What All Star Vacation home location best?

[kellyf2626]

We are considering staying a week at an All Star Vacation home....but have some questions!

What area is closet to Disney and the parks? What is the opinion on these places? Good? Bad? They look gorgeous online, but I know that just because they look really nice doesn't mean it's a great place to stay, lol!

Any info would be great appreciated!!

 

[sympatico]

Allstar gets very good reviews. The homes in Windsor Hills, Formosa Gardens Estates, Acadia Estates, Emerald Island and Windsor Palms are the closest to Disney. You'll probably get what you see in the pictures. The homes they rent out are usually in tip top condition. (They're more expensive than renting directly from an owner.) All of the above have some type of gate either manned or coded. Other ungated subdivisions right there are Oak Island, Indian Creek and Rolling Hills.
If you look at this map you'll see that they're all within a minute or two of each other. Windsor Hills is #1, Formosa Gardens Estates #9, Acadia #10, Windsor Palms #13 and Emerald Island#15 All the Disney markers are pink.
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=U...8.272032,-81.608849&spn=0.068335,0.11055&z=13

 

[kellyf2626]

Thanks Wanda! That map was really helpful!!

 

[Hasil72]

We've used All Star in the past and LOVE them! They're priced much higher than going through an owner but you really do get exactly what you see on the website and I think insurance is included in the admin fee. The office is in a shopping center on 192 central to the developments they rent. They're always very helpful.

As for location, we've stayed in Oak Island, Formosa Gardens, Windsor Hills and this trip we'll be in Emerald Island. I think that Windsor Hills edges the others out by just a few minutes. A few minor differences based on our visits are...

Oak Island - small residential type development, homes only, not gated, no community center, etc., small lots

Formosa Gardens - gated, larger/more upscale homes, larger lots, no community center

Windsor Hills (our fav so far) - gated, condos, town homes and villas, small lots, community center/pool ($6 refundable deposit for a key to enter the pool complex/game room)

Emerald Island - can't really say since we don't go until November but I know it's gated, combo of townhomes and villas, has a community pool area, etc., similar to WH, just a little older

All of them have been very quiet, easy to get to, clean and well kept. The past few years we've gone through the same owner but when we decide to switch it up, we'll prob go back to All Star.

Good luck choosing!

 

[mickeynut1]

We've rented homes twice through them and they are fabulous, IMO . We stayed in Acadia Estates both times, which is a very convenient location to everything. The homes were very clean and well kept and the pictures online portrayed the homes perfectly. Checking in and out couldn't have been any easier. I think the rentals are little more expensive through All Star than some others, but we found them to be very professional and courteous. We will only use them for any future rental house vacations .

 

[kellyf2626]

Thanks everyone!! I have been looking at the homes online today, and the ones in Windsor Hills looks very nice. Just trying to decide if we should do it and go off-property. The space would be nice to have, especially traveling with 2 small children and my parents as well! And the homes are probably less than the $900+ per night we are currently booked for at VWL!