Villa estates in Kissimmee area

[Tinkjon]

Are there any Kissimee estates/complexes/whatever you call them! (the ones where each villa has its own private pool, not the ones where a few villas share a communal pool) that are within walking distance of restaurants and shops?

 

[Pegasus928]

Without looking at each one in turn my first answer would have to be no.
We have stayed a few of them now - each one in a different location - and they have all been a fair walk away from any of the shopping areas, and those that are close would mean walking down a busy road.
I would guess that a villa in a community that is on the H27 and close to Berry Town Centre would be your best bet.
It has a Publix, chinese take away, pizza, Applebees and more. But I would guess you are looking for more choice of restaurants in which case you need to be closer to the 192, but the villa communities anywhere near this area are definitely further away and not really walking distance.

 

[DVCconvert]

You could, but I wouldn't proably walk from Formosa Gardens Estates to some eatiers...but you're likely really wish you had a car.

 

[irisheyes123]

Id say Formosa Gardens Estates the start of the estate is about a mile to shops and restaurants I stay in the estate across the way its a 10 minute walk when doing my morning walk

 

[Netty]

The only one I can think of is Indian Wells, this estate is inbetween the 535 and the 192 and is walkable to the 192 to all the eateries and shops. Indian Wells is behind Walmart-535. But the villas are older, we have stayed there twice!

 

[CAROLINE4]

i would also suggest formosa gardens some of our party walked to the shops every morning for the paper etc and also walked home from restaurants there after having meals with alcohol.

 

[jana]

I think the general consensus is .... not really. Even the developments ( Southern Dunes on US 27 for example) where the front gate of the community might be close enough to walk to local businesses, the development itself could stretch a mile or more back from the front gate. Unless you know for certain the villa you're getting is right "up front" even the best laid plans might not work out for you. For safety reasons, I wouldn't recommend a lot of walking in central Fl, particularly at night. There aren't very many sidewalks ,street lighting can be pretty average, there are beaucoup de critters (snakes, gators, mozzies) who like to roam about at night , so few people do walk that drivers don't seem to watch for them very much and coming from the UK, you're initial reaction may be to look the wrong direction for on coming traffic.

If you have a strong reason for wanting to be walking distance from those types of facilities, you may be better off looking at timeshare developments (but they'd be shared pools) , even then some of them can be quite spread out as well. Vistana, Bluegreen on 535 , there are a number on the southern end of I-Drive. On property the DVC resorts of Old Key West and Saratoga Springs are close to downtown Disney and Disney is offering some astonishing deals with free dining on them for selected dates.

I'd either bite the bullet and drive (have a "designated driver" ), or look at alternative accommodation, JMHO.

 

[Tinkjon]

Thanks for your replies, everybody. Somewhere my mum was looking at said "5 minutes walk from shops/restaurants" but perhaps these were shops onsite... I will look at the places suggested, thanks so much! I must admit, I hadn't even thought about the possibility of coming across Creatures at night <shudder>

 

[Pegasus928]

I wonder if the community your Mum is on about is Highlands Reserve.
This is one of the villa areas on H27 and is probably the closest one to Berry Town Centre
If you click on the link above, select 'Satellite' then drag the little yellow man over to the right hand side to the area that looks like a car park you will be able to see the take-aways, restaurants and shops that it has to offer.

 

[irisheyes123]

Thanks for your replies, everybody. Somewhere my mum was looking at said "5 minutes walk from shops/restaurants" but perhaps these were shops onsite... I will look at the places suggested, thanks so much! I must admit, I hadn't even thought about the possibility of coming across Creatures at night <shudder>

To be honest the only Creatures I have ever seen when walking down to the shops is tiny lizards and birds