How to pick which home to stay in?

[Lauri]

I've been around here forever, but instead of our yearly WDW trips, we've done DCL the last 4 years. So now I feel like a newbie .

Anyways, I've been looking at the many different homes for our trip back to the world next Nov. Now that I have two teens (boy/girl), we can really use the extra space, and it would be great to have our own private pool!

So how do you choose a home? They all have similar floor plans. Is there something more specific I should look for? Is one community better than another? Should I look for a southern expose pool (never though about it, but some of the homes list it.)? Are some homes in a "better" location within a neighborhood?

You get it. I'm just so confused as to how to pick the 'right' one. Thanks in advance for your help.

Lauri

 

[dougsmom98]

I can totally understand your confusion. There is so much to consider when choosing a rental home. A lot of people on these boards like to stay in the Formosa Gardens area (Windsor Hills, Windsor Palms, Emerald Isle, Formosa Gardens, Indian Creek...) because it is the closest to WDW. Some of us stay further out in Davenport because it fits our budget better and we don't mind a 15-20 minute drive to the parks. You need to decide which is best for you, cost or being close. Here is a map of various villa communities.
http://www.thedibb.co.uk/villa-map.php

The second thing you need to consider is if you want a stand alone home? A condo? or a Townhouse with a splash pool? Do you want a community with a community pool, or are you happy with your own pool at the house?

Another thing you might want to consider is number of bedrooms and bed types. DH and I need our king size bed in the master and we want our own bathroom (en-suite). We have a king bed at home and we want to be sure we have a comfortable sleep on vacation. Do your children want their own bedrooms? If so, then you need to have a three bedroom. Does bed type matter to them?

Another big consideration for us (because our children are younger) is having TVs in each of the bedrooms. I don't want to watch Cartoon network the entire vacation and it gives the kids a chance to go to their own rooms and chill out.

Do you want a place with wireless Internet access?

Those are some of the major questions that I can think of that you will want to consider when choosing a place.

As for the south facing pool, it can be a factor. In the hot summer months, a south facing pool may not be that great because you may want to get out of the sun. In the winter months, it allows for more sun later in the day. We kind of wished our place had a south facing pool on our last February vacation, but we ended up booking a place without a south facing pool for this next vacation too because the price was right and everything else was perfect.

Once you narrow it down, post again and I am sure people will help you weigh in.

 

[isla bonita]

Lauri
I think Amy gave you great advice. She has been doing it for some time it sounds like.

I would also mention set a budget for what you are willing to pay and sort that way. You will be able to get a home in almost any budget but maybe not all the amenities.

There are many sights that you can plug in the info and get back many emails. Then narrow the list that way.

Enjoy the planning do not let it overwehlm you. This is a vacation you are planning have fun with it.

 

[DisneyPoohBear]

I use VRBO.com to look through the houses. We stayed in Windsor Hills last January and it was very nice. This July we will be staying at a home in the Bellivida Resort. We haven't had any troubles the 4 or 5 times we have rented through vrbo but we like to remain in contact with the owners and of course we don't pay the full amount upfront.

 

[Brian Noble]

I like Amy's questions. I can think of two more that I typically ask.

How is the damage deposit handled? I prefer credit card swipe, as then I don't have to wait for someone to send me a check.

How is key pick up/drop off handled? I prefer having a lock box at the property---one less step. Others don't like this, because of the chance that an "old" renter still knows a valid combination.

 

[Lauri]

Wow, thanks for those replies. Of course, now I have more questions.

We have a DS 15, and DD almost 13, so we're at that point in life where we can't get by with less than 3 beds. For us to stay on property, we'd have to get one deluxe room or two other rooms, both at significant cost. I'm thinking we would like a vacation home with our own private pool. As Amy mentioned, I think we'd like to stay in the Formosa Gardens area, closer to Disney.

I think we'd be happy paying the extra for the convience going through a management company, rather than dealing with an owner directly. I'd like to have 3 bedrooms, but cost does not seem that much more for 4 bedrooms, and availability seems greater. Then I see homes that are rated as 3 star, 4 star, and 5 star. The only major difference I see is price. And when you see several homes within the same neighborhood, with esentially the same floor plans, how do you pick one over the other?

Good questions to think about. We're looking to go over next Thanksgiving week, and right now, things are wide open. That's hundreds of homes to looks at, and after a while they all seem the same. Any further specific guidance would be greatly appreciated.

Lauri

 

[Brian Noble]

Remember that you don't need to find the very best possible home---you only need to find a home that fits your needs at a price you are willing to pay. So, don't let those hundreds of homes put you off. Just browse through a few that fit, in 3 and 4 BR configuraitons, contacting owners to get quotes, until you find one you like.

