Hotel or Villa ?

[AliceGardner]

Is that easy to do, it was something I have considered. Wouldn't know where to start, who to trust, how to rent two weeks....?

But is it worth doing if you don't like WDW? Baring in mind that Disney "villas" are not true villas (they are basically a condo hotel)... I honestly doubt that Disney "villas" will be worth it or suitable for you.

If you are 100% happy with the Loews' hotels at Universal: you have more than enough space (i.e. a suite) and don't mind spending the money - AND you basically live/eat/breathe Universal/Citywalk - then I would stick with a Loews hotel if I was you. To be honest, I doubt that you will find anything as convenient.

Maybe as your children grow-up (and everyone decides that a little bit more privacy would be appreciated) and maybe you want to spend more time out and about Orlando, then it would be worth trying a villa...

Good luck whatever you decide

Alice

 

[WebmasterJohn]

kevin harrison

Can someone recommend a good starting place for a nice villa?

Don't forget to visit Dreams Villas - http://www.DreamsVillas.com - they sponsor this board and help keep in running.

Plus I know you will be very pleasantly surprised at the type and style of accommodations, location and price.

John

 

[kevin harrison]

But is it worth doing if you don't like WDW?

maybe you want to spend more time out and about Orlando, then it would be worth trying a villa...

Alice

I really like WDW, I just posted that I don't just visit Orlando for WDW.

When we visit we go everywhere, who in their right mind would travel 5000 miles then only visit WDW?

 

[JohnnySharp2]

I really like WDW, I just posted that I don't just visit Orlando for WDW.

When we visit we go everywhere, who in their right mind would travel 5000 miles then only visit WDW?

That's something I agree with - cannot understand just going to WDW either, many things to enjoy in Florida.

We rented DVC points off an owner for next March by posting a thread on the DVC rent/trade forum.
However, to stay there for 2 weeks would be very expensive, we have just 3 nights there next year as I said earlier and even just for that it's costing nearly £600. Although Easter is the peak time of the year, points wise.

 

[wayneg]

When we visit we go everywhere, who in their right mind would travel 5000 miles then only visit WDW?

Its amazing how many do. Even if we stay onsite we want a car to get away from Disney. I have stopped reading a lot of the US Disboards because of questions like "Is there anything else to do other than Disney?" or "Is there anywhere to eat outside Disney?"
Disney is maybe 15-20% of our holiday, so much more to do.

 

[JohnnySharp2]

Its amazing how many do. Even if we stay onsite we want a car to get away from Disney. I have stopped reading a lot of the US Disboards because of questions like "Is there anything else to do other than Disney?" or "Is there anywhere to eat outside Disney?"
Disney is maybe 15-20% of our holiday, so much more to do.

Definitely - I like WDW, it's an integral part of our holiday but I am not obsessed with Disney either and enjoy Universal equally as well as the beaches/shopping etc

I think most of my UK friends on here are the same.

Sorry Kev - changing the subject here mate - if you are interested in DVC I would recommend posting a question on the UK DVC discussion forum where you will get all the info you need.
I know a fair bit about DVC because for a short while we considered joining - and then I found the fabulous Omni Champion's Gate villas and changed my mind!
I have rented twice and found it safe and secure - but it doesn't come cheap I am afraid.

 

[mark&sue]

It just so happens we have points to rent next year as we are not going back to WDW until 2010.

Have a look at the general dvc boards for an idea of the going rate.

We are off to WDW tomorrow but if you are intrested PM me and I'll get back to you when I get home.

We have stayed at both Grand Floridian and Hard Rock Hotel and much prefer the DVC accommodation.

This page should give you a link to the resorts you may be interested in

http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/Resorts/resortmain1.htm

Have a great time planning.


Susan

 

[Dimplenose]

OK, I admit it, I'm not in my right mind. The only things I want to do in Florida are WDW and Universal (and even then I'm very keen to get back to WDW).

