just back--1st time in a vacation home and loved it!

[maps]

just back from 10 day trip with hubby, 2 & 3 yo
stayed in a 4br home with pool/spa in indian creek subdivision and loved it!
driving was easy in this area (we stayed in lake buena vista area last year and it took forever to get to the parks)
there was very little traffic and lots of restaurants to choose from
it was wonderful to have everyone in their own rooms and the private pool was great--we were in it almost every day/night

let me know if you have any questions because i drove around a lot looking at other subdivisions in the area

 

[tednvon]

Did you visit Emerald Island?

 

[maps]

i did visit emerald island
it is very impressive when you first drive in but it's still in the construction phase and it looks very scruffy--dirt everywhere, no real landscaping yet, construction vehicles all over the place.
i'm sure once it's complete and the landscaping is done it will be beautiful but i wouldn't have wanted to stay there now.
the prettiest area i visited was oak island cove and the largest houses seemed to be at formosa gardens.

 

[lilsonicfan]

i loved oak island cove! driving down Funie Steed Rd every night we kept seeing the Emerald Island gate/entrance thing and thought it looked quite pretty... so one day we decided to go and see what it was. i must agree, lots of construction/dust/dirt and so Oak Island was much nicer. also closer to 192!

 

[100%Disney]

If you don't mind, which agency did you use?

 

[lilsonicfan]

I'm not sure if you were referring to the original poster or to me... but in any case i didn't use an agency. I found our villa through www.orlandovillas.com and since it was a rental by owner directly there was no agency. But I totally trust these owners now and it was really a great house - so I'll pass along their website, it is www.floridavillas4u.net

good luck!

 

[Hemelman]

Maps,

our family has rented a villa for Aug in Indian Creek - can you tell me a bit more about it - driving times to WDW etc.

Any info appreciated

Thanks
Mick

 

[maps]

i went originally went through a realtor to rent the home. his web is www.alanmartin.us
the property mangement company was www.frontlineflorida.com
both were very helpful and quick to respond to any questions i had. i would go through them again.
as for indian creek, it is extremely convenient to the parks, esp ak and mk. it took us about 10 minutes from the house to the mk parking lot. i thought it was a lot more convenient than when we were in lake buena vista last year (less traffic and quicker getting to the parks)
indian creek was a big sub development and we had a newer home which was nice but it was in the section that had a lot of other new construction going on, so it wasn't very plush and landscaped yet. the houses are really close to together so if privacy is a big issue you need to check into that.

 

[Moby]

Just found out we are going to WDW May 2-10 so I'm doing a crash course on how to plan our trip .

Found a 2 bedroom condo at Windsor Palms Resort which is about 3 1/2 miles from WDW for 8 nights for $595 total cost ($74 nightly). Is that a good price? Did you happen to check out htis particular resort? I like the idea of our 4.5 year old dd having her own bedroom so hubby and I can stay up late if we want to. We want to return to room for afternoon swims and naps so trying to decide if I should staying in off-site condo or Disney.

Did you cook instead of eat out? I'd love to hear any other tips or advice you have about staying in vacation home?

Thanks!

 

[maps]

i drove by windsor palms and it seemed very nice

we had breakfast in the home everyday and then packed lots of snacks for the parks. we'd come back in the afternoon for a light lunch (either something we made or picked up along the way). the kids then went into the pool, napped and back to the parks we went. if we were late getting back, we'd get delivery (there are a lot in the area). otherwise, we'd go out to dinner (hey, this is a vacation after all!)
my kids always went to bed in their own rooms without any hassles and then my husband and i would go out into the spa--it was heavenly. a lot more relaxing than staying in the hotel last year.

 

[Gillian]

Moby, it is nice having space for the little one to nap! Windsor palms is very convenient to WDW. The easiest way to get there is to go left out of the development, go right on 192 & then make a left at the first light, Sherberth Road. This takes you to the Animal Kingdom area. Go right at the light here and you can get to all the other parks. Or you can continue on 192 and follow the signs to Disney. It's longer that way.

The Windsor Palms pool is nice. It does get crowded, but so do the Disney pools. I would prefer to have a house with our own pool, so we could swim while the kids nap, but the private pools are generally too small for any real swimming, which one person in our group wanted to do.

 

[ToriLammy]

Originally posted by maps
the prettiest area i visited was oak island cove and the largest houses seemed to be at formosa gardens.

This is nice to hear. We have a home reserved in Oak Island Cove for Jun 03. We're really looking forward to it

 

[snookhams]

Is Indian Creek near to Indian Point, we have stayed at Indian Point twice in 2 different properties - one 6 bed and none 3 bed, both with pools, and were very happy. We have done 5 trips to Florida, 3 at hotels and 2 at Villas, and I wouldn't go back to a hotel again, I like the idea of being able to relax in the family room or around the pool once the children are in bed. Dining is a pleasure we tended to have a good breakfast at the villa, leaving the dirty dishes to wash in the dishwasher when we left for the parks and take lots of snacks, fruit and water with us and then either eat out or back at the villa, depending on how tired we are. I am looking to book my 7 holiday (no 6 is already booked) and considering staying in a different area, not because we had anything to complain about at Indian point, just for a change so any adive/information would be appreciated.

 

[UKDEB]

snookhams - Indian Point (as you know) is East 192. Indian Creek is West 192 near Splendid China.

 

[Moby]

Hi Maps,

We have two options available to rent for our 8 night trip in May. A condo at Windsor Palms for $595 total, but it has a community pool & spa versus a private pool.

I've been enticed by hearing of the convenience of having a private pool at your vacation home so I've made more enquires.
I've got two possibilities in Calabay Parc. One is $790 total (a beautiful home), the other is $730. Both have private pools.

If you are familiar with Calabay can you comment on it? What about its driving time to Disney as it seems further away than Windsor?

Thanks for your help you can offer!

 

[maps]

i didn't see calabray parc in my travels so i'm not too sure about the location.
i definitely have a preference for the private home mostly because the pool is attached and you can use it any time even when the kids are asleep.
good luck

 

[FLeisure]

Calabay Park is on US 27 and if you hit traffic on a bad day you might regret booking a house over there. On a good day you can still get to Disney within 15-20 minutes but on a bad day you'll be looking at 45 mins plus.

Other than that there is building work going on, so make sure any house you book isn't right next door to building work.

 

[lisag1]

We're on our second visit to Windsor Palms and we love it. It's the next development to Indian Creek. In fact you can't go wrong with any of the developments in that area (Splendid China/Formosa Boulevard) as they are all within 4 miles of WDW and there are loads of great restaurants and supermarkets within a mile or two. We've also stayed at Formosa Gardens Estate and Rolling Hills and we visited Emerald Isle in NOvember and I have to agree about the construction work.

Lisa

 

[crusnprincesses]

We are renting a house in Pinewood country Estates....apparently 15 mins from Disney in Kissimee/Davenport area. Are you familiar with it?

 

[FLeisure]

Pinewood is a little too far from Disney for my liking but I'm sure you will enjoy yourselves whilst there. The community is situated just off SR 54 in Polk County.

Two ways to Disney both 15 - 20 minutes:

a) Lake Wilson Rd to US 192
b) Join I4 to Disney turn offs.