 

[sjanus]

Remember that lots of owners do put their reservations through their management companies. Three great owner sites are www.vrbo.com, www.homeaway.com and www.vacationrentals.com. If you go to the Kissimmee area and then choose the community or communities that you narrow it down to, you can ask the owners in the e-mail if they have a management company and will they be available to you through the rental process. You can save money going through the owners but still have the safety net of the management company in many cases. You can also ask for the website of the management company and go to their website to check them out.

Another check is to see how the availability calendar looks for the houses in which you are interested. If they have a lot of bookings, then they probably have return rentals and are doing things right!

If you see ones with cheap rates and no availability, then they may be giving away the bank because they are losing their property or just trying to pay their bills.

Also, look at each owner's personal website--that also tells you a lot.

But narrowing it down to the communities you want, whether you go through an owner or a management company, will help you to finetune your search. If you just go to the Kissimmee area, there are loads of houses, and it does become very confusing.

Make a list of the amenities you want and things you know you definitely need, which will help you to make a comparison of properties. If you find ones in the moderate price range with lots of amenities and lots of bookings, you probably can't go wrong!

Have fun and happy planning!

Sandy J

 

[7165red]

www.orlandovillas.com puts you in direct contact with the owner which I like. We have always had good luck with the owner. We always have someone to contact. The most important thing for me is a private pool and I go on from. So just pick out the two most important features and go on from that.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Some homes have a big screen tv which dh loves. Also some garages have been converted to game rooms with air hockey, foosball, billiards, etc. This can be a plus for having some down time away from the parks.

Also consider splurging on pool heat. It's a lot more $$ but the one time we didn't get it, figuring it's very warm in May, it was really chilly in the evenings so we rarely swam. It's so nice to jump in a toasty warm pool, esp. after doing so much walking the parks.

just my $.02!

 

[Frothy]

Lauri,
It seems very challenging at the moment simply because of all the choice. We faced the same decision and in the end picked a Florida Leisure home because of the location and the amenities.

We have now stayed with then four times and will not hesitate to book with them again. They have been great and have always done that little bit extra to make us feel welcomed.

Vacation homes are the only way to go as they give you so much more in terms of choice and value. We wouldn't even consider a hotel now as we have found the perfect house for us.

We enjoy the big screen TV, the games room, the oversize pool deck, the lakeview and all the other things our favorite home has. My advice is find a home that has everything you have at home and go with that.

 

[horseshowmom]

Let me add another place for you to consider. I just got back yesterday from Bonnet Creek, and we loved it.

I've previously rented quite a few houses and have also stayed at Cypress Pointe Grande Villas. I have never had a bad stay at any of them. However, this stay at Bonnet Creek has probably made a lifelong customer out of me (for Disney World trips - I still may try Vista Cay the next time I go to Universal ).

The property adjoins Disney (you have to drive onto Disney property to get to it). It's actually next door to Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort. We watched the fireworks from the Magic Kingdom and Epcot from our balcony each night. They also had live music out by the pool and lots of activities.

They have 1BR, 2BR, 3BR, and 4BR units. I had a 2BR/2BA. The master BR has a king bed, and the second BR has two full sized beds in it.

I got a great deal on ebay for this property, and I know some others on this board have rented from someone named Ken Price (I haven't though) and gotten great deals. The location just can't be beat.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Let me add another place for you to consider. I just got back yesterday from Bonnet Creek, and we loved it.

I've previously rented quite a few houses and have also stayed at Cypress Pointe Grande Villas. I have never had a bad stay at any of them. However, this stay at Bonnet Creek has probably made a lifelong customer out of me (for Disney World trips - I still may try Vista Cay the next time I go to Universal ).

The property adjoins Disney (you have to drive onto Disney property to get to it). It's actually next door to Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort. We watched the fireworks from the Magic Kingdom and Epcot from our balcony each night. They also had live music out by the pool and lots of activities.

They have 1BR, 2BR, 3BR, and 4BR units. I had a 2BR/2BA. The master BR has a king bed, and the second BR has two full sized beds in it.

I got a great deal on ebay for this property, and I know some others on this board have rented from someone named Ken Price (I haven't though) and gotten great deals. The location just can't be beat.

Do they have nightly rentals or just weekly? Who did you rent through?
I found Bonnet Creek on Hotwire for $149/nt. for a 1 br but just wondering how much a 2br costs. We're only staying 4 nts.

 

[horseshowmom]

Do they have nightly rentals or just weekly? Who did you rent through?
I found Bonnet Creek on Hotwire for $149/nt. for a 1 br but just wondering how much a 2br costs. We're only staying 4 nts.

They can be rented for any number of nights (nightly or weekly). We were there for 5 nights and wound up paying about $90 a night on ebay (kwksprop). I've seen the units on ebay go for a wide assortment of prices, so you kind of have to do your homework there.