In the past we've visited Kennedy Space Center and Busch gardens and enjoyed them, but at the end of each day I was happy to be back on Disney soil.

I think this is the main reason a villa was such a disappointment to us.

Libby

 

[AliceGardner]

I really like WDW, I just posted that I don't just visit Orlando for WDW.

Sorry, your wrote "The thing for me is I don't just like WDW", somehow my mind transposed the words into "The thing for me is I just don't like WDW" - I swapped two words and got completely different meaning

When we visit we go everywhere, who in their right mind would travel 5000 miles then only visit WDW?

That means that about 50% of the posters on these forums are not in their right minds... (not me, I hasten to add - Disney is a small part of the reason we visit Orlando). Yes, it does surprise me how many people goto Orlando and just do Disney, but there are a lot out there.

ALice

 

[AliceGardner]

Sorry Kev - changing the subject here mate - if you are interested in DVC I would recommend posting a question on the UK DVC discussion forum where you will get all the info you need.
I know a fair bit about DVC because for a short while we considered joining - and then I found the fabulous Omni Champion's Gate villas and changed my mind!
I have rented twice and found it safe and secure - but it doesn't come cheap I am afraid.

Championsgate is supposed to be very nice http://www.omnihotels.com/Home/FindAHotel/OrlandoChampionsGate/GuestRoomsAndSuites/Villas.aspx and we are booked into a condo just down the road at Reunion this year (also very nice). The only drawback to both of them is that they are 15 minutes drive South of Disney... so if you spend a lot of time at Universal, then that might be quite a hike.

Alice

 

[JohnnySharp2]

Championsgate is supposed to be very nice http://www.omnihotels.com/Home/FindAHotel/OrlandoChampionsGate/GuestRoomsAndSuites/Villas.aspx and we are booked into a condo just down the road at Reunion this year (also very nice). The only drawback to both of them is that they are 15 minutes drive South of Disney... so if you spend a lot of time at Universal, then that might be quite a hike.

Alice

Yes Alice we booked direct off their website, they look fabulous and have always liked the Rosen hotels.

We don't have a problem with the location, especially as there is a Publix just across the road, we may just have 1 morning at Universal - need to make the most of our annual passes. As we are going for 3 weeks will just probably try and enjoy the resort a lot of the time, pool area has plenty for Joshua too.

 

[T16GEM]

You can sit on your patio and enjoy a glass of wine or bottle of bud in the evening instead of paying resort prices for them..

Yep - I remember our first night there on our honeymoon Bottles of Bud Floating round us in the pool - now you can't do that at 1am in a hotel pool....

You dont have to worry about getting up early or going to bed late as any noise you make is unlikely to be heard by someone behind a closed bedroom door...

And theres no rushing around to make sure that you are out of your room before the maid comes in

A private pool is an advantage for many people who might not feel comfortamble in a larger public one.

I will feel more comfortable that the kids won't be jumped on while they are in the pool too, from a safety point of view I will be able to see everything that they are doing and not have to worry that there will be bigger kids upsetting them.

Villas provide the perfect base for you explore more of orlando including excellent shopping malls....

You will end up doing some house keeping most people feel they have to wipe down surfaces and clean up after thwemselves as you are using someone else's home.....

Don't know about you but we still make small snacks or drinks in a hotel room and end up wiping the surfaces - at least you have a dishwasher in a villa so you can just load it up and fly off and when you get back it's done. In a hotel you actually have to wash up. And you will still have to wipe down surfaces - just general cleanliness really.



Villas are great for if you want to chill out - and I DO want to do that when I am away. I like the sound of the full fridge and freezer, own pool, own bedroom, games and internet. Hotels and Villas all have their plus and minus sides but I am definatley on the Villa side! We nearly always stay in a villa recently, when I was younger and going with my parents we stayed in hotels a few times, which was difficult having the two beds in the same room etc, I wouldn't like to share a room with Shelby and Harley - it would be a nightmare! We also stay near to the 192, next to Disney Property etc. I like Indian Ridge, Eagle Pointe and Idian Ridge Oaks, all decent communities with about a 10-15 minute drive to the action, 5 minutes to the main road to get to pubs, shops, supermarkets etc so you aren't too far away from everything

 

[TinkTatoo]

Having done both this trip I think we prefer DVC. While it's lovely here in the villa with all the space and our own pool we find that by the time we get back in the afternoon to swim and chill out for a while we just don't want to go back out again in the evening. It doesn't help that DS has autism so once he is "home" that's it for him.

Staying DVC gives us the space we need plus the facilities of a kitchen and a washing machine (both essential for us on holiday) and staying on site means we get out and about more in the evenings. We have a really great deal on a villa next year for 3 weeks but after that I think we'll spend a maximum of 12 nights in a villa and the rest on site - either Disney or Universal.

 

[JohnnySharp2]

Having done both this trip I think we prefer DVC. While it's lovely here in the villa with all the space and our own pool we find that by the time we get back in the afternoon to swim and chill out for a while we just don't want to go back out again in the evening. It doesn't help that DS has autism so once he is "home" that's it for him.

That's exactly how Joshua is... and whilst we still stay in a villa for most of the holiday we like a week staying DVC or timeshare type resort just for something different.
Once it gets to 4 or 5 pm Josh just wants to stay in and play - especially in the pool.
In the past I have occasionally gone out on my own, but that quickly becomes quite boring, so a split-stay is best for us.

 

[mark&sue]

The quiet pool at Saratoga Springs has always been empty when we have been and you can walk to Down town disney and get buses to the parks if you want to drink. It certainly means you can get more done in a day and chill out when you want to

Everyone likes different things so good luck with your choice


Susan

 

[kevin harrison]

Right, just back from a hotel in Cornwall, thats convinced me that I need some space whilst on Holiday, right......

Who do I trust to book with?

Links to people you have all rented from would be good.

 

[JohnnySharp2]

Right, just back from a hotel in Cornwall, thats convinced me that I need some space whilst on Holiday, right......

Who do I trust to book with?

Links to people you have all rented from would be good.

Think I posted some links on an ealier post but can recommend the following:

http://www.holiday-rentals.co.uk/Fl...ee-Area/holiday-villa-Indian-Creek/p10860.htm

In fact I know some DISers have rented this home since I recommended as the owners have told me so - I am sure you would get a good price if you mentioned my name.

It's a fairly new home, south facing secluded pool, and being at Indian Creek has the perfect location also.
It is a 5 bedroomed but that doesn't mean it will be more expensive.

 

[tam2004]

Hi

We always rent a villa direct from the owner, and we have never had a bad choice.

Try just-florida-villas.co.uk, they have some fantastic villas and you can see photos of them.

Hope this helps.

 

[islandmum]

we've got 2 Orlando trips - one this Oct and one next Oct - this year is our first year to WDW, big family vacation and doing more than 3 weeks away.

We're staying at WL for 11 days coz we thought as its our first go we'll just go the whole hog and do all things Disney! Plus hubby wants the feeling we are "on vaca" rather than being in another house. He wants no cooking, shopping, tidying etc.. so it's hotels this year.

Next year we are meeting up with hubbys sister and family for a week in Orlando. WDW is not the reason for going and indeed we may not even do any days in the parks - its all about shopping, and seeing the family as we live more than 4000 miles away from each other.

For that reason we're getting a villa - we've already booked it, looks fabulous, and the best bit for me is that there is a large south facing fully fenced garden. I like the lanai but the boys need a yard, they swim here in the pool every day so its no big thing for them having a pool, and I like having a nice BBQ out in the garden.

so - hotel in WDW for family Disney madness, dont want to cook vacation ...

villa for meeting up with relatives, going out and about, much more non-specific, choose the right villa!