Rental homes?

[J.C.&ALI'SMOM]

We are thinking of trying a pool home for a week this summer followed by a few days onsite. I was wondering what is the absolute closest development that has security. DH is wary of Kissimmee. When he has gone out to buy some things he has commented that the area does not look really safe.

I also wanted to know if anyone had stayed in a 3 or 4 bedroom that was really nicely furnished. I have looked at some of the homes and found some that looked nice, but many of them were not so great.

Any help would be really appreciated. I really want to try the pool home route.

 

[torismom]

I think you would be very happy staying in Windsor Palms, Emerlad Island or Formosa Gadens.

 

[isla bonita]

The communities torismom are talking about are gated and might be what you are looking for in addition they are very close to Disney using the sherberth rd cut thru. Here is a map of the communities in the WDW area.
http://www.thedibb.co.uk/villa/map.htm
Hope you find what you are looking for.

 

[fanofdisney]

http://www.orlandodreamvacation.net/ Click on the virtual tours. My friend is renting one for February, and she said the prices aren't bad.

 

[Mainebound]

We are thinking of trying a pool home for a week this summer followed by a few days onsite. I was wondering what is the absolute closest development that has security. DH is wary of Kissimmee. When he has gone out to buy some things he has commented that the area does not look really safe.

I also wanted to know if anyone had stayed in a 3 or 4 bedroom that was really nicely furnished. I have looked at some of the homes and found some that looked nice, but many of them were not so great.

Any help would be really appreciated. I really want to try the pool home route.

This is what we did last year -- a week in a pool home in Emerald Island, then 3 nites at Wilderness Lodge. This year all 10 nights will be in a pool home. We feel it is the only way to go now that we have tried it.

I can't imagine why anyone would think Kissimmee is unsafe. Certainly driving to the parks every day on 192 we did not feel that way at all.

Personally, IMHO, I feel it is important for our family to be as close to the parks as possible, since we go EVERY day and have a 4 and 6 year old who don't want to sit in traffic. Therefore, we only look at the area right near WDW off 192 with Emerald Island, Windsor Palms, Formosa Gardens, Oak Island Cove and Harbor, and Windsor Hills, etc. Even though they are only 2 miles from the WDW entrance, in traffic that 2 miles can take 15 minutes, plus another 10 minutes to get from the "Disney gate" (actually the "back entrance" near the Animal Kingdom Lodge) to, say, the Magic Kingdom. We only hit traffic one day, but still...

On the other hand, you will pay about 30% more to stay in these communities than further out in Davenport or on the 27, because (1) they tend to be very new with a lot of resort type facilities (Windsor Hills, for example, has a zero depth entry pool, movie theater, water slide, water play area, elaborate playground for kids, sundry shop, shuttle to parks, etc.) and (2) they are closest to WDW.

We have bee researching extensively for our upcoming May trip, and if you PM me I can give you the link to where we stayed last year and a couple ofhter homes we found that are not available for our dates but may be for yours.

Hope this helps.

 

[kilee]

We've stayed all over in the area as well as in Davenport. Price will be an issue for location. Like everything else in life you are going to pay to stay right on the outside of the property.

Another diser gave you the communities that would most likely fit into what you are looking for. Just don't think a gate is going to keep riffraff out-- if they want in- they're getting in.

 

[Time4Orlando]

Loyalty Homes manages pool homes they guarantee that are less than 4 miles from Disney. You can find them at http://www.doorlando.com

 

[LovePug]

We just stayed here a few weeks ago. Fantastic!

Briar Patch Villa

 

[kabbie]

Check out the all star vacation homes website. They have all different kinds of pool homes in gated communities within minutes from WDW. We stayed in a 7 bedroom pool home in Formosa Gardens and would recommend All Star homes to anybody. They are also listed on allearsnet. Website has great photos, virtual tours and floorplans.

 

[Maria395712]

windsor hills have shuttles to the parks? how far a drive
maria

 

[Mainebound]

windsor hills have shuttles to the parks? how far a drive
maria

I would guess about 1.5 miles.

 

[Chris]

We stayed at http://www.briarpatchvilla.com/ last June and just booked again for June/July!! It's beautiful and the owners are fabulous!

 

[magicmouse2]

I have also been researching homes in case we do a week offsite this trip (and we are looking to buy a home in the future). Have stayed at Lindfields community, close to WDW but fairly old and you have to be careful on the condition of the homes. I have found some really nice resorts - Windsor palms, Emerald Isle, Regal Palms. All of these communities have resort facilities - comm. pool, hot tubs, games, gym, Regal Palms even has a pool complex with waterslide and lazy river. I found some good deals athttp://www.lastminutevillas.net. A lot of owners give last minute specials so if you can wait until the month of your vacation you could get something really nice for $500 per week.

 

[winniedapooh]

I sent you a pm with a referral. Hope it helps!

 

[Maria395712]

does windsor hills or any community have shuttles to disney
maria

 

[djkeenan]

The spot we found is in Rolling Hills, which according tothe map is between Windsor Hill;s and Windsor Plams. It's not a gated community, nor does it have resort style facilities. It's more of a family neighborhood, built a few years earlier than the big new resorts. We will have a private heated pool and it's a beautiful 6 bedroom home for the price of a basic hotel room.

We just heard from another DIS'er who stayed there that the home is lovely and very close to the parks.

One week from now we'll be firing up the grill, poolside, having dinner and waiting for the rest of our three family group to arrive.

One bit of advice for those looking at pool homes: deal directly with an owner and ignore the listed price. Ask them for their best price for the week you want. We were thrilled with the deal we got. Take a look: www.sjsvillas.com

Hope you have a great trip!

 

[minnie29uk]

windsor hills have shuttles to the parks? how far a drive
maria

The shuttle comes to my community,Glenbrook Resort first,then we go to Orange Lake Country Club and then Windsor Hills.It takes about 10 minutes from there.But because the shuttle goes there last ,I have been in the shuttle and not everyone can get on.The driver then rang for another Shuttle to come - 30 minute wait!!!Rather bad way of organising it I thought,

Lynn

 

[rrsafety]

We stayed at http://www.briarpatchvilla.com/ last June and just booked again for June/July!! It's beautiful and the owners are fabulous!

I, too, stayed here at the end of January and really enjoyed it!!!

 

[JohnnySharp2]

We have stayed in villas in Kissimmee the last few years and are doing so again this year.
Have never felt unsafe at all.

The area around Formosa Gardens that has developments like Indian Creek are ideally located, no problem at all with Kissimmee for us.

 

[flipfloppershopper]

Has anyone stayed in or know anything about the Seasons Resort area? Thanks.