Here's a link to a thread that talks about Ken Price (his website is http://www.vacationupgrades.com/ and has prices on it). http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1993566
While it only lists 1BR and 2BR, I'm pretty sure he could get the 3BR or 4BR as well.

The nice thing about renting from/through an owner is that generally everything is included in the price (no extra for taxes, etc.). Of course, that can vary depending upon the owner.

If I can answer any other questions, let me know!

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

They can be rented for any number of nights (nightly or weekly). We were there for 5 nights and wound up paying about $90 a night on ebay (kwksprop). I've seen the units on ebay go for a wide assortment of prices, so you kind of have to do your homework there.

Here's a link to a thread that talks about Ken Price (his website is http://www.vacationupgrades.com/ and has prices on it). http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1993566
While it only lists 1BR and 2BR, I'm pretty sure he could get the 3BR or 4BR as well.

The nice thing about renting from/through an owner is that generally everything is included in the price (no extra for taxes, etc.). Of course, that can vary depending upon the owner.

If I can answer any other questions, let me know!

Thanks, you've been a terrific help!!!
Do you recall what seller you bought from? I'm a bit leary about buying such things on ebay. I'd hate to get there and have it be a fraudulent ressie. There are a lot of sellers that really sell a lot so I guess they're the ones to look for.

 

[horseshowmom]

Thanks, you've been a terrific help!!!
Do you recall what seller you bought from? I'm a bit leary about buying such things on ebay. I'd hate to get there and have it be a fraudulent ressie. There are a lot of sellers that really sell a lot so I guess they're the ones to look for.

I think mine was seller ID kwksprop. I made sure that they had lots of positive feedback and were Paypal protected. I also used my credit card for additional protection. I think with Paypal you only have 60 days to file a dispute (may have that wrong though), but my credit card gave me 6 months (and I had to use that once with an ebay issue - they solved it with no problems).

He actually didn't have my exact dates listed, so I contacted him, and he created a listing for me (actually two reservations put together, so I had two confirmation numbers, but I didn't have to change units). We negotiated the price, and he listed it as a Buy It Now (so I could use cashback from live.com for a rebate).

I waited until within 60 days (actually within 30 days in my case) to try to get the best deal. Ken Price had some good deals within 60 days. Somebody on another thread got theirs for $100 a night. I'll try to find the thread, and you can contact them too.


ETA: Post 4 of the following thread by cinderellamom123 says she got hers for $100 a night. Here's the link to the thread - http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2034197

 

[crusoe2]

I use VRBO.com to look through the houses. We stayed in Windsor Hills last January and it was very nice. This July we will be staying at a home in the Bellivida Resort. We haven't had any troubles the 4 or 5 times we have rented through vrbo but we like to remain in contact with the owners and of course we don't pay the full amount upfront.

I was just wondering about your comment that you don't pay the full amount upfront. At what point are you usually required to pay? That has been one of our major hangups with renting a house. We would love to have the space and the private pool but all of them I've found so far require that we pay in full about 8 weeks before our trip. The rental fee plus the usual add-ons for security deposits and such add up to an awful lot of money. And the cancellation policies usually stipulate that once we've paid in full we might get, at most, half our money back if we have to cancel for some reason. Don't get me wrong - I totally understand that the owners have to protect themselves. But for one reason or other, we always have to wait until pretty close to trip-time to be really sure that we can go. By then all the good places are usually taken. Is there an owner or management company that would be better for us to rent from? TIA

 

[Brian Noble]

Very few owners take final payment so close to the travel date. They don't have dozens of homes to rent out, so losing a single week is a big hit to their income, and many can't afford the risk. That's part of why you are getting such a good deal by booking earlier.

You'd probably do better trying to get last-minute timeshare rentals from owners. As long as you are not shooting for peak-demand weeks, that might work out best.

 

[Lauri]

OP here. I haven't been able to get online in a while, but I just wanted to say thank you to everyone for your help. I feel more confident in doing this now, but I still have 10 1/2 months to decide. I'm also getting PMs from people who own homes, so I may just get a great deal from fellow DISers.

Feel free to keep adding additional info, as I'll keep coming back to check. Thanks again.

Lauri

 

[Macdonalds]

How would I reach Ken?

They can be rented for any number of nights (nightly or weekly). We were there for 5 nights and wound up paying about $90 a night on ebay (kwksprop). I've seen the units on ebay go for a wide assortment of prices, so you kind of have to do your homework there.

Here's a link to a thread that talks about Ken Price (his website is http://www.vacationupgrades.com/ and has prices on it). http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1993566
While it only lists 1BR and 2BR, I'm pretty sure he could get the 3BR or 4BR as well.

The nice thing about renting from/through an owner is that generally everything is included in the price (no extra for taxes, etc.). Of course, that can vary depending upon the owner.

If I can answer any other questions, let me know!