Trying to find a rental home near Disney

[Elle]

FLeasure,
I think the "resort" feel is a big plus! I have stayed on plenty STR developments Sunset Lakes Inc, yes they are quiet, for my family too quiet, I don't know whether they are particulaly unpopular but there never seemed to be anyone there, some people may think this is a major plus but for us each time it was un-nerving, OK it was gated but quite honestly anyone could get in!!! At least with the resorts you feel like you are actually on Vacation!! Lets face it, if you want a "quiet" vacation you do not go to Disney!
As for using club facilities I stayed at Wyndham Palms in peak time (Iknow it's not finished yet) and there were no more than 6 - 10 people using each of the facilities at any one time, so please do not scare people off using this type of resort simply because you are selling your own product which may or may not be "inferior"
I suppose there will always be differences in opinion when it comes down to things like this but I resent the fact you decry one resort in favour of another because you are a "salesman" Please give advise but not quite so biased.
Thanks.

 

[FLeisure]

Elle,
I am sorry you feel I have a hidden agenda. That is not the case. I am just stating my opinion when comparing two resorts. Frankly, it really doesn't matter to me which development anyone stays on other than it meets with their requirements and that they enjoy their time in Kissimmee.
As regards the "salesman" jibe......I'll treat that with the contempt it deserves. I have no problem arguing through the relative merits of any community with someone who is informed but you were the one decrying Sunset Lakes and frankly, you know nothing about it.
This forum is for people to express their opinions, I am truly pleased to see that people enjoy the Wyndham experience and I have learned from their viewpoints.
If you or others would rather I didn't post then please say so.....I just thought I could contribute something to the topic from a different viewpoint. I'll go away if I'm not wanted or if my views are deemed too controversial.

 

[lorilori]

EXCUSE ME!!
FLeisure: Please don't stop posting. You've provided so much wonderful insight that I wasn't able to get by viewing countless websites.

 

[BonnieA]

Personally I love to hear about the different neighborhoods. I have rented homes in Eagle Point and Rolling Hills, both were great homes. I use a particular home rental agency that has always given me good service. Next time I need their services I will know which areas to request. And I LOVE the quiet and privacy associated with these homes. I also love Disney but in my vacation I need down time away from Disney to regroup for the next day. And I certainly don't want to be kept up all night by loud neighbors, as I used to be when staying in motel rooms. That's why I need to know which developments will have the "resort feel" so I can avoid them.

 

[Elle]

FLeisure,
If I had wished you to stop posting I would have said so! I do feel however that you cannot give unbiased advise!! and that is a fact. You manage homes do you not? So accordingly you market homes, so how can you give unbiased advise? You cannot! You can preach all you like about trying to help people "enjoy their vacation" but the truth is you are making money out of the people who are "enjoying their vacation" Boards such as these are invaluable resources of imformation for people who need it, ALWAYS the best imformation comes from people with nothing to gain, you have everything to gain by giving advise here and nothing to lose!
So yes I did decry Sunset Lakes and yes that obviously touched a raw nerve, I was out of order calling it "old" but everything else I said was 100% true when I was there it was TATTY and SCRUFFY I would also point out that whilst I was there a burglary took place in an adjoining house, by someone who had the key code to the "Gated Entry System".
I repeat I do not want you to stop posting, I am sure your experience is needed here on the boards, but PLEASE stop the bias towards the homes that you manage.

 

[FLeisure]

Elle,
Thank you for your clarification - I am sorry you feel that way.

Sunset Lakes - for your information the gate code was changed a few months ago and is regularly changed. Please also note that other sub divisions suffer from burglaries from time to time.....including Wyndham Palms, where the thieves actually drove past a manned security gate on more than one occassion. Since these occurrencies, steps have been made at both communities to tighten security issues up.

I would genuinely appreciate your comments in regard to "TATTY and SCRUFFY" as I'm pretty sure that your last visit was a while ago. What did you see ?

No doubt this will now bring up issues of security........yes, burglaries do sometimes happen to rental homes. This is the year 2002 and it will happen here as much as it does in other areas of the World, however, the small number of incidents should not put anyone of staying in a home.

 

[grlzmom]

Just reading the thread and thought I would add my favorite place to stay when not staying on property is Wyndham Palms. Nothing but great experience there. Love the convenience of the store, beautiful facilities. Havent ever run into a crowd yet Going back in a few weeks and will see if anything has changed.

Whatever you decide bet you will love the experience of staying someplace with a little room, some privacy and a good value. Enjoy your trips.

Jeanne

 

[lorilori]

FLeisure: I've been working on an October trip but now we're thinking about changing our onsite reservations for next month. My quesiton is do rental homes have to be booked the further out, the better or might I still be able to find a 3bd.rental for the end of next month? Thanks.

 

[lorilori]

FLeisure: I've been working on an October trip but now we're thinking about changing our onsite reservations for next month. My question is do rental homes have to be booked the further out, the better or might I still be able to find a 3bd.rental for the end of next month? Thanks.

