Surrounding towns to Orlando

[JJ&JSMOM]

Good morning all!
Just looking at the possibility and availability of various home rentals. Seems like the homes a little further from Disney/universal are cheaper - which makes sense. Having not visited Florida too much, I'm not familiar with the various town...besides looking on a map of course. I'm curious as to where to stay, is it really that much of a hassle to drive a little longer to Disney/universal area. Our children are older now and I don't feel we need to be right on site anymore for fast trips back to the room for meltdowns...etc.
Having said that we don't want to be too far away either.

I think the extra space and quiet the pool home would offer would be perfect for us. With 2 teenagers and a preteen - space is good

Looks like Kissimmee and Davenport show up quite often in my searches,

Just curious to hear any reviews and thoughts about rentals, towns and driving...etc. We'd be going in April if that matters.

Thank you in advance for your help.
Joanne

 

[Keacc]

Here is a great map that shows all of the surrounding communities:
http://www.thedibb.co.uk//forums/villa-map.php
The drive has never concerned us because nothing takes that much longer. We have stayed as far away as West Haven and it didn't add that much time. Some of our favorite places to rent are Emerald Island Resort and Windsor Hills. Calabay Parc had very nice homes and a little cheaper.

 

[Iam.Goofy]

Get a map of Kissimmee and find where 192 crosses I4. Anything west of that intersection is, IMHO, the best location. Go west along 192 all the way to 27. Immediately south is where the best houses are including Keacc's mentioned Emerald Island ad Windsor Hills. I love Indian Creek. Just be careful - buyer be ware for any rental anywhere! Ask questions, talk to the owner on the phone, do your homework. Use sites like VRBO or Homeaway. 192 has every imaginable store and restaurant, the neighborhoods are very pleasant (generally), and this area is only minutes away from Disney. Good luck!!

 

[staceyrhood]

Just a heads up, you will not find any home rentals close to Universal, short term rentals are not allowed in Orange County. Osceola, Polk, or Lake would be the counties that allow them. Kissimmee is the closest followed by Davenport. Have a great trip!

 

[JJ&JSMOM]

Thank you for the replies...I've been researching homes and think I've found a couple that are "do-able." One in Windsor Palms and the other in Windsor Hills communities.

Thanks again!

 

[erosenst]

We were in Orlando the first week of June this year, and rented in Windsor Palms for the first time. More space for the money, and at most 5 minutes further from the parks than Winsdor Hills which is frequently recommended here. We would look at Windsor Palms, and perhaps Emerald Island, for our next trip. (I couldn't picture where Emerald Island was, but we drove by it this time.)

Agree with using HomeAway/VRBO, and a bit of common sense. If something feels/sounds fishy, it likely is. We've weeded out houses in the past on the first or second contact. They may have been fine - but sounded 'off' to us. We've rented numerous times and never had an issue with our final choice.

 

[Grumpy92]

The Windsors are very close to the main entrance to WDW. Maybe a 5 min drive. A lot of the UK guest stay at these properties. I think they would be good choices. Emerald is just down the street all in the same area.

 

[spiceycat]

davenport and Kissimmee are both pretty close to WDW not Orlando - so is Clermont. Celebration is part of Kissimmee.

how far do you want to go?

Minneota is about 40 (30) minutes away from WDW.

Lake County - Clermont and Minneota
Poke County - Davenport
0sceola County - Kissimmee (except some of Pon
on US 192 toward the end is where both Clermont and Davenport start - they are on opposite sides of the road.