villa rental - where do i start?

[buzz for boys]

We are planning to go back to florida in march 2009. I have spent hours on the internet trying to find a private villa. Does anyone have any reccomendations or advice on where to start there are so many websites and so many villas im a little lost !!!
Thanks for all your help !

 

[JohnnySharp2]

Hi,

We have rented many villa's over the years.
There are 1000s to choose from and many different villa communities spread out over areas close to Orlando.

I prefer Kissimmee location as I find it fairly central for all the attractions and there are supermarkets/restaurants within easy reach too.

It's good to have a decent idea of where you want to stay and how many bedrooms you require, generally the bigger the villa the more it can cost, although this can also depend on location and how much the owner's charge.

You will find many of the homes are UK owned - that they have a local Management Company in Orlando who look after maintaining the home - many owner's advertise their homes as 'south facing pool' which means they get the sun all day - some villa communities also have a clubhouse/internet cafe/communal pool/grocery store etc....it just depends on what you are after.

A good start are the websites below - any questions please ask.
If you want me to recommend any specific villas, let me know, I have dozens of links, though naturally you would want to choose your own, anyway I am here if you need me. At least you have a start with the links below.

www.villas2000.com
www.vr360homes.co.uk
http://www.thedibb.co.uk/villa-map.php

 

[buzz for boys]

sorry should have put that !! We would ideally prefer to be in kissimee as that is where we stayed last time so its kind of familiar!! We are also hoping to have a private pool as my son has aspergers and doesnt do well if he cant hav some quiet time everytime We need at least a 3 bed villa as we have 4 kids ( must be mad !!)
Im off to check out your links now and thanks a million for your reply !!

 

[JohnnySharp2]

sorry should have put that !! We would ideally prefer to be in kissimee as that is where we stayed last time so its kind of familiar!! We are also hoping to have a private pool as my son has aspergers and doesnt do well if he cant hav some quiet time everytime We need at least a 3 bed villa as we have 4 kids ( must be mad !!)
Im off to check out your links now and thanks a million for your reply !!

No problem, glad to help.

You will find there are 2 main areas - Formosa Gardens and Poinciana Boulevard.
G = gated resort with community facilities, more of a resort than just a villa development.
On the map I posted you will see the likes of Indian Creek, Windsor Palms(G),
Emerald Island (G) and Windsor Hills(G) plus others at the FG location.

Likes of Terre Verde(G), Cumbrian Lakes(G) and Eagle Pointe and others down PB (it can be a long drive down there depending on where you stay).

Our first rental many years ago was a disaster, home was falling to bits, so I took the time to drive around many of the homes so I don't make the same mistake again.

Good luck - I will be back online tomorrow.

 

[jockey]

I have used the links recommended by Johnny they are excellent and he has also given us great advice about villa hiring

Last year we stayed at Emerald Island and thought it was an excellent location, very close to Disney. We have booked Indian creek for 10 days in Jan 09

 

[profolly]

We searched through http://www.vrbo.com/ but actually dealt directly thru owners we will be staying at Windsor Palms will report back after trip in December

 

[buzz for boys]

wow thanks everyone i have had a quote back its a 4 bed villa in eagle pointe with games room hot tub and spa and the gentleman said it would cost £885 for the 14 nights inc pool heat.
Just to be a real pain do u think this is a good area to stay in and is the price about right for this area ???
I so want to get this right but feel a bit bogged down by the choice

 

[JohnnySharp2]

wow thanks everyone i have had a quote back its a 4 bed villa in eagle pointe with games room hot tub and spa and the gentleman said it would cost £885 for the 14 nights inc pool heat.
Just to be a real pain do u think this is a good area to stay in and is the price about right for this area ???
I so want to get this right but feel a bit bogged down by the choice

Hi,

As far as price goes it's good value, anything for less than £1000 for 2 weeks in a 4 bedroomed villa is a fair price.

Eagle Pointe is fine, some of the other developments we have talked about such as Windsor Hills, Windsor Palms and Terre Verde are newer and also in my opinion nicer.
They also boast community pool, internet cafe etc which EP does not have.

My own personal opinion having driven around Eagle Pointe is there are nicer developments to stay in, in addition it is further on down Poinciana Boulevard than I would prefer - it can be a good 10 minutes from the junction of the 192. We stayed at Cumbrian Lakes which is very closeby and after a while the long drive down PB became a bit tiresome.

Obviously this is just my view, and you need to choose for yourself but I would get a few quotes in and shop around more - rather than book one quickly.
If you want to see some specific villa links just let me know - naturally I don't want to force this upon you, it's your holiday after all!

The thing in your favour is Easter falls in April this year - when we go - so in theory you shouldn't have to pay peak time prices.

 

[buzz for boys]

Thank you so much johnny - i would love you to send me some specific villas links as u r obv more in the know than me !!! We were origionally going to go April but on discovering it was spring break put it forward to march - then I entered panic mode!!!
There are 6 of us 2 adults and 4 kids and the only thing we are specific about is that it has a private pool. a games room would be nice but is not essential. If you can guide me to the best areas i would be very grateful!!
On 1 ad i looked at it said that access to disney was on a toll road but it didnt state where the villa was - any ideas so i can avoid it in future??

 

[martinacris]

Hello. We are going this Dec.2008 and will stay at a villa reccomended by Johnny too The owner has been very very helpful, great to communicate with...this is the webpage: http://www.villaclose2disney.com/...and Johnny was great help too !

 

[JohnnySharp2]

The one Martina has posted is a good one that I sent to her.

others:
http://www.disneydreamvilla.com/the_villa.htm

The bottom one in the link below is at Terre Verde where we stay next year, Palm Villa.
http://www.sheardale-villas.com/

We have stayed at this one at Indian Creek twice:
http://www.villaclose2disney.com/

This one at Indian Creek is nice too:
http://www.indiancreekvilla.com/
http://www.villas2000.com/frbvo/homes/1325.php

One at Windsor Palms we have stayed at:
http://www.orlando-windsor-villa.com/
http://www.vrbo.com/32133

This one we haven't stayed at but is nice:
http://www.vr360floridavillas.co.uk/...ets.asp?id=593

Same here this one wasn't available for our dates, 4 bedroomed one:
http://www.sunresortvilla.com/

also:
http://www.vr360homes.co.uk/villas/english/index.htm
http://www.villas2000.com/frbvo/homes/2728.php
http://www.disneyvillas4rent.com/
http://www.villas2000.com/frbvo/homes/2869.php

All of these are close to Formosa Gardens area and have easy access to everything without the use of toll roads.

 

[buzz for boys]

wow cheers johnny I have emailed 3 of those links to ask about availability and to ask for a quote - I spoke to a lovely lady yesterday in a leting agency in florida and she said many owners are offering good discounts at the moment because of the redit crunch so i thought its worth asking will keep you posted on how i get on !!
Thanks a million for all your help

 

[cleous]

can i be checky and but in and ask what the area around championsgate is like, namely the lake wilson preserve or do you think its too far down , we want to be able to pop back to villa in middle of day easily

 

[JohnnySharp2]

can i be checky and but in and ask what the area around championsgate is like, namely the lake wilson preserve or do you think its too far down , we want to be able to pop back to villa in middle of day easily

Sure.

It's becoming more popular at Champion's Gate now and there are some really nice hotels and villa developments there.

It is further away from the attractions and for me a little too far south.
If you are planning many days at the parks you may find the drive a little tiresome after a while, I wouldn't put anyone off staying there but personally I still advocate a Kissimmee location.

The distance from WDW subject is something that gives different answers, fact is when we stay in Kissimmee we can be at WDW in just over 10 minutes, it took us double that when we stayed at Loma Linda (near Champion's Gate) many years ago, there is also probably a better range of restaurants on the 192 especially close to Formosa Gardens area.