 

[FLeisure]

Lorilori....it all comes down to supply and demand unfortunately. The earlier you book the better choice you will have. Also, something that some folks won't realise, UK school children have their half term breaks in October. The Scottish normally take the first week of October and the English the second and third weeks. That means that the second week of October is usually very busy because UK people nearly always take two weeks off. (ie, they'll take the kids out of school for a week).

Very often by waiting until a month before you want to come, you can get a better rate but you are taking a chance the property you want won't be available. Believe it or not, we have people that book the day before they come but the choice is nearly always limited !

 

[FLeisure]

Just received some news that one or two of you maybe interested in :

Pulte Homes have been sued by the Wyndham Hotels Group regarding the use of the name Wyndham Palms and have lost the case which is now going to litigation.

Apparently Pulte are looking at naming the resort Windsor Palms.

 

[grlzmom]

Fleisure, Thanks for that lil tidbit.

Dont think Windsor sounds as nice We will be down there the week before Easter and I am curious to see what's changed and how it is during peak week

Jeanne
ten days to go

 

[Jan/Ma]

Fleisure,
You are so knowledgeable on the subject of rental homes. I was just wondering if you are familiar with "Blue Ribbon Villas International". We have a deposit on a 8 bedroon villa in Formosa Garden Estates. Could you give us any information you might have.

 

[Elle]

Hey FLeisure, you are a tad slow over there I posted days ago on this thread about Wyndham Palms, You must be very busy and unable to keep your ear to the ground
Amazing how news travels though.
P.S. Iprefered my previous post but for some reason it was deleted!!

 

[FLeisure]

Jan/Ma

Formosa Gardens is an excellent location, one of the closest to Disney.

I don't know of Blue Ribbon Villas Int. but there are over 650 licensed property management co's over here so it isn't that surprising ! The only word of caution I would have is do make sure the house is licensed for short term rentals by the DBPR.

The reason I say this is because of several rumours that were flying around and a conversation I had with one of the inspector's in regard to 8,9 & 10 bedroom homes. The conversation I had revolved around the fact that the DBPR wants to or does classify 8,9 & 10 bedrooms in a similar way to hotels, eg., sprinkler system needs to be installed.

I have no doubt that the house will be very nice but the added security of having the house licensed means that the owner has to conform to certain standards.

In Polk county (this one is in Osceola) the maximum amount of people allowed in one home is 12. This is written in the Polk County Ordinance.

 

[lisag1]

Jan/Ma,

I recently stayed in a 6 bed/4bath villa in Formosa Gardens and would highly recommend it. They are fabulous houses and many of them offer the upgraded furniture packages. We've also rented at Chatham Park, Davenport Lakes, Rolling Hills, Formosa Gardens and this year we'll be staying at Wyndham Palms Resort. Can't wait

Lisa

 

[Elle]

Hi,
Blue Ribbon Villas are a very good and well respected company, I have used them myself.
Formossa Gardens is one of the best str developments in the area, I have also no doubt that Blue Ribbon would not rent out a home that was not licensed, they really are not a company that would do that. I do know that larger houses are a problem in Polk County but so far as I am aware that is not the case in Osceola.

 

[Jan/Ma]

Fleisure, Lisag1, & Elle,
Thank you so much for your responses. I appreciate all the information. I'm also glad to hear that others have heard of, and used Blue Ribbon Villas.

Jan

 

[UKDEB]

Jan/Ma

We have stayed at Formosa Gardens twice now and have booked to stay there again this October. We have booked directly with the owners, but their management company is Blue Ribbon Villas and we have stayed in another home on FG owned by the same people. FG is a fabulous community and the villas are beautiful and equipped to an extremely high standard. All those we have stayed at on FG have separately heatable jacuzzis - wonderful!

 

[grlzmom]

Just wanted to give a little report on Wyndham Palms.

We just got back from Easter week stay at a 4 br/3 bath pool home. Wonderful time, the community pool was great (very big and never crowded). Facilities wonderful, everything clean. Couldnt have had a better time. The girls loved the movie theatre. They put on movies whenever the kids wanted them and also ran a scheduled one around seven each night. Small convenience store which really had most everything you needed (at of course, inflated prices). Didnt get a chance to use the workout room but it looked like it had most of the standard stuff. Great place to be when you want a break from the parks. Was very quiet there, never any crowds. Plenty of grocery/food places within a mile of there. We also drove through Formosa Gardens which was absolutely beautiful. Definately want to stay at Wyndham Palms or Formosa Gardens next time.

Having been someone who has always stayed on disney property until last year, there are so many conveniences in renting a home that you just cant even compare. We love it, the kids love it, just the best way to do disney. So nice to be able to get up in the morning and have your coffee/tea without having to go to the restaurant or food court to get it

Wishing you all magical vacations

Jeanne