room! Please tell me what you know about these. They seem legit. I already did a search for them on this site and found people reserved, but no comments after their stay. HELP--We are going April 4-11. We want a nice vacation!

 

[JANNYANS]

If this is Green orange villas run by Roger Colby PLEASE go to the bbb site for orlando and take a look.
http://www.orlando.bbb.org/

I have helped people who are not happy with this company so if you want to pm me I can tell you what I know .

 

[rijaka]

Thank you for getting back to me. I went to the BBB and found that the majority of complaints concern the refund. What do you know about this?
thanks

 

[kilee]

I have stayed in the Davenport area- but not the specific development you are looking at. I know we found the area to be any easy drive to the parks. It was pretty quick- about 15-20 minutes depending on traffic and stoplights. There was a Walgreen's and a Publix right there that were alittle less crowded than those right on 192.

 

[Kellydelly]

We have stayed at homes in Oak Island and the Lindfields. Oak Island was very close to WDW, Lindfields was probably 3 miles further down 192. We have stayed in the opposite direction, about 25 minutes away and it is MUCH better to be in a community that is close to the parks instead. I am so glad that there is a map that shows all the different neighborhoods and where they are in relation to the parks!

 

[rijaka]

Where did you stay that was 25 minutes. We are trying to stay as close as possible, but most of them are sold out or not what we are looking for.
Thank you!

 

[Kellydelly]

We stayed here:

http://www.floridasunshine.com/ar.htm

It was at Lakeside estates (it was a nice house!). 12 miles East of Disney doesn't sound real far but it sure seemed like it when we were driving over that way! This house was booked through Alexander and Associates. We have rented through them three times now and have had good experiences. Now we know to look at properties on the other side of Disney, though (west side).

 

[JohnnySharp2]

We have rented a villa the past few years, I believe personally the Davenport area is too far south.
Personally just off the 192 in Kissimmee is I think the best location, close to restaurants/supermarkets and good access for Disney/I4.

The 2 main development areas are Formosa Gardens and Poinciana Boulevard, I would highly recommend 1 at each, Indian Creek and Cumbrian Lakes - both have a good balanced selection of newish 3/4/5 bedroomed homes.

You cannot go wrong at either, I would just favour IC as it is less than 5 minutes to the junction of the 192, a good Publix supermarket is just a mile up the road.

 

[isla bonita]

It seems more quiet with the traffic on 192 west compared to 192 east. We always do a Sams club click and pull order but after that I try to stay away from 192 east.

 

[ujpest_doza]

I have stayed in a variety of different properties in both Kissimmee and Davenport (6 times in all).

In Kissimmee 192 East i have stayed at both Chatham park and Winward Cay.

Both of these were slightly older developments (early 90's) and both very close to 192 East and 535. Only problem encountered was the traffic jams on the 192 east due to the Beautification Programme.

Off Poinciana Boulevard we stayed in a brand new (in 2000) Villa at Eagle Pointe. Very quiet community, less hassle with traffic on the 192 as you don't spend as long on the 192 on your journey.

In the Davenport area we stayed at Loma Vista off CR54 Loughman Road. At the time the Champions Gate shopping complex and Golf Course was in its infancy (2002) so we found it a bit isolated. There has been further development in the area so it is not really isolated any more. The journey to Disney was actually very quick from here as you joined the I-4 at Champions Gate and turned off at World Drive before the 192, therefore avoiding a lot of heavy traffic. It only actually took about 15 minutes to get to WDW.

We also stayed at Westridge in 1995 when that community was still under construction. At the time it also felt a bit isolated, but is actually quite close to 192 West and has since had major development down US27 with lots of communities here.

On our last trip (and our next one as well) we stayed in a Town House at Emerald Island Resort, which is off Formosa Gardens Boulevard 192 West.
This is probably the closest community to WDW without staying in WDW itself.
Traffic on the 192 West can be avoided by using a shortcut called Sherberth Road which links the 192 west to Osceola Parkway at AKL, meaning the trip from home to WDW takes less than 5 minutes. It is a gated community with 2 community pools, a gym, a small childrens playground, club house and free internet facilities for guests. We were very impressed with both the community and the accomodation and have therefore re-booked the same house for our next visit in December.

 

[Maria395712]

any have shuttles to the parks
maria

 

[ujpest_doza]

any have shuttles to the parks
maria

i'm not aware of any having had shuttles where we have stayed.

We've always had a rental car and to be honest if you have your own transport you can come and go as you please, rather than be held back by the constraints of having to leave when the shuttle bus leaves or have to hang around and wait for it.

 

[Time4Orlando]

I would try www.vacationhomes-pools.com or www.doorlando.com. Nice people, great homes.