villa location help ! please folks

[lizbro]

hi all,i know i`m looking into this a bit early as we are going to book for jan 08 but my local travel agents (flightfinders world choice) have strated up a new company called morefloridavillas and i ws wondering where we should be booking for ,i have a choice of
southern dunes
westridge
mariners cray
highgate park
venetian bay
i have checked out the villa map links from here and the southern dunes looks quite far away but i though there must be someone of here who would know more ,i really have to use this company as so far they are the cheapest i can find and are abta ect (i`m looking at 289 p/week for jan!)
so wheres the best out of that lot and is there anywhere in the list to avoid?
thanks in advance
liz

 

[AndRu]

I've stayed at Westridge (south of the 192 on US27) twice but in my opinion, it's a long way out. Some journeys to / from WDW from Westridge were taking over an hour due to the volume of traffic and road works. Travelling to/from the I-Drive area obviously took even longer - it was a big downside to the holiday but still beats being cooped up inside a hotel room!

Maybe it'll be better by Jan '08 (I hope it is!) but if it was my choice I'd try and avoid US27.

 

[JohnnySharp2]

Southern Dunes is one of the most southerly developments and in my opinion is too far away from the attractions.
Westridge as AndRu says although a bit further up north is still not one of the ideal locations. Although I have not stayed there.

The remaining 3 you list to be honest I have never heard of them.

Personally Kissimmee I feel is the best location and if you stay at either the Formosa Gardens area or Poinciana Boulevard you are as close as you can get to Disney, the I4 plus restuarants and supermarkets all very nearby too.

 

[UKDEB]

Highgate Park is on the US27 about 1.5 miles south of the junction with the 192.

Southern Dunes is 7 miles south of the junction of the US27 and the I-4 - that's miles away from anything. Way too far, IMHO. Mariners Cay is brand new, but in the same general area (Haines City).

Westridge is on the US27 midway between the 192 and the I-4.

Venetian Bay is townhomes only (not villas). It's in the opposite direction to all the others (which are all located somewhere on the US27). It's east of Disney just off the 192 near the Osceola Square Mall (a couple of miles east of the Walmart Supercenter). For me, again, this is simply too far away from everything.

Your choice, then, seems to be between Highgate Park and Westridge. The ideal location on the US27, IMHO, is near the junction with the I-4. You can hop onto that for both Disney and Universal and, whilst you might be a bit further away than those communities near the junction with the 192, you can cover distances much faster and so you're looking at shorter travel times.

If you opt for Highgate, you would take the 192 route into Disney. For Universal, you'd have to choose between travelling to the I-4 along the 192, or heading south for 6 miles on the US27 (which is 6 miles in the wrong direction) to get on the I-4 there.

If I was staying at Westridge, I'd be inclined to travel south on the US27 and use the I-4. Again, you'd be travelling in the wrong direction initially, but I'm guessing it could be the quicker option. You'd probably have to try both routes.

 

[UKDEB]

Oh, I meant to mention that Highgate Park is newer than Westridge.

 

[JANNYANS]

If you opt for westridge or High gate you can use the Sherberth Road to get to Disney Osceola Parkway and then onto the I-4 which is probably quicker than travelling south to the I-4 and then going North.Or you can go Avalon and thenonot the 429 and use that entrance to Disney.May not be that much quicker but there will be no traffic lights or much traffic either.

 

[AndRu]

UKDEB - We did try going south down 27 then up the I4 but still hit traffic / roadworks that were a PITA!

JANNYANS - We know the Sherbeth Rd trick but when the 192 is as busy as the M25 it doesn't help

We weren't even staying at a busy time, we were there in February, so goodness knows what's it's like during peak season.

 

[JANNYANS]

thats when the new 429 comes into its own - no traffic lights .

 

[lizbro]

thanks guys - i knew someone would be able to help!!it might be worth going to the bigger houses as they are not too much more more and better locations!

 

[lizbro]

ok-how about indian creek?or lindfields?!!!am i getting better areas now!thxs liz

 

[isla bonita]

Yes much closer to Disney with out so much traffic. Still some at certain times.

Here is a map to show you how much closer.

http://www.thedibb.co.uk/villa/map.htm

If you are looking to get closer this is the area where you would want to be. Generally a little more expensive but I have certainly been proven wrong on many occasions.

 

[lizbro]

thanks all!! i`m getting there with this trip but it`ll probably be the only time we`ll be able to go so i ant to make it special and properly researched! although i`ve just realised i can get even cheaper with travel city direct but their villas are `disney area`which could be anywhere!!!

 

[isla bonita]

Your vacation will be wonderful you are putting a lot of work into it.

The homes on 27 are beautiful places. If it is a little less expensive to stay there then by all means save the money there and use it for something else.

The only question I would have is to know where it is so you can get great directions from many on this board and be prepared. You might have to leave a little earlier from your home. Not really a big deal.

Good luck on your planning. Have a wonderful vacation.

 

[lizbro]

thxs!!can`t quite believe we`re even going to go!!the day i get it booked i`ll get a ticker so big it`ll crash the server!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[JohnnySharp2]

ok-how about indian creek?or lindfields?!!!am i getting better areas now!thxs liz

Have stayed at Indian Creek a few times and the location is ideal, easy access to everything including restuarants and a Publix supermarket less than a mile away.

If you want to see any photos of the villas please me know and I will post them on this thread.

 

[JohnnySharp2]

....in fact here is thread I posted last month which shows some of the photos
I took of Indian Creek.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1214292&referrerid=&highlight=photos

 

[lizbro]

greta pics johnny- i think that on my first post here i was told the resident villa expert was away and i think they meant you!i can see why so i think indian creek is the one to go for,i`m also hoping that as i know the gut who owns the travel company if i agree to book everything through them i`ll get a discount!i`ll tell em i can get it a bit cheaper through doing it myself and hopefully i could get some knocked off which will outweigh the cost of upgrading to a 4 bed as they only have 4 beds in i.c!!
thxs agian everyone
liz

 

[paulfoel]

hi all,i know i`m looking into this a bit early as we are going to book for jan 08 but my local travel agents (flightfinders world choice) have strated up a new company called morefloridavillas and i ws wondering where we should be booking for ,i have a choice of
southern dunes
westridge
mariners cray
highgate park
venetian bay
i have checked out the villa map links from here and the southern dunes looks quite far away but i though there must be someone of here who would know more ,i really have to use this company as so far they are the cheapest i can find and are abta ect (i`m looking at 289 p/week for jan!)
so wheres the best out of that lot and is there anywhere in the list to avoid?
thanks in advance
liz

Personally, I try to avoid anything on US27 because it is further out but if you dont mind that...

Take the travel times quoted with a pinch of salt as well.

When they say, 20 mins from Disney they probably mean from a rolling start in a F1 car (not stopping at the traffic lights on 192 !!!)

 

[AndRu]

Take the travel times quoted with a pinch of salt as well. When they say, 20 mins from Disney they probably mean from a rolling start in a F1 car (not stopping at the traffic lights on 192 !!!)

You forgot to mention the anti-gravity induction motors that allows you to float over other traffic at the same time!

Those timings from the villa to WDW make me laugh, probably done at 4am on Dec 25th 1976.

 

[Merylj]

We drove past the villa`s at Indian Creek and Formosa Gardens this year and they really do have a great location. We were staying in Disney and our time to return back to our resort was very little.
I liked all the shops and restaurants around there too.
Good luck with your